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Egypt has plenty to offer all types of traveller and families in particular can benefit from its ‘something for everyone’ appeal. The availability of adventure tours, numerous activities for both adults and children and the comfort of the many all inclusive Egypt hotels have helped to boost the country’s popularity among families.

Earlier this year, in fact, The Times newspaper named Egypt’s Luxor a top family destination. Affordability and a great location were two of the key factors which assured it a place in the Top 20 list. Luxors favourable position on the Nile River makes it the perfect place to start exploring the ancient wonders of Egypt, with attractions such as the Valley of the Kings and the Karnak and Luxor temples all close at hand. With so much to see and do, Luxor is a great place to stay for families wanting to get a full flavour of Egypt without too much effort.

Meanwhile, Sharm el Sheikh is a good choice for those seeking a combined desert and beach experience. Over recent years the area has made a concerted effort to go from backpacker resort to all-round crowd pleaser and has certainly succeeded. All inclusive Sharm el Sheikh hotels are excellent value for money with plenty to keep everyone in the family entertained. A multitude of activities across the region offer the best of both worlds on land and out at sea. Scuba diving, golf, shopping, sunbathing and camel trekking across the Sinai desert are just some examples as a start. Culture and nightlife haven’t been forgotten either with excitement ready and waiting on both counts.

Peak season in Egypt is usually from October to May making it an obvious Christmas or Easter choice. The main attractions can get busy, though, so for those wanting to escape the crowds there is relative peace and quiet to be had, alongside some great cheap hotels deals, in low season during the summer months.

It’s no secret that Spain knows how to party. Whether you prefer the upmarket wine bars of Madrid or the heaving clubs in Ibiza, you’re bound to find something you like. While things may have moved on since Spain first took the world party scene by storm, there’s still plenty of fresh action awaiting you. With some excellent hotel deals around at the moment, there’s good news if you’re looking to party on a budget as well.

Spain – Madrid

As a night out, Spain’s thriving capital Madrid has been described as the Spanish equivalent of New York. It boasts an enviable blend of arts and culture, which enriches the experience both by day and night, with a melting pot of music and influences providing everything from civilised terrace bars to jumping clubs. Take advantage of the cheap deals around on Spain hotels to enjoy the best Madrid has to offer. This September, accommodation in the capital can be found for around £23 per person per night.

Ibiza – Ibiza Town & San Antonio

This legendary isle has earned the reputation as a Mecca for party animals for a good reason. Its clubs are huge – up to 10,000 in capacity – with the likes of Privilege (the largest club in the world), Pacha, Space, Es Paradis, Eden and El Divino leading the way. From foam parties and pool parties to dancing under the stars, there’s no shortage of fun to be had. The clubs themselves can be expensive so it will be comforting to know that you can find cheap Ibiza hotels for under £10 per person per night this September in San Antonio Town.

Tenerife – Playa de las Americas

The well established tourist haven Playa de las Americas is well placed to offer the best of both worlds when it comes to island nightlife. You can stick to the strip and indulge your clubbing fantasies or head out of town for a more authentic Canarian evening out, including tasty tapas and flamenco dancing. For a cheap place to stay at night look out for deals on Tenerife hotels of under £15 per person per night for 7 nights in a self catering apartment.

Relaxing on the beach and letting the cares of daily life drift away is a top pastime for holiday-makers, but it’s often confined to the tourist-heavy peak seasons. If you’re looking to get away from the crowds and save yourself a bit of money, out-of-season holidaying could be the perfect solution. It doesn’t have to involve trekking half way across the globe either. There’s a great variety of year-round destinations just waiting to be discovered much closer to home, with some fantastic hotel deals to be had as well.

Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are an ideal year-round destination. The climate is warm and dry and the diverse selection of islands means you are bound to find the right location for you. The most commonly visited islands are Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, which all offer breathtaking scenery and varying degrees of action and adventure. Temperatures are consistently over 20°C throughout the year so traditional peak season has shifted towards the winter months. November to mid-December and April to June – avoiding Easter – are good times to enjoy fewer crowds and cheap Canaries hotels. One bedroom bungalows can be found on Fuerteventura at the moment for as little as £10 per person per night during mid-November.

Cyprus

A good early spring option is Cyprus, thanks to its favourable Mediterranean climate. Peak season runs from June to September, so avoid these months to experience the slightly quieter side of this popular isle. Head there in April and May to enjoy average maximum temperatures of 22°C to 26°C. Temperatures remain high into October and November, but heavier rainfall makes these months a less appealing choice. In mid-April, prices for Cyprus hotels in the Paphos area go as low as £14 per person per night.

Egypt

For something completely different, head to Egypt and sample a taste of the ancient. There are plenty of treats both on land and underwater making a visit extremely worthwhile. To avoid the crowds, stay away during the peak season months between October and May and instead visit in June or September. Maximum temperatures in Cairo average over 30°C during these months, though, so be prepared to take it easy. The great Egypt hotels deals available should help take the edge of the heat; hotels in Cairo can be booked for a little as £11 per person per night for a seven night stay in mid-September.

