Looking to go away in early 2016? Then you’ll want to know the cheapest places for a bargain break.
Eurozone winter sun resorts Cyprus and Lanzarote are leaders in the Top 10, says Post Office Travel Money.
Not only will a rise of 10 per cent in sterling’s value put around £45 extra cash in the pockets of UK holidaymakers when they change £500 into euros, but package prices are low as well.
In Cyprus, the cheapest of 10 winter sun favourites surveyed for New Year getaways, a seven-night package to Paphos (above) including evening meals in resort restaurants costs £239 per person. Costa Teguise in Lanzarote was second cheapest at £268 per person.
Further afield, UK tourists visiting some long haul destinations will get even more for their money. The Malaysian ringgit has dipped 18 per cent against sterling since last December, which means visitors will have the equivalent of £77 more to spend on a £500 currency purchase.
However, the higher cost of airfares means a week’s holiday in Penang with meals included will cost £887 per person, significantly more than a eurozone winter break.
Although the Thai baht is only 4.6 per cent weaker year-on-year against sterling, Thailand is cheaper than Malaysia. A one-week Phuket package with resort meals costs £763 – 14 per cent less than in Penang.
With Egypt off-sale to UK visitors, bargain hunters who would normally head to Sharm el Sheikh could find Mexico the strongest contender. At £756 per person for a week in January, Cancun was the cheapest long haul beach resort surveyed. Visitors will benefit from an 11 per cent year-on-year drop in the Mexican peso’s value, giving them £50 extra on a £500 exchange. Over two years this rises to almost £91 as sterling is worth 22 per cent more than it was in December 2013.
Ironically, despite the weakness of sterling against the US dollar, a week’s holiday including meals was even cheaper in Orlando (£692 per person). This made Florida’s theme park capital the lowest-priced destination outside Europe. UK tourists may have 4.5 per cent fewer dollars to spend than a year ago but the Post Office research found that they will pay over £60 less for a week’s holiday than in Cancun or Phuket.
| 1 year comparison
Dec 2015 vs. Dec 2014 |
2 year comparison
Dec 2015 vs. Dec 2013 |
|||
| Destination | 1 week package incl. evening meals¹ | How much the £ buys | How much £500 buys | How much
£500 buys |
| Cyprus: Paphos | £239 | +10.0% | +£45.25 | +£70.68 |
| Canary Islands: Lanzarote | £268 | +10.0% | +£45.25 | +£70.68 |
| USA: Orlando | £692 | -4.5% | -£23.43 | -£43.76 |
| Mexico: Cancun | £756 | +11.2% | +£50.49 | +£90.98 |
| Thailand: Phuket | £763 | +4.6% | +£22.18 | +£17.23 |
| Mauritius: Grand Baie | £871 | +9.6% | +£43.80 | +£48.40 |
| Malaysia: Penang | £887 | +18.2% | +£76.92 | +£91.53 |
| Caribbean: Dominican Rep. | £887 | -1.5% | -£7.46 | -£7.90 |
| Dubai: Jumeirah Beach | £993 | -4.9% | -£25.61 | -£45.79 |
| Kenya: Mombasa | £1,076 | +8.1% | +£37.46 | +£43.07 |
Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money said: “The great value we found in Orlando just goes to show that holidaymakers planning trips really need to look at both the package price and the cost of eating out. Even though the US dollar remains stubbornly stronger against the pound, prices are low in Orlando and package costs are looking very reasonable.
“Although Eurozone winter sun holidays are unbeatable on price for a January break, the strength of sterling against currencies for long haul destinations like Mexico, Malaysia and Mauritius will make them appealing to holidaymakers looking for higher temperatures.”
