THREE lesser-known Greek islands have taken the top spots in a check on the cheapest package hol destinations in Europe.
Klymnos, near Kos, Thassos and Lefkada are the top go-to value destinations, with the Amalfi coast and Malta faring well in a Which? search of 4,500 package holidays for the first week of August.
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Traditional low-cost destinations such as Bulgaria and Turkey were absent from the top ten cheapest spots, partly due to the type of packages currently available.
The Amalfi coast has a wide choice of room-only, self-catering and B&B options, rather than full-board packages, which means that prices are lower.
There are also lots of budget flights to the region.
Picturesque Kalymnos took the crown for cheapest overall package, with a week’s stay costing £847pp on average.
The tiny island has secluded coves, rugged mountains and charming towns.
Travellers fly to Kos, then on to Kalymnos by boat — a 40-minute journey included in the price.
The capital, Pothia, is the most competitively priced resort on the island, with the cheapest package costing £794pp.
With its mix of whitewashed and brightly painted houses looking out over the Aegean, the town has an open-air cinema, museums and monasteries.
Most read in Beach holidays
For those looking to relax on the sand, the island’s most popular beach resort, Massouri, costs an average of £856 for a week’s stay.
Close behind Kalymnos,
Thassos averages £862pp, Lefkada £935pp.
The Costa Brava took fourth place, with an average price of £952, but Which? found prices between resorts could vary significantly.
A stay in Malgrat de Mar, with its promenade of beachfront bars, Blue Flag beach and easy access to Barcelona costs £839pp — £120 cheaper than brasher, better-known neighbour Lloret de Mar.
The Venetian Riviera (Lido di Jesolo) was the cheapest spot in Italy, at £965pp, while the Amalfi coast was close behind on £977.
Skopelos in Greece — made famous by Mamma Mia! — the Costa de Luz in Spain, Campania in Italy, and Malta completed the top ten, with the latter the only place to top £1,000 a head for a week’s stay.
Which? also considered the cheapest all-inclusive breaks.
Tenerife had the most competitive rates on average, with an all-inclusive stay costing £1,097pp for seven nights.
Which? researchers found some of Tenerife’s cheapest all-inclusive rates at golf resort Golf del Sur for an average of £993pp.
But for those seeking a beach holiday, good-value packages were found in upmarket Costa Adeje for an average of £1,192.
Fellow Canary isle Fuerteventura was also among the top five cheapest all-inclusive destinations, with an average price per person of £1,113.
Other competitively priced options included Costa Blanca in Spain, at £1,103pp, the Bourgas area of Bulgaria at £1,112pp and Dalaman, Turkey, at £1,125pp.
Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: “Our latest price analysis shows that by being flexible on your destination, you can potentially save hundreds of pounds.
“Many locations we found aren’t those you’d necessarily assume would be the cheapest, but from tiny traditional Greek islands to the glitzy Amalfi coast, there are bargains to be found this summer.
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TOP AUGUST DEALS
SEVEN nights’ self-catering at the 3H Kalymnos Island Hotel is from £589pp including flights from Leeds Bradford on August 6, 10kg hand luggage and 22kg baggage plus transfers.
See jet2holidays.com.
Seven nights’ B&B at the 3H Papi in Malgrat de Mar, Costa Brava is from £735pp including flights from Bristol on August 8, 23kg baggage and transfers.
Seven nights’ self-catering at the 2H Emerald Studios, Thassos, is from £564pp including flights from Gatwick on July 31.
See tui.co.uk
Seven nights’ B&B at the 3H Ute Hotel, Lido di Jesolo, Venetian Riviera, is from £594pp including flights from Bournemouth on August 21.
To book, see loveholidays.com.
