City break fans should head to Moscow, Prague or Budapest for the cheapest holiday. They are the best value cities to visit according to the Post Office City Costs Barometer.
The Russian ruble has dropped in value by more than nine per cent since the beginning of 2014 and is currently worth over 29 per cent less against the pound than last February. This means visitors get over £113 extra cash when they change £500.
The Hungarian forint has also weakened by over six per cent since early January and a 13 per cent year-on-year fall against sterling will give UK visitors £59 more to spend in Budapest. Falling prices in the city mean an even better deal. Last year holidaymakers would have paid 29 per cent more for the same tourist items.
People planning trips to Prague will have around £62 extra cash from a £500 currency exchange. And, since eating out in the Czech capital costs just £22 for two according to the Post Office barometer, couples planning a weekend break will be able to use their extra cash to fund meals and have plenty of money left over for souvenirs.
The barometer also reveals:
- Holidaymakers are ‘quids in’ as sterling rises year-on-year against all top 40 currencies
- Biggest gain of almost 37 per cent is against the South African rand
- Transatlantic tourists will get 28 per cent more Jamaican dollars for their pounds
- Head east to Thailand for lower resort costs AND nearly 20 per cent more holiday cash
People planning holidays abroad could have over £100 extra to spend when changing £500 into foreign currency – provided they pick their destination carefully.
Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money said: “The biggest jump in sterling’s value is against the South African rand. In a year when many people will want to walk in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela as South Africa celebrates 20 years of democracy, UK visitors will get almost 37 per cent more for their pounds. That equates to over £134 extra to spend when they change £500.
“But UK tourists can look forward to having more spending money in every holiday hotspot this year and they will be even better off if they pick a destination where local prices are down.”
For the latest information on costs at destinations around the world, see www.postoffice.co.uk/worldwidecosts
