City, Beach or Island - Best Budget Breaks

Looking for a cheap holiday? Aren't we all?! I've been doing a lot of research into low-cost destinations recently, and I've discovered that you don't need to stay in the UK if you want a getaway that won't break the bank. Below, you'll find my favourite city, beach and island destinations for wallet-friendly holidays. Fingers crossed these will give you some inspiration for your own trip!

Best beach: Tenerife

When thinking of sun-drenched beach holidays, Spain is a destination that's always at the forefront of my mind. In my opinion, the island of Tenerife is the perfect choice - it's got a great mix of beaches, a cultural and lively capital, great water sports and even UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Personally, if you're keen to let your hair down, I'd recommend visiting in February, as this is when the famous Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife takes place. Often said to rival the incredible Rio Carnival in colour and energy, attending this is a real must for serious partiers.

In terms of beaches, Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos are two of the most popular. But, while Tenerife is certainly a lively holiday destination, it still has hidden corners too. For instance, if you fancy finding a more secluded beach, there are some great spots on the north coast - particularly Las Teresitas Beach.

Best island: Malta

If you have your heart set on an island holiday, meanwhile, get yourself over to Malta. This gorgeous country in the Mediterranean has a wonderfully mild climate, often with hot summers that are absolutely perfect for spending lazy days on the beach.

Speaking of beaches, I can't recommend enough visiting Blue Lagoon on the nearby island of Comino (which is part of the Maltese archipelago). This is one of the most beautiful beaches you're ever likely to see, being famous for its sparkling azure waters that look like they've been lifted straight from the pages of a glossy travel magazine.

Other beaches well worth visiting are Golden Bay and Mellieha Bay - which are two of the most popular - and the quieter Paradise Bay and Armier. And if you'd rather do something a little more active than laze on the sand all day, you should definitely try diving. Malta is home to some stunning dive sites, including the shipwreck of the Imperial Eagle off Qawra Point.

Best city: Barcelona

If a city break has caught your fancy, go to Barcelona. This is one of my absolute favourite holiday destinations, because it really does have a little bit of everything: amazing food, stunning architecture, great beaches, historical sites - I could go on and on.

The things you shouldn't miss here include checking out some of Antoni Gaudi's beautiful architecture (Casa Batllo, the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell particularly stand out) and trying some authentic Spanish tapas. It's also worth heading to Montjuic - an area of the city - to visit the impressive Montjuic Castle. As an added bonus, this gives some incredible views across the harbour and beaches.

Among the key reasons why these three destinations are so great for budget breaks is that they're typically much cheaper to fly to than destinations further afield, like Sydney or the Maldives. Plus, they also offer decent low-cost accommodation (which you can book through companies like Holiday Nights). Getting good deals on these two details is a huge part of successfully organising a budget break, so I always recommend you start with these!