By Lucy Richardson, Editor
If you know where to look and are savvy about planning it, you can grab yourself a summer holiday in Europe that’s super affordable and super stylish to boot. Here are 10 of the best cheap hotels and holiday rentals in our handpicked collection, plus 5 top tips for keeping travel costs down.
1 Convento, Algarve
Convento is a perennial favourite here at i-escape. Why? Because it ticks so many boxes for an affordable beach holiday. Cheap but stylish rooms, delicious breakfasts included in the rate, a sunny rooftop with a heated pool, and easy access to the Ria Formosa’s spectacular island beaches. Plus, it’s beautiful inside, set around a sweet Moorish courtyard, with Olhao’s cobbled streets and simple restaurants right outside.
Prices: From £98 per room (peak summer months from £125)
Get there: Olhao’s proximity to Faro Airport is one if its selling points – just 20 minutes by car or taxi. Getting around without a hire car is easy too: taxi-boats speed back and forth between the Ria Formosa’s island beaches.
2 Cocorico Guesthouse, Porto
Cities are often the cheapest places to travel because they’re easy to get to, you can get by without a vehicle, and the wide variety of hotels means more competitive prices. And if the city is on the coast, even better! You certainly won’t be scrimping on style if you opt for Cocorico Guesthouse in the centre of Porto. Parisian vibes flow throughout: rooms are decorated with French antiques, wrought iron frames and original features, and there’s a bistro serving French fare. When you’re ready to explore, Porto’s iconic sites are within easy strolling distance.
Prices: From £95 per room (peak summer months from £193)
Get there: Fly into Porto, which is well-served by budget airlines from across Europe. Then take a taxi or hop on the metro to São Bento station, a five-minute walk from Cocorico Guesthouse.
3 Hotel Torre de Villademoros, Asturias
The key to finding a cheap holiday destination is to look for somewhere undiscovered but easy to reach. Hotel Torre de Villademoros, set on the Asturian coast, has no civilisation in sight. You’re steps from a deserted beach, and the surroundings are green, rugged and lush. Walk to time-lost villages or along a stretch of the Camino de Santiago pilgrims’ trail, stopping for fresh seafood and tapas as you go. It’s a far cry from the crowded costas of the south.
Prices: From £85 per room (peak summer months from £103)
Get there: Asturias airport is the closest (38km), or you could fly into Santander (245km). Airport transfers are available, but you’ll probably want a car to get around. Brittany Ferries run services from Plymouth and Portsmouth to Santander.
4 Fattoria Barbialla Nuova, Tuscany
Fattoria Barbialla Nuova, a sprawling agriturismo in the blissful Tuscan hills, is a fab option for cheap family holidays. Its nine apartments (for 2-8) all feature kitchens, so you can self-cater to save on eating out. Pluck ingredients fresh from the garden, and stock up on staples at the organic shop (perhaps take some goodies home with you as low-cost souvenirs for loved ones?). There are various shared swimming pools on site, plus marked woodland walks and a bunch of outdoor activities. Siena, Florence and Pisa are all within easy day-trip distance.
Prices: From £75 per apartment (peak summer months from £108)
Get there: Fly into Pisa (or Florence), which is well-served by budget airlines from the UK. You will need a hire car to reach the hotel. Tip: Get car hire excess insurance separately online, it’s far cheaper than buying it at the car hire desk.
5 Hotel Gutkowski, Sicily
Hotel Gutkowski sits right on the waterfront in Ortigia, the historical centre of Siracusa. Head up to its sun-dappled roof terraces to drink in the turquoise views over fresh OJ at breakfast or Aperol Spritz at sunset (you get one free if you book through i-escape). Ortigia’s UNESCO-listed centre has impressive Greek and Roman ruins, and the beaches just down the coast are some of Sicily’s best. Rooms here are a total steal, so you’ll need to book early if coming in the height of summer.
Prices: From £62 per room (peak summer months from £89)
Get there: Fly into Catania (60km), then either rent a car and make the easy one-hour journey south along the motorway, or avoid car hire costs and hop on a train or intercity bus (the latter being slightly quicker) direct to Siracusa.
6 Perivoli Country Hotel, Peloponnese
Here’s another good option for a cheap family holiday this summer. Perivoli is a friendly agro-hotel set among orange and lemon groves that tumble down to the shore. Come for spectacular views from the large, sunny pool deck and warm, smiling service from the owners. The handsome, neoclassical town of Napflio is just below, along with a string of other ancient towns and settlements. For beaches, try sheltered Karathonas or long and sandy Iria.
Prices: From £92 per room (peak summer months from £108)
Get there: Athens (170km) is the best bet. You will need to rent a car, but it’s an easy journey, mostly on motorways. Use price comparison sites to find the cheapest rental options.
7 Elounda Island Villas, Crete
Located just off mainland Crete, Elounda Island Villas (for 2-4) are the ideal retreat for couples or easy-going families after the simple life. The 9 cubist apartments have pared-back interiors, uninterrupted sea views, and total tranquillity. Tour boats might descend in the afternoon, but ask the owners for their tips on where the best, hidden beaches can be found so you can keep the private island atmosphere alive. For a little more action, just take a short wander across the causeway to Elounda, where you’ll find plenty of tavernas, shops and bars to suit all budgets. Truly the best of both worlds.
Prices: From £89 per apartment (peak summer months from £98)
Get there: Fly into Heraklion (either direct or via Athens). You can get a taxi but it’s best to hire a car as it’s a fair way to Elounda, and that way you can explore the area fully.
8 La Maison Blanche, Provence
Set in pretty Provencal countryside, La Maison Blanche is the picture of rural bliss in the south of France: beautiful golden-stone house, gorgeous countryside setting, fab food and a quaint and sleepy local village. It oozes charm. Bring a loved one and spend days cycling in the countryside, or explore Medieval Uzes, the famous Pont du Gard and Roman Arles – all nearby.
Prices: From £98 per room (peak summer months from £116)
Get there: Lots of options. You could fly into Avignon, Nimes, Montpellier or Marseille, or catch the Eurostar to Avignon (30km away) – go via Lille to avoid crowds in Paris. You’ll need to hire a car for the last leg. Or, if you’ve got time, come via ferry and bring your own car.
9 Le Mas des Oules, Provence
For budget-friendly self-catered stays, Le Mas des Oules has to be one of the best. Another Provencal gem, 8 beautifully styled houses and apartments (for 2-11) sit in the rural grounds, with scents of jasmine and lavender wafting through the pastel-blue windows. The rooms hit the sweet spot of contemporary yet comfortable, and the gardens feel like pure escapism on warm evenings. Spend mornings browsing the farmers’ markets in the surrounding villages, then see in the evenings lazing by the communal pool and under vine-laden pergolas.
Prices: From £88 per room (peak summer months from £135)
Get there: Fly into Nimes, Montpellier or Marseilles, then rent a car from the airport. Eurostar to Avignon is also an option. The B&B’s close proximity to airports makes this an easy destination for a long weekend.
10 Modus Vivendi, Cyprus
A firm favourite among i-escape guests and team alike, this cluster of rustic self-catered cottages (for 2-4) are a fantastic affordable stay in sunny Cyprus. Located in one of the island’s prettiest villages, Modus Vivendi is run by a creative couple who have infused the rooms with their artistic tastes, resulting in eclectic but homely spaces. Though the pool is shared, the tiered terrace means you never feel on top of your neighbours, and you’re only a short drive from the coast when the sea starts to call.
Prices: From £80 per cottage (peak summer months from £98)
Get there: Fly into Larnaca, then it’s a swift 30-minute drive from the airport. The area is a bit too remote to avoid having a car, so we would recommend stretching your budget to include vehicle hire.
Our money-saving travel tips:
1 Travel at unpopular times. Transport routes are often cheaper if you’re willing to travel on weekdays, particularly if it’s late evening or overnight. And if you can, visit outside peak season – even June & September are often 20-30% cheaper than July-August.
2 Don’t fall into the budget airline trap. They lure you in with low fares and then catch you with big fees when it comes to the add-ons. Pack light, get your travel insurance separately, opt for a randomly allocated seat, and take food on the plane with you. It tends to be cheaper if you add a bag later in the booking process rather than selecting one of the premium fares (which include luggage).
3 Self-cater. Rentals get snapped up quickly, so look for apart-hotels too, where rooms come with kitchens/kitchenettes. They might only have basic cooking facilities but you’ll have enough equipment for preparing breakfast, lunch and perhaps a few simple dinners, which will save you a fortune on food.
4 Be savvy about where you eat out. It might look appealing to have lunch overlooking a famous landmark, but you’ll probably be ripped off. Walk away from the tourist trail and you’ll find the food is cheaper and often better. Keep an eye out for ‘menu of the day’ options: set 2/3-course meals, usually with a drink, that are incredible value and showcase local dishes.
5 Use app-based banks when abroad. Using your regular bank card is likely to incur hefty fees. Monzo gives you free cash withdrawals overseas (capped at £200 over a 30-day period). Revolut offers fee-free transactions abroad using the interbank exchange rate.
BONUS TIP: Don’t buy souvenirs at the airport. Prices are inflated and items are mass-produced. Instead, pick up local items from grocery shops or markets, such as spices or teas.