Remember when you could pick up a flight for £1.99? That was back in the Noughties’ boom years as budget airlines established their brands.
Yet it’s still possible to bag a bargain, especially if you’re willing to travel light with hand luggage only – and to drop everything to go at short notice.
Yes, low-cost flights may be a little pricier these days, mainly due to increased aviation fuel prices and taxes, but the four leading airlines have plenty of enticing fares.
So here we’ve tracked down the lowest hand luggage-only prices to Europe (and two to north Africa) before the Easter holidays. The only question is: are you ready to drop it all and go?
EASYJET
FARO, PORTUGAL FROM GATWICK
Departing February 25 (£16.99), returning March 5 (£17.67).
Total: £34.66.
Where to stay: The slick, contemporary 3HB Faro hotel overlooks the delightful maze of cobbled streets in Faro’s centre. There’s a great rooftop pool and authentic Portuguese restaurant. Doubles from £151 (3hb.com).
PALMA, MAJORCA FROM BIRMINGHAM
Departing on March 4 (£14.99), returning March 11 (£15.99).
Total: £30.98.
Where to stay: The Puro Grand is a former 15th-century palace with chandeliers, a billiards table in the library, comfortable room and a restaurant serving steaks and fine Spanish reds. Doubles from £173 (purograndhotel.com).
BASEL, SWITZERLAND FROM BRISTOL
Departing on February 26 (£14.99), returning March 5 (£16.13).
Total: £31.12.
Where to stay: Hotel Krafft, overlooking the Rhine and dating from 1873, has comfortable, elegantly decorated rooms, the best facing the river. Doubles from £218 (krafftbasel.ch).
AGADIR, MOROCCO FROM MANCHESTER
Departing on March 19 (£18.99), returning March 26 (£25.01).
Total: £44.
Where to stay: The Kenzi Europa is located on a white-sanded bay with tennis courts and heated pool. It’s a five-minute walk from Agadir’s centre with its Moorish buildings and lively nightlife. Doubles from £86 (kenzi-hotels.com).
BRITISH AIRWAYS
DUBLIN, IRELAND FROM HEATHROW
Departing on March 25 (£47), returning April 2 (£30).
Total: £77.
Where to stay: Near the bustle of Camden Street, Wilder Townhouse has a bohemian feel, set in a Victorian-era former art studio. Comfortable doubles from £167 (thewilder.ie).
RIGA, LATVIA FROM HEATHROW
Departing on March 24 (£59), returning April 3 (£33).
Total: £92.
Where to stay: Hotel Bergs is in an Art Nouveau building with French mirrors, ornate fireplaces and sophisticated rooms. Doubles from £80 (hotelbergs.lv).
VERONA, ITALY FROM GATWICK
Departing on March 24 (£51), returning April 3 (£35).
Total: £86.
Where to stay: The Delser hotel is a converted Roman water cistern, offering an unusual but captivating retreat with views of the Adige River. Doubles from £159 (delserverona.com).
RYANAIR
FRANKFURT, GERMANY FROM STANSTED
Departing on February 28 (£14.99), returning March 9 (£16.99).
Total: £31.98.
Where to stay: The Libertine Lindenberg hotel has a youthful panache in the Sachsenhausen neighbourhood, with Dutch watercolours, Moroccan carpets and restful rooms. Doubles from £78 (thelindenberg.com).
MILAN, ITALY FROM NEWCASTLE
Departing on March 18 (£21.49), returning March 22 (£16,99).
Total: £38.48.
Where to stay: Near canals in the Navigli district, the Aethos hotel has an eclectic interior featuring velvet armchairs, old cocktail cabinets and heavy drapes. Doubles from £305 (aethos.com).
BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA FROM LEEDS BRADFORD
Departing on March 8 (£16.99), returning March 16 (£16.99).
Total: £33.98.
Where to stay: The Loft Hotel has an industrial-chic style and is hidden down a side street, with a stripped-back decor, fashionably battered sofas and a bar serving craft beers. Doubles from £85 (lofthotel.sk).
ALICANTE, SPAIN FROM MANCHESTER
Departing on March 2 (£19.99), returning March 9 (£19.99).
Total: £39.98.
Where to stay: Close to the tiled Explanada de Espana, the beach and the marina, the Melia hotel has a rooftop pool, plus chic and sleek rooms. Doubles from £125 (melia.com)
WIZZAIR
MARRAKESH, MOROCCO FROM GATWICK
Departing on February 3 (£19.99), returning February 11 (£17.99).
Total: £37.98.
Where to stay: Riad Adore has ten sleek rooms with soft Berber rugs and antique kaftans, plus a hammam, a tiny pool and friendly staff – located near the Dar el Bacha palace. Doubles from £134 (riadadore.com).
TALLINN, ESTONIA FROM LUTON
Departing on February 3 (£19.99), returning February 7 (£12.99).
Total: £32.98.
Where to stay: In the heart of the cobb led Old Town, the Telegraaf is in a former bank and post office, with designer rooms and a restaurant serving traditional Estonian/Russian dishes. Doubles from £106 (telegraafhotel.com).
TIRANA, ALBANIA FROM LUTON
Yet it’s still possible to bag a bargain, especially if you’re willing to travel light with hand luggage only – and to drop everything to go at short notice.
Departing Feb 2 (£14.99), returning Feb 9 (£9.99).
Total: £24.98.
Where to stay: The Plaza hotel near Skanderbeg Square comes with a warmer atmosphere than the concrete exterior suggests, plus a spa featuring a room encased in Himalayan salt. Doubles from £133 (plazatirana.com).
GDANSK, POLAND FROM LUTON
Departing on February 24 (£17.99), returning March 5 (£8.99).
Total: £26.98.
Where to stay: Dating from 1463, the Gotyk House hotel is chock-a-block with antiques and old manuscripts in display cases, with rooms that have Chesterfield sofas and parquet flooring. Doubles from £59 (gotykhouse.eu).
IASI, ROMANIA FROM LIVERPOOL
Departing on March 26 (£17.99), returning March 31 (£8.99).
Total: £26.98.
Where to stay: While in Iasi, Romania’s third biggest city, stay at the Unirea hotel with comfortable, old-fashioned rooms close to the Bahlui River. Doubles from £82 (hotelunirea.ro).
- Prices correct as we went to press
