Tag Archives: budget

Where to find Turkey’s laidback budget villages

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Monday, 14 October 2013 04:32

Turkey has become an increasingly popular holiday destination for Brits, but despite the growth of its coastal resorts there are still some lovely, peaceful fishing villages that are a much more authentic option for a break in the country.

Another reason why these villages are such good choices for a holiday in Turkey, aside from their authenticity, is the price. Typically staying in one of these small seaside destinations is cheaper than heading to the larger resorts, so it’s great if you’re looking for a break on a budget.

We’ll talk a bit about how to plan a holiday without a lot of cash, as well as where you can stay.

Finding the best holiday deals

To make sure your money goes as far as possible, you need to do some careful planning before you jet off. Checking for deals on flights and accommodation is the obvious place to start – Jewel in the Crown Holidays is a great company to check out if you’re looking for hotels in the quieter villages.

Don’t forget to set aside some funds to cover everyday costs such as eating out and transport (if you want to go on day trips). While it can be tough to budget for these things before you travel, you should be able to get a rough idea of how much things cost with a bit of research. You can also ask your tour company for some advice about the price of food and tours.

Where to stay on the Turquoise Coast

There are some exceptional villages on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast and there are great places to stay that won’t cost the earth. We’ve put together a bit of information about a few of the best:

• Selimiye – Selimiye is the picture-perfect Mediterranean fishing village, with its small harbour, traditional boats, white-washed houses and olive trees growing in the street. There are two small bays and a larger beach here, so there are plenty of places to sunbathe and swim – great free activities. Selimiye is also home to a good selection of restaurants and one of its most interesting features is its small Gulet shipyards where traditional boats are still made. If you don’t mind walking, there are some lovely places to explore just outside Selimiye, such as the ruins of a medieval castle and a waterfall in the hills.
• Ovacik – This is one of the most inexpensive holiday destinations on this part of Turkey’s coast, making it a fantastic option if you’re on a budget. The bay here is truly stunning, with its lovely sweep of white sand backed by pine-covered hills. What’s really great about Ovacik is that it’s close to the more popular holiday spots of Olu Deniz and Hisaronu. There’s a dolmus service between them, so it’s easy to go for a day trip to either without having to spend a lot of money. Olu Deniz is particularly picturesque, thanks to its striking blue lagoon.
• Turunc – Turunc is another sleepy village with good connections to livelier resorts – this time Icmeler and Marmaris. These two are easy to reach by dolmus and the boat ride itself is an experience because of the spectacular mountain scenery that backs the coast. Let’s get back to Turnuc, though, which has a lovely sand and shingle beach, as well as a seaside promenade. The water is generally calm, so it’s a good place for families.
 

Why is Majorca so popular for budget holidays?

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Friday, 09 August 2013 06:32

When it comes to finding a decent holiday destination that doesn’t cost the earth to visit, Majorca is a fantastic choice. Today, we are going to take a look at what makes this Balearic Island such an enduringly popular place – and how it fits into your budget.

Wonderful weather and great beaches

While the fact that Majorca has great weather might be a fairly obvious observation, it is nonetheless one of the key factors in Majorca’s popularity. In fact, the destination sees an impressive 300 days of sunshine a year, which makes it a really reliable choice if you’re looking for an affordable location that delivers.

What’s more, it’s also quite flexible; even in winter the temperature averages about 10 degrees C, so you’re very unlikely to experience that sharp chill that’s so familiar in the UK. What this means in terms of organising your holiday is that there’s never really a bad time to visit, so you could book your break based on the cheapest flight rates you can find, which will usually be out of season.

Of course, with 550 km of glorious coastline beaches are a massive draw for tourists too. Indeed, Majorca is particularly good for families thanks to its abundance of Blue Flag beaches, which include Cala Barques in Pollenca, Cala Ferrera in Felanitx and Cala Major in Palma.

Varied accommodation

Another advantage for budget travellers to be aware of is that Majorca has an excellent variety of accommodation. For example, you can find lots of family-friendly hotels that are kind to your wallet, while self-catered villas are another option.

All-inclusive hotel packages can help you keep track of your money, as well as potentially save you some cash (though you should remember to think about how much you’re getting for your money). Self-catered villas, meanwhile, offer the opportunity to cook frugal meals and thereby cut down your overall holiday spend; you can see some of your options for both hotels and villas on this website.

Low-cost attractions

One of the keys to keeping within your budget is to pick low-cost attractions to visit. Fortunately, there are plenty of great options in Majorca.

For instance, just a short bus ride (around 3 km) outside the capital is Bellver Castle – a fabulous Gothic fortification that dates back to the 14th century. This round fortress costs just a few euros to enter and is free for children under 14, and has the added attraction of offering wonderful views across the local area (thanks to its hilltop position).

Affordable activities

If you like the idea of getting out and stretching your legs in the sun, you need not worry this will mean breaking the bank. For instance, bring some decent walking boots with you and you can go hiking in the S’Albufera Natural Park, or the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range.

Alternatively, hit the beach for a swim (Cala Ferrera and Cala Major both have quite calm water) or a spot of snorkelling. If you want to splurge on a little treat, meanwhile, consider going on a boat trip around the island’s scenic north coast. These often leave from Alcudia Port and go to Formentor Beach, which is one of the prettiest on the island. You should be able to spend some time here splashing about in the water or just soaking up the sun.

