Sunny Beach in Bulgaria has been revealed as the best-value beach resort in Europe for British families.
The accolade comes from new research by Post Office Travel Money, which has ranked 16 European holiday hotspots on cost by comparing the price of typical family essentials in each area – including suncream, insect repellent, a three-course family meal, a glass of wine and a bottle of cola.
The holiday essentials can be bought for a total of £110.87 in Sunny Beach. Marmaris, a resort on Turkey’s Riviera, takes second place with a basket total of £116.94, while the Algarve in Portugal (£124.24) comes third.
At the other end of the scale, Ibiza (£229.21), one of Spain’s Balearic islands, ranks as the most expensive destination for a family beach holiday, at more than double the cost of Sunny Beach.Â
The research uses local prices supplied by Tui as well as national and regional tourist offices. But while Sunny Beach might be the cheapest hotspot, prices have still risen by 9.8 per cent in the Bulgarian resort since last July.Â
Sunny Beach in Bulgaria, pictured here, has been revealed as the best-value beach resort in Europe for British families. The accolade comes from research by Post Office Travel Money, which has ranked 16 European holiday hotspots on cost by comparing the price of typical family essentials in each area. The holiday essentials can be bought for a total of £110.87 in Sunny Beach
Marmaris (above), a resort on Turkey’s Riviera, takes second place with a basket total of £116.94Â
It’s one of 12 destinations to record a rise in prices, although the Post Office notes that the cost of a family meal has only risen by £3 in Sunny Beach.
Second-place Marmaris was last year’s cheapest destination, but holidaymakers will find prices have risen by 17 per cent year on year. The Post Office attributes this rise to high inflation in Turkey, which ‘resulted in a doubling of prices’.Â
It adds that ‘the improved exchange rate of sterling to lira can only help to reduce the extra amount’ Britons will pay in Turkey.Â
Portugal’s Algarve (third place) is the cheapest of the Eurozone destinations, but has also seen prices rise by more than 18 per cent since last year.
Portugal’s Algarve (third place, £124.24) is the cheapest of the Eurozone destinations, but has seen prices rise by more than 18 per cent since last year
Ibiza (£229.21), one of Spain ’s Balearic islands (above), ranks as the most expensive destination for a family beach holiday
The rest of the best-value top five features Spain’s Costa del Sol (fourth, £137.82) and Paphos in Cyprus (fifth, £144.48).
Three Greek resorts rank in the top 10 for value – Kos (sixth, £150.33), Rhodes (eighth, £156.93) and Corfu (10th, £167.36).
Rounding off the best-value resorts are Lanzarote (seventh, £154.81) and Majorca (ninth, £166.13). Lanzarote saw this year’s biggest price drop with a fall in costs of 7.2 per cent year on year.
At the more costly end of the table was Greek island Crete (15th, £180.21) and Croatia’s Porec (14th, £177.48) – both rank in the top three budget-busting hotspots.
Italy’s Puglia (13th, £173.96), Malta’s Silema (12th, £172.96) and Funchal in Madeira (11th, 168.06) are also among the most expensive family holiday hotspots.
Post Office Travel Money ranks 16 European holiday hotspots on cost by comparing the prices in each resort of typical family essentials
Commenting on the report’s findings, Laura Plunkett, head of Travel Money at the Post Office, says: ‘Even though sterling is stronger now than last July, price inflation across Europe means that families need to allow for increases in meals, drinks and other tourist costs in their spending budget.
‘Work out your holiday budget carefully and take enough cash or a pre-paid travel card to cover resort costs to help avoid overspending and having to incur fees for changing money or paying on plastic while abroad.’
Phillip Iveson, commercial director at Tui UK & Ireland, adds: ‘It’s clear that it’s not just the UK that is impacted by the cost of living, but despite this, the report shows that there are still plenty of great-value destinations for families to choose from.
‘We’re continuing to see strong demand for more affordable holiday favourites, including Bulgaria and Turkey, as well as the likes of Greece and Spain.’