Last minute summer bargains from Manchester Airport, with flights to holiday hotspots under £80pp return

This time of year is one of the ‘shoulder seasons’ in the travel industry – the periods either side of the school summer holidays. 

They’re a great time of year for sun-seeking bargain hunters who aren’t tied to school holidays – because prices tend to be significantly lower than in the peak summer season.  

And it’s where Manchester Airport’s route network of more than 200 destinations with over 50 different airlines really comes into its own – because it provides a level of choice and flexibility unrivalled by any UK airport outside London.  

So whether you’re looking for a trip to a classic holiday hotspot, a city-break to one of Europe’s capitals or to explore a hidden gem – Manchester Airport offers plenty of choice.      

Here are eight budget-friendly options for a summer getaway before the school summer holidays start at the end of July – with return flights at under £80 per person. 

Mallorca 

Fly with Ryanair on 9 July and return on 16 July from just £28pp return 

Mallorca is one of the most sought-after destinations for passengers travelling from Manchester Airport, with more than 90,000 making the trip last month alone. It was one of the first Spanish resorts to welcome British holidaymakers and it’s easy to see why it’s enduringly popular, with something on offer for everybody. Magaluf is the heart of the island’s party scene, but families love the towns of Puerto Pollensa and Alcudia on the east of the island, with their long sandy beaches and family-friendly activities – while those looking for a quiet retreat in natural surrounds will find it in the island’s mountainous north. 

Naples 

Fly with Ryanair on 12 July and return on 25 July from just £49pp return 

Naples is a city in party spirit, after its football team won the Italian league for just the fourth time in its history last month. Football is a big part of the culture of this city, with murals of current and former Napoli greats including Diego Maradona staring down at you from the sides of buildings in the characterful Quartieri Spagnoli neighbourhood. It has a rich culinary scene too – the birthplace of pizza and ice cream as we know them today – and it’s the gateway to the stunning Amalfi Coast and the picturesque island of Capri, both within easy reach for a day trip. Mount Vesuvius towers over the city, and on the opposite side of this dormant volcano from Naples are the globally renowned ruins of Pompeii – another fascinating day trip for couples and families alike. 

Beziers 

Fly with Ryanair on 10 July and return on 24 July from just £56pp return 

Beziers sits at the heart of the Languedoc, a region of southwest France that has a centuries-old reputation for fine wine. The city is less than half an hour from the Mediterranean coast and popular resorts like Valras and Cap d'Agde, which boast white sand beaches and world-class seafood. For families, a big draw to Cap d’Agde is its water parks – there are no fewer than five of them, including Aqualand, France’s biggest. For those who like their history, the archaeological site of Ensérune, an ancient Gallic city just outside Beziers, is well worth a look. 

Brindisi 

Fly with Ryanair on 1 July and return on 8 July from just £49pp return 

Puglia is an often-overlooked region of Italy that offers some of the country's best sandy beaches and a balmy Mediterranean climate, as well as being renowned for its culinary scene including wine, olive oil and focaccia. American author Ernest Hemingway spent time here during his travels in Italy and the popular Hemingway Beach in Brindisi is named for him. The city of Brindisi makes a great base for exploring what the rest of Puglia has to offer – including quaint medieval towns like Otranto and Monopoli. 

Jerez 

Fly with Jet2.com on 12 July and return on 26 July from just £77pp return 

Jerez gained its first direct flight from Manchester this summer, with Jet2.com. Southern Spain is a bustling place over the summer, but Jerez’s position on the country’s Atlantic coast – between southern Portugal and the Strait of Gibraltar, rather than on the Mediterranean – means it’s not too crowded. A visit to the historic city of Cadiz is a must, but coastal resort towns nearby like Puerto de Santa María and Rota are where visitors seeking sun, sea and sand tend to base themselves. 

Pula 

Fly with Jet2.com on 10 July and return on 24 July from just £59pp return 

Croatia’s Istrian peninsula isn’t as well-known as the country’s Dalmatian coast or its walled city of Dubrovnik, but it has a growing reputation as a ‘dupe’ for the more expensive parts of Croatia, offering a similar experience and atmosphere without the sharply rising cost of visiting the Instagram-famous spots. Pula is the largest city in, and gateway to, this part of Croatia – where some of the best unspoilt beaches in the Mediterranean can be found on the west coast, facing into the Adriatic. Pula itself has one of the world’s best preserved Roman arenas. 

Rhodes 

Fly with Jet2.com on 30 June and return on 8 July from just £58pp return 

Rhodes is one of the largest Greek islands, and known to locals as the Island of the Sun, as the home on Earth of the Sun god Helios in Greek mythology. If it’s some sunshine you’re seeking, Rhodes is the right place to be, with up to 300 days of sunshine per year. The Old Town is a great place to peruse shops, markets and souvenir stalls while taking in the architecture, and the island is ringed by white sandy beaches – but for something different, visit the Butterfly Valley, a nature park famous for woodland walks, cascading waterfalls and for hosting colourful swarms of rare butterfly species. 

Paphos 

Fly with Jet2.com on 1 July and return on 10 July from just £58pp return 

One of Cyprus’ most popular beach getaways, Paphos has been inhabited for thousands of years and its Ancient Greek ruins, along with its picturesque port and Old Town, make the city a popular day out for visitors. Most holidaymakers who fly into Paphos, though, are staying in beach resorts further up the Cypriot coast, like Kissonerga and Coral Bay. Miles of beautiful sandy coastline are backed by family-friendly resorts, villas and traditional Cypriot tavernas serving up local favourites like Souvlaki and Halloumi.

Prices quoted are available when booking directly through the airline and are correct at the time of publication.