What’s your ideal summer holiday on a budget?

1 A romantic adventure in Sofia, Bulgaria

Perfect for: Couples

You may not have heard much about Bulgaria but it’s a really up and coming holiday destination right now. Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and has lots to offer for a short break, making it a charming trip for two. It’s a quirky city that’s not too big to easily set off and explore, with interesting historic buildings, relaxing parks and Europe’s highest mountain so close to a capital city. The views from the top should be all you need for a bit of romance.

Tip 1: Check flights and hotels on price comparison websites such as www.skyscanner.net, www.kayak.co.uk and Google Flights at www.google.co.uk/flights.
If you can be flexible on dates, you can find amazing deals as low as a return flight to Sofia for £35 this summer. We’ve also seen incredible deals on hotel rooms, with a no-frills room on www.bedfinder.com from just £5 per night (seriously!). www.trivago.co.uk, www.booking.com and www.tripadvisor.co.uk also compare a huge number of available rooms to help you get the best deal.

Tip 2: Opt for a home from home using www.airbnb.co.uk. When you can get an entire place in Sofia for less than £10, what’s not to love? Especially if it’s your first trip away as a couple, having a whole place to yourselves for a few days may be a great way to subtly test how domesticated your partner is around the house! Prices will be particularly low if you choose locations slightly away from the centre but there are metro and bus services in Sofia to help you get around. Why not save money by eating out at lunch-time and then cooking and snuggling back at the apartment in the evening with a local Bulgarian wine.

2 Mix culture and nightlife in Budapest, Hungary

Perfect for: A fun trip with friends

Budapest may also be a less well-known party capital than others in Europe, but it has long been establishing its credentials as an alternative and really fun place to go out. Making an edgy hang-out for youngsters today, the many so-called “ruin pubs” in Budapest reflect the struggles of Hungary’s communist past, covered from ceiling to floor in intriguing memorabilia. These bars make a great place to warm up before hitting the night-life in Budapest whose underground feel is effortlessly cool.

Tip 3: Make the most of a hostelling experience by taking up a large dorm in a hostel and pay as little as £20 per person per night. The staff in hostels also have some of the best knowledge about where to go out and even organise their own bar crawls etc. which can get you discounts on drinks and reduced entry to nightclubs. Budapest is known for its music scene so you’ll be dancing into the early hours.

Tip 4: Plan ahead to get the most out of your holiday. It’s probably tempting to leave the forward planning to someone else on a group holiday or to assume you’ll be fine just winging it once you’re there, but if you want to spend as little as possible while you’re away, a little preparation can really save your spending.
For example, research where to find good cheap restaurants as Budapest has many which offer delicious and hearty traditional food – great for post-party recovery. Also check out the prices at Budapest’s various renowned Thermal Baths. If you are nursing a hangover, this is the perfect way to relax, and even really unwind with a Royal Thermal Massage.

3 Save while you sunbathe in the Algarve, Portugal

Perfect for: Families

The Algarve definitely lives up to its reputation as the perfect money-saving beach destination. There’s enough room for your whole family on the miles of sandy beaches plus as many sand castles as your kids can possibly make. “Aqualand” provides a day of excitement for the whole family as one of Europe’s largest water parks. Albufeira is the largest resort on Portugal’s southern coastline and bustling with life throughout the summer, however there are smaller and more secluded towns and beaches up and down the Algarve if you prefer to be away from the crowds.  

Tip 5: Try a package tour as they often have fantastic all-inclusive deals for popular holiday destinations like the Algarve. A great advantage of a package tour is that they generally come ‘ATOL’ protected. Check with your travel agent when booking, as this means you’ll get a refund (before your holiday) or alternative flights or accommodation (during the trip) if the company responsible for your travel goes out of business. Also remember that with package tours, the tour operators have already bought the holidays so the travel agents need to sell them — which means you can often haggle prices down a bit if you get on the phone.

Tip 6: Sign up to Flash-sale sites where incredible deals are available for a limited time only if you can be quick off the mark, even better than you can find on comparison websites. www.holidaypirates.com is one of the best. www.travelzoo.com also offers this service, and you’ll receive weekly emails giving lots of information about their newest and best deals. There is a smaller selection of holidays available on www.groupon.co.uk so you might have to be open with your holiday destination, but for the day or two that the offers are up for grabs, there are some real bargains to be had.

4 Book now for some winter sun in Marrakech, Morocco

Perfect for: Something different

Final tip: Whilst last-minute deals can offer big reductions on the price of your holiday, booking well in advance is also a certain way to save. Why not enjoy a summer stay-cation and catch your rays when you really need them during the cold, winter months? Morocco is one of the more inexpensive yet exotic holiday destinations that is still only a few hours away on the plane. A holiday to Morocco is a feast for all the senses, and the ideal destination to visit at any time of the year.

So have you chosen your ideal holiday? With our money-saving tips, we hope you can squeeze at least one of them in this year, if not more! Whether you want to try one of the ideas we’ve suggested, or you’ve got even better ideas of your own, cashasap.co.uk is always here to help get your holiday plans rolling right away, even if you need a little extra to tide you over until payday.

You can borrow from £200 to £750 for up to 35 days, or with our Multi Month loans you can split the repayment over your next three to six paydays. Please read the T&Cs carefully, and happy holidays!