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Cheap holiday destinations: The best places to go to in 2025
*Books flights*
Ok, so we’re three months into the year and we’re in desperate need of a holiday. Sipping on an Aperol Spritz, new book in hand and nothing but deciding where you’re going for dinner on the agenda? Yeah we’re Googling trips now. However, one thing we don’t love about a holiday is the cost. Our bank accounts wouldn’t love a trip to the Maldives or Australia right now, but thankfully there are some cheaper options out there.
Not sure where to start? Well the Post Office has just released its annual research into the cheapest holidays you can go on this year. These cheap holiday locations are based on eight tourist staples; the cost of a three-course evening meal for two including a bottle of house wine, a cup of coffee, a bottle of beer, a Coca-Cola, a glass of wine, a bottle of water, sun cream and insect repellent. They used data from tourist boards and tour operators to compare average prices from 47 destinations across the world to determine the cheapest overall holiday destination.
So whether you need a quick city break for some much needed sun, or are in it for the long haul, these are the cheapest holiday destinations for 2025.
15. Sliema, Malta
Essentials total cost: £88.91
Best for: A bit of everything
Currency: Euros
Flight time from London: 3 hours 15 minutes
Ok so if you need a few days away where you can explore a stunning town, eat some nice meals and chill out by a boujie pool, but without spending a fortune, then head to Sliema in Malta.
14. Marmaris, Turkey
Essentials total cost: £86.00
Best for: A girl's trip
Currency: Lira
Flight time from London: 4 hours 5 minutes
Marmaris is known for its nightlife, making it an ideal location for a much needed break with your girls. And if you're not up for all nighters then there's still so much to explore with boat trips, mud baths, the Marmaris castle and ancient ruins.
13. Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote
Essentials total cost: £85.42
Best for: A girls trip
Currency: Euros
Flight time from London: 4 hours 15 minutes
There's a good chance you headed to Lanzarote for a family holiday back in the day, so why not revisit it now, but this time with your mates in tow? Get ready for days lounging on the beach, piña coladas on tap and dancing the night away.
12. Penang, Malaysia
Essentials total cost: £83.05
Best for: Culture obsessives and foodies
Currency: Malaysian ringgit
Flight time from London: 15 hours 20 minutes
Penang is on the north west of Malaysia, and it's city George Town is so rich in cultural history it's been named as a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can explore more of Malaysia's history by visiting the many temples, or get closer to nature with a trip to the National Park.
11. Mombasa, Kenya
Essentials total cost: £77.20
Best for: A bit of everything
Currency: Kenyan Shilling
Flight time from London: 11 hours 5 minutes
With a rather long flight, you're going to want to maximise your time in Mombasa. And it's a good thing there's a lot to pack in while there. From safaris, to snorkelling above coral reefs, to UNESCO-listed towns, we're booking that flight right now.
10. Costa del Sol, Spain
Essentials total cost: £76.51
Best for: A girl's trip
Currency: Euros
Flight time from London: 2 hours 50 minutes
Looking to relax, drink all the piña coladas and soak up the sun? Then head to the Costa del Sol, well known by Brits for providing guaranteed fun weeks in the sun, which includes the towns of Malaga, and Marbella.
9. Phuket, Thailand
Essentials total cost: £76.10
Best for: A bit of everything
Currency: Thai Bhat
Flight time from London: 13 hours 25 minutes
Stunning beaches, historic temples, delicious food buzzing night life and island hopping tours. Do you really need another reason to not book that flight to Phuket?
8. Prague, Czech Republic
Essentials total cost: £75.92
Best for: A weekend away
Currency: Czech Koruna
Flight time from London: 1 hour 55 minutes
Sometimes city breaks can really do some damage to your bank account, which is why we'd suggest heading to Prague for your next weekend away. With stunning baroque buildings, many churches and museums and galleries, you'll be wondering how you can fit all of Prague into a two night stay.
