The underrated Greek island that has surprisingly cheap package holidays this summer

NEW research has revealed the cheapest destinations for a package holiday by the sea this summer.

Surprisingly, three Greek islands were revealed as the most budget-friendly options.

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The islands crowned as the cheapest destinations for package holidays this summer were Kalymnos, Thassos, and Lefkada.

Thassos is usually overlooked by tourists looking for a summer holiday, but it’s cheap and just as beautiful as its more famous sister islands.

To make it even better, holiday packages in Thassos start from just £218pp, including your flights with TUI.

Alternatively, seven-night holiday packages with loveholidays cost from £415pp.

That said, building your own holiday can also be quite affordable, with return flights from £85 and Airbnb stays costing from just £29 per night.

The study was conducted by consumer watchdog Which? by analysing 4,558 package holidays from the UK’s top tour operators.

They analysed package holidays from Jet2holidays and TUI, departing in August 2024.

The countries looked up included Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Turkey, Spain and Morocco, to name a few.

An interesting finding was that holiday hotspots known for being budget-friendly, like Turkey and Bulgaria, were noticeably missing from the top spots in the lineup.

As an alternative to the more well-known Greek islands, Thassos is an excellent destination for Brits looking for a European holiday.

Thassos offers a tranquil escape from the crowds and is well-known for its pristine beaches, beautiful landscape, and traditional Greek charm.

The island is said to be home to some of the country’s “most picturesque” towns and incredible golden sand beaches along the crystal-clear waters of the Aegean Sea.

When it comes to beaches, Thassos offers anything from relaxing sunbathing spots to watersports and diving opportunities.

With its volcanically developed underwater landscape and pristine blue waters, Thassos offers diving opportunities for beginners to more advanced divers.

The Pefkari Reef, with a maximum depth of 32 feet, is an unmissable dive for both beginners and advanced divers.

You could encounter up to eight wildlife species, including jackfishes, scorpionfishes and tritons.

Meanwhile, Makryammos Beach is one of the best beaches on the island, and it’s 1.2 miles from the resort’s centre.

The Blue Flag beach boasts about a mile of golden sand and charges a small fee of 3 euros (£2.59) to keep it as clean as possible for everyone to enjoy.

The beach can get busy, especially during the summer, but it’s also a great starting point to hire a motorboat to explore some of the island’s beautiful hidden coves.

Despite the perception that families and couples are the main visitors, Thassos is also great for younger holidaymakers looking for the perfect balance between relaxation and partying. 

Over the summer months, there are plenty of bars, clubs and beach parties happening across the island.

The largest villages, including the capital Thassos Town, Potos, Limenaria, Skala Potamia, and Golden Beach, naturally have the best nightlife.

As with the package holidays, drinks in Thassos are also relatively cheap.

A beer typically costs about 4.50 euros (£3.89), a glass of wine is about 5-7 euros (£4.30 to £6), while cocktails start at 7 euros (£6).

Locals also say there are plenty of discounts around the island, such as “ladies night” and “happy hour.”

Away from the beaches and nightlife, you could walk to the top of Mount Ipsarion for some of the best views of the island or wander around the quaint villages of Panagia and Theologos.

These untouched villages are renowned for their ancient architecture, narrow streets, and friendly locals.

For more destination inspiration, we also found the Turkish holiday destination fans claim also is the ‘Maldives of the Mediterranean’.

Plus, we’ve also revealed the tiny Italian island only locals know about— it’s as good as Capri but much cheaper.

Or, for a discounted holiday, easyJet’s new sale has thousands of beach holidays for less than £300pp.

_{Prices correct at the time of publication.}

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