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The cost of holiday items in Bulgaria has been rated as more than two times cheaper than Antigua. Meanwhile, the other non-eurozone countries of Turkey and Croatia have joined Bulgaria as Europe’s cheapest options for a bargain break.
At around £42 for 10 holiday items, including drinks and meals, Bulgaria’s Sunny Beach resort was two and a half times cheaper than Antigua – the most expensive destination surveyed.
The figures come from the annual Holiday Costs Barometer from Post Office Travel Services.
Bulgaria has overtaken last year’s top trio of Thailand, South Africa and Egypt, where prices have risen steeply, according to the study. Thailand still remains as the best value long haul, but prices have rocketed, the research shows. The biggest price hikes were in long haul destinations with the 10 commodities surveyed rising by 53.7% in Thailand and by 46.9% in Egypt.
Like the US, which has dropped to 17th place in the barometer table after sterling slumped against the dollar, the Thai baht and Egyptian pound have strengthened considerably against the UK pound. Although this helps to account for the increases, the Post Office warned that resort prices have risen more than in other holiday spots.
Price cutting in some popular eurozone destinations means that thay may cost less than expected. Prices have plummeted in the Algarve in Portugal, putting the destination back into the top ten for the first time in two years – at only 39p more for the holiday shopping basket than in Spain, the cheapest eurozone destination surveyed.
Local prices have dropped in Greece and Italy as well, which means that the annual price increase for the tourist items surveyed is just seven and five per cent respectively – and wholly due to an 11% sterling exchange rate drop.
France is the most expensive eurozone destination in this year’s barometer – costing £11.22 (+16.7%) more than in Spain. Cyprus joins France as the highest priced European holiday destination. By contrast Malta has held prices steady and emerges as third cheapest after Spain and Portugal.
Post Office head of travel services Sarah Munro said: “The eurozone has taken a bashing this year but our survey suggests that tourist outlets in many resorts are taking dramatic steps to encourage tourists. “Despite the weak pound, this means that UK tourists who shop carefully could find that they get more than expected for their money.”
She added: “Prices for eating out have shown some of the biggest rises in this year’s survey. “In Thailand we have tracked a 68.5% jump, in the USA meals increased by almost 49% and even in Turkey, one of our best buys, they have gone up by over one third. “By contrast the increase in Greece was just above one per cent. However, many of the same destinations where prices have gone up, notably Thailand and Turkey, remain great value for money.”
POST OFFICE® HOLIDAY COSTS BAROMETER 2009
(based on Post Office exchange rates: 28 April)
| ITEMS | Bulgaria | Thailand | South Africa | Kenya | Turkey | Croa tia |
Mala ysia |
Spain |
Port ugal |
| Cup of coffee Bar /café |
£0.75 | £0.53 | £1.04 | £1.72 | £1.79 | £1.32 | £1.23 | £1.24 | £0.53 |
| Bottle of lager Bar/ café |
£1.01 | £1.06 | £1.58 | £1.43 | £3.13 | £1.97 | £2.46 | £1.91 | £0.96 |
| Bottle /can of Coca -Cola Bar/ café |
£0.75 | £0.32 | £0.42 | £0.77 | £1.34 | £1.84 | £0.31 | £1.82 | £0.96 |
|
Bottle |
£0.50 | £0.53 | £0.83 | £1.15 | £0.56 | £0.53 | £0.49 | £1.15 | £0.38 |
| Sun cream (factor 15) Super market |
£7.54 | £5.31 | £4.16 | £7.65 | £8.95 | £7.90 | £5.13 | £8.62 | £10.52 |
| Post card and stamp to UK Tourist shop |
£0.50 | £0.38 | £0.83 | £1.91 | £1.12 | £0.92 | £0.36 | £0.88 | £0.96 |
| Insect rep ellent Super market |
£1.01 | £0.85 | £1.25 | £1.43 | £2.68 | £3.03 | £1.44 | £7.66 | £4.74 |
| Pack of Marl boro Lights cigar ettes |
£2.51 | £1.49 | £1.99 | £1.43 | £2.24 | £2.63 | £1.85 | £3.11 | £3.35 |
| English tabloid news paper |
£2.51 | £3.72 | £0.79 | £1.91 | £2.24 | £2.50 | £0.25 | £2.39 | £1.99 |
| 3 course evening meal for 2 (incl. bottle of house wine) in a l ocal resta- urant |
£25.15 | £29.73 | £33.24 | £38.26 | £40.26 | £42.12 | £51.30 | £38.30 | £43.08 |
| TOTAL COSTS | £42.23 | £43.92 | £46.13 | £57.66 | £64.31 | £64.76 | £64.82 | £67.08 | £67.47 |
<!–
| Bottle of lager Bar/ café |
£1.01 | £1.06 | £1.58 | £1.43 | £3.13 | £1.97 | £2.46 | £1.91 | £0.96 |
| Bottle/ can of Coca -Cola Bar/ café |
£0.75 | £0.32 | £0.42 | £0.77 | £1.34 | £1.84 | £0.31 | £1.82 | £0.96 |
| Bottle of still mineral water Super market |
£0.50 | £0.53 | £0.83 | £1.15 | £0.56 | £0.53 | £0.49 | £1.15 | £0.38 |
| Sun cream (factor 15) Super market |
£7.54 | £5.31 | £4.16 | £7.65 | £8.95 | £7.90 | £5.13 | £8.62 | £10.52 |
| Post card and stamp to UK Tourist shop |
£0.50 | £0.38 | £0.83 | £1.91 | £1.12 | £0.92 | £0.36 | £0.88 | £0.96 |
| Insect repellent Super market |
£1.01 | £0.85 | £1.25 | £1.43 | £2.68 | £3.03 | £1.44 | £7.66 | £4.74 |
| Pack of Marl boro Lights cigarettes |
£2.51 | £1.49 | £1.99 | £1.43 | £2.24 | £2.63 | £1.85 | £3.11 | £3.35 |
| English tabloid news paper |
£2.51 | £3.72 | £0.79 | £1.91 | £2.24 | £2.50 | £0.25 | £2.39 | £1.99 |
| 3 course evening meal for 2 (incl. bottle of house wine) in a l ocal resta-urant |
£25.15 | £29.73 | £33.24 | £38.26 | £40.26 | £42.12 | £51.30 | £38.30 | £43.08 |
| TOTAL COSTS |
£42.23 | £43.92 | £46.13 | £57.66 | £64.31 | £64.76 | £64.82 | £67.08 | £67.47 |
–>
| ITEMS | Malta | Greece | Egypt | Jamaica | Italy | Cyprus | France | USA | Antigua |
| Cup of coffee Bar/café | £0.96 | £3.83 | £1.04 | £1.76 | £0.86 | £2.87 | £1.91 | £1.46 | £2.31 |
| Bottle of lager Bar/café | £1.34 | £4.79</ |
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