Long-haul holidays ‘cheaper than shorthaul’ this summer
Holiday price comparison website TravelSupermarket is claiming families could save as much as 47% swapping a short-haul holiday for a more exotic destination this summer.
It claims that a family of four could travel to Phuket in Thailand for a fortnight in mid-August for £2948 less than an equivalent holiday in Santorini, saving 47% on the cost of the package.
It also claimed a family would save £1,092 (or 33%) if they went to New York instead of the Greek island of Mykonos during the summer school holiday, or they could swap Mykonos for long-haul beach destinations Barbados or the Seychelles and still save money.
Emma Coulthurst of TravelSupermarket said: "There are some fantastic savings to be made by swapping short haul for long haul and going thousands of miles further this summer.
"It is really worth comparing long haul and short haul to see how far you can go for a lot less. If you pick well, you can experience some long-haul destinations this summer for as much as 47% less than holidays much closer to home."
When it searched holiday prices on May 28, TravelSupermarket found that a family of four from the southeast could travel to New York for £582pp, including seven nights room-only in a four-star hotel, while a week in Mykonos B&B would cost them £1,024 more..
"The cost of living is also a lot cheaper in long-haul destinations like Thailand than it is in short-haul destinations within the Eurozone," added Coulthurst.
"A three-course meal in a mid-range restaurant in Thailand will only set you back around £7-8 and a pint of local beer £1.20 to £1.60. An equivalent meal in Ibiza is likely to cost you around £26 each and a beer around £2 to £3.
"Weather wise, August is one of the best months to go to Barbados and the Seychelles; it is the peak of the dry season so there is lots of sun and hardly any rain; a great time to enjoy the Islands’~beaches and the sea. New York can be very hot but, at those prices, it is worth considering.
"In Phuket, you should expect brief but heavy showers on the Island but with plenty of sunshine between downpours. People go for the beach once any rains have cleared in the mornings so it is definitely worth considering at those prices. It will also be quieter in Thailand than in November to March".
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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