My ds and gf - after a cheap holiday abroad

[longtompot]

My ds and his gf are looking for a cheap holiday abroad this summer. We have suggested Spain or Ibiza, but have no idea where they could look for a good deal. Or even if our suggestions of places to go are the best. Can anyone help please?

DP and I went to Barcelona a few years ago and loved it (we're in our 20s for reference) Stayed in a really cool and cheap air bnb. Everywhere is walkable and it has the best of everything- nightlife, great food, shops, beaches and then cultural places too. We live in London and said it had everything London does AND the beach and great weather! We also went to see Barcelona play which was really fun even though I have no interest in football. Cheap flights too!

I'd love to go to Lisbon or Corsica too (both supposed to be lovely and lisbon especially is quite popular at the mo with my friends) but we now have DS whose only 3 months so I think my holidaying days are a while off yet!

Ibiza is expensive for accommodation and everything else whilst there. Somewhere like Barcelona which isn’t a package type holiday would get them a better deal. They should avoid school holidays too.

EasyJet, BA, Expedia etc. all do combined flight and hotel deals on their website.

For packages, Holiday Pirates and On the Beach offer good deals.

Sadly they have no choice but to go during the hols as are both uni students. I've just had a look at some packages in Ibiza, and ouch! It is really expensive. They are planning to have a look tomorrow so I will suggest Barcelona to them.

Try skyscanner for cheap flights and air bnb for cheap accommodation?

Get a lonely planet or similar guide for the area they would like to visit and mine it for penny saving tips?

We got a Eurocamp Easter break near Barcelona incredibly cheaply this year (might not be what they want though)

Interrailing and youth hostelling is probably still quite a cost effective approach.

Greek Islands are ridiculously cheap still.

We went to Barca back in July, it's amazing but not cheap - not as expensive as London but not as cheap as Greece.

If they DO go to Barca, splurge on the inside tour of Sagrada Familia. It's jaw dropping.

Look on icelollly for ideas - then look at direct flights / hotels

Let's you do 'anywhere' type searches

Depending on what course they are studying won't holidays start June and end mid September so a bit of leeway either side of school summer holidays where prices may be lower. It all depends on what they want from holiday, are they after night life, a city break, beach/relaxing trip or do they want a action packed active holiday

If they can be flexible during the holidays I suggest signing up to travelzoo. They regularly have cheap deals to all sorts of locations which include flights and accommodation. You do have to be quick to book as the deals go fast, and sometimes they will be for 5 nights instead of a week or similar. Last October I got a deal for southern spain, all inclusive, for just over £200 a person in a newly refurbished hotel, and I've just seen an amazing deal to go to Marrakech for a similar price!

Cheap flights and air b&b can be good, but you can end up spending lots on top in food, entertainment and transfers, so I'd suggest looking at travelzoo and maybe even speaking to a travel agent first!

If they're willing to look at destinations in eastern Europe this can get the price down too. Croatia and Bulgaria can both be great for beach holidays.

I have signed up to Secret Escapes. Never mind them wanting a holiday, I want one now! Saw an amazing 6 day 3 city holiday in Rome, Florence and Venice

Isle of Wight is good if they're into outdoorsy things. I went with DPs family last year and it was lovely. Gorgeous beaches and scenery, although the weather was rubbish despite it being august!

if they are both uni students then they will break up earlier than the schools and go back after the schools go back. this way they can avoid school hols which is when the prices really go up. my dc take their hols as soon as they finish uni or in September after schools are back. only way to beat the ouch of the prices.

University holidays start and finish much later than School holidays. They should still be able to go outside of school holiday time.