With cheap flights and package holidays connecting much of Europe, there’s no need to spend a great deal of money on a summer holiday to enjoy some sun and sea. Particularly if you go outside of the Eurozone, you’re bound to find a cheap destination to spend a long weekend in. Consider the following destinations for your budget beach holiday abroad.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria has plenty to offer for all sorts of travellers. There are mountains, ancient cities and much more. While some of the coast has been horribly overdeveloped, it is also home to some of the most unspoiled beaches in Europe. Value for money is exceptionally good in much of Bulgaria, provided you avoid the overpriced and often tacky touristic resorts. Take a cheap flight to the capital, Sofia, or a package flight to a town nearer the coast and get off the beaten track a little to see what the country truly has to offer. The best beaches are in the south of the country, a region which remains fairly underrated. Sinemorets, not far from the Border of Turkey, has some particularly pleasant beaches as does the area around Sozopol.
Turkey
Like Bulgaria, Turkey has a lot to offer tourists looking for fine summer weather and great beaches. It is also a cheap destination provided that you stay away from the touristy hotspots. With great cuisine and a land steeped in history, Turkey has plenty to keep even the most demanding holidaymaker satisfied for a while. The Turkish coastline is simply enormous, covering the Mediterranean, Aegean and Black Sea. Some of the best coastal areas in Turkey include the Datça Peninsula in the southwest, the beautiful white sands of Kaputaş Beach, also in the southwest of the country, and the stunning area of Faralya (Butterfly Valley) in Lycia on the Mediterranean.
Croatia
Croatia is a small country that is also home to some of the most picturesque towns on the Mediterranean, particularly the world-famous towns of Dubrovnik and Split. The tourist hotspots can be expensive, but it’s easy to get away from them and see the real Croatia for a lot less provided you have a bit of a sense of adventure. Croatia makes for a great budget destination thanks to the fact that it is often extremely cheap to fly there. Zagreb, the capital, is home to the main international airport and there are regular flights with budget airlines like easyJet connecting much of Europe. Some of Croatia’s best beaches can be found in Zlatni Rat (the Golden Horn) on the island of Brač and the many small islands of Kornati National Park.
Poland
Poland might not be the first country you would think of as a beach holiday destination, but you’d be wrong in making this assumption. Of course, it is very seasonal but, during the summer months, the Baltic Sea is usually pleasantly warm and the weather is often almost as hot and sunny as many places along the Mediterranean. Poland isn’t the bargain destination it used to be, but it’s still cheap compared to the UK and most other western countries. For a beach holiday in Poland, you’ll want to base yourself in the beautiful Hanseatic city of Gdańsk in the middle of Poland’s coastline. Gdańsk is part of the tri-city area of which the famous resort town of Sopot is also a part. It features a peer and an enormous sandy beach. The city of Gdańsk itself is extremely picturesque and there’s plenty of cultural and entertainment venues to keep you busy.