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The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Best value summer holiday resort 2025 revealed – with affordable meals and cheap beer
TURKISH hotspot Marmaris has emerged as the best value summer resort for 2025, closely followed by Bulgaria's Sunny Beach. The two non-Eurozone destinations topped the list as the most affordable places to head for a break with the kids this year. Advertisement 2 Turkey's Incekum Beach Credit: Getty 2 Marmaris in Turkey narrowly beat Bulgaria's Sunny Beach resort to emerge as cheapest destination Credit: Getty Post Office Travel Money partnered with tour operator Tui, which sent its reps to discover the real cost of various holiday essentials in 16 traditional Mediterranean favourites for its 17th annual Family Holiday Report. The basket of ten holiday items included lunch and evening meals for adults and kids, plus a range of soft and alcoholic drinks, suncream and insect repellent. But it's not great news for travellers as prices have risen in 13 of the 16 destinations in the past year. Marmaris in Turkey narrowly beat Bulgaria's Sunny Beach resort to emerge as cheapest. Advertisement READ MORE TRAVEL NEWS At £128.99, Marmaris had risen 10.3 per cent since July 2024, while prices in the Bulgarian resort were up 17.2 per cent year on year to £129.47. Prices in the two were nearly ten per cent lower than their closest Eurozone competitor. And although Turkey took the top spot, there was a warning from Laura Plunkett, Post Office Head of Travel Money. She said: 'The collapse of the lira makes Turkish resorts like Marmaris a natural choice for families. 'However, visitors should be aware that while sterling is worth a third more than last July, local prices have increased dramatically because of the currency's collapse. Advertisement Most read in News Travel 'Thankfully, once the positive exchange rate is applied to those local prices, British visitors will only have to pay around ten per cent more than a year ago and this increase is much lower than in many other destinations.' Prices increased almost across the board, with Majorca's rising most. There, the basket came to £201.67 - up 21.4 per cent on last year. My holiday at TUI Magic Life Beldibi Prices have risen 15.5 per cent in the Algarve but at £143.56, Portugal's sunshine coast remains the cheapest in the Eurozone and third placed overall. However, there is now less than £1 between the Algarve and fourth-placed Paphos. At £144.44, prices in the Cypriot resort have fallen by 1.2 per cent since last summer. Advertisement The other two destinations to record price drops were Lanzarote and Crete. Lanzarote has moved up the table into fifth place from seventh last year because of a 2.1 per cent fall in costs to £151.61. There has been a more marked reduction of 7.8 per cent in Crete (£166.07), which rises to seventh place from 15th a year ago. Ibiza has again been rated the most expensive resort of the 16 surveyed. Advertisement Although the Balearic island registered the lowest price increase of 5.9 per cent, its barometer total of £242.79 is almost twice the price of Marmaris.
