We all know that the key to happiness is constantly having a holiday booked. But unfortunately for me; my bank balance doesn’t always seem to be quite so on board with the idea. Holidu, however, have very much read the room. The handy holiday rental site have done some digging to uncover some shiny (and oh-so affordable) hidden gem locations. Spots that will neither break the bank or be filled to the brim with fellow tourists. Who knew such perfect places existed?
They analysed the data, crunched the numbers like a bag of Lays eaten on a hotel balcony, and have saved us all the hassle of having to trawl through the internet looking for flights that don’t resemble the cost of a small mortgage. By examining the average monthly Google searches made by British tourists over the past twelve months, Holidu have compiled a list of the most affordable, lesser-known destinations that are currently served by Ryanair. And the spot that came out on top offers cheap flights, even cheaper pints, and a whole host of gorgeous things to gawp at. And many people have never even heard of it. Sounds like my idea of holiday heaven, really.
The most affordable, lesser-known holiday destination
Topping Holidu’s cheap-and-cheerful chart is Ouarzazate in Morocco. With just 180 Google searches per month, this stunning Moroccan city ranks as the least well-known holiday destination that’s accesible via a Ryanair flight from London. Flights from the capital city cost as little as £14.99 each way, and once you get there, it just keeps getting cheaper.
According to cost of living database, Numbeo, the average cost of a pint in Ouarzazate is just £2.03 (*wells up at the memory of spending £8.10 on a pint in London last night*). Ouarzazate also supposedly offers 81p coffees, 49p public transport, and a meal for two in a mid-range restaurant for – wait for it – £8.12.
Ouarzazate is home to two stunning Sandstone fortresses, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Ait Ben Haddou), and a very famous film studio. Atlas Studios is where you’ll find the backdrop of the legendary likes of Gladiator, The Mummy, and Game of Thrones.
The cheapest ‘hidden gem’ holiday destinations (that can be reached via a Ryanair flight from London):
- Ouarzazate, Morocco
- Linz, Austria
- Fez, Morocco
- Rabat, Morocco
- Poitiers, France
- Kerry, Ireland
- Kaunas, Lithuania
- Podgorica, Montenegro
- Rimini, Italy
- Essaouira, Morocco
You can have a peruse of Holidu’s full study here.