Costa del Sol 'cheapest' for tourist essentials

Updated

The Costa del Sol has been named as the top destination for families looking to get more for their money on an overseas half-term break.

The region in the south of Spain was found to be the cheapest of a dozen popular resorts around the world for tourist essentials.

The eight items surveyed - a family evening meal with drinks, cup of coffee, bottle of beer, Coca-Cola, glass of wine, large bottle of mineral water, suncream and insect repellent - add up to £42.49 in southern Spain.

Marmaris in Turkey is the highest priced European resort at £68.86 for the same range of items.

Although the Turkish lira has slumped in value against the strong pound by 29% over the past 12 months, local prices have increased by an even higher proportion.

This means UK tourists have to pay out 9.1% more on tourist staples than during the autumn half-term period last year.

The research, carried out by Post Office Travel Money, found that tourist essentials in 10 of the 12 destinations surveyed are cheaper than a year ago.

This includes the Algarve (£46.59), Tenerife (£53.88), Ayia Napa (£55.62) and Sharm El Sheikh (£100.79).

The biggest price fall compared to last year was found on Kenya's Mombasa coast, where the eight items dropped by 19% to £56.30 because of lower resort charges and the weak Kenyan shilling. This made it the cheapest destination outside Europe.

Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic emerged as the highest-priced location at £105.89.

Andrew Brown, of Post Office Travel Money, said: "Price is bound to be a big consideration for families so it is good to report a drop in the cost of tourist staples in 10 of the destinations that attract holidaymakers at this time of the year.

"Parents who are still looking for a bargain late deal will be well advised to do their holiday homework before booking, to find out where the family purse will stretch furthest.

"Spain is the bargain choice but Tenerife, Cyprus and Mombasa look great value with the promise of higher temperatures and more sun."

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