Where can I go on holiday for under £500 per person in summer 2026?

Realistically Turkey outside school-holiday peak, Egypt including school holidays (mid-August is a genuine bargain), and Bosnia city breaks. A UK holiday park is also achievable under £500 per person if you avoid the two most expensive August weeks.

Which country is cheapest for a UK family of four in July or August 2026?

Egypt on package price. A five-star Hurghada all-inclusive week for two adults and two children typically comes in around £2,000–£2,600 all-in for mid-August. Turkey lands around £2,400–£3,200 for equivalent quality.

Is Bosnia safe for tourists?

Yes. Sarajevo and Mostar are established tourist cities and most visits are trouble-free throughout the last decade.

Is Egypt still a good idea in 2026?

For Red Sea coast resorts — Hurghada, Sharm, El Gouna, Marsa Alam — yes. Check current FCDO travel advice before booking; advice against specific inland areas does not apply to the resort strips UK travellers visit.

What's the cheapest all-inclusive destination from the UK?

Egypt outside peak, Turkey during peak. From November to April, Egypt is dramatically cheaper than anywhere else accessible from the UK.

How much should I budget for a two-person Bosnia city break?

€100–€130 per person per day mid-range, or €45–€60 budget. A seven-night trip lands between £350 and £700 per person all in, excluding flights.

Is it worth booking a UK holiday for the last week of August?

Yes — Haven and Parkdean prices drop noticeably as many families travel earlier, and parks are meaningfully quieter.

When should I book to get the best price on a summer 2026 holiday?

Either at least 90 days ahead or 10–14 days before departure. Four to eight weeks out is usually the most expensive window.

DealStays guide

Cheap Getaways 2026: Where Your Money Actually Stretches This Summer

Last updated · 2026-07-03

Cheap holiday destinations for 2026 — Egypt, Turkey, Bosnia and UK

Nobody wants a cheap holiday. What people want is a good holiday for less than they expected to pay. Package prices for late July and August 2026 have climbed again, but the gap between destinations has widened. We've picked four that genuinely deliver on value in 2026, with named hotels bookable through our partner and honest timing on when to travel.

Why we picked these four (and skipped Spain and Greece)

Spain and Greece are lovely — and fully priced in for summer 2026. A UK family of four often pays £2,500–£4,500 in either country during school holidays. This guide is for people asking where they can actually save money.

Egypt works year-round on all-inclusive value. Turkey stays cheap thanks to the lira and scale of its resort market. Bosnia is the last true underpriced Europe destination for UK travellers. UK holiday parks win when you time the last week of August or a midweek June break — not when you book peak mid-August without comparing abroad.

The school-holiday factor

English and Welsh state schools break up around 22 July 2026 and return around 1 September. The last week of August and first days of September are consistently 15–25% cheaper than 8–20 August.

Scottish schools break up around 29 June and return mid-August — a real advantage for early July Med trips before English families arrive.

Cheap destination 1: Egypt

Egypt is the cheapest reliable warm-weather destination from the UK. A five-star all-inclusive week in Hurghada in October can run from around £450–£700 per person including flights — often less than a self-catering caravan in Cornwall the same week.

Best for: winter sun, all-inclusive value, family aqua parks and snorkelling from the beach. Not ideal for independent exploring outside the resort strip or anyone who dislikes 40°C summers.

Cheapest window: October–April for headline rates; mid-August is a overlooked bargain if your family handles heat — European travellers avoid Egypt then, but it's still warm and dry.

Cheap destination 2: Turkey

Turkey is the workhorse of UK summer all-inclusive. A package that costs £1,200 per person in Spain is often £700–£900 in Turkey for similar quality. Outside the resort gate, meals in Kaleiçi old town can cost £15–£20 for two with drinks.

Best for: family all-inclusives, aqua parks and a long May–October season. Not for winter beach holidays or tiny boutique resorts — Turkey's strength is scale.

Cheapest window: last week of August into September for UK families; May and early June if you can travel outside school dates.

