With the half-term break just around the corner, a soaring pound could save holidaymakers hundreds.
Prices have plunged at popular European resorts and travellers are seeing their money go further in other exotic destinations around the world. And sterling has surged to six-year high against the euro with many resorts also slashing prices as they vie for custom.
Costs have plummeted by up to 20 per cent over the past year in 10 out of 12 worldwide destinations, according to the Post Office Winter Sunshine Report. The report, which compared the total cost of eight travel ‘basket’ items, priced all at just £44.03 in Costa del Sol
Post Office Travel Money researchers have compared prices for a basket of eight items to compile a barometer of prices in popular holiday locations.
Top of the list for value for money was the Costa del Sol, in Spain, where holidaymakers can enjoy a three-course family meal for £32.49, a cup of coffee for just under £1 and a glass of wine for around £1.40.
It was followed by Bali, Indonesia, where a meal for two comes in at just £37.60 and a bottle or can of Coca Cola costs just 50p.
Bob Atkinson, travel expert at TravelSupermarket, said: ‘It’s fantastic news that the cost of holidaying to many popular destinations is going down just as we head into winter and the colder months of the year.
‘It’s a combination of the strength of the pound against many currencies we like to take our winter breaks in, coupled with local hoteliers and tourist businesses fighting for our holiday spending money by slashing prices in resort for everything from eating out to entrances to popular attractions.
‘Ensuring you get your slice of winter sun need not cost you the earth.
‘In fact it’s the earth you may well be exploring knowing your money will go a long way in the likes of Sri Lanka and other destinations near and far this winter.’
Currently £1 (based on an exchange of £500) will buy 1.232 euros compared to 1.14 euros last October, an increase of around eight per cent in the past 12 months.
Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money said: ‘Families can look forward to seeing their holiday money stretch further in winter sun Eurozone resorts as well as in many of the popular long haul destinations we surveyed for autumn half term holidays.
‘The trick is do some advance holiday homework and pick a destination where resort prices are low and where the pound still packs a powerful punch.
‘That’s certainly true of resorts in Spain, Portugal and Cyprus, thanks to the strength of sterling, and people planning trips further afield can benefit from low resort charges in Sri Lankan resorts and the perennial favourite Phuket.’
Sean Tipton, spokesman for travel association Abta, said: ‘With half term rapidly approaching the strength of the pound makes a foreign break really good value for money.
‘Not many people travel overseas in the autumn so hotels will lower their prices and you won’t have to put up with the crowds you see in the summer.
‘Plus if you’re looking for good weather temperatures in Southern Europe and Turkey are still in the mid-twenties with good sunshine, so the beach is still an option.’
