Five stunning European holidays that are cheaper than a UK train fare – with £2 prosecco and stunning beaches

Scottish Sun

18 hours ago

For £20 less than the train to Edinburgh, you can stay three nights at a holiday hotspot with two pools and a family splash park
OFF TRACK Five stunning European holidays that are cheaper than a UK train fare – with £2 prosecco and stunning beaches
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WHEN it comes to booking a budget weekend break, you'd think heading somewhere in the UK would be the cheapest and easiest option.
However, with the cost of train fares higher than ever in the UK, you may find a city break to Europe is cheaper than a staycation.
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Edinburgh is a great city, but it's not a cheap place to go for the weekend, especially with sky-high train prices
Credit: Getty
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Alice was planning a long weekend in Edinburgh with her friends, but ended up going to Bulgaria for five days for the same price as the train fare
Credit: Alice Penwill
Fares to Scottish City, Edinburgh, over the summer are an average £200 return from London.
Alice Penwill, a writer from Hertfordshire, was planning a girls weekend in Edinburgh when ticket prices stopped her in her tracks.
"We really wanted to go to Edinburgh as none of us had ever been. It was only when we started planning the trip, we realised that it was so expensive to get there.
"Just the train fare alone was almost going to blow the budget. All the trains, even ones at obscure times of day, were over £200 per person.
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"Hotels and guesthouses were also really pricey, so we started looking further afield".
It's no surprise. Train fares in England and Wales recently shot up by 4.6% and the cost of railcards has also increased.
The UK train network has a bad reputation with delays, cancellations and overcrowding, already testing the patience of paying passengers.
At the same time, budget airlines like Ryanair, Jet2 and Wizz Air are flexing fares to Europe from £14.99 each way.
So, for less than it costs to go away for the weekend by train, you could be drinking £2 Prosecco in Italy or tucking into Tapas at a bar in Barcelona.
Alice agrees. "In the end, we booked a holiday to Bulgaria. We got a package deal for £260, so with the transport and accommodation, we ended up paying less than we would have in Edinburgh, going away for five days instead of three.
"The cost of food and drink in Bulgaria is much cheaper too. A burger and chips on the beach was less than a Big Mac meal at McDonalds in the UK. It was a no-brainer".
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Rome is a surprisingly budget city, with plenty of people-watching, relaxed streets, cheap pasta and Prosecco for £2
Credit: Getty
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Amsterdam is a laid-back city with lots to see and plenty of lovely cafes and bars that won't bust the budget
Credit: Getty
So, grab your passport. If you fancy a few days in the sun, here are five great deals to European cites you can nab now for less than the £200 return fare from London to Edinburgh.
Rome
Rome is one of the most interesting, romantic and historic cities in the world, so a cheap break here would suit couples, friendship groups and even families.
A wander around this city is an attraction in itself, with historic sites such as the Colosseum, Vittoria and Pantheon, all free to view from the street.
If you do want to go inside the Colosseum, the entry free is £15. Buy your tickets from an official seller in advance and jump the lengthy lines for tickets.
For lunch, grab a seat outside Pizzeria della Madonna dei Monti, which is just a short walk from the Colosseum. Here, a large pizza slice is only £5 and it's a prime position for people watching.
Summer is a great time to visit Rome as every year there are free movie screenings in various locations around the city called il Cinema in Piazza (Cinema in the square).
Pick up a £2 Prosecco from various hole-in-the-wall bars and find a spot in front of the screen. There are a range of films being shown this year, from old classics to new releases.
This deal is £30 less than a return to Edinburgh, and includes return flights on Ryanair from Manchester and two nights in a 3-star hotel with a rooftop pool, for £171 per person. Book with travelsupermarket.com.
Amsterdam
A stroll alongside Amsterdam's picturesque canals is stunning in summer, with open-air cafes, a choice of parks and gardens and attractions such as the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank's House.
For one of the best free things to do in Amsterdam, head to Rijksmuseum, a museum with stunning gardens, sculptures and lots of pretty places to grab some shade.
Mexican tacos might not sound very Dutch, but the street food vendor, Taco Lindo just went viral online for its tasty £4.50 tacos.
This is a hot spot for a cheap bite during your visit - but prepare to queue as there is usually a line.
Stay two nights at the four-star Zaan Hotel, which has a delightfully Dutch exterior and is situated in the charming area of The Zaanse Schans.
This residential neighbourhood is lined with traditional wooden buildings that have been preserved for historical heritage. With this deal from travelsupermarket.com, you get two nights with return flights from London Luton, from £188 per person.
Barcelona
Laid back, foodie Barcelona is one of the best Spanish cities for an easy weekend break.
The main areas are mostly pedestrianised with stunning architecture and historic landmarks easily viewed free of charge from the outside.
Avoid La Rambla, which is always overrun with tourists and head to the Gothic Quarter.
If you want to venture inside but not pay the big tourist prices to enter landmarks like Sagrada Familia, step into La Catedral for free most mornings and marvel at the magnificent hand, sculpted interior.
Plus, Spain's tapas culture means you can snack on cheap small plates all day, with some bars offering free food when you buy a drink. The glasses of £3 Cava are also worth toasting too.
Here you will find cute cafes hidden in shady alleyways, locally-owned shops and stunning Medieval buildings, many of which are open and free for the public to pop in and have a peek.
A stay at the three-star Ramblas Hotel, right in the centre of the action, with return flights from Leeds Bradford are only £198 per person with travelsupermarket.com.
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You have to pay to enter major landmarks, like Sagrada Família, but Barcelona has beautiful architecture all over the city that you can admire for free
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Zante is one of the best budget options for the Greek islands, so look out for last-minute offers from companies like TUI and travelsupermarket.com
Credit: Getty
Zante, Greek Islands
Zante has some beautiful beaches and is far more affordable than some of the more trendy Greek islands like Santorini and Mykonos.
Navagio Beach, known more commonly as Shipwreck Beach, is one of the most beautiful and interesting in the area.
As well as white sand and crystal clear water, this beautiful bay has a huge, rusting shipwreck grounded in the middle of the beach.
Not your usual Greek-Island view, but kids will be fascinated.
Zakynthos Town is made up of winding, cobbled streets and hanging bougainvillea, making it as picture-perfect as the more boujee islands but with a budget price tag.
For example, local favourite, Ladolémono, in the town has a BBQ grill and outdoor tables serving huge chicken and salad gyros for £3.
This is a great deal! For the same as the fare to Edinburgh, this deal with TUI offers return flights and a whopping seven nights in the two-star Mojo Hotel for £200. The hotel has its own bar and even a resident DJ.
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If you just want to get away, take advantage of Lanzarote's great weather and even better deals
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Lanzarote
The Canary Islands almost guarantee sun and fun, especially at this time of year. Whether you want the beach, water-sports or a few days to party, Lanzarote has a little something for everyone.
For a day trip to see a more authentic side to the Canary Islands, you can get a 25-minute ferry to La Graciosa, the smallest inhabited Canary Island, from only £14.
There are no cars on the island but it's easy to explore.
The golden-sand beaches here are pristine. Make your way to Playa del Salado for lunch. The fresh seafood from tiny cafes that line the beach is probably better than Scotland's deep-fried Mars bar. Just.
For £20 less than the train to Edinburgh, you can stay three nights at the THB Flora Hotel in Puerto del Carmen, which has two pools and a family splash park.
Plus, it's a few minutes' walk from the beach and the old town harbour, which has a strip of cute tavernas and bars that become very lively from mid-afternoon. Book with teletextholidays.co.uk for only £179.