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Best value summer holiday resort 2025 revealed – with affordable meals and cheap beer
Read on to find out the full list of value-added destinations for summer 2025 YOU WON'T GET BURNED Best value summer holiday resort 2025 revealed – with affordable meals and cheap beer Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TURKISH hotspot Marmaris has emerged as the best value summer resort for 2025, closely followed by Bulgaria's Sunny Beach. The two non-Eurozone destinations topped the list as the most affordable places to head for a break with the kids this year. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Turkey's Incekum Beach Credit: Getty 2 Marmaris in Turkey narrowly beat Bulgaria's Sunny Beach resort to emerge as cheapest destination Credit: Getty Post Office Travel Money partnered with tour operator Tui, which sent its reps to discover the real cost of various holiday essentials in 16 traditional Mediterranean favourites for its 17th annual Family Holiday Report. The basket of ten holiday items included lunch and evening meals for adults and kids, plus a range of soft and alcoholic drinks, suncream and insect repellent. But it's not great news for travellers as prices have risen in 13 of the 16 destinations in the past year. Marmaris in Turkey narrowly beat Bulgaria's Sunny Beach resort to emerge as cheapest. At £128.99, Marmaris had risen 10.3 per cent since July 2024, while prices in the Bulgarian resort were up 17.2 per cent year on year to £129.47. Prices in the two were nearly ten per cent lower than their closest Eurozone competitor. And although Turkey took the top spot, there was a warning from Laura Plunkett, Post Office Head of Travel Money. She said: 'The collapse of the lira makes Turkish resorts like Marmaris a natural choice for families. 'However, visitors should be aware that while sterling is worth a third more than last July, local prices have increased dramatically because of the currency's collapse. 'Thankfully, once the positive exchange rate is applied to those local prices, British visitors will only have to pay around ten per cent more than a year ago and this increase is much lower than in many other destinations.' Prices increased almost across the board, with Majorca's rising most. There, the basket came to £201.67 - up 21.4 per cent on last year. My holiday at TUI Magic Life Beldibi Prices have risen 15.5 per cent in the Algarve but at £143.56, Portugal's sunshine coast remains the cheapest in the Eurozone and third placed overall. However, there is now less than £1 between the Algarve and fourth-placed Paphos. At £144.44, prices in the Cypriot resort have fallen by 1.2 per cent since last summer. The other two destinations to record price drops were Lanzarote and Crete. Lanzarote has moved up the table into fifth place from seventh last year because of a 2.1 per cent fall in costs to £151.61. There has been a more marked reduction of 7.8 per cent in Crete (£166.07), which rises to seventh place from 15th a year ago. Ibiza has again been rated the most expensive resort of the 16 surveyed. Although the Balearic island registered the lowest price increase of 5.9 per cent, its barometer total of £242.79 is almost twice the price of Marmaris.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Yahoo
Tips for families heading abroad for summer holidays to save money
Families preparing for a summer holiday abroad are being urged to plan ahead to avoid blowing the budget. More than three-quarters (78%) of families are planning a trip abroad, according to a recent survey from Post Office Travel Money. But research for its Holiday Spending Report, released earlier in June, also found that nearly three-quarters (74%) of them bust their budget on their last trip, by hundreds of pounds typically, spending an average of £323 more than the £766 they had allowed for resort costs including meals and drinks. The Post Office used two surveys of more than 2,000 people, carried out in April and May, for its research. To help families avoid overspending on their next trip abroad, Post Office Travel Money has made some suggestions: – 1. Look for a resort where the cost of living is low. The Post Office said holidaymakers surveyed in its research rated Spain and Turkey strongly for value. It may also be worth asking friends and family members for their recommendations. – 2. Cut the cost of meals and drinks. Busy beachside cafes and restaurants in tourist hotspots may be pricier than the places where local residents choose to eat. Local draught beers and carafe wine may also sometimes be less expensive than international brands. – 3. Pick a destination where sterling is strong. Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at the Post Office, said: 'Despite fluctuations and some uncertainty about sterling when it fell against key currencies earlier in the year, it has now bounced back from its January dip and currently looks stable. This is a reassuring trend for holidaymakers planning trips abroad this year.' Some holidaymakers may have booked to travel to the United States following the strengthening of sterling against the US dollar. The Post Office suggested that holidaymakers may also consider locations where currencies are pegged to the value of the US dollar. – 4. Consider self-catering or 'all inclusive' packages. Self-catering breaks enable holidaymakers to set their own food and drink budgets. Past Post Office research has indicated that the Balearic Islands offer good value shop prices, while