Poland is my go-to, and it should be yours too. Cracow and Warsaw are dirt cheap to fly into from most UK airports, with Ryanair and Wizz Air basically fighting to undercut each other. You can get return tickets for £25-£50 if you book outside school holidays. And once you land? A pint of excellent beer costs around £2.50. A massive plate of pierogi? Maybe £4. It’s like the UK economy, but with food you actually want to eat.
I remember walking into a bar in Krakow’s main square and buying three rounds for the price of one London gin and tonic. The square is beautiful, but it’s also a tourist trap; just walk two streets away and you’ll find locals paying half the price. Honestly, if you’re on a shoestring, Poland is basically a legal robbery of value.
Budapest, Hungary: The Thermal Bath Bargain
Hungary is another heavy lifter in the cheap stakes. Flights to Budapest often go for around £40-£70 return. The Hungarian forint is weak against the pound, which means your money goes far. You can soak in a thermal bath like a Roman emperor for under £15—that’s cheaper than a wet afternoon in Brighton.
And the ruin bars? Magical. You’re drinking in a derelict courtyard surrounded by vintage furniture, and your biggest worry is not the price but whether you’ll fit into a booth. The only downside is the language—try pronouncing “egészségedre” after three cheap palinkas. It’s a challenge, but a fun one.
