‘We spot Bono's gaff and vroom around The Muglins' – my Goat Boat tour of Dublin Bay
'Have you heard of The Muglins?'
Ed Ruane is gently piloting a boat called Billy Goat out towards the mouth of Dún Laoghaire Harbour. Despite having literally written a book called Secret Dublin, I have to say I haven't.
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The European sun spot less than 3 hours from Dublin with beautiful beaches, water activities & Ryanair €17.99 flights
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These are Europe's cheapest places for family holidays this summer – package breaks in stunning locations from £282
NEED a holiday this summer but outrageous prices putting you off? We've crunched the numbers to find the cheapest locations for family holidays across Europe. All-inclusive family package holidays from the UK have jumped in price for some of the most popular destinations among Brits, including Spain, Cyprus and Greece. Advertisement 5 We've gone to the UK's top tour operators to find Europe's cheapest sports for a family holiday this summer, from Kos in Greece to Sozopul in Bulgaria (pictured) Credit: Getty However, some holiday hotspots in these countries still have some Because where you go in Europe can make a big difference to how much you spend. These are the cheapest destinations in Europe for a holiday this summer 2025 ( All package prices are for two adults and two children and include return flights from the UK ). Advertisement Sozopol, Bulgaria Sozopol is a top pick for budget-conscious Brits who want a break in the sun without a As well as a beautiful old town dotted with cute and cheap cafes and shops, Sozopol has one of the most beautiful beaches in Bulgaria. Our Bulgaria expert, Pavlena Todorova, recommends Central Beach in Sozopol over the more famous This sweeping bay is rich in golden sand and has beautiful, calm blue water that is perfect for swimming. Advertisement Plus, the beach bars and cafes along the sand are slightly cheaper and you'll find it easier to get a table overlooking the sea. Beach Bar, Sparrow, has a shady terrace on the sand and you can get a beer for £2.50 and chicken and chips for £6. Book with: Kos, Greece 5 Historic ancient church ruins on Kos island Credit: Getty Kos has always had a quiet reputation for being one of the lesser crowded, more affordable of the Advertisement You are spoiled for choice here with brilliant blue waters, sandy Rent a small speedboat for £50 a day and explore the harder to reach beaches, or just take it a mile off the shore and spend the day sunbathing or and jumping off the boat into the crystal clear sea to get cool. For dinner, one of the many local restaurants in A cold glass of wine to wash it all down is around £4 at most places. Advertisement Book with: Paphos, Cyprus 5 The coastlne in Paphos, Cyprus is stunning and affordable for families on a budget Credit: Getty Paphos is a top The coastline is packed with stunning There is a range of hotels in Advertisement If you want to spend time exploring, many of Ask if your hotel has a shuttle to get you there, the rest can be explored on foot. This includes the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kato Paphos Archaeological Park, which has some of the Mediterranean's best-preserved mosaics and You have to go to Pinguino on Book with: Advertisement For a similar, mid-holiday package, departing on 25th July and staying at the Marion Apartments, in Paphos, it's £339 with l Heraklion, Greece 5 Heraklion has a lot of historic sites but beautiful beaches and excellent value resorts are a short drive away. Credit: Getty Crete is the largest of the Heraklion is the largest The best deals for Advertisement There are a lot of resorts along the coastline, most look out onto the brilliant blue The You will find there are lots of boat trips and guides offering tours at affordable prices. Book with: Lanzarote, Canary Islands 5 Playa Blanca in Lanzarote is just one of the island's beautiful budget beaches Credit: Getty Advertisement Lanzarote is one the You are spoiled for choice with more than Everything is on offer here, from paddleboarding to boat hire, paragliding and of course, paddling and swimming in the calm waters, which are ideal for Plus, the weather here is almost guaranteed to be The beaches are framed by green hillsides that have hotels and residential homes nestled in cliffs. Advertisement Deals on hotels from all the major holiday companies are very competitive with packages for as little as £200 per person for a week if you can travel outside of the And there are so many beachfront bars and restaurants, if you don't get food with your hotel package, there is no end of offers to get you in. Bottles of beer are £4 on the seafront but only £2 if you pick up a pack in the supermarket. Book with: Tips for booking bargain breaks in summer 2025 Budget-conscious ways to save money booking a holiday this summer Go somewhere different. You may have set your sights on the Costa del Sol but you may find much better deals for lesser-known beach places like Bulgaria and Poland. These destinations have beautiful beaches and Money talks. To be really clever, choose destinations where the value of the pound is strong. This means more bang for your buck whether you are buying a beer and a sandwich or indulging in a serious shopping spree. This year, the weakest currencies against the GBP include Turkey, Bulgaria and Portugal. Staycation in the UK Staying on British soil means you don't have to navigate the airport or pay extra for baggage, transfers or currency exchange. There are still some excellent deals going on Is all-inclusive always best? If you are not a big drinker or eater or have fussy kids in the family, booking an all-inclusive might not be the best option for your group. So many resorts have self-catering packages too. You will get all the perks of the resort facilities, like kids clubs, evening entertainment and pools, but with a small kitchenette to make your own lunch and dinner and save big. Book very early… Some packages, such as with If you know when you want to travel, keep an eye out for prices on the destinations and resorts you want to book. They may go up and down in price throughout the year, depending on whether airlines and companies have a sale on. …or, last minute. Alternatively, booking last minute can mean some fantastic final dash prices. See our list below for the cheapest places to holiday in Europe
