DREAMING of a luxurious 5-star all-inclusive holiday, but not wanting to break the bank?
It turns out you don’t need to fork out on Ibiza, Mykonos or Saint Tropez to lounge at a glamorous beach club or enjoy a five-star stay this year.
You can bag a week-long all-inclusive stay at the Carine Hotel Kumbor for £439pp Credit: Trip Advisor
Rooms at the adults-only Caves Beach Resort in Hurghada are themed with a luxurious feel Credit: Trip Advisor
Luckily, there are some lesser-known European spots where you can live the high life on holiday for much less.
We’re talking glittering marinas, trendy rooftop bars, boat trips on clear water bays and beaches that look like the world’s most expensive hotspots – but for a fraction of the price.
With cocktails under £3 and shockingly affordable five-star stays, here are the holiday spots where your money goes the furthest.
Durres, Albania
You can book an all-inclusive stay at the Royal G Max hotel in Durres, Albania for £429pp Credit: Trip Advisor
If you want a holiday that feels like five-star luxury without the price tags of Ibiza or Mykonos, Durres feels like the ultimate cheat code.
This stunning stretch of the Adriatic coast has quickly transformed into a high-end hotspot packed with glam beachfront clubs and bars.
Head to Jattvibeset Bar for an outdoor drinking spot that lets the views do all the talking – and where cocktails cost as little as 300 lek (£2.75).
Here, comfy striped sofas look out to a stretch of glimmering sea on Albania‘s Adriatic coast that has fantastic sunsets.
Another affordable but luxurious spot is Illyrian Garden, a 360° rooftop bar with a secret garden-themed terrace.
Cocktails here start at 500 lek, which works out to roughly £4.60.
It’s also worth visiting this spot in the daytime to sip a strong local coffee and soak up the rays.
Plus, the hotels in Durres offer a luxurious, five-star feel for a fraction of the price. We found a deal for an all-inclusive week away that works out to £62pp per night.
The deal
If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue
The 5-star Royal G Max hotel has a private stretch of soft sand beach, a large spa with a sauna and hot tub, plus several swimming pools.
If you like a sun lounger holiday where you can lazily drift between the pool and the sea in a glamorous setting, this is it.
Book a seven-night, all-inclusive stay at the five-star Royal G Max from £429pp
BOOK HERE
Turquoise Coast, Turkey
Bag a seven-night all-inclusive stay at the 5* Solivia Hotel in Antalya for £490pp Credit: Trip Advisor
For a taste of the high life that won’t drain your savings, Turkey’s sun-drenched Turquoise Coast offers spectacular value.
There are plenty of holiday spots to pick from along the Turkish coast, but there are two particularly affordable areas.
Antalya is the king of the mega resort – here, ultra all-inclusive packages mean round-the-clock pampering, top-tier dining, and huge pool complexes for low prices.
It’s a fantastic area for families, with the Land of Legends theme park resort on your doorstep in Belek, as well as unique attractions like the Antalya Toy Museum and shallow water beaches like Lara Beach.
If you prefer a chic escape with glitzy bars and a vibrant marina, head to the Aegean side to Bodrum.
Bodrum delivers a Saint Tropez feel on a budget, with a waterfront lined with glamorous bars and lounges facing yachts.
It’s hard to go wrong whichever spot you choose on the Turquoise Coast. A budget-friendly meal out averages at £5.88 in Bodrum and £6.20 in Antalya, according to Wise.
The deal
If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue
The Solivia Hotel is a sprawling five-star property in Antalya, with a Blue Flag private beach, action-packed entertainment and four swimming pools (including a dedicated kids pool and splash zone).
The food and drink is all inclusive done right. There’s an extensive buffet in the main restaurant, plus a beach snack bar, pool bar, unlimited ice cream hour and Turkish coffee on tap.
Book a seven-night, all-inclusive stay at the five-star Solivia Hotel from £490pp
BOOK HERE
Hurghada, Egypt
The adults-only Caves Beach Resort in Hurghada has unique themed rooms and is steps from the beach Credit: Trip Advisor
Red Sea hotspot Hurghada is a great-value alternative to further flung destinations, offering year-round sunshine and affordable all-inclusive hotels.
Away from the resorts, you can snorkel world-famous pristine reefs, or set sail to the sandy Giftun Islands and go dolphin watching on a boat trip that can cost as little as £20.
