The 5 Best Budget Holidays for You

Whether you sell all your unwanted CDs, DVDs and games, on a site like Music Magpie, or give up some of life’s luxuries for the next few months, if you scrape together only few extra hundred pounds, there are some great budget holiday destinations available - which could be the perfect way to recharge your batteries and reinvigorate you mind.  

Here are our top 5 budget holidays, with something to suit every taste.

1. Diving in Sharm el Sheikh

Sharm el Sheikh, located on the Southern tip of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, is the perfect budget holiday destination for those who love life in and under the water.

While scuba diving often comes with a hefty price tag, a whole host of travel agents offer excellent, all-inclusive, package deals to Sharm el Sheikh, which makes holidaying to one of the world’s premier diving destinations affordable, even for the most budget conscious.

With over 250 different coral reefs, 1,000 species of fish, including sharks, turtles, and blue-spotted stingrays, Sharm el Sheikh is the perfect budget holiday destination for those with an adventurous spirit.

2. Cottage sharing in Cornwall

Enjoying a restful week or two away does not necessarily mean leaving the UK. Cornwall is one of the most naturally stunning holiday destinations in Great Britain, offering holiday makers the opportunity to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of a traditional beach holiday.  

Whether you’re exploring the secluded pleasures of Lusty Glaze Beach in Newquay, taking surf lessons, visiting King Arthur's castle and the Eden Project or simply fancy sauntering across the cliff tops, Cornwall has low-cost activities to suit every taste.   

If you’re worried about the cost of accommodation, consider renting a cottage with a group of friends. A cottage which comfortably accommodates up to six people can cost as little as a few hundred pounds.

3. Meditating in South Korea

If you have a little more to spend, but are still budget-conscious, staying at a temple in South Korea could provide the perfect, relaxing solution to your holiday conundrum.

A temple stay is both thoroughly relaxing and cost-effective. Spending the day chanting, meditating, lantern-making and enjoying tea ceremonies in a Buddhist Temple is an inherently low-cost affair, which can be obtained for a lot less than you might imagine: a flight to Seoul costs as little as £500, while an all-inclusive temple stay will only cost in the region of £30 per night.

A temple stay in South Korea could be the perfect way to rejuvenate yourself on a budget.

4. Relaxing on Santa Maria Island, the Azores

The island of Santa Maria is your opportunity to sample a slice of enchanting, secluded island living on a budget.

Located in the Eastern Azores, Santa Maria Island is home to stunning, wooded landscapes, glorious nature reserves and one of the most pristine white-sand beaches in the Azores, Praia Formosa.

This level of seclusion usually comes with an exorbitant price tag, but with flights via Ponta Delgada for under £400 and a plethora of cheap accommodation available, Santa Maria Island is the budget destination for holidaymakers who want something a little exclusive.    

5. City break in Berlin

Berlin is one of Germany’s hippest and most popular cities, but, unlike some of Europe’s other major cities, a holiday there represents excellent value for money.

Teaming with cheap accommodation and eateries, the vibrant, cultural melting pot of Berlin is the perfect city break destination for the budget conscious.

Berlin offers something for everyone: art aficionados will love the Chert Gallery, naturalists may enjoy a trip to the forested area of Grunewald and the palace and garden complex of Schloss Charlottenburg is the perfect place for a post-dinner stroll.