May Half Term: Most Affordable, Family-Friendly Getaways in Europe, Revealed

Poland dominates the list of most affordable cities to visit thanks to its low costs across the board. Cities like Poznan (total trip cost of £2,186), Lodz (£2,327), Warsaw (£2,459), Krakow (£2,499) and Wroclaw (£2,959) rank among the cheapest. This is due to budget-friendly hotel stays (Lodz at just £549) and affordable flights, with Poznan flights costing £680 and Krakow flights costing £556.  

Food is also more affordable in Poland than in other popular destinations, with meals costing around £8 and three-course dinners for two as low as £33. Local transport is also cheap, with one-way tickets under £1 and taxi fares often below £1 per kilometre. This combination makes Poland a top value destination for British travellers. 

Portugal performs well, with Gaia, Braga and Porto taking a third of the spots in the top 10. All three cities have some of the cheapest alcohol prices, ranking in the top 20 for cheapest beer and wine.  

The top 10 least affordable destinations for UK travellers this May half term

American cities dominate the bottom of the affordability list. New York, Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles and Phoenix, while all ranking among the most popular destinations for UK tourists, all hit above £6,331 for a half term holiday. These five US cities consistently ranked among the most expensive options in most categories, particularly for flights and food, for UK travellers planning May half term breaks. 

Food costs showed dramatic variations between destinations. A meal at a basic restaurant in Poznan costs just £8.01 compared to £23.46 for the equivalent in New York – almost triple the price. Differences like this quickly multiply when feeding a family for an entire week. 

Local transport created similar cost disparities. Getting around Poznan costs approximately £25.80 for a family of four for a full week while New York travellers shell out £64.68 for the same mobility. This makes Polish cities far more practical for families who want to explore without transport costs significantly eating into their budget. 

According to the Office for National Statistics, Europe remained the top choice for British travellers in 2023, accounting for 77% of all 86.2 million international trips made by UK residents. 

The research comes as international travel continues recovering from pandemic lows although The House of Commons Library reports that numbers remain slightly below pre-pandemic levels. 

Michael Ryan, Owner and CRO of Ink Digital, commented on the findings:

“Our research shows that Polish cities offer the best value for UK families planning their May half term getaways. With costs of holidays rising, savvy travellers are looking to less conventional but equally rewarding destinations. 

“The average cost of a family trip to Poland is less than a third of what you might spend in popular US destinations. These savings come without sacrificing the quality of experience as Polish cities offer rich cultural heritage, beautiful architecture, and excellent cuisine at a fraction of the cost found in more traditionally popular European destinations.”