Latest news with #bestvalue
Daily Mail
19-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Europe's cheapest holiday hotspot revealed - where families can grab three-course meal for just £67
Narrowly beating Bulgaria's Sunny Beach, Marmaris, a popular resort town on Turkey's Mediterranean coast, has been crowned the best value holiday hotspot in this year's annual Post Office Family Holiday Report. Already a popular choice for British holidaymakers looking to score a bargain break, Marmaris is known for its sandy beaches, charming old town and lively nightlife. Conducted in collaboration with holiday operator TUI, the report looks at the costs of 16 European resort destinations, comparing the price for a total of 10 tourist items, including an evening meal, suncream and a range of drinks. For gold-medalling Marmaris, the sum of these items came to £128.99. Visitors to the resort are able to secure a three-course family meal (including wine) for as little as £67.67. Also well-priced are cups of coffee (£2.01), and insect repellent (£2.61). In Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, the second most affordable destination listed by the report, the total cost was £129.47 – helped by the reasonable prices of bottled beer (£2.35) and a cup of coffee (£1.88). Portugal's Algarve came third place for a second year running, making it the cheapest Eurozone destination. Fourth-place Paphos continues to close the gap though: the Grecian destination was only £1 cheaper, at £144.44. Once again, Ibiza was rated the most expensive resort of all 16 surveyed, with a total cost of £242.79 – almost double that of Marmaris. Despite a price increase of 10.3 per cent since July 2024, Turkey's weak lira – which reached a record low against the pound in March 2025 - has undoubtedly contributed to Marmaris's popularity. In fact, the report found that for the top two destinations – both non-Eurozone – prices were 10 per cent lower than their Eurozone competitors. Head of Travel Money at Post Office, Laura Plunkett, 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.' Indeed, Post Office Travel Money found that prices had risen in 13 of the 16 destinations, once the prices were converted into sterling. The biggest price hike was found in Majorca, where the total cost had increased 21.4 per cent, to £201.68. By contrast, two Greek destinations, Lanzarote and Crete, recorded 2.1 per cent and 7.8 per cent falls respectively. Research conducted for the Family Holiday Report found that over three-quarters (78 per cent) families are planning trips abroad this year. However, 74 per cent admitted to busting their budgets by 42 per cent on their last holiday – spending an average of £323 extra than their £766 budgets. Food and drink were a prevailing cause of this overspending, with over 90 per cent spending an average of £378 on eating out, buying drinks in bars and restaurants, and shop-bought food. Parents surveyed also admitted that pressure to provide 'holiday treats' for their children had encroached on budgets. Nine in ten parents spent an average of £39 on ice creams, with other holiday extras, such as theme park visits (£60) and beach gear (£49) also causing financial strain.
Times
19-07-2025
- Times
This European city offers the best value family holidays
Once a quiet fishing village nestled between pine-covered hills and the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea, Marmaris has grown into one of Turkey's busiest resorts. This summer, the bustling port city has claimed the top spot for best-value family holidays for Britons seeking sun, sea and savings. Thanks to the tumbling Turkish lira, Marmaris is cheaper than anywhere else in Europe, as the pound goes further even as prices continue to rise across the continent. The total price for a typical daily basket of goods for a family of four in Marmaris, which includes lunch and evening meals, drinks, suncream and bug spray, comes in at £128.99, according to Post Office Travel Money's annual family holiday report. This is nearly half what Britons heading to Ibiza are likely to pay. The Mediterranean island, where beach clubs and cocktails aren't cheap, has again been named the most expensive destination; a day's costs are estimated at £240. Although local prices in Marmaris have risen since July last year, the continued decline in the lira means British holidaymakers are still getting significantly more for their money. Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at the Post Office, said: 'British visitors will only have to pay 10 per cent more than a year ago and this increase is much lower than in many other destinations.' Last year's cheapest destination, Sunny Beach in Bulgaria, came in as the second most affordable at £129.47 after prices jumped 17.2 per cent. The Algarve, on Portugal's south coast, claimed third place at £143.56. Beach Barometer, produced with the travel company Tui, compared costs in 16 European destinations and found prices had risen in 13 since last year. Plunkett said: 'This makes it important for holidaymakers to do their homework and take enough travel money to cover costs in the resort they are visiting.' The report also found 78 per cent of British families were planning a trip abroad this year. Many are likely to spend more than planned, as keeping children entertained, including visits to water or theme parks, and beach gear such as buckets and spades, costs £202 on average. Marmaris and Puglia, in Italy, emerged as the cheapest for children's attractions at about £179.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- The Sun
Pretty and historic city named cheapest place for a weekend break – thanks to budget bars and restaurants
