To the sea with the whole family

Travelling with the whole family can be quite expensive. Flight costs go up, restaurants and hotels raise their prices, and on the beach you end up having to explain to the kids why there’s simply no more ice cream in the cone.

But there’s another way. We’ve picked out some family-friendly destinations on the Mediterranean where you can enjoy a holiday more affordably – even during the peak holiday season.

The comparison: Where to find affordable holidays in Europe

The Federal Statistical Office offers what is probably the most reliable price comparison ahead of the summer holidays. It has compared hotel and restaurant prices across various countries – and lo and behold: Holidaymakers in southern and south-eastern European countries, as well as in many of our neighbouring countries, often pay significantly less for accommodation and meals than they do here. In Bulgaria and Albania, the difference compared to Germany is most striking: there, you’ll save more than half the cost in hotels and restaurants.

This table gives you a great overview of the official results from the statistical office:

*Hotels and restaurants, compared with Germany

Our tips: Here’s where to enjoy an affordable beach holiday

With this list in mind, we’ve gone in search of some great deals for you – and we’ve found them. Here we present our 5 favourite beach holidays, which will give you priceless moments at affordable prices:

#1 Durrës, Albania

Albania is becoming an increasingly popular holiday destination. Nevertheless, this Balkan country, which is slightly smaller than Belgium, is still a real ‘underdog’. Very few people realise what a gem this country, bordering Greece to the north, is for family holidays. The country entices visitors with absolutely stunning beaches, vibrant cities, vast mountain ranges, deep canyons and charming villages.

Generally speaking, a family holiday in Albania is fairly affordable. However, there are price differences – depending on the region and how well-known the destination is. It gets a bit more expensive on the beaches in the south. That’s why we’ve chosen a destination in the middle of the coast: the port city of Durrës.

At Sol Apartments, a family of four (2 adults, 2 children) can stay for a total of 560 euros for a week in July. Each accommodation unit is fully equipped and has a balcony or terrace with a view of the water.

From here, you can head to the beach every day or explore the town. Probably the most amazing sight that the whole family will love: the amphitheatre.

You can tuck in at one of the many restaurants. In Albanian cuisine, mezze is very common, among other things. This involves serving lots of small bowls of the most delicious specialities. Rice balls, stuffed vine leaves, savoury pastries, yoghurt soup, grilled fish, sugary nut cakes – you can try a bit of everything. Even in good restaurants, you’ll pay less than 15 euros for two people in total for food and drink.

Flights from Germany (e.g. Dortmund) to the capital, Tirana, start from 110 euros in peak season. From there, it’s just a stone’s throw to Durrës. Fancy a road trip by car? Then simply stop off halfway – in Zadar on the Croatian coast. Travelling from Munich, you should arrive there in 9 hours. After the same journey time, you’ll be in Durrës the next day – and you’ll even have your car with you to go on day trips.

#2 Antalya, Turkey

According to the statistical office, it’s 41 % cheaper in Turkey than in Germany when looking for a hotel or restaurant.

For a varied family holiday, the "Pearl of the Turkish Riviera", Antalya, is particularly well-suited. As well as the historic harbour district and the idyllic old town, which will enchant you with their old-world charm, playgrounds, water parks, cafés, restaurants and plenty of child-friendly activities ensure plenty of action and many moments you’ll remember with a smile.

At the C Suites – a family hotel with a ‘fabulous’ rating of 8.9 points, an outdoor pool and apartments with fully equipped kitchens – a family of four (2 adults, 2 children) can stay for a week in July for around 800 euros.

The most popular beaches are Konyaalti Beach and Lara Beach. Our tip, in case your children get tired of beach life: to the east of the city lies the impressive Düden Waterfall, which cascades down steep cliffs into the sea. How do you get there? On a pirate ship. Yes, you read that right. There are fantastic boat trips Captain Hook-style on offer for families, which make for an unforgettable adventure.

It’s also great fun for everyone:

• the theme park ‘The Land of Legends‘
• the water park ‘Waterhill‘
• the Tunnel Aquarium

Direct flights to Antalya, for example, depart from Hamburg from 105 euros. Prices vary, of course, depending on the date and departure point.