The first word many people think of when searching for a hotel abroad is ‘cheap’. At a basic level the word means ‘costing little money’, but for a long while it has had some more negative associations. ‘Cheap and nasty’, for example, is a phrase that none of us really want associated with our bargain price hotels. So, is ‘cheap’ on its own what we’re really after when dreaming of that much-needed holiday? Or has the word taken on a slightly new meaning in our minds with some more positive associations?

At this time of global financial instability, both holiday-makers and hotels themselves are re-evaluating the meaning behind terms such as ‘cheap’, ‘added value’ and ‘service’. It’s not just about paying less nowadays; its about getting more at the same time. Holiday-makers want their pounds to go as far as possible.

Hotels have recognised that people are taking more time to search out a good price and that they want reasonable standards and service to go with it. Businesses can no longer just drop prices every once in a while and wait for customers to come knocking at their door. A huge number of special deals have flooded the market recently, so companies have to find other ways to stand out from the crowd. Those that do well in the long term will be the ones who are both low cost and able to back up their offering with good service and high standards. Clever hotels and agents are putting measures in place to add value wherever possible, which is great news for holiday-makers.

So, could this be the key to the real meaning behind the word ‘cheap’ when buying products or services today? Are we really looking for ‘cheap and nice’? As well as offering hotel deals, companies have to offer a good service and quality products so that holiday-makers can feel reassured that the cheap hotels on offer are of an acceptable standard. It’s all about getting that little bit more.

There are plenty of factors that combine to make a great holiday, but one clearly stands out above the rest for holiday-makers at the moment. Low-cost holidays are the name of the game. As times remain tough, people are much more willing to compromise. Factors such as location, facilities and star rating have all been moved down the priority list. Fortunately, the market has been responding to the pressures on consumers’ pockets and there are plenty of cheap hotels around at the moment. The question is, can you get a good price on your hotel and tick some of the other boxes as well? The answer seems to be yes, thanks to the numerous deals around right now – all you have to do is decide which type is right for you.

Early bird discounts

The old saying ‘preparation is key’ seems quite fitting here. If you’ve already decided you’re going away this winter and have some money put aside, your forward-thinking could well be rewarded. Early bird discounts are an excellent way to save money on your next break. Essentially they are a ‘thank you’ from the hotel for guaranteeing them an advance booking. The added bonus is that you get to stay where you want for a reduced price.

Out of season offers

Take a look at any of the top holiday destinations around the world and you’ll find that they all experience an out of season slowdown at some point. Leaner times often mean hotels have to drop prices to encourage visitors, so taking advantage of this can be a clever move. This doesn’t have to mean shivering on the beach in the depths of winter, either. Just by going one or two weeks out of season you can knock hundreds of pounds off the price. Have a look online to find out the peak season months for your next holiday destination and then plan to avoid them if you can.

Best buys

If you want to go during peak season and have perhaps just missed out on the early bird discount period, then don’t worry, there are still plenty of deals to be had. A tougher marketplace has left hotels jostling for business and many are reducing prices and offering special deals all year round to compensate. Searching for your accommodation through an online agent can help you to identify the best deals across a range of locations and hotels. Keep your eye out for seasonal offers and star buys.

Whichever route you choose to go down, you’ll find some great bargains on cheap hotels and hopefully tick a good variety of other boxes as well. Check online to find the best value offers that are just right for you.

In these challenging economic times, making your money go further is what it’s all about. Eager holiday-makers are scouring the internet, keen to find those perfect cheap hotels deals. The good news is, they are not being disappointed. There are some great deals on offer, perfect for tempting travellers with even the tightest budgets.

Bagging a four star all-inclusive hotel on the Greek island of Kos for just over £13 per person per night, for example, is a deal to be pleased about. Compared to similar hotels over the same time period, savings of around £20 per night can be achieved. Over a seven night holiday that’s the equivalent of three 3 course evening meals for two, including a bottle of house wine; 36 cups of coffee; or 29 bottles of lager, for the beer loving among us.

The internet is an obvious way to identify these types of deals. Using search terms such as ‘cheap’ and ‘bargain’ are a good start, but you can soon be overwhelmed by the millions of results you get back. You need to be able to pick out the good from the bad. It’s all too tempting to go immediately with the company offering a bargain-basement deal when times are tough. Good credentials are the key to finding real value, though. Are they going to deliver what they’ve promised? You don’t want to be stranded on a building site for two weeks or at a hotel in the middle of nowhere when the website said ‘centrally located’.

Achieving reliable value is partly about getting to know the market better. A quick online search every once in a while will help you to become familiar with the key players. Investigate which ones are regularly offering the types of deal you’re after so that when you finally come to book your bargain hotel you know you’re using a trust name.

If you want excellent deals on cheap hotels, then there’s never been a better time to find real value at a low cost – just remember you don’t have to settle for less than a reputable brand and great service. You can still get great value without compromising.