Top 5: Cheap Holidays for summer 2010

Creative Commons / Robinn

Cheap beach holidays

If you're looking for pearly-white sand beaches, palm trees, and balmy waters without a hefty price tag, head to Goa on the southwest coast of India. Although you can find luxury in this sunshine-ridden state, a plethora of cheap package deals means an exotic holiday doesn't have to break the bank. One recommended budget hotel is the Coconut Grove Hotel in Betalbatim, where prices start at just £16 per person per night. Beyond the beach, wander into the villages to experience phenomenal fresh seafood, open air restaurants, and a laidback culture infused with hippie vibes.

Cheap Egypt holidays

Egypt holidays offer plenty of choice, particularly if you're looking for all-inclusive resorts at an affordable price. Thanks to the amount of competition between hotels, Sharm El Sheikh, located on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, is particularly good for families and couples seeking deals for hotels in the 4- and 5-star category. In addition, Egypt holidays to this Red Sea hotspot offer ample opportunities for diving and snorkelling in the marine life rich waters of Ras Mohammed national park, plus year-round bountiful sunshine. Although cultural attractions are thin on the ground, Bedouin stalls in the resort teem with gold and silver jewellery, spices, glass perfume bottles, slippers, leather bags, and local embroidery. Expect to pay around £500 per person for a week's all-inclusive holiday, including flights.

Cheap Thailand holidays

Get your adrenaline levels up while keeping costs down on a six day trekking adventure through the wild Himalayan mountains in northern Thailand. An organised, overland trip from Chiang Mai to Bangkok on this Thailand holiday winds you through scenic terrain, via quaint villages along the way as stopping points to rest, dine, and mingle with local people. No-frills accommodations, including homestays in hilltribe villages, campsites under the stars, and simple guesthouses mean you'll get an authentic taste of life in Thailand; while the chance to discover the treasures of Bangkok in the city's brilliant night markets is another highlight of this exciting low cost trip. Expect to pay around £260 per person for your six day Thailand holiday, excluding flights.

Cheap holidays in UK

Looking for a staycation? Cheap holidays in the UK are still possible, if you consider renting a cottage in the UK outside of peak school holiday periods. With thousands of properties across the country, offering locations from pristine beaches in Devon and Cornwall, to rural idylls in the Lake District, Dorset or Scotland to thrilling city breaks in Newcastle, Leeds or Liverpool, there are plenty of places to discover the best of Britain. With so many cottage operators available, make sure you hunt hard for a bargain. Look out for extra nights thrown in for free, make extra savings by travelling in a group, and consider using the money you've saved on a flight abroad by splurging out in top-rated restaurants.

Cheap city breaks in Europe

With the euro-sterling exchange rate spelling bad news for holidaymakers on a shoestring, consider a break outside the eurozone instead. A city break in the Baltic gem of Vilnius, Lithuania is cheap due to a fairly weak currency. Culture, on the other hand, stays strong with medieval castles and sky-high church spires, all of which landed Vilnius the title of European Capital of Culture in 2009. You can easily explore the city's maze of streets and baroque architecture on foot, and be sure to walk along the banks of the sparkling Vilnia and Neris rivers. Highlights include the impressive and well-preserved fortification called the Gate of Dawn, the KGB museum, and Vilnius Picture Gallery.