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Long-haul holidays are becoming more affordable for British travelers with the recent surge in the value of the pound against currencies in popular distant destinations.
A Post Office report reveals that compared to a year ago, the cost for British tourists (in sterling terms) has dropped in 23 out of 26 destinations analyzed. The report also covers three additional destinations that were not surveyed in 2022.
According to the report, East Asia offers the best value, claiming five out of the top 10 spots in the Post Office table. The leading destination is Hoi An, Vietnam, followed by Mombasa Beach in Kenya and Cape Town in South Africa. The next four spots are dominated by Asian cities, namely Bali (Indonesia), Tokyo (Japan), New Delhi (India), and Phuket (Thailand).
These rankings are based on the costs of typical items tourists purchase on-site, such as coffee, beer, and a three-course dinner. However, it’s important to note that hotel and flight expenses are not included.
In addition to gaining strength against the euro, the pound’s rise has been beneficial for long-haul destinations where inflation has had a lesser impact. In Vietnam, for example, local prices for essential goods have decreased, resulting in a 19% reduction in the overall cost for UK visitors compared to last year.
Out of the 30 destinations surveyed, Barbados and New York turned out to be the most expensive. However, even in these locations, prices for the items in the tourist selection have decreased in sterling terms, with Bridgetown, Barbados experiencing a decrease of more than 26%, and New York seeing a decrease of 5.4%.
Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at Post Office, advises, “The positive exchange rate means winter sun tourists will see their pounds stretch further in the majority of destinations. However, we advise holidaymakers to consider the whole picture and factor in the package price before booking.”
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