Considering you have endless soft sand beaches and exciting water activities on your doorstep, prices here are surprisingly cheap.
According to Wise, a meal out at an inexpensive restaurant averages at £2.82, and a beer can cost you as little as 83p.
Plus there’s plenty of attractions here for families, including waterparks like Jungle Aqua Park and Makadi Water World, as well as activities like parasailing and dune buggies on sites such as GetYourGuide.
The deal
If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue
The adults-only, five-star Caves Beach Resort is a truly unique place to stay in sunny Hurghada.
Cave-themed rooms will keep you cool, with textured stone walls and leopard print bedding. Outside, take a dip in one of three pools and watch the waterfalls rush and palms sway.
You’re also just steps from the beach, where there’s water sports and snorkelling available in the clear, sparkling water of the Red Sea.
Book a seven-night, all-inclusive stay at the Caves Beach Resort, Hurghada from £549pp
BOOK HERE
Bay of Kotor, Montenegro
Stroll through a cobbled medieval town with a stunning mountain backdrop in Perast at the Bay of Kotor Credit: Getty
For jaw-dropping landscapes, reliable sunshine and luxurious hotels for cheap, try a trip to the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro.
The scenery here has the dramatic feel of the Norwegian fjords, mixed with the sunshine and glamour of the Italian lakes.
The crystal-clear bay is framed by towering limestone cliffs, backed by cobblestone medieval towns such as Kotor and Perast – perfect for an afternoon of exploring.
Montenegro itself remains incredibly wallet-friendly compared to other European spots with dramatic landscapes, such as Switzerland.
Head to the Old Town Pub Kotor for €5 (£4.31) cocktails, and go out for dinner guilt-free with your pick of budget-friendly restaurants. A meal out can cost you just £8.63 per person, according to Wise.
You can easily spend your days here cruising on water taxis for less than a tenner or simply hiking and exploring beautiful coastal trails completely for free.
Plus, you can absolutely book yourself into a super sleek all-inclusive hotel on a budget.
The deal
If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue
The stylish Carine Hotel Kumbor sits close to the hotspots of Kotor Bay, Herceg Novi and the Portonovi Marina, leaving you perfectly positioned to explore the local area.
This hotel has its own sprawling spa and even its own casino, as well as beach club access for all guests.
This hotel is also ideal for families, with a kids club for ages 4 – 12 and beach toys and inflatables available for hire.
Book a seven-night, all-inclusive stay at the Carine Hotel Kumbor from £439pp
BOOK HERE
Sveti Vlas, Bulgaria
The Soul Beach Bar offers glamorous daybeds and loungers from around £4pp per day Credit: bar.bg
Sveti Vlas sits on Bulgaria‘s Black Sea coast, where the green slopes of the Balkan Mountains sweep down to the water.
This sophisticated pocket of Bulgaria is the classy, tranquil sibling to the neighbouring party hub of Jattvibeny Beach.
Explore the buzz of the Marina Dinevi, where you can stroll past yachts, dine at waterfront restaurants, and lounge at trendy beach clubs that mimic the upscale vibes of Marbella or Ibiza.
Soul Beach Bar offers huge, pristine white daybeds on the sand with fresh fruit cocktails and glowing lanterns.
Renting a sunbed here costs a super-affordable 10 – 15 BGN (around £4 – £6) per person per day.
Because your money goes incredibly far here, you can tuck into fresh seafood platters, sip cocktails on plush daybeds and grab those Instagram pictures guilt-free.
We found a deal for a week-long all-inclusive stay in a five-star hotel in Sveti Vlas for £57 per person per night.
The deal
If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue
The Grand Hotel Sveti Vlas resort in Bulgaria overlooks the beautiful Black Sea, just a stone’s throw from the beach.
The site boasts three pools, a large spa and fitness centre, three restaurants and a poolside bar serving delicious iced cocktails.
Sveti Vlas beach is a five-minute walk away, while the buzz of Jattvibeny Beach can be reached with a five-minute taxi ride.
Plus, sprawling waterpark Action Aquapark is a 10-minute drive away, perfect for little ones who love to make a splash.
Book a seven-night, all-inclusive stay at the five-star Grand Hotel Sveti Vlas from £399pp
BOOK HERE
*Prices correct at the time of publication
