It could pay to take your family farther afield over half-term thanks to currency fluctuations — as Dubai or Phuket could cost LESS than Lanzarote
Families seeking the sun this half-term may find the time is right for an exotic long-haul — and it could be cheaper than going to the Canaries
SUN-SEEKING families may find the time is right for an exotic long-haul, last-minute trip this half-term – it can be cheaper than going to the Canaries.
And it will also most likely be far hotter.
Thanks to currency fluctuations, an average half-term week away for four in Lanzarote, where temperatures are predicted to be around 24C, will cost £3,319.
Meanwhile the same dates at Jumeirah Beach in Dubai would cost £3,019, or in Phuket in Thailand, £3,032.
In both those resorts, the mercury is tipped to hit 28C or 29C.
But Spain and Portugal are the cheapest destinations overall, according to research by the currency supplier Post Office Travel Money.
The company worked out the average costs in 12 popular destinations by checking the price of a last-minute package and adding other expenses at the resort such as meals, drinks and suncream.
And half-term holidaymakers will have extra cash to spend in all of the 12 destinations compared with the October half-term last year, thanks to sterling gaining strength.
The best value holiday is Spain’s Costa del Sol, with a half-term break costing £1,775 for two adults and two kids.
At £1,805, Portugal’s Algarve coast is nearly as cheap.
Families looking for an eastern Med break would gain most from a visit to Turkey, because of sterling’s rise of 29 per cent against the Turkish lira since October 2016.
That means visitors will get more than £113 extra when changing £500 into lira, compared with a year ago.
Against the euro, on the other hand, the Pound has risen just 1.7 per cent in the same time-frame.
That means visiting Paphos in Cyprus would cost 14 per cent more than a trip to Turkey.
While Dubai and Thailand are the long-haul bargains, other far-flung destinations are still pricey, according to the Post Office, which does a quarter of all UK travel currency transactions.
Mombasa in Kenya is the most expensive destination at £4,479 for a half-term week.
Montego Bay, Jamaica, is £4,032, Penang in Malaysia is £4,161 and Rodney Bay, St Lucia, comes up at £4,401.
Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money said: “Our research shows how important it is for families to check all costs when it comes to choosing a last-minute half-term destination.
“The combination of low resort costs and cheap packages makes the Costa del Sol best value overall, but with holiday prices changing all the time, it will be worth checking up on package prices for the Algarve and Marmaris in Turkey before booking as these destinations are also cheap.
“Farther afield, the improving value of sterling is a definite bonus for sun-seekers and both Dubai and Thailand have prices to rival the Canary Islands and Cyprus. Travelling at half-term may be a last-minute decision but there are still ways that families can plan ahead.
“They should do things like checking the cost of items they expect to pay for in resorts in advance and organising foreign currency before leaving home to avoid getting a poor rate at the airport.”
Bookings tips that'll help you save
HERE are some of my tips for booking holidays for less . . .
- Make use of price comparison sites such as Kayak, Skyscanner and TravelSup to find cheap flights.
- For hotel bookings, check the cost of your room on Trivago, TravelSup and TripAdvisor. Also, call the hotel itself to see if it will offer you a cheaper price.
- Book your flights as early as possible for the cheapest costs.
- With package holidays, you can often get “early bird” deals or get big discounts if you leave booking to the last minute.
- Haggle over the cost of any package deal with the tour operator. They may be flexible.
- Remember that villas and apartments are often much cheaper to stay in than hotels.
- Book your travel insurance straight away in case you or a family member get ill.
- For more travel tips, see .
