With the whole world to choose from, deciding where to go on your only summer holiday can feel impossible – how do you decide between Morocco, Majorca, Malmö or Miami? This is especially true if you have a strict budget, but don’t fancy heading to Lanzarote.

With this in mind, we’ve rounded up three of the best value holiday spots for summer and autumn 2013, focusing on destinations that offer sunshine and sand without high costs and crowds. There are plenty of cheap holiday deals to these fabulous destinations, whether you’re looking for a last minute getaway or a well-planned autumn sunshine jaunt… so have a look online, and start planning!

Montenegro

When you’re trying to stick to a strict financial plan, it’s best to avoid the most well-known places. Montenegro was almost totally unknown as a holiday spot until recently, and 2013 is looking to be its breakout year – so go before the prices jump next year.

Just south of Croatia on the Adriatic coast, Montenegro boasts fantastic weather during the summer months, with highs of around 30°C. With a mix of rock, pebble and sand beaches spread over 73km of coastline, you’ll be hard pressed not to find something to your liking. The beach at Kotor, towards the north of the country, is a beautifully secluded spot that plays host to the deepest fjord in the Mediterranean. There are two small islands a short way from the bay, Sveti Djordje and Gospa od Skrpijela, that are well worth seeing – if you want a break from the beach, hire a boat and head out to explore. Fly into Tivat airport and take a taxi to Kotor for around €7, and accommodation near the beach costs between €7 and €15 per night per person. Now that the secret is getting out, prices won’t stay so reasonable for long.

Croatia

North of Montenegro, Split, Croatia is also home to some daydream-worthy beaches. Split is slightly bigger and cheaper than the capital Dubrovnik, with loads to explore besides the incredible Adriatic coastline. History buffs shouldn’t miss the Roman ruins in the city centre; the Bronze Gate is also a must-see, with exhibitions and craft stalls at this stunning heritage site. There are a number of museums, and restaurants serving delicious Croatian specialities with fairly reasonable price tags. The fish here is a particular treat.

The Azores

If you want to get as far away as possible without blowing your budget on flights, head to Santa Maria Island in the Atlantic. Located in the Azores, about 900 miles off the coast of Lisbon, this Portuguese archipelago is an absolute haven for both adventure types and those looking to get away from it all. With a population of just 6,000 people, Santa Maria is also known as the Island of the Sun, thanks to its dry climate and yellow wildflowers. Formosa Beach is intensely sunny, with bright white sands and crystalline waters, and there are a number of nature reserves around the island with hiking trails. Incredible Giant’s Causeway-style rock formations (complete with a waterfall) and red earth are great outings, and a powerful reminder of the island’s volcanic past.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 19th, 2013 at 3:54 am and is filed under Europe. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.