Fancy a holiday where a bottle of lager is a mere £1.23? Or perhaps you’re more of a wine fan and might be tempted by £2.65 a glass (for a decent drop)?
Or how about a three-course evening meal for two including a bottle of wine from £35.48, somewhere balmy with lovely beaches?
Each year Post Office Travel Money issues a Long Haul Holiday Report covering the best-value far-flung destinations after analysing the costs of a ‘barometer basket’ of ten items including drinks, food, sun cream and insect repellent.
With the cost of living crisis continuing, and tax rises adding to the financial squeeze, it’s especially handy this year.
There are some enticing options: top of the list comes Hoi An in Vietnam, followed by Cape Town in South Africa and Bali, Indonesia.
Then comes Mombasa in Kenya and Tokyo, Japan’s intoxicating capital.
Here we’ve listed the top 10, cheapest first, along with holiday highlights, best-value flights and usual three-star hotel rates.
HOI AN, VIETNAM
On Vietnam’s central coast, Hoi An is an ancient port beside the meandering Thu Bon River that’s known for its laidback old town
On Vietnam’s central coast, Hoi An is an ancient port beside the meandering Thu Bon River that’s known for its laidback old town.
Expect canals, French colonial-era buildings and higgledy-piggledy, lantern-lit restaurants.
It’s close to sandy Bang Beach and paddy field countryside.
Post Office ‘barometer basket’ holiday costs: £58.81.
Best bargain: Bottle of beer £1.23.
Average price for three-star hotel: £48.
Return flights: From £765 (vietnamairlines.com).
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
CAPE TOWN: Ride up the cable car on spectacular Table Mountain. Then, after seeing the fabulous Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, visit the V&A Waterfront’s lively restaurants and bars
Ride up the cable car on spectacular Table Mountain.
Hop aboard a ferry to Robben Island to see the horrific jail where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated.
Then, after seeing the fabulous Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, visit the V&A Waterfront’s lively restaurants and bars.
Post Office ‘barometer basket’ holiday costs: £64.28.
Best bargain: Glass of wine £2.65.
Average price for three-star hotel: £70.
Return flights: From £337 (flynorse.com).
BALI, INDONESIA
BALI: Book into a spa hotel in the jungle or a beach resort and explore this lush island with its Hindu temples, rice terraces and soaring mountains
Book into a spa hotel in the jungle or a beach resort and explore this lush island with its Hindu temples, rice terraces and soaring mountains.
Balinese cookery courses are great (viator.com), and spare a day to see the Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest.
Post Office ‘barometer basket’ holiday costs: £67.79.
Best bargain: Three-course meal for two with bottle of wine £35.48.
Average price for three-star hotel: £59.
Return flights: From £699 (turkishairlines.com).
MOMBASA, KENYA
Learn all about colonial days at the intriguing museum at Fort William.
MOMBASA, KENYA: Relax on superb beaches, including Nyali and Bamburi, and consider taking a safari day-trip to Tsavo East National Park to see lions, elephants and rhinos
Relax on superb beaches, including Nyali and Bamburi, and consider taking a safari day-trip to Tsavo East National Park to see lions, elephants and rhinos (tripadvisor.co.uk).
Post Office ‘barometer basket’ holiday costs: £68.33.
Best bargain: Small tube of insect repellent £1.12.
Average price for three-star hotel: £48.
Return flights: From £530 (kenya-airways.com).
TOKYO, JAPAN
For insider tips see this week’s ‘expert guide’ in the Daily Mail paper.
But first-timers should visit Ueno Park, with its springtime cherry blossom, multiple museums and galleries.
TOKYO: For insider tips see this week’s ‘expert guide’ in today’s Daily Mail paper. But first-timers should visit Ueno Park, with its springtime cherry blossom, multiple museums and galleries
Also go to the beautiful Sensoji