7. Hoi An, Vietnam
Essentials total cost: £73.23
Best for: Culture obsessives and foodies
Currency: Vietnamese Dong
Flight time from London: 15 hours 30 minutes
And the cheapest holiday destinations for 2024 is Hoi An, in Vietnam. The city is on the central coast of Vietnam and is filled with canals that wind their way through the city. It's steeped in history, with many temples, and incredible architecture that you won't want to miss out on. Oh and of course the food.
6. Sunny Beach, Bulgaria
Essentials total cost: £71.46
Best for: A week of relaxation in the sun
Currency: Bulgarian LEV
Flight time from London: 3 hours 25 minutes
Often featuring on our list of cheapest holiday destinations, Sunny Beach is situated on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast. As well as ideal for a week of relaxing by the beach or the pool, if you go further inland there's a go kart track, water park and paint balling to keep you occupied.
5. Delhi, India
Essentials total cost: £69.52
Best for: A bucket list trip
Currency: Indian Rupee
Flight time from London: 8 hours 35 minutes
A trip to India is often on a lot of people's bucket list and thankfully a trip to Delhi, doesn't have to break the bank. There's plenty to keep you entertained for a trip just to Delhi or you could incorporate it as part of a wider trip to India.
4. Kuta, Bali
Essentials total cost: £66.88
Best for: A week of relaxation in the sun
Currency: Indonesia Rupiah
Flight time from London: 16 hours 35 minutes
Kuta is on the south of Bali, and is a great place to head if you're keen for a good surfing holiday or wanting to relax at some of the best beaches in the world. It's also ideal for partying and nightlife.
3. Tokyo, Japan
Essentials total cost: £63.34
Best for: Culture obsessives and foodies
Currency: Yen
Flight time from London: 13 hours 55 minutes
We know, we're surprised to see Tokyo on this list too, but it is possible to do a trip to this incredible city on a budget. You need at least four to five days in Tokyo to explore it's interesting mix of traditional and ultra modern. Add to your list of things to do visiting the temples, the national gardens, eating at hole in the wall spots, and go on a walking tour.
2. Cape Town, South Africa
Essentials total cost: £59.84
Best for: A bit of everything
Currency: South African Rand
Flight time from London: 11 hours 35 minutes
There's so much to do in Cape Town, if you can we'd suggest spending at least a week to two. From visiting Table Mountain (whether that's walking or taking the cable car), to taking a trip to the stunning beaches or unpacking the local history in the many museums. There's also vineyards to be toured and excellent restaurants to try, and plenty of gorgeous hotels to relax in.
1. Algarve, Portugal
Essentials total cost: £59.69
Best for: A week of relaxation in the sun
Currency: Euros
Flight time from London: 2 hours 55 minutes
The Algarve has long been popular as a holiday destination, and for good reason. It's hot, full of stunning beaches and the food is incredible. And as the cheapest holiday destination for 2025 we’re booking our tickets now.
Dusty Baxter-Wright is an award-winning journalist and the Entertainment and Lifestyle Director at Cosmopolitan, having previously worked at Sugarscape. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work covering pop culture, careers, interiors and travel, and oversees the site’s Entertainment and Lifestyle strategy across print, digital and video. As a journalist for the best part of a decade, she has interviewed everyone from Louis Theroux and Channing Tatum to Margot Robbie and Ncuti Gatwa, while she has also spoken on Times Radio and BBC Radio. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram here.
Lydia Venn is Cosmopolitan UK’s Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer. She covers everything from TV and film, to the latest celebrity news. She also writes across our work/life section regularly creating quizzes, covering exciting new food releases and sharing the latest interior must-haves. In her role she’s interviewed everyone from Margot Robbie to Niall Horan, and her work has appeared on an episode of The Kardashians. After completing a degree in English at the University of Exeter, Lydia moved into fashion journalism, writing for the Daily Express, before working as Features Editor at The Tab, where she spoke on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Talk Radio. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of Gilmore Girls and 00s teen movies, and in her free time can be found with a margarita in hand watching the Real Housewives on repeat. Find her on LinkedIn.
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