Holidaymakers looking for the best value beach resort in Europe are likely to find that their pounds will stretch further outside the Eurozone, according to research for this year?s Post Office Travel Money Holiday Costs Barometer.
In a comparison of costs in 18 top European destinations, the Post Office found that beach resorts in Bulgaria and Turkey are far cheaper than in their lowest-priced Eurozone competitors, Portugal?s Algarve and the Costa del Sol.
For the fifth year running, Sunny Beach in Bulgaria offers the best value for a bargain break, even though prices have risen 16% since last spring. At just over ?43, the barometer basket of tourist staples ? lunch and evening meals, drinks, suncream and insect repellent ? is less than half the price in two-thirds of the other destinations surveyed. Inexpensive meals are the main reason for the Black Sea resort?s dominant position with two people able to have an evening meal with wine for around ?26 and lunch for less than ?9.
Although runner-up Marmaris cannot quite match Sunny Beach on price, the plummeting Turkish lira ? down 25% year-on-year against sterling ? means holidaymakers visiting Turkey will get much more for their money. Local prices also remain relatively low with restaurants and bars keen to attract tourists back after a lean few years. As a result, barometer prices in Marmaris are 20% lower than a year ago.
Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money, said: ?This may well be the year when it will pay to plan a trip outside the Eurozone. There have already been reports of growing demand for Turkey as low-priced packages attract cash-conscious UK holidaymakers. Now, a combination of the Turkish lira?s weakness and low resort prices will make resorts like Marmaris even more attractive for holidaymakers on a tight budget.
?The cost of eating out is always a big consideration for holidaymakers and this year we found that meal costs in Sunny Beach and Marmaris are significantly lower than in any of the Eurozone resorts surveyed. On a week?s holiday, the cost of lunch and dinner ranges from ?243 in Sunny Beach and ?287 in Marmaris to well over twice as much in Sorrento. That?s why it will pay to do your homework before booking to find a resort that fits your budget.?
Go to postoffice.co.uk/holidaycosts for more details.
