7 affordable holiday destinations to explore in 2024

Jessica Baldwin

Jessica Baldwin

With millions feeling the squeeze, many travellers want even more holiday for their money this year, whether they're exploring Europe on a shoestring or looking to bag a cracking deal on their next long-haul adventure.

Seated Buddha at Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
Seated Buddha at Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka © Rafal Cichawa - Fotolia.com

With low-cost airlines competing on price and some currencies struggling, picking the right destination can save you big bucks, leaving you more cash to spend on seafront suppers, epic excursions and a touch of holiday haggling.

We've pulled together seven incredible destinations which offer you more bang for your buck. Whether you're after a budget beach break, a once-in-a-lifetime safari or want to join the penny-pinching powder hounds on Europe's cheapest slopes, this money-saving guide has something for you.

Getting there: find great value escapes to destinations worldwide with First Choice*.

Explore Sri Lanka's must-see sights by train

With affordable guesthouses, inexpensive restaurants and prime surf, Sri Lanka* is one of the Indian Ocean's best-value beach destinations. And, with the Sri Lankan Rupee continuing to struggle, right now you get even more for your money.

But there's more to this tiny island than tropical beaches; it's crammed with memorable experiences from whale-watching off Mirissa and spotting leopards in Yala National Park to walking Jaffna Fort's historic walls and touring the mist-shrouded tea plantations.

The best bit? Many of Sri Lanka's top sights can be reached easily (and cheaply) by its famous trains where jaw-dropping scenery comes as part and parcel. Put off by pricy flights? Fly via India and you could bag two bargain destinations for the price of one, and save a few bob along the way.

Climate in Colombo

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Voyage along Turkey's Turquoise Coast

A-listers may flock there for teeth and tummy tucks, but there's more to Turkey* than spangly gnashers. Stradling both Asia and Europe, it's a thrilling melting pot of cuisines and cultures bursting with bucket-list experiences, from hot air balloon rides above otherworldly Cappadocia and haggling in Istanbul*'s bustling bazaars to floating between continents along the Bosporus.

Gorgeous Kaputas Beach, Kas
Gorgeous Kaputas Beach, Kas © Haluk Cigsar - Dreamstime.com

But for spellbinding beaches on a budget, you can't beat the Turquoise Coast*. Backed by tomb-speckled mountains and dotted with Ottoman ruins, it boasts turtle-peppered shores and the bluest of seas, rich with epic dive sites.

Escape the big resorts for bohemian Kas, where candle-lit restaurants hide behind bougainvillea-shrouded doorways and ancient sarcophagi litter the streets; with the lira struggling, you get even more for your money this year.

Climate in Kas

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Connect with nature in Gambia

Africa's smallest country is often overlooked as a holiday destination, but with sprawling palm-backed beaches and endless sunshine, Gambia*'s Atlantic Coast beach resorts prove popular with budget-conscious sunseekers.

Inland, the Makasutu Culture Forest gives adventurous travellers a taste of an African safari at a fraction of the price. Forget scanning for lions; days here are spent swimming with exotic birds or floating along the majestic creek, filled with popping oysters and the odd crocodile.

On dry land, you'll find yourself following troops of swaggering baboons along the forest paths, as screeching monkeys swing overhead. Located between the forest and the creek, pint-size Mandina River Lodge allows overnight guests to revel in endless river excursions, forest adventures and birdwatching trips.

Don't miss the incredible street art movement 'Wide Open Walls', taking place in the nearby village of Kubuneh.

Climate in Banjul

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Looking for a great value city break? See which cities are the cheapest to visit when it comes to accommodation, food, drink and transport.

Find free fun in the Algarve, Portugal

Serviced by a bevvy of low-cost airlines, Portugal* is one of 2024's best-value destinations for sun, sand and Atlantic surf. Factor in pocket-friendly dining, affordable hotels and 300 days of sunshine and it's easy to see why millions of sunseekers flock to its family-friendly resorts each year.

But there's more to the Algarve* than great beaches; there are peaceful islands, thriving wetlands, thermal springs and charming hilltop towns to discover. Plus, many of the area's best experiences are totally free.

Check out colourful street art in Lagos*, take a free guided walking tour through Faro* (don't miss the bone chapel), spot flamingos along the Ria Formosa National Park's Ludo Trail and gaze at the salt pans of Tavira* (time it right and they'll be a wonderful candy-floss pink) - all without spending a euro!

Climate in Faro

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Retreat to bohemian Essaouira, Morocco

Flanked by the raging Atlantic, wave-lashed Essaouira in west Morocco* dazzles with a UNESCO-listed medina, an action-packed beach and a vibrant arts scene. Horses gallop along the sweeping golden sands and kite surfers dot the horizon as the shisha-filled streets buzz with galleries and open studios.

Gleaming walls of Essaouira's Medina
Gleaming walls of Essaouira's Medina © Antonel - Adobe Stock Image

Above it all, hide laidback rooftop restaurants and boho chill-out bars; it's no wonder Mick Jagger and Jimi Hendrix retreated here in the swinging sixties.

For an authentic stay, rent an affordable riad like Dar Qawi, which treats guests to an impressive traditional breakfast on its roof terrace each morning, leaving you more dirhams for haggling, hammams and horse riding.

Climate in Essaouira

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Discover the Albanian Riviera

Despite an increase in tourism, Albania* remains an un-trumpeted destination of majestic peaks, jewel-hued lakes, sweet Ottoman-era towns and the odd UNESCO World Heritage Site to boot.

Find great-value beaches in Albania
Find great-value beaches in Albania © Aleksandar Todorovic - Adobe Stock Image

But it's the pearly-white sandy beaches and astonishingly low prices that make Albania one of Europe's hottest budget beach destinations for 2024.

Now is the perfect time to visit this Balkan beauty; despite various beach resorts popping up, its coastline remains less developed and more affordable than its Greek neighbour, and you can still find a slap-up bistro meal for under a tenner.

While the lack of an airport near the southern beaches helps keep hordes at bay, the speedy ferry crossing from nearby Corfu makes it a doddle to reach.

Keen hiker? Head north to the Albanian Alps, which offer incredible trails with mountain villages to explore along the way.

Climate in Sarande

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Say Buongiorno to great value skiing

Skiing doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. For years, penny-pinching powder hounds have bypassed the razmataz of glitzy Gstaad and picture-perfect Zermatt in favour of cheaper pistes, further east.

However, this year, those after Europe's best-value skiing will be heading to the town of Bardonecchia. Flanked by snowy peaks, "Bardo" (as it is known locally) is just over an hour from elegant Turin* in northern Italy*, from where you can train it for less than a tenner.

Here, in the heart of the Piedmontese Mountains, you'll find five-star ski holidays at three-star prices, and with award-winning local wines and world-class truffles, it more than delivers when it comes to après ski dining too.

When not on the slopes, stroll the cobbled old town, peruse the historic markets or savour a cracking Barolo in one of Bardo's cosy eateries.

Bardonecchia snow report (ski season)

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The Bardonecchia snow report shows potential for good quality snow for each week of the ski season based on 15 years of historical observations.

Ready to book your next affordable escape? Browse the current online offers from First Choice, which has deals worldwide for all budgets.

First Choice: Low deposits & flexible payments on holidays in 2024/2025

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Jessica Baldwin

Jessica Baldwin

Posted on Wednesday 20th March 2024 in: Africa Asia Beach Culture Europe Travel tips UK

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