supermarkets in the Algarve and the Costa del Sol have also been seen as offering good value. The Post Office said going all inclusive can also be a good way to rein in costs but urged people to make sure they check what is included in the package price so they do not end up paying unexpectedly for extras. – 5. Budget carefully. The Post Office suggested setting a realistic budget to cover all costs as well as researching the best exchange rates before travelling and avoiding fees for topping up holiday money spending while abroad. Some holidaymakers may want to consider a pre-paid currency card, or look at banks which do not charge foreign transaction fees. Ms Plunkett said: 'Paying on a debit or credit card may seem like a convenient way to pay for things while abroad, but our research suggests that this can be a costly practice. Far too many holidaymakers told us that they paid significantly more than they anticipated because of transaction charges made for using credit and debit cards at an overseas ATM.' – 6. Consider making a shorter trip. The Post Office research found some holidaymakers are cutting their costs by making shorter trips, or booking cheaper accommodation to afford their trip abroad. – 7. Sidestep 'pester power'. Parents told the Post Office that on their last holiday they spent an average of more than £200 on children's beach items such as buckets and spades, swimming masks and snorkels, water rides, ice creams and visits to water parks. Families could consider allowing children to have a set amount of pocket money to spend during their holiday. Sign in to access your portfolio
The Independent
29-06-2025
- The Independent
Seven ways to save money on your family holiday this summer
Families preparing for summer holidays abroad are being urged to meticulously plan their finances, as new research reveals a significant number are blowing their budgets by hundreds of pounds. A recent survey by Post Office Travel Money indicates that while more than three-quarters (78 per cent) of families are set to travel internationally soon. However, nearly the same proportion (74 per cent) admitted to overspending on their last trip. The Post Office's Holiday Spending Report, released earlier in June, found that families typically exceeded their allocated resort costs – including meals and drinks – by an average of £323. The average family surveyed spent £1,089 against an initial budget of £766. The findings, based on two surveys of over 2,000 people conducted in April and May, highlight the need for careful financial planning to avoid unexpected expenses. 1. Look for a resort where the cost of living is low The Post Office said holidaymakers surveyed in its research rated Spain and Turkey strongly for value. It may also be worth asking friends and family members for their recommendations. 2. Cut the cost of meals and drinks Busy beachside cafes and restaurants in tourist hotspots may be pricier than the places where local residents choose to eat. Local draught beers and carafe wine may also sometimes be less expensive than international brands. 3. Pick a destination where sterling is strong Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at the Post Office, said: 'Despite fluctuations and some uncertainty about sterling when it fell against key currencies earlier in the year, it has now bounced back from its January dip and currently looks stable. This is a reassuring trend for holidaymakers planning trips abroad this year.' Some holidaymakers may have booked to travel to the United States following the strengthening of sterling against the US dollar. The Post Office suggested that holidaymakers may also consider locations where currencies are pegged to the value of the US dollar. 4. Consider self-catering or 'all inclusive' packages Self-catering breaks enable holidaymakers to set their own food and drink budgets. Past Post Office research has indicated that the Balearic Islands offer good value shop prices, while supermarkets in the Algarve and the Costa del Sol have also been seen as offering good value. The Post Office said going all inclusive can also be a good way to rein in costs but urged people to make sure they check what is included in the package price so they do not end up paying unexpectedly for extras. 5. Budget carefully The Post Office suggested setting a realistic budget to cover all costs as well as researching the best exchange rates before travelling and avoiding fees for topping up holiday money spending while abroad. Some holidaymakers may want to consider a pre-paid currency card, or look at banks which do not charge foreign transaction fees. Ms Plunkett said: 'Paying on a debit or credit card may seem like a convenient way to pay for things while abroad, but our research suggests that this can be a costly practice. Far too many holidaymakers told us that they paid significantly more than they anticipated because of transaction charges made for using credit and debit cards at an overseas ATM.' 6. Consider making a shorter trip The Post Office research found some holidaymakers are cutting their costs by making shorter trips, or booking cheaper accommodation to afford their trip abroad. 7. Sidestep 'pester power' Parents told the Post Office that on their last holiday they spent an average of more than £200 on children's beach items such as buckets and spades, swimming masks and snorkels, water rides, ice creams and visits to water parks. Families could consider allowing children to have a set amount of pocket money to spend during their holiday.
