A lesser known city in Poland could be the answer to a cut-price half-term break for British families, according to new research.
May half-term is looming and prices typically soar during the early summer break – but there are bargains to be had.
Digital marketing agency Ink Digital says looking east to Central Europe could lead to big savings, with the city of Poznan, Poland’s fifth largest city coming in as the cheapest destination for a family of four.
A week’s holiday costs £2,186 in the historic metropolis, which was once Poland’s capital city.
Beyond Poznan, three other Polish destinations appeared in the top five cheapest destinations.
At the other end of the price spectrum, a mini-break in US cities – including New York, Chicago and LA – proved the most expensive for families, with a trip for four to the Big Apple in late May costing on average £7,643.
Other Polish cities also fared well when it comes to keeping costs low for the May half-term, which typically crosses the final week of May and the first week of June.
Tourist favourites Warsaw (£2,459), Krakow (£2,499) and Wroclaw (£2,959) also made the Top ten – all of which are on the low cost flights map from the UK.
Poznan, Poland’s fifth largest city topped a chart of the best value breaks for families this upcoming half-term, in research published by Ink Digital
Portugal also fared well on costs – with destinations such as Porto (pictured) easy on the wallet – and particularly for beer and wine prices
On the ground, Poland is easy on the wallet too; the research found food more affordable than in other European destinations, with a three-course dinner for two as low as £33.
Getting around is also a relative bargain; local transport is cheap with one-way tickets under £1 and taxi fares often below £1 per kilometre.
For those determined to get some May sunshine, Portugal also ranked as one of the cheaper places to holiday for families, with Gaia, Braga and Porto all taking spots in the top ten.
Those who enjoy a tipple might also find Portugal favourable, with its beer and wine prices making the top 20 destinations for lower alcohol costs.
Earlier this week, a Spanish seaside town was also named one of this year’s best destinations for bargain-hunting Brits.
Although it’s just 15km from Benidorm, Altea is a quiet and charming town that was recently named as one of Spain’s best seaside towns by Which? Travel.
Which? Travel surveyed more than 1,000 holidaymakers to find Spain’s best coastal destinations.
Tourists awarded Altea four out of five stars for attractiveness, four out of five for safety and four out of five for friendliness.
Which? claims that ‘snobs who deride’ the Costa Blanca don’t know about pretty Altea.
Big Apple, big costs: New York may be a favourite but families visiting during May half-term will pay in excess of £7,000 for a hop across the Pond
The travel guide describes Altea as a ‘historic, villagey’ destination ‘where blue-tiled church domes glitter above a hill of sugar-cube houses’.
It adds: ‘The one whose romantic setting – a wall of mountains on one side, the Mediterranean on the other – attracted artists, kickstarting tourism along this coast in the late 50s.
‘They’re still here, too. Ateliers and galleries are scattered throughout the old town, a cats-cradle of cobbled streets beneath the church, perfumed by bougainvillea, knotting into tiny squares.
‘When daytrippers leave by late afternoon, a lucky few get to revel in a pipsqueak beach resort.’
Although it’s just 15km from Benidorm, Altea is a quiet and charming town that was recently named as one of Spain’s best seaside towns
Tourists awarded Altea four out of five stars for attractiveness, four out of five for safety and four out of five for friendliness
Altea has a 6km/3.7 mile long coastline defined by pretty pebble beaches and uncrowded coves.
Tourists looking for something a little different can also head inland to explore the Sierra de Bernia mountain range.
Britons can get return flights to Alicante, the closest airport to Altea, for under £50 from Bristol, Birmingham, London Luton, Newquay, Nowich, Exeter and Leeds in May.
