Ryanair has slashed fares to Santander on the northern coast of Spain by around 30% in the past week. We found flights for £41, return, in June and £59, return, in July using Fly.com's new fare calendar system. These fares include the £12 admin fee.

These hot fares from London Stansted to the ancient Spanish city are some of the cheapest we've seen for a European break in a long time. June and July -- when temperatures in the region average in the mid-20s -- are a perfect time to make the most of one of Santander's great strengths, the sandy beaches running along the Bay of Biscay.

After seeing these low fares, we asked our Barcelona office to find us a great hotel deal to make this bargain break a possibility. If you're keen to stay in Santander, click here to search for a great rate on hotels using SuperSearch.

For a rural retreat a little further afield, our Spanish colleagues were excited by this hot deal for a small property in La Rioja, where the hotel's restaurant has a Michelin star. 

Click here to see when the cheap fares are available on Fly.com. The lowest fares will show as £29, before the £12 admin fee is applied by Ryanair.

Hand luggage is included. Checked bags are £50, return, for a 15kg bag.