29 January 2009

'Devon cheaper than Majorca'

The cost of holidaying in Majorca could be double a similar break in Devon, a UK accommodation supplier claims.

Blue Chip Vacations compared holiday properties across the Continent and claimed to have found the majority to be double the cost, with some costing almost three times that of a comparable domestic holiday.

The price of a typical holiday for four with at the Manor House, Torquay, Devon is £596 for a week in May, when including travel costs and booking fees.

That compares to a holiday in Majorca in a similar size and quality of property which comes in at £1,300, according to the company.

Foreign property costs which were relatively comparable to those in the UK when the pound was strong are now out of the budget of many, Blue Chip Vacations believes.

Managing Director Liam Gavin said: "We compared prices on around a dozen holidays across Europe from a broad section of companies.

"Whilst it is hard to compare like for like, all were two bedroom properties in similar positions, with pools, and perfectly suited to a family of four. However the cost variation was enormous, the cheapest European holiday property we found as a comparison was a stone cottage in Provence, yet the cost for that holiday still totalled more than double that of a holiday in the West Country. And that’s without including food, drink and entertainment costs, all victims of the exchange rate.

"The euro is at its highest level ever so the public are not getting value for money in Europe at the moment.

"People are cutting back on extraneous expense due to the recession and their money isn’t going very far abroad. The travel costs alone are killing foreign holidays but when the exchange rate is so low as well it becomes untenable.

"In many ways the UK holiday market is the beneficiary of the economic downturn. The UK is becoming trendy again as it is easy to access by car. For affordable luxury, at real value for money prices, it is now better to holiday in the UK than travel abroad."

by Phil Davies

Post your comment

Your Comments (3)

Nice PR line, but...

Is it really so? I can't comment on the quality of Manor House in Torquay, but I can find plenty of deals to Majorca and the Costa's cheaper than &#pound;149 per person. There's one thing we can all be certain of, the Spanish sun will be shining and the sea will be blue. Not sure I'd be as confident of that in Torquay in May! www.searchtravelonline.co.uk

By gary thomas, Monday, February 2, 2009
More true now than ever!

afew years ago SWITCH did an analysis which proved UK was less expensive at the time - now it is even more so! What holidaymakers often subconsciously do is forget all the 'extras' when heading abroad - parking, insurance, car hire, etc - but when all included there's no comparison!

By Robin Barker, Thursday, January 29, 2009
Couldn't agree more

This is the year the UK population can rediscover they're own fantastic country. Not only is it long overdue, but its environmentally sound and helps stimulate the economy. GB has so much to offer from the Devon Coast to the Scottish Islands. This is a beautiful country. Lets discover it!

By Peter Shearn, Thursday, January 29, 2009