Cheap holiday - any suggestions?

roobee13

Hi fellow money savers,

I'm after a bit of advice please.

Me and the OH are hoping to go away for a week in late September. We just want a short flight (from Bristol, it's so close!), a bit of sun, and to relax. This is our first beach holiday together so we'd like to go somewhere neither of us have been before. This kind of narrows it down to Greece or Spain!

My questions are:

1. would you recommend AI? I find in small hotels it can be very limiting...
2. Budget is around £1200 all in, would we be able to find somewhere decent for this price?
3. I was looking at the Balaerics, any good hotel recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

Doshwaster

In late September, I'd just get a cheap flight to Malaga and then find a hotel along the coast in whichever resort suits you.

Personally, I hate going AI as part of a holiday is going out to explore local bars and restaurants. Expensive AI isn't too bad but Cheap AI is terrible.

Greece would also be a good choice. Fly to Athens for a couple of nights then spend a week or two island hopping.

roobee13

Thanks doshwaster, I like the idea of island hopping, hadn't considered that

Sorry to ask a silly question but I presumed Malaga and surrounding areas was quite 'lively', is that not the case? I'm by no means 'past it' (ha!), but fancied somewhere quiet where we can chill out.

Are there any quiet areas near Malaga you can suggest?

Thanks

Doshwaster

The coast around Malaga is 100 miles long so there's every kind of resort that you could want. Heading west you have the likes of Torremolinos, Fuengirola and Marbella which will all be still "lively" in September even though the peak season is over. Head east from Malaga towards Nerja and the resorts are typically smaller, quieter and more Spanish.

What Malaga has going for it is that it is one of the best places in Europe for cheap flights with services from most UK regional airports.

roobee13

Wow, feel very dumb but I had no idea it covered such a vast area! I'll research some of the quieter resorts now...

Thanks for the tips!

FreddieFrugal

Quite highly rated resort here below in Greece:

http://www.thomson.co.uk/destinations/bookaccommodation?productCode=040506&tab=overview&noOfAdults=2&noOfChildren=0&childrenAge=&duration=7&flexibleDays=3&airports[]=BRS&flexibility=true&noOfSeniors=0&when=19-09-2014&units[]=GRC:COUNTRY&packageId=040506APPUCQ141160320000014116032000006412141220800000014122080000006413DU167&index=1&multiSelect=true&brandType=T&finPos=1&



This one looks really good actually, one of the A La Carte ones:

http://www.thomson.co.uk/destinations/bookaccommodation?productCode=040170&tab=overview&noOfAdults=2&noOfChildren=0&childrenAge=&duration=7&flexibleDays=3&airports[]=BRS&flexibility=true&noOfSeniors=0&when=19-09-2014&units[]=GRC:COUNTRY&packageId=040170MABGZA141143040000014114304000006238141203520000014120352000006239PE142&index=8&multiSelect=true&brandType=T&finPos=8

^ I like the look of that one a lot! I'd stay there if we hadn't already booked our holiday. £570 pp half board for 7 nights flying from bristol

roobee13

Thanks for the tips! I'll have a look at those now...

AlexMac

I'd stick to Spain- using the format suggested by Doshwasher, as http://flightchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/ shows flights around £100+pp return to Palma in Mallorca (Ballearics), Malaga in the south (Costa del Sol), or Barcelona (Costa Brava) as Greece flights in Sept will cost twice that. Budget wise, all are great value, especially if you avoid Brit resorts (which you don't want anyway); Greek islands are arguably cheaper but if you want to travel, car hire in Spain is, like the flights, great value.

I'd go for Palma mallorca, as the island is a tiny microcosm of Spain, with only a few tacky lager lout resorts in the south like Magaluf, but also magical short trips through inland farmland to the mountains and calas (rocky coves) of the north.You don't even need a car; my fave would be to perm a few nights in Palma old town (a taxi from the airport) then on the magic little narrow gauge train 20 km through the mountain to Soller in the northern foothills, with its tram down to Port Soller (or stay in Port Soller and visit the Soller on the tram) and mountain or coastal walks (eg a few miles to Deia - famed for poet Robert Graves, Richard Branson et al)
If Malaga- you may need a var- but look at Nerja.

And Barcelona gives the option of a mix of city break in the bustling but user-friendly town (stay within walking distance of the Ramblas and port) and very Spanish resorts like L'escala (although even the Brit resorts are OK if you avoid Benidorm!

Or buy a package- but unless you get a really cheap last-minute deal it waill cost the same with a cheap flight and rooms from someone like Hotels.com or booking.com (tip- look at the tripadvisor.com reviews before choosing a hotel- the booking sites star ratings are self-serving!)

And even if you get a cheap package, you can use local buses to explore away from the tourist horde

Hasta luego!

roobee13

Thanks Alex!!