End of summer sunshine: where to go for a budget break

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Monday, 16 September 2013 02:30

If you’re yet to organise your summer getaway, now’s the time to crack on with your planning. By leaving it late you’ll have the opportunity to snap up some last-minute deals, and there are a few destinations that combine bargain prices with amazing attractions.

We have listed some of our favourite places for holidays in the sun in 2013 below.

Majorca

With 550 km of coastline and a sunny climate, Majorca is a natural choice for a short-haul getaway before autumn arrives. One of the nice things about going on holiday here is that there is a good balance between beaches, natural wonders and cultural attractions, which means it’s easy to have a varied and interesting break.

Of course, hitting the beach is one of the cheapest ways to enjoy the sun – especially if you do a little forward planning and bring a picnic with you. In terms of where to go, Cala Llombards on the south-west coast is extremely pretty and great for snorkelling, while Es Trenc in Campos is conveniently close to the capital Palma.

Speaking of Palma, make sure you spend some time exploring this exciting city. You don’t need to break the bank – just stroll around the streets and soak up the atmosphere, popping into the occasional attraction like the Gothic Majorca Cathedral.

Tenerife

Tenerife has long been a popular holiday destination, and there are loads of reasons to come here. Like Majorca, this Canary Island has something to offer all sorts of people.

For example, beach lovers will feel right at home at destinations like Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos, while Las Teresitas Beach is beautiful and perfect for snorkelling.

If you prefer activities like hiking and cycling to spending time on the beach, you won’t be disappointed by visits to Teide National Park – home to the island’s highest peak, Mount Teide – and Corona Forestal Nature Park. For golfers there are plenty of courses to try out, including Golf Costa Adeje, while families are well catered for too.

Indeed, if you’re travelling with the kids you’ll have some great choices like spending a day splashing about in Siam Park – a Thai-themed water park – and spotting animals in Loro Parque.

Lanzarote

Our final choice is another of the Canary Islands – this time Lanzarote. Renowned for its lunar-like landscape, this is also a destination that has an excellent reputation for its weather and beaches.

However, there are also plenty of cultural attractions to be discovered. For instance, the Cesar Manrique Foundation is definitely a must-visit for art lovers, since you can explore his former home and see a host of works by both the man himself and other artists, including Picasso.

Many people don’t realise that Manrique was also a skilled architect, and when exploring the foundation you can get an idea of his abilities, with many of the rooms being created from volcanic bubbles that occurred naturally in the terrain.

It’s also well worth visiting Timanfaya National Park, where you can fully appreciate just how impressive the island’s volcanic landscape is. Head up to the Montana Rajada natural viewing point, from where you’ll be able to see over the strange lava formations all the way out to sea.

The Isle of Wight: a great choice for budget holidays

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Wednesday, 18 September 2013 11:13

Working out how to have a decent holiday on a budget can often feel like a chore – but it doesn’t have to if you choose the right destination. The Isle of Wight is absolutely perfect for wallet-friendly travel, and you can find out why below.

Self-catered cottages

One of the great things about the Isle of Wight is that it has plenty of affordable accommodation, with some of the easiest on the purse strings being self-catered cottages. You can find out more about these here, but they can prove particularly cost-effective if you’re travelling as a group, since you can divide the total bill between you all.

Another way that self-catered lodgings can help you save a few pounds is that since you’ll be buying your own food, you’ll have much more control over how much you spend. After all, being compelled to eat out every lunchtime and evening – as you often are at hotels – can quickly make the overall cost of your break skyrocket.

Free attractions

Another benefit of picking the Isle of Wight as your destination is that there are so many ways to entertain yourself that cost nothing at all. The beaches are perhaps the most obvious option, as these are what the island is famous for.

Its mild weather and high number of award-winning beaches make this one of the best places to hit the coast in the UK. Look out for stretches with Blue Flag or Seaside Awards for the best experiences – Shanklin, Sandown and Ventnor are all popular and excellent choices.

Sandown is one of the most famous on the island and is well known for its gorgeous sweep of golden sand and pleasure pier, as well as the fact that it’s perfect for surfing. Ventnor Beach, meanwhile, is home to charming little Victorian beach huts and is ideal for swimming.

Sitting above the shores of Ventnor is the town of the same name, and it’s in this area you’ll find another of the island’s best free attractions – Ventnor Botanic Garden. This is no ordinary garden; it’s located in ‘Undercliff’ area, which has a unique microclimate protected from cold winds by chalk downs.

What this means is that it has a much warmer – and often wetter – climate than the rest of the island, similar to the weather you’d expect in the Mediterranean. So, you can peruse all kinds of plants from across the world, including as far afield as Australia and New Zealand.

For those of you travelling with children, it’s also worth noting there’s a lovely picnic area here with a playground right next to it, which makes it easy to save on food costs and keep the kids entertained.

If you’re an active person, you should also bear in mind that the Isle of Wight is a walkers’ paradise – and, of course, a nice stroll costs nothing. There are more than 500 miles of paths on the island, and the beauty of these is that they’re well maintained and varied, which means you have a wide choice of coastal trails and inland walks.

The Isle of Wight Coastal Path is the most famous walking route on the island, spanning just under 70 miles in total. You can tackle this in its entirety if you wish, but if you’d rather just spend a morning or afternoon hiking then you can pick a shorter section of it. Indeed, there are plenty of little trails marked out within it, such as the Brighstone to Niton walk, which is 8 miles long.