The Post Office has released its annual Long Haul Travel Report well before the winter blues kick in. Created in partnership with Travelbag and tourist offices, the list compares the average cost of 10 travel staples, including a range of drinks, snacks and an evening meal for two, in 34 resorts and cities around the world. When it comes to the cheapest destination, Cape Town has taken the top spot.
'After a summer when sterling gave holidaymakers less cash to spend in Europe, winter sun tourists will see their pounds stretch further in many of the most popular long-haul destinations,' Andrew Brown from Post Office Travel Money said. 'However, we advise them to consider the whole picture and not just the package price before booking.'
Here are the top 10 cheapest long-haul destinations for autumn, along with the Post Office's costings for the holiday items. It's worth noting, these prices don't include travel or accommodation.
1. CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
Thanks to a reduction in local prices and a weaker South African rand, Cape Town has been named the cheapest destination for this year. At £51.48 for the 10 travel staples, the Cape Town cost was over 10% lower than in last year’s top destination, Tokyo, where prices have risen by 17%
2. TOKYO, JAPAN
Despite this year’s price rise, Tokyo is second cheapest in the 2018 survey and remains 45% cheaper than five years ago when prices first began to fall in the city. The total cost for the items was found to be £57.40.
3. BALI, INDONESIA
Bali has been boosted by a strong sterling exchange rate and a drop in local costs this year. A three-course meal for two, including wine, was £42.11, with the total cost for the items at £63.95.
4. MOMBASA, KENYA
Kenya's coastal city came in fourth-cheapest, with a total of £67.11. Check the Foreign Office's latest travel advice here.
5. HOI AN, VIETNAM
This historic town is one of Vietnam's most popular tourist spots, but it's still worth considering when travelling on a budget. The costings here came in at £75.52.
6. CANCUN, MEXICO
Cancun has returned to the top 10 list after a drop in the value of the peso and lower resort costs. The 10 items came in at £78.98.
7. ORLANDO, USA
Orlando is the cheapest U.S. destination at £81.62 for the costings basket. Prices in the world’s theme park capital are up marginally on 2017, but this is said to be because the US dollar is 0.8 per cent stronger against the pound this year.
Orlando continues to appeal to the family market with January – June 2018 already exceeding all bookings for the previous year,' Oliver Lomas from Travelbag commented.
8. PENANG, MALAYSIA
This exotic tropical island is a renowned tourist hotspot, thanks to its rich Chinese heritage and picturesque natural scenery. It also offers great value to tourists, with a costing of £82.69.
9. CHICAGO, USA
Among the other USA cities – Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco - in the full list, Chicago was the cheapest of these in ninth place at £91.46.
10. PHUKET, THAILAND
It might be in tenth place, but buying holiday staples in Phuket - home to turquoise waters and white, sandy beaches - is still pretty cheap. The total cost for holiday items here was £97.63.
Source : https://www.prima.co.uk/travel/g23314478/cheapest-long-haul-holiday-destinations/