#3 Sagres, Portugal

The Algarve is one of the most affordable holiday destinations in Portugal. This region in the beautiful south of the country boasts stunning scenery. There are sandy beaches, fishing villages, cliffs and unobstructed views of the open sea. The Western Algarve is particularly well-suited to families, with numerous bays and family-friendly sandy beaches perfect for swimming.

The small town of Sagres is regarded as a laid-back surfing mecca and is popular with families looking for a balance between adventure in the water and relaxation on the beach.

When searching for accommodation, you’ll soon realise that the price range is quite wide. There’s something for everyone here, from budget to luxury. We’ve discovered a real gem: the Sagres Time Apartamentos with an excellent rating of 9.2 points. For around 1,500 euros a week, four of you can enjoy an ideal location, an outdoor pool and a modern apartment. There’s even a shuttle to pick you up from the airport.

It’s best to fly into Faro. Eurowings flies from Cologne-Bonn from 29.99 euros.

What you shouldn’t miss: a boat trip where you can spot dolphins out at sea . You’ll take this unique experience home with you as the most wonderful souvenir.

#4 Chalkidiki, Greece

The best family holiday we’ve ever had was a package holiday to Chalkidiki. This region in northern Greece has incredibly beautiful beaches with turquoise sea water so clear that you can see right to the bottom.

We booked the trip last minute at a travel agency back then. It was particularly cheap because we didn’t know which hotel we’d be staying in. There were four to choose from, and it wasn’t until we arrived that we found out which one we’d be spending the next two weeks in.

If you’d prefer a bit more certainty when planning, we recommend entering ‘Chalkidiki’ as your destination on travel portals such as TUI, Lidl-Reisen or Ab-in-den-Urlaub, and comparing all the offers with delight. At TUI, for example, you’ll find package holidays including flights for four people for 1,800 euros – with hotel and breakfast included.

Whether you end up in Chalkidiki or are drawn to Crete, Samos, Kos or Rhodes – wherever you go, you can be sure that you’ll spend sunny moments together as a family, where you can relax and really enjoy beach life.

#5 Pula, Croatia

Croatia’s coastline offers plenty of lovely places where you can enjoy an affordable holiday. Right at the top of the list is the sheltered harbour town of Pula. Fussy children getting bored? Certainly not here. In this coastal town, historical sights meet picture-perfect beaches, and there’s plenty to discover in the labyrinth of alleyways in the old town, and you can explore the underwater world at the aquarium. A particular highlight – and the town’s landmark – is the amphitheatre, which is still wonderfully well-preserved.

To cool off on one of the many beaches, just put on your water wings and splash about carefree. The Croatian sea is considered the cleanest in the whole of Europe. There’s just one thing you need to bear in mind for your days by the water: Croatia’s beaches are pebble beaches. So make sure to pack some water shoes for yourselves and the kids.

You can find affordable accommodation at the Pradolando apartment. The rooms are bright and fully equipped, you’ll have a lovely balcony with a sea view, and for a week in July, you’ll pay just 770 euros (2 adults, 2 children).

There are plenty of direct flights to Pula from Germany. Some airlines will take you there from as little as 44.90 euros. You can also travel by car. The journey from Munich takes just over 7 hours.

Affordable family holidays – these tips will help

To save a bit more money before and during your trip, so that you can then invest it in some truly wonderful memories, it’s also worth bearing the following tips in mind:

#1 Share a suitcase: It’s often cheaper to check in just one large family suitcase and for everyone to have hand luggage included in the ticket fare. You can then pack all liquid toiletries, such as shampoo and the like, that aren’t allowed on board into the suitcase.

#2 Book well in advance: You can always see a year in advance when the summer holidays are due. That’s also the best time to book a family holiday at a good price. You’ll find some truly fabulous bargains on many comparison websites.

#3 Cater for yourselves: If you choose an apartment with a kitchen as your accommodation, you can simply cater for yourselves instead of going to an expensive restaurant. After all, pasta from the supermarket is much cheaper than eating out.

#4 Shop locally rather than in tourist areas: Speaking of supermarkets - local shops may often be a bit further away from tourist centres, but they’re usually much cheaper. What’s more, you can go shopping here ‘just like the locals’.

#5 Free attractions: Almost every city now offers free walking tours. On these tours, a local shows you the best spots and doesn’t charge a thing. You can book these tours on freetour.com.

Conclusion: Affordable holidays with the whole family

FAQ on affordable family holidays by the sea