Summer 2026: where prices are lowest and how to save
Albania is undercutting Greece, Montenegro is offering early-booking discounts, and the cheapest dates fall outside peak season. Here is how to save.
- Albania is the leading budget destination, with prices 30 to 40 percent lower than Greece or Croatia.
- Montenegro offers more than 50,000 beds and early-booking discounts of up to 30 percent, with interest-free instalments.
- The cheapest periods are May, early June and September.
- The biggest savings come from private accommodation booked directly from the owner and from travelling outside peak season.
Where can you reach the sea this year without the bill stinging? The answer is simpler than you think: shift your dates and cross the border to the right place. The season is only starting, yet prices already differ sharply from one destination to the next.
Three things decide what you pay: the country, the dates and the way you book your accommodation. You can set all three in your favour, and that is exactly where the biggest saving sits.
Which is the cheapest destination this summer?
Albania has become the leading budget destination for Serbian holidaymakers. Prices there run 30 to 40 percent lower than in Greece or Croatia, which adds up to a serious difference for a family by the end of summer.
To be specific: apartments in Durres and Golem for four people cost 40 to 60 euros a night, even at the height of the season. Some agencies offer half-board from around 16,500 dinars (about 140 euros) per stay, so it is worth comparing a package against booking on your own before you set off.
What does Montenegro offer?
Montenegro remains a practical choice thanks to its proximity and its range of options. This year there are more than 50,000 beds available, with early-booking discounts reaching up to 30 percent. On top of that, some providers allow payment in interest-free instalments, which helps if you plan your holiday in good time.
Our recommendation: if you are only just thinking about the sea, an early payment in Montenegro is perhaps the easiest way to knock a third off the price straight away, with no extra effort.
When is the cheapest time to travel?
Timing is the quiet hero of every saving. The cheapest periods are May, early June and September. The sea is warm by then, the beaches are empty and prices are far lower than in July and August.
For young couples and pensioners who are not tied to the school calendar, September is especially rewarding: the same beach, fewer crowds, a smaller bill.
How do you save the most?
The biggest saving comes from private accommodation taken directly from the owner and from booking outside peak season. When you skip the middleman and avoid mid-August, the price drops on two fronts at once.
Before you go, compare three things for the same dates: the cost of an agency package, the cost of an apartment direct from the owner, and the cost in a cheaper neighbouring country. The gap can be larger than the entire price of the trip.
So where are you planning to head this summer, and how far would you shift your dates for a lower price?
