Short haul
Portugal
October temperatures: 23°C high/15°C low
Portugal is one of the least expensive countries in western Europe, where the cost of living is significantly lower – as much as 30 per cent less – than the UK. In the Algarve, temperatures are comfortably warm into winter and lively resorts such as Albufeira will have mellowed after a busy summer season. Head west towards Sagres or east to Tavira and things get quieter still. According to the Post Office’s most recent Family Holiday Report, the Algarve represents the best value for money across 13 Eurozone destinations. Self-catering is the sweet spot here – supermarket prices are generally slightly cheaper than the UK, while mains at restaurants will usually give you change from €10 (£8.70).
Thomas Cook has a week’s self-catering at the Santa Eulália Hotel Apartamento & Spa from £417pp, with Manchester flights on 23 October
Madeira
October temperatures: 25°C/19°C
This Atlantic island is typically a little more expensive to get to than Continental destinations, but prices on the ground are comparable to those on mainland Portugal, sometimes cheaper. For that little bit extra, you get warmer weather, lush landscapes and a great launch point for whale- and dolphin-spotting. Head up into the mountains for mouthwatering espetada kebabs at rustic restaurants that cost around €11 and will fill you up for the rest of the day, providing energy for hiking in the hills.
Lastminute.com has a week’s B&B at the Pestana Carlton Madeira Premium Ocean Resort from £679pp, with Luton flights on 1 October.
Malta
October temperatures: 25°C/17°C
Malta can be expensive during the summer but prices tumble during the shoulder seasons, with savings of up to 75 per cent. Basing yourself in quieter coastal villages such as Mellieha in the north – from where you can hike to Ghadira Nature Reserve or enjoy the golden sandy beaches – can often mean cheaper accommodation and restaurants, too.
Mercury Holidays has a week at the Maritim Antonine Hotel and Spa in Mellieha from £230pp, including Luton flights on 31 October
Travel can be very cheap on Koh Lanta in Thailand (Photo: lechatnoir/Getty Images)
Greece
October temperatures: 23C°/15°C
The Greek capital was recently revealed as Europe’s cheapest city-break destination, according to the Post Office’s annual City Costs Barometer report. With the price of a dozen typical holiday purchases and two nights at a three-star hotel included, the study found that the average bill for a two-night city break in Athens was £207.18. Hiking up to the ruins of the Acropolis, visiting the interactive museum and lounging on one of the 13 sandy beaches of the Athens Riviera will easily fill a weekend. Or, for a low-cost Saturday morning activity, trawl one of the local markets.
Olympic Holidays offers a seven-night holiday at the Marathon Beach Resort in Nea Makri on the Athens Riviera from £556pp with Gatwick flights on 12 October
Mid-haul
Morocco
October temperatures: 28°C/15°C
With a favourable exchange rate and general low cost of living, Morocco can be very budget-friendly – but only if you get out of the big resorts and international hotels. Food in casual cafes can cost less than £5 a meal, although expect to pay above the odds for alcohol.
Visitors must show proof of Covid vaccination or a negative test. Ryanair, Wizz and easyJet all fly to Marrakech from as little as £20 one way, while local guest houses, such as Hotel Riad Todos, start from less than £100 a night
Tenerife
October temperatures: 26°C/20°C
Tenerife is generally considered the cheapest of the Canaries thanks to a plentiful supply of flights and hotel rooms. In October, for example, flights start from £26 one way. Although Gran Canaria is only a smidge more at £28 one way, there are fewer activities to choose from. Costs on the ground are low, too. Beers cost as little as €1.50 (£1.30), and many restaurants offer a menú del día for €10 (£8.70) or less, which usually includes a starter, main and drink. The island’s star attraction – Teide National Park – is also free to visit.
Visitors must show proof of Covid vaccination or a negative test. Tui has a week’s self-catering at Tui Suneo Tamaimo Tropical resort in Puerto de Santiago from £355pp, with East Midlands flights on 17 October
More from Travel
Turkey
October temperatures: 27°C/14°C
Antalya is one of the best-value destinations for all-inclusive holidays at four- or five-star hotels, making it a great option for half term, although food in local restaurants is affordable and delicious. Car hire and taxis are both expensive but local buses are regular and cheap – useful for exploring the many glorious beaches along the Turquoise Coast, and ancient landmarks such as Hadrian’s Gate and the ruined cities of Aspendos, Olympos and Phaselis. Southall Travel offers six nights’ all-inclusive at the Granada Luxury Okurcalar from £759pp,with Heathrow flights on 23 October
Antalya is a great choice for an autumn escape (Photo: Emad Aljumah/Getty)
Egypt
October temperatures: 32°C/24°C
A decent meal out will rarely cost more than £10pp in the popular Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh, but drinks can be expensive, especially imported spirits. For divers, this is one of the cheapest and best resorts, but it’s also a great place to enjoy the beaches, easy snorkelling, and trips up into Mount Sinai. Remember that when looking for souvenirs, some gentle haggling is expected.