Daily Telegraph
26-06-2025
- Daily Telegraph
The best Travel Money cards in 2025
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. Escape's Doc Holiday, Dilvin Yasa, answers your travel-related questions. For many years I have used CommBank Travel Money card without any problems, but I'm thinking better options may be available. Can you recommend any alternatives? I receive a lot of emails about travel money cards, so it's probably best if I start by addressing some of their key pros and cons. Avoiding exchange rate fluctuations during your travels is a major benefit, since you effectively 'lock in' your money before you depart Australia (helpful when the Aussie dollar is falling faster than the Ozempic supply). Depending on the card you choose, you can have easy access to multiple currencies on the same card and you don't have to risk using a card that's linked to your Australian bank account while you're travelling overseas. It also means you avoid multiple currency conversion fees and you don't have to carry large amounts of cash. Of course, the disadvantages of travel money cards are nothing to sniff at. Some merchants may not accept travel money cards, or the currency of the country you're visiting may not be supported. There are plenty of fees associated with using a travel money card (everything from opening and reloading the card to ATM withdrawals and cashing out the balance of the card), lengthy load times where you will not have access to your cash, and limits on pre-authorisations. Comparison sites such as Canstar look at the pros and cons of using a travel money card compared with credit and debit cards and I'd urge every reader intent on travelling overseas to read through their options. Some merchants may not accept travel money cards, or the currency of the country you're visiting may not be supported. For your specific situation, I will say that Choice, too, compared travel money cards recently and found the CommBank Travel Money Card is one of the better options, particularly since it only charges users in one instance ($3.50 for ATM withdrawals overseas). If you were to compare this product with any other, I'd recommend looking at the Wise Travel Card, which lets you hold, spend in and convert 40 currencies – significantly more than the 16 currencies your current card holds. One thing to watch here, however, is that while free ATM withdrawals are advertised, it's only up to $350 a month, before you start attracting charges. You may also wish to look at Revolut Travel Card, which holds 30-plus currencies and remains a popular choice. Airlines such as Qantas are working with banks to find a solution. We booked our family holiday and found we were charged twice by the airline, with the second amount (later cancelled) showing as a 'pending charge', which caused our account to be overdrawn. How common is this practice? I've had this happen to me and it's incredibly frustrating (not to mention anxiety-inducing). Having had a chat with various airlines about 'the double dip', it seems that they're just as frustrated by what is a banking issue that is largely out of their control. Essentially, this happens when the authorisation doesn't drop off at the time of the payment being captured. Airlines such as Qantas are working with banks to find a solution, but in the meantime, it's a good idea to keep an eye on your account balance any time you book a holiday and to contact your bank immediately should you notice an authorisation set to cause financial chaos. You can explain the situation to your bank and ask them to remove it immediately. While banks have varying policies regarding how they go about this, and whether they'll need clarification from the travel provider, you should be able to get this sorted fairly easily. I find pleasantries and a cheerful manner go a long way to getting what you want. Good luck! I arrived in Mongolia a carnivore yet swiftly became a born-again vegetarian. I'm interested in a tour to Mongolia. Would you recommend it for vegetarians? I arrived in Mongolia a carnivore yet swiftly became a born-again vegetarian for the duration of my trip (it turns out that boiled and fried sheep tail is not for everyone) so yes, it can be done. I did it on the fly, popping into supermarkets in Ulaanbaatar and stocking up on canned vegetables and noodles, but it's best to let your tour leader know when you first book that you have dietary restrictions. Where possible, they will call ahead to find vegetarian alternatives to traditional khuushuur, tsuivan and buuz at any stops you make. The one thing that will mean the difference between a digestible meal and one that might even be enjoyable? A bottle of sriracha (or any other sauce you prefer), which you can apply liberally to anything that's placed before you. Mongols might be among some of the warmest people I've encountered on my travels, but they are not known for their love of seasoning. Need help? Doc Holiday is on duty to answer your travel questions. Email docholiday@ Personal replies are unfortunately not possible. Originally published as Doc Holiday: What travel money card is best?