THE capital of Latvia - Riga - has been named as Europe's best value city for a short break. According to the Post Office Travel Money City Costs Barometer, which features 38 cities, a weekend away to historic city of Riga is the costs just £253, for two people. 4 4 4 The price includes 12 tourist items including accommodation, meals and drinks, city transport and entry to cultural attractions, Riga has risen from sixth place last year to top the chart for the first time since 2012. According to the Post Office, this is because prices in the city have fallen by 15 per cent year-on-year compared to Vilnius in Lithuania - the runner-up city. On average, a cup of coffee in Riga was found to cost £2.80 and beer was found to cost £3.50. Return airport or bus transfers were relatively cheap, costing £3.50 on average. Tourist-based activities were also affordable, with a 48-hour travel card costing £7.01, a sightseeing bus tour costing £21.90, entrance to a top heritage attraction costing £7.01, museum entry costing £4.38 and entrance to a gallery costing £7.01. Riga is known for having beautiful buildings, a pretty cobbled Old Town and a number of spires littered across the skyline. The city is relatively easy to get around due to having no hills. One particularly popular spot that does require a steep climb though is the 13th-century St Peter's church. The church features a 400ft spire, which is Riga's highest point and boasts panoramic views of the city below. Another iconic spot in the city is Riga Central Market - a large marketplace which is home to five pavilions. The Sun's Travel Editor Lisa Minot shares her favourite destination dupes The marketplace is known for its fresh produce, including dairy, meat, fish and other Latvian delicacies. Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at Post Office, the UK's largest provider of foreign currency, said: "Although city break holidaymakers need to keep a watchful eye on exchange rates, the real challenge will be the cost of accommodation in the cities Britons are considering. "Successive City Costs Barometers have found big swings in hotel costs depending on how many rooms are available in peak months. "This year is no different and rising – or falling – hotel prices can have a big impact on city break costs. "For example, Vilnius lost its top spot in the latest chart because the cost of accommodation has risen by over nine per cent since last year, while it has fallen over 20 per cent in Riga in the same period. "When the cost of two nights' accommodation is excluded, Vilnius remains cheaper for British visitors at around £111 compared with nearly £130 in Riga." The European city also got more British Airways flights last year. Plus, one of Europe's last remaining city break travel secrets – under two hours from the UK. 4
The Sun
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Best second-hand cars available for under £5k including iconic model nicknamed ‘the billion-dollar motor'
THE BEST value second-hand cars for Brits looking to spend £5000 on a motor have been revealed. Autocar's top 30 list contained three glamorous vehicles which come in at a bargain price and one is nicknamed 'the billion dollar motor'. 5 The list was compiled by finding second-hand alternatives to Autocar's top 50 car list. When it wasn't possible to find an exact match for each car, a substitute was made for the closest possible model. Where some of the new models come in at a staggering £96,000, a second-hand car won't break the bank. Dacia Logan MCV Offering over 573 litres of boot space with the seats up and a staggering 1518 litres with them down, the Dacia Logan MCV prioritises practicality over flashy gimmicks. It costs just over £2000 for a 2015 Logan MCV, making it the best-value car relative to its age on Autocar's second-hand list. The Dacia Logan MCV is also very spacious inside and is designed with fuel efficiency in mind - which helps keeps costs down and journeys longer. This particular model is the alternative to the more expensive Dacia Jogger, which made Autocar's best car list. 5 Mercedes S-Class W140 Coming in at a close second place is the Mercedes S-Class W140 which is nicknamed the 'billion-dollar motor'. The fancy car takes its name from the lengthy pre-production process which preceded its release, as Mercedes poured so much money into its development. However, the car manufacturer's gamble paid off as over half a million models were sold. Although they are a rarity at car dealerships, the luxury cars come in at a reasonable £5000. Rover 200 BRM The final vehicle which costs under £5000 on Autocar's list is the Rover 200 BRM. Known for its brightly painted hot patch, the car is decorated with a stunning racing style - with sleek leather seats and easy-to-navigate on-board technology. It costs just £2000 to bag yourself a restored Rover 200 BRM, making it one of the more affordable options on the market. Top 10 best second-hand cars Autocar have released a list of the best value second-hand cars. The list was compiled using the magazine's original best cars list and then finding a similar alternative to each vehicle. 1. Porsche 911 (991) 2. Skoda Superb Estate 3. Toyota GT86 4. BMW M340D Touring 5. Dacia Logan MCV 6. Mazda MX-5 7. Alpine A110 8. Hyundai i30 N 9. Porsche Taycan 10. Caterham Seven The list was released just days after one second-hand vehicle sold for over £100,000. Belonging to former Prime Winston Churchill and Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, the 1936 Rolls Royce Phantom III Touring Limousine is a piece of history. It was fitted with an electric cigar lighter by the late politician and was painted in a glamorous British Racing green. The sale followed the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, where one of Churchill's speeches was read aloud during the celebrations.