Padi offers six nights’ all-inclusive at the Reef Oasis Beach Resort, with eight boat dives, from £1,338pp excluding flights
Tunisia
November temperatures: 21°C/14°C
A fly-and-flop destination with busy souks and impressive mosques, Sousse, on the east coast of Tunisia, is very budget-friendly. Britons benefit from a favourable exchange rate but the cost of living is lower, too; a meal out for two might cost as little as £15, while beers are around £1.
Visitors must show proof of Covid vaccination or a negative test. Sunshine.co.uk offers a seven-night all-inclusive break at the Occidental Sousse Marhaba from £224pp, with Gatwick flights on 28 November
UAE
November temperatures: 32°C/17°C
Often overlooked by visitors who flock to the Emirates of Dubai or Abu Dhabi, Ras Al-Khaimah has built its recent tourism reputation on adventure (it’s home to the world’s longest zipline and the highest peak in the UAE, Jebel Jais). Its lack of obvious glitz also means prices tend to be much more competitive. Drinks are expensive, but food can be very reasonable if you look beyond the big hotels – meals at restaurants can start from as little as £2. However, the World Cup in Qatar will push up air fares to the Gulf between 20 November and 18 December.
Visitors must show proof of Covid vaccination or a negative test. Emirates Holidays has five nights’ B&B at the Hampton by Hilton Marjan Island from £836pp with Gatwick flights on 5 October. Two under-12s stay and eat free until 31 October
Bacalar is a low-key alternative to chi-chi Tulum in Mexico (Photo: Marco Bottigelli/Getty)
Long haul
South Africa
November temperatures: 25°C/15°C
The exchange rate is the big advantage for Britons in South Africa right now – it’s currently 20 rand to the pound (a decade ago it was hovering between 10 and 15). It means that for casual dining, you won’t need more than £10, and it’s even cheaper if you go for street food. Flights are always expensive but accommodation can be reasonable.
Virgin Atlantic is restarting its seasonal direct flights to Cape Town in November; Lufthansa has flights via Munich from £435pp in November
Thailand
November temperatures: 32°C/24°C
An essential stop on the backpacker route for a reason, this culture and beach big-hitter is very budget-friendly. Street food in Bangkok costs as little as £1 and most temples are free to visit. Some tuk-tuk drivers will even offer free city tours in exchange for visiting one of their affiliated shops. In the north, Chiang Mai, home to hundreds of temples, makes a popular twin-centre break – while heading south to the beaches and islands is an undeniable draw. Bus travel is cheap, and there is a good supply of budget accommodation; aim for resorts such as Ao Nang or the island of Koh Lanta Yai.
Visitors must show proof of Covid vaccination or a negative test. Intrepid’s eight-day Explore Northern Thailand group tour starts at £668pp excluding flights
India
November temperatures: 34°C/21°C
You can go as budget-friendly or as luxurious as you want in India. For an average restaurant, expect to pay around £10pp, while street food is even more affordable. Taxis are cheap, too, though be prepared for traffic in urban areas. A short walk from the luxurious Taj hotel in Mumbai is the stylish Abode Bombay, which has doubles from R3,500 (£40), while there are elegant heritage guest houses dotted all over coastal areas such as Goa, Kerala and Pondicherry, with rooms costing around £50.
Visitors must show proof of Covid vaccination or a negative test and fill out an Air Suvidha Declaration Form. Connecting flights to Mumbai typically cost less than £500, on airlines such as Gulf Air. G Adventures has a week-long Kerala Beaches and Backwaters group tour from £404pp excluding flights
Goan guesthouses are usually very good value (Photo: Andreas von Einsiedel/Getty)
Mexico
November temperatures: 29°C/21°C
Flights to Mexico can be expensive, but once you’ve landed, prices are very reasonable. Budget around £15pp for a meal at a mid-range restaurant and £2 for a beer. Public transport and taxis are both cheap, so venturing outside the resorts should be easy. Aim for the lagoon of Bacalar as an alternative to chi-chi Tulum – rustic guesthouses such as Los Aluxes have rooms from £70. South of busy Puerto Vallarta, Yelapa is a quiet beach retreat where guesthouses cost around £50.
Responsible Travel offers a 12-day tour featuring Mexico City and Yucatan from £1,940pp excluding flights
Vietnam
November temperatures: 26°C/23°C
Vietnam has a low cost of living compared to the UK and the pound will stretch far when dining out. An average meal costs around £4 in the big cities. A seven-night stay in a five-star hotel in Hanoi at the end of October starts from around £470, compared to more than £1,000 in Singapore, which enjoys similar temperatures at this time of year. Group tours can be a cost-effective way to combine some of the country’s major sites. In 10 days you could see the pagodas, markets and Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City, cross part of the Truong Son Mountains via the scenic Hai Van Pass and cruise Halong Bay, with its impressive limestone karsts.
A 10-day Simply Vietnam tour including accommodation, transfers and some meals starts at £540pp, excluding flights. Departs 23 October
