Autumn is just around the corner and August seems to be a bit of a letdown in Scotland. You might think you’ve missed your chance to soak up some sun this year.
However, that’s not the case. Holiday travel website Loveholidays has published a list of excellent ideas for a cheap last-minute summer break to several top beach destinations, many of which can be reached by direct flights from Scotland.
This time last year, the website listed Sunny Beach in Bulgaria as the cheapest destination for UK people looking for a last-minute holiday in August.
The closest airport to Sunny Beach is Burgas and BH Air Ltd. offers direct flights from Glasgow Airport to Burgas.
Sunny Beach is a popular, sprawling seaside resort on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, known for its lively clubs, nightlife, beautiful sand dunes and fun water sports, as well as cheap drinks. There is a huge water park called Action Aquapark and the Sunny Beach Amusement Park is full of fast-paced rides and rollercoasters.
Second on Loveholidays’ list of cheap short breaks is Riga in Latvia.
Riga is a stunning city with unique architecture and an incredible nightlife. Riga also benefits from wonderful weather in summer, with temperatures regularly reaching 25°C in July and August.
If you want to cool off, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches, as the city sits on the beautiful Bay of Riga. You can fly direct to Riga from Aberdeen Airport with airBaltic – the flight takes just two hours and 20 minutes.
After Riga comes Tirana in Albania. Ryanair offers direct flights from Edinburgh Airport to Tirana and if you’ve never heard of this beautiful hidden gem then you’re really missing out.
Tirana is not direct by the sea, but a short 45-minute drive takes you to Durres Beach, a lively and beautiful golden sand beach.
Tirana is a wonderful and fascinating city full of unique museums, interesting architecture and beautiful parks. You can also take a 15-minute cable car ride from the city center up Mount Dajti for truly breathtaking views.
Loveholidays also lists Monastir in Tunisia (Africa) as a great option for a cheap holiday, although there are no direct flights there from Scotland.
However, you can fly to nearby Enfidha (direct flights from Glasgow with easyJet), which is just an hour’s drive from Monastir, or you can take the train.
If you don’t mind the extra effort it takes to get there from Scotland due to the lack of direct flights, Monastir is definitely worth it. With its beaches, waving palm trees and deep blue sea, Monastir is an Instagrammer’s dream.
The final sun-drenched destination on Loveholidays’ list is Agadir in Morocco. Like Monastir, it’s harder to reach from Scotland as there are currently no direct flights.
You can fly direct to Marrakech from Edinburgh Airport with Ryanair, but it’s a three-hour drive to Agadir, making it the least convenient place on this list for Scottish residents.
However, if you’re willing to put up with a relatively long drive (or don’t mind changing planes at Luton Airport), you’re definitely in for a treat.
Stretching along Morocco’s southern Atlantic coast and at the foot of the Anti-Atlas Mountains, cosmopolitan Agadir is famous for its golf courses and wide, crescent-shaped beach. You can also take day trips into the desert from here.
Al Murray, head of marketing at Loveholidays, told The Express: “We’ve had a mixed summer in the UK so far and with the forecast for the rest of the season still quite uncertain, many will be considering booking a last-minute trip abroad. For budget-conscious Brits looking to salvage their summer, European countries such as Bulgaria, Latvia and Albania offer warm climates, beautiful beaches and incredible sightseeing opportunities at affordable prices.”
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