I spend a ridiculous amount of time looking at prices on Google Maps and the Booking apps, especially as cheap flights from London Stansted come up quite frequently in certain months. Affordable prices in the August summer holiday are always going to be hard to come by, but if you can travel in September, June, or even early July then there are places where the prices might surprise you.
And no, they don’t require you to get a cheap package deal somewhere crowded. In the following places you’ll find traditional rooms, some with kitchenettes, and you might even find small hotels with a pool. With the sea and a couple of tavernas nearby, all you need for a DIY break. Here are a few places I’ve seen plenty of rooms under €40 a night recently (which is a steal in the current climate, let’s be honest).
The conventional wisdom might be to go somewhere small that you’ve never heard of instead of somewhere popular, but the key is getting somewhere that has slightly more supply than demand (which rules out a lot of the smaller places)
Santorini
Don’t laugh, but you can actually visit Santorini on a budget. The trick is to look away from the main villages on the Caldera (the volcanic rim). If you have the money to splurge on a hotel with a plunge pool and a view that’s certainly a memorable way to spend a trip, but it’s not the only way to see the island. There’s plenty for all budgets here. The explosion of demand on Santorini means there’s some great value and choice at the lower end.
Look in the beach towns – Perissa and Kamari – and in inland Karterados which is within walking distance of capital Fira. You can even find some bargains in the outskirts of Fira at quieter times. The season on Santorini is a lot longer than the other islands, and May/October are perfect months for exploring.
Naxos Chora
This island is getting very popular in high season, the Americans in particular are falling in love with it (I don’t blame them, it’s one of my favourite places of all). One of the best things about Naxos is that you can step off the ferry, walk to your hotel room in 10-15 minutes, and then be Agios Georgios, the town beach, for a swim in 20.
There are lots of good value rooms in the area behind the beach, which has a certain charm to it, as well as some amazing sunsets. Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna and Plaka are pricier but you might find something in the shoulder season. Although Greek ferries are much more expensive than they used to be, Naxos is still served by big car ferries like Blue Star so travel prices from Athens, Santorini, or Mykonos aren’t too horrendous compared to some of the other Cycladic islands.
Skopelos Town
As with Naxos Chora, this is one of my favourite coastal towns in Greece and outside the high summer I’ve seen plenty of rooms around €40. Despite the Mamma Mia! connection, Skopelos still hasn’t been overrun with tourists. If you’re a fan of lush, green islands with pebble beaches and gorgeous scenery then you’ll love it here. There are buses from Skopelos Town to beaches all around the island. The ferry from Skiathos is short and cheap (it’s a bit more of a trek from Thessaloniki or Athens which is probably what keeps it quiet).
Chania
Chania may be one of the most desirable destinations in Greece but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible on a budget, you just need to look in the right area. And because there are plenty of rooms, it’s often cheaper than other cities in Crete which don’t have the same demand – like Heraklion.
I even stayed at Lycia Hotel right on the Venetian Harbour for €40 euros a night. But If you can’t find anything in the Old Town, look right outside it in the New Town, or in the area around Nea Chora which is the town beach. It’s too close to the city to be a good beach for swimming, but there are some good fish tavernas right by the water, and the big bonus for me is that Nea Chora is half-way between the Old Town and the nicer beaches at Agioi Apostopoli.
Zakynthos –
In general, Zakynthos is not one of my favourite islands, but it does have some really beautiful bits. The Vasiliki Peninsula was one of my favourites, it just has a nice rustic vibe. There aren’t too many hotels or rooms right near the beaches here, but if you don’t mind a little walk the roads criss-crossing the end of the peninsula are scattered with cheap traditional rooms to rent. I swear I even saw sub-€30 rooms in September last year.
It’s an agricultural area with a genteel feel, a turtle conservation area, and lots of olive groves. It would be the perfect place to arrange for bicycle or e-bike hire (although you might have to organise this in Zakynthos Town). Perfect for a cheap and simple break. Make sure to have lunch at Nikos’ Beach Taverna – some of the tastiest food of my life.
If you’d rather stay right on the beach, I really liked Alykes, it has super-soft sands and laid-back bars by the water.
Lefkada and Preveza
I found Lefkada to be one of the cheaper islands to visit, possibly because a lot of the hotel stock is a bit on the dated side. But if simple rooms are your jam then there’s plenty of choice. Everyone heads to Nydri and Agios Nikitas but I found them both uncomfortably busy and preferred Lygia, Nikiana, and Vasilikas.
Preveza is the town nearest the airport it has a cute old quarter with lots of great (and very reasonably priced tavernas). To its north are some cracking beaches with campsites, all the way up to Parga, which itself is not a bad spot for finding cheap rooms (as long as you’re not fussy what you get).
Agistri
A slightly different suggestion here as Agistri is a small island. I used to come here a lot when I was living in Athens and it’s another favourite of mine for a simple break. Agistri is not as well-known as its neighbours Hydra, Aegina and Poros, so crowds are thinner and prices are reasonable (at least outside Greek national holidays and summer weekends). These are the islands closest to Greece so it’s within day-trip distance but as the sun goes down you’ll inevitably want to stay overnight.
The car ferry from Athens is pretty cheap, and as you can roll off the ferry in Skala and be surrounded by the smell of pine and the sound the cicadas within minutes. It feels miles away from the city. Skala has a sandy beach and there are hiking routes around the island for more dramatic discoveries.
Read more:
No Car? Greek Islands Rated by Public Transport
The Nicest Places in Greece with Direct International Flights