The myth that winter holidays must mean going to the mountains is slowly falling apart. In 2026, families looking for savings are increasingly looking to the north of the country or the south of Europe, and not necessarily to Podhale or the Beskids.
— Families planning a holiday trip no longer have to choose between a high standard and a reasonable price, as long as they are ready to go beyond the most obvious, mass resorts – says Eliza Maćkiewicz, Head of Commercial at Travelist.pl.
So where to look for savings? They turn out to be a real bargain Sudetes and Kłodzko Valley. According to the portal's data, in the town of Sosnówka In Karkonosze Mountains a package with accommodation and meals for a 2+2 family can be booked from approx. PLN 480 per day. Similar price levels – from PLN 510 per night – are quoted in Trzebieszowice in Lower Silesia.
Spas such as are also significantly cheaper Polanica-Zdrój Whether Lądek-Zdrójwhere to stay with the offer wellness is available from approx. PLN 700 per day. For comparison, in the most crowded locations – including: In Wisla, Szczyrk and Karpacz — prices for similar packages start from PLN 900 per night.
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Less obvious holiday destinations
Experts point to the growing trend of choosing smaller, non-obvious centers. This can be seen in the hard data: the number of reservations in Zakopane, Bukowina Tatrzańska and Wisła is lower this year, sometimes even by several percent.
— This trend is clear. Travelers are moving away from crowded resorts in favor of quieter towns – emphasizes Eliza Maćkiewicz. They benefit from this, among others: Biały Dunajec, Bystra near Bielsko-Biała or the mentioned health resorts. It is also becoming more and more visible on the map of winter trips Jarnołtówek at the foot Opawskie Mountainslocated in a picturesque valley Złoty Potokright next to the border with the Czech Republic. In some of these places the number of reservations was even three times higher than a year earlier.
Holidays 2026. Accommodation prices according to Rankomat.pl data
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rankomat.pl
Winter break 2026. It's the most expensive here
However, if your priority is large ski resorts, you have to take into account expenses. A week-long stay for a 2+2 family in a three- or four-star hotel in top locations today costs several or even several thousand zlotys.
Szczyrk, until recently a cheaper alternative, has become the price leader this year. According to Rankomat.pl analysis, prices of three-star hotels they start there from 5 thousand PLN per week. Interestingly, even in this segment Zakopane is more favorable – prices for a week's stay of the same standard start here from approx. 3.1 thousand zloty.
You also need to remember that high prices go hand in hand with crowds and additional costs – ski passes, equipment rental or eating out.
This is how prices changed in the winter season
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rankomat.pl
Winter holidays on the Baltic Sea
The biggest surprise in this year's rankings comes from the coastal belt. The hotel infrastructure in Kołobrzeg, Świnoujście and Tricity, which is bursting at the seams in the summer, offers a four- and five-star standard in the winter at prices unattainable for mountain resorts.
— The scale of these differences is most visible in the Baltic Sea. Even in four- and five-star facilities, Kołobrzeg offers winter packages from approximately PLN 350 per night with meals. – says Eliza Maćkiewicz.
It is also worth paying attention to smaller seaside towns. — in Ustronie Morskie prices start from approximately PLN 400, and in Grzybowo in Western Pomerania from approximately PLN 550 per night. Similar price levels can also be found on Hel Peninsulaamong others in Chałupy – adds the expert. That's often facilities with a swimming pool, animations for children and wellness zone, which in winter compete on price, not on the brand of the location.
Distribution of last minute accommodation prices in the first round of the 2026 holidays according to Travelist
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travelist.pl
How to reduce travel costs
The way of planning winter recreation is also changing. More and more families are giving up weekly trips in favor of shorter stays. This model allows you to reduce accommodation costs and avoid the largest crowds.
Apartments and facilities with kitchenettes are also popular, as they allow you to reduce your food expenses. In many resorts, the cost of eating out for a family of four significantly exceeds the surcharge for a hotel package with breakfast and dinner..
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Winter holidays abroad
Agata Chmiel from Wakacje.pl draws attention to another popular destination: warm countries. Egypt is becoming one of the most frequently chosen holiday destinations in the winter season of 2026, offering a guarantee of weather and – what is crucial when traveling with children – predictable costs thanks to the all-inclusive formula.
— Year by year, more and more Poles decide to spend their winter holidays in warm countries. This season, it clearly dominates the choices of travel agency customers Egyptwith a wide range of family-oriented hotels – comments Agata Chmiel.
The average price of a 2+2 family trip to Egypt is approx. 11.2 thousand zlotyand are included in the price flights, transfer, insurance and full board. Compared to a stay of a similar standard in Zakopane – after adding the costs of meals on site – abroad may paradoxically be cheaper.
Popular destinations also include Spain (including the Canary Islands), Malta and Cyprus.
Costs of a week's stay for one person according to kontakt.pl data
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Zuzanna Staszewska-Jedynasty / Own work/AI
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In turn, Rankomat.pl experts advise against it this year Italian Alps. – Because of the upcoming ones Winter Olympic Games (February 2026), accommodation prices there have increased year-on-year by over 50 percent – warns Michał Ratajczak, Senior Content Analyst at Rankomat.pl
Less obvious last minute holidays
Even though the holidays are starting soon, last minute offers are still available – especially outside the busiest dates and locations. The cheapest offers appear in the second and third round of holidays and in places that are not the first choice of mass tourists.
Flexibility is key. In top mountain resorts, last minute rarely means an actual opportunity. It looks completely different at the seaside, in health resorts or in smaller mountain towns. If the holidays are meant to be a rest and not a fight for the household budget, it is worth taking a broader look at the map.
