BAG A BARGAIN HOLIDAY

Remember those pre-credit-crunch summers when £1 bought €1.50? It meant holidays were cheaper and we had more cash to spend. The exchange rate is now €1.20 to the pound, but it’s not all bad news as many destinations are also cheaper to go to.

Where pounds are worth more
According to latest research by Post Office Travel Money, Spain is now Europe’s cheapest destination for British tourists – the Costa del Sol costs 40% less than five years ago. Portugal also offers good value with a three-course evening meal for two adults (including a bottle of house wine) in a local restaurant costing only £21.82.

…and further afield
The Post Office’s research also found that the British pound has gone up against 29 popular currencies over the past year. Bargain hunters should look at Turkey, South Africa and Brazil (if the air fare doesn’t put you off, the savings are worth it).

Ten bargain resorts
To compare holiday spending costs around the world, the Post Office adds up the cost of these eight items:

•               cup of coffee

•               bottle of local beer or lager

•               bottle or can of Coca-Cola

•               1.5-litre bottle of mineral water (supermarket)

•               tube of sun cream (factor 15)

•               insect repellent (supermarket)

•               pack of 20 Marlboro Lights cigarettes

•               three-course evening meal for two adults in a local restaurant, including a bottle of house wine

Of 40 destinations surveyed, Sri Lanka had the lowest resort costs by far, at £27.95 for the above items. Cancun in Mexico was in fifth place at £44.03. However, some of these far-flung destinations are expensive to reach due to higher flight costs and taxes for long-haul air travel. Hence, cheap air-fares should tip the scales in favour of European resorts for bargain-hunters.

These are the ten cheapest resorts found by the Post Office…

Sri Lanka (Bentota) – £27.95 for eight holiday items

Spain (Costa del Sol) – £37.72 for eight holiday items

Czech Republic (Prague) – £39.57 for eight holiday items

Bulgaria (Sunny Beach) – £39.65 for eight holiday items

Mexico (Cancun) – £44.03 for eight holiday items

Hungary (Budapest) – £45.57 for eight holiday items

Portugal (Lagos) – £45.58 for eight holiday items

Thailand (Phuket) – £46.15 for eight holiday items

South Africa (Cape Town) – £47.62 for eight holiday items

Vietnam (Hanoi) – £50.71 for eight holiday items

YOU TELL US Got a favourite great-value holiday destination to share?