Compare cheap holidays and package deals

Best places for cheap holidays

Spain: With so much variety across the mainland and its islands, finding a cheap holiday in Spain is simple. The Costa Brava is a great bet for an affordable getaway, but you’ll also have tons of options in the Costa del Sol, Tenerife and Majorca too.

Greece: Keep it cheap in Greece with a package holiday to Crete, where you’ll find a huge range of budget-friendly resorts on its north coast. Alternatively, consider the mainland. Capital Athens is a wonderfully cheap city break and the beach resorts near Thessaloniki offer great value.

Turkey: The Turquoise Coast in Turkey is exactly what it sounds like, with a brilliant shoreline lapped by an inviting blue-and-green sea. Stretching from Izmir to Alanya, expect tons of sandy beaches, hotels that range from the affordable to the opulent and plenty of cheap shopping and dining options.

Best places for family holidays

Portugal: The Algarve, on Portugal’s south coast, is a family holiday stalwart – and with good reason. Its golden, Blue Flag beaches are calm and safe, well-rated self-catering properties mean you can maintain home comforts for the little ones and there’s a handful of splash-tastic waterparks.

Florida: Home to the Theme Park Capital Of The World, Florida is fabulous for families. Go all out with a holiday to remember at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios or, for something more sedate, chill-out on kid-friendly sands at Clearwater Beach.

France: France also has its fair share of theme parks, and many are much less frenetic than Florida’s. As well as Disneyland Paris, try comic-themed Parc Astérix or the spectacular Puy du Fou near Nantes. For a family beach break, choose the Côte d'Azur.

Best destinations for all-inclusive breaks

Cyprus: Make a beeline for Cyprus if you’re looking for an amazing all-inclusive holiday in the Med. Paphos and Ayia Napa have a fantastic range of resorts that cater to all budgets and long summers mean you’re almost guaranteed excellent weather between May and September.

Barbados: For an all-inclusive holiday in the Caribbean, it’s got to be Barbados. The benefit here? Many resorts include a ton of watersports in their all-inclusive price so you’ll have just as much fun out on the water as you will in your hotel! Look to the southwest side of the island for the most options.

Maldives: The Maldives and all-inclusive are made for each other. Embrace the art of doing nothing at all and have everything taken care of on these idyllic islands. Just check what’s included before you book – all-inclusive packages can vary quite a bit between resorts.

Best destinations for beach holidays

Balearic Islands: Four islands, countless beaches. Alcudia on Majorca’s north coast will put you close to long, sandy beaches and quiet coves, while Palma Nova is great for families. Laidback and low-key, Formentera is great if you’re after that castaway feel.

Mexico: Cancun, on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, tends to steal the spotlight but it’s not the only pick for a beach holiday. Nearby islands Cozumel and Isla Mujeres are more chilled out, and there’s a host of Pacific coast resorts, such as Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco, to discover.

Cape Verde: Ten islands make up this archipelagic nation in the middle of the Atlantic, but Sal and Boa Vista tend to draw in the most crowds. Choose Sal for your classic beach holiday (think sun-loungers and beach bars) and Boa Vista for unspoilt shores. It’s also excellent for windsurfing.

What exactly is a package holiday? It sounds simple – and you've probably booked plenty of them over the years – but the definition is quite important, especially when it comes to your rights.

In short, a package holiday is defined as a combination of any two of the following:

• accommodation (a hotel, apartment, villa etc)
• transport (usually flights, but trains, coaches and ferries are also included)
• car hire
• another service (eg a tour that forms significant part of the holiday)

In addition, the package must involve an overnight stay or at least cover a period of 24 hours.

They can also be sold in different ways:

• a holiday that has been pre-put together by a travel agent – for example, flights and accommodation – for a single price
• a tailor-made trip – for example, where you choose from a range of services and pay for them as one

How you pay for a holiday also plays a big part as to whether it's a package or not. If you paid a single price in one payment, were charged an inclusive price for all of the services you bought, or agreed to pay for a combination of services that you selected, then it's a package.

Additionally, if your travel company sold you a service – for example, flights – and then transferred your payment details to another company, with whom you booked another service within 24 hours, this also counts as a package.

A holiday is also classed as a package if it was advertised or sold using the term “package” or similar wording.

How can I find a cheap holiday?

Finding a cheap holiday isn’t as hard as you might think. Compare your options well in advance of your trip, track prices changes until you find a price you’re happy with and travel outside of peak times – generally either midweek or in the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn – and you’ll be on your way to scoring a cheap getaway.

How far in advance should I book a holiday?

It depends. If you have to travel at set times – say, the school holidays – we usually recommend booking early so you can take advantage of early season sales and find the exact holiday you’re after. If you can be flexible with your dates or don’t mind where you go, you may be able to find a last-minute bargain.

How can I save money when I'm on holiday?

Self-catering can be a good way to save money on holiday – but only if you’re prepared to cook. If not, consider going all-inclusive. By paying for your food and drink upfront, you’re already halfway to keeping your budget in check.

When's the cheapest time to visit Europe?

Other than the Christmas and New Year period, winter is generally the cheapest time to visit Europe. For a good balance between good weather and cheaper prices, consider travelling in spring or autumn instead.

How about places further afield?

When it comes to cheap long-haul holidays, do your research around peak, off-peak and shoulder seasons for your destination. After all, you don’t want to choose the cheapest price just to be surprised by total washout during monsoon season in Asia or the sweltering summer heat in the UAE.

Does TravelSupermarket compare low-deposit holidays?

Yes! When you search for a holiday, we’ll show you which companies are offering low deposits before you click out to our partners’ sites. From there, you can also find out more on flexible payment options. Just bear in mind that you usually need to pay off the balance around 12 weeks before departure, so it’s not always suitable for last-minute holidays.