Research highlights the vast difference between the same holiday items – from a cup of coffee to a meal out – between summer destinations popular with UK families
Families after a bargain break this summer should head to the Algarve, research found.
Portugal’s ever popular hotspot emerged as cheapest once holidaymakers get to their destination.
The research by Post Office Travel Money looked at 10 things tourist typically shell out on, including a three course family meal, lunch for two, through to suncream, a cup of coffee, and insect repellent. The results revealed a near £130 difference between the cheapest and the most expensive amount 22 destinations included, which could really stack up for a typical family over the course of a week or longer.
The Algarve came out top, with the 10 items costing £139.65, and 2.7% less than a year ago.
Next cheapest was Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, where the same came to £142.16, with the Canary Islands, Menorca and Spain’s Costa Brava making up the remainder of the top five where travellers’ money will go the furthest.
At the other of the scale, the most expensive among the 22 destinations included was Sorrento in Italy, with the 10 purchases costing £268. Families should expect to shell out a whopping £150 for a meal, compared with £88 on the Algarve.
The Post Office Travel Money Family Holiday Report was published in the week that many schools in England break up for the summer holiday
Echoing past years, prices varied by as much as 92% across the 22 destinations surveyed. There are also big differences between resorts in the same country.
In Greece, for example, the barometer totals ranged from £181 in Kos to £222 in Crete.
And while a cup of coffee in Sorrento can typically set tourists back £4.37, four hours across the country in Puglia it is £1.14, according to the report.
Laura Plunkett, head of Post Office Travel Money, which accounts for one-in-four UK currency
transactions, said: “We found big variations in costs between the European resorts surveyed, which means it is more important than ever to do some research before heading off on your holiday to inform how much holiday cash you’ll need for meals, drinks and other tourist staples. For those families who haven’t already booked and are looking for a late deal, the low resort prices in Portugal and Spain make these countries great value for money, while Bulgaria’s Black Sea resorts are strong contenders too.”
1. Algarve, Portugal £139.65
2. Sunny Beach, Bulgaria £142.16
3. Canary Islands £147.42
4. Menorca £151.28
5. Costa Brava, Spain £155.02
6. Canary Islands £158.31
7. Marmaris, Turkey £158.33
8. Costa del Sol, Spain £163.17
9. Costa Blanca £173.41
10. Paphos, Cyprus £177.18
11. Sliema, Malta £181.21
12. Kos, Greece £181.38
13. Rhodes, Greece £186.10
14. Porec, Croatia £199.68
15. Puglia, Italy £203.05
16. Corfu, Greece £204.34
17. Zadar, Croatia £211.90
18. Ibiza £211.90
19. Majorca £219.65
20. Crete, Greece £211.57
21. Funchal, Madeira £260
22. Sorrento, Italy £268.23
