Germany wants to go on vacation. But the prices are simply too high. The Heinz family from Cologne For 14 days in Turkey, you have to pay 9600 euros In Rhodes, a tour operator charges 8,000 euros for ten days in a four-star hotel, as well as: Majorca is not affordable for many households.
More and more readers are complaining to FOCUS online about the outrageous prices for a little beach time. Experts explain that high prices are due to very good occupancy of hotels in popular vacation spots.
How families can now go on cheap vacations
Relax in Germany
The best alternative for families in quiet Germany. There are many cheap train options for families. For example, you can use public transport cheaply with a country, Germany or weekend pass. With a regional train, you can even travel outside the country without problems. A lot of change can be worth it if you can find a cheap hotel in your destination. And the search is worth it.
Budget resorts charge an average of €60 per night. There are hotels in the Bavarian Forest Breakfast for around €500 per week. It’s even cheaper to rent larger holiday homes and share the costs, for example with friends or grandparents.
It is especially popular because it is cheap. North Rhine-Westphalia. According to an analysis by FeWo-direkt, the state records an impressive 160 percent more searches for vacation rentals in Germany’s most populous state than in 2023. The best tourist destinations in North Rhine-Westphalia include, for example, the Sauerland, the Eifel. With the picturesque town of Monschau and the Teutoburg Forest.
A shorter vacation
Even a short change of scenery can be relaxing and easy on the budget. A short vacation close to your home saves on travel expenses. Without plane tickets or long train journeys, the costs are limited. In addition, accommodation in the countryside is often cheaper than in tourist hotspots. Self-catering in a holiday apartment or holiday home can provide additional savings on food costs.
Vacation in neighboring countries
Families can also travel cheaply to neighboring countries by car, train or coach. There are often bargains there, even at peak travel. They are especially cheap Poland Czech Republic, Austria or even? France. But what can families do there? FOCUS Online provides practical advice.
Austria:
- Hiking in the Alps.
- Cycling along the Danube.
- Visiting historic cities such as Salzburg and Graz.
France:
- Exploring the Alsace region.
- Beach vacation in Cote d’Azur.
- Cultural trips to Strasbourg or Lyon.
Switzerland:
- Discover the wonders of nature in the Jura or Ticino.
- Visit cities like Zurich or Geneva that offer many free attractions.
Poland:
- Explore historic cities like Krakow and Wroclaw.
- Hiking in the Carpathians.
- Beach vacation on the Baltic Sea coast.
Czech Republic.
- There are tons of free attractions in Prague.
- You can swim cheaply in the Lipno reservoir.
How about camping?
Families can camp especially cheaply in Germany. This comes from an analysis of camping portal Pincamp of ADAC out. The company has more than 2,000 campsites In Europe be evaluated.
In European comparison, Germany has the cheapest offers. There is a lot of money to be made in Thuringia in particular save. A family of three pays an average of around €31 per night. But Saxony is also cheap at €33 per night.
Take advantage of last minute offers
Families should avoid peak travel times. If you stay flexible or fly mid-week, you’ll often find cheaper deals. It may also be worth not choosing the first airport that comes to mind. Families can often save up to €300 by taking a regional train to the airport in a neighboring city. This means holidaymakers can fly cheaper from Memmingen to Spain than via Munich.
Last minute deals can also be helpful for families. “Although summer holidays have already begun in some federal states, those making last-minute decisions can still find plenty of cheap travel deals,” Check24’s press release points out.
What about insider tips?
Moving on to lesser-known vacation spots can also be worthwhile. Vacationers can sometimes fly cheaper in July Mexico than Mallorca. Among the hidden ones You can save up to 54 percent in the paradises of Europe. Balkan destinations, for example, were on everyone’s lips in previous years. Last year, many visited, for example, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Albania. Now, the attention of travelers is turning to another destination: Bosnia-Herzegovina with its capital city of Sarajevo.
Travel provider Expedia has already recorded 55 percent more flight inquiries for the Balkan metropolis than in the summer of 2023. Given the diversity of the city, the growing interest is not surprising, as Sarajevo is a melting pot of cultures and religions. responsible body of tourism.
Don’t take a vacation on Friday
According to Expedia’s Air Travel Hacks Report, the best day of the week to book international flights is Sunday. Travelers booking on Sundays instead of Fridays can save an average of 20 percent.
Friday, on the other hand, is considered the best day to go. Travelers who choose this day of the week can save an average of 18 percent on international flights. Sunday should again be avoided as a departure day.
And you can save on accommodation too. “Sundays in particular are booking days for vacation rentals,” says Wolfgang Pagl, director of vacation rentals at FeWo-direkt. “During the week, travelers compete with fewer interested parties for affordable vacation accommodations. Ideally, you start your research at the beginning of the week and make a decision by Thursday or Friday.”