Cheap destination 3: Bosnia

Sarajevo and Mostar are fully-formed European cities — Ottoman old towns, remarkable food, mountain hiking and rafting — at roughly 50–60% below Croatia for equivalent quality. Direct London–Sarajevo flights take around 2h 40m.

Best for: city breaks with character, food-focused trips and multi-generational groups. Not for beach holidays (Neum's 20km coast is fine but not the point) or all-inclusive resort weeks.

Cheapest window: May, June and September. July–August is hotter but still cheap by European standards.

Cheap destination 4: UK holiday parks

For school-age families who can't take term-time holidays, UK parks can beat equivalent packages abroad — but only if you avoid the two most expensive August weeks. Haven Platinum caravans in mid-August run £1,400–£2,000; the last week of August can drop 30–40%.

Best for: young families avoiding flights, short midweek breaks and weather-tolerant weeks at Butlin's or Haven. Not when guaranteed sun is the goal — Egypt or Turkey undercut once food and drinks are included.

Cheapest window: last week of August, first week of September, or midweek June if your school allows it.

The four rules of a genuinely cheap 2026 holiday

The cheapest week is almost never the first one your school breaks up — fly the last week if you can.
All-inclusive is only cheap if the package is honest — check drinks, à la carte restaurants and aqua park access.
Visa maths matters: Egypt $30 per person; Turkey and Bosnia visa-free for UK passport holders.
Book early (90+ days) or genuinely last-minute (10–14 days) — the middle window is usually most expensive.

At a glance: four cheap destinations that work in 2026

Destination	Best for	Rough weekly cost (2 adults, all-in)	Cheapest window 2026
Egypt (Hurghada, Sharm)	Winter sun, 5-star AI for 3-star prices elsewhere	£600–£1,200 pp AI	October–March, mid-August
Turkey (Antalya, Marmaris)	Summer beach AI with genuine value	£550–£1,100 pp AI	Last week of August, September
Bosnia (Sarajevo, Mostar)	Culture and scenery at hostel-level prices	£350–£700 pp B&B	May, June, September
UK holiday parks	Families who can't or won't fly	£500–£1,400 per family	Last week of August, early September

DealStays verdict

Cheap doesn't always mean good, and expensive doesn't always mean bad. Egypt is genuinely cheap and genuinely good. Bosnia is cheap and different. Turkey is cheap and popular for reasons that make sense. The UK is cheap only if you time it right. Compare current offers on the destinations below — the cheap package is the one where everything you'll actually use is priced in.

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Frequently asked questions

Where can I go on holiday for under £500 per person in summer 2026?: Realistically Turkey outside school-holiday peak, Egypt including school holidays (mid-August is a genuine bargain), and Bosnia city breaks. A UK holiday park is also achievable under £500 per person if you avoid the two most expensive August weeks.
Which country is cheapest for a UK family of four in July or August 2026?: Egypt on package price. A five-star Hurghada all-inclusive week for two adults and two children typically comes in around £2,000–£2,600 all-in for mid-August. Turkey lands around £2,400–£3,200 for equivalent quality.
Is Bosnia safe for tourists?: Yes. Sarajevo and Mostar are established tourist cities and most visits are trouble-free throughout the last decade.
Is Egypt still a good idea in 2026?: For Red Sea coast resorts — Hurghada, Sharm, El Gouna, Marsa Alam — yes. Check current FCDO travel advice before booking; advice against specific inland areas does not apply to the resort strips UK travellers visit.
What's the cheapest all-inclusive destination from the UK?: Egypt outside peak, Turkey during peak. From November to April, Egypt is dramatically cheaper than anywhere else accessible from the UK.
How much should I budget for a two-person Bosnia city break?: €100–€130 per person per day mid-range, or €45–€60 budget. A seven-night trip lands between £350 and £700 per person all in, excluding flights.
Is it worth booking a UK holiday for the last week of August?: Yes — Haven and Parkdean prices drop noticeably as many families travel earlier, and parks are meaningfully quieter.
When should I book to get the best price on a summer 2026 holiday?: Either at least 90 days ahead or 10–14 days before departure. Four to eight weeks out is usually the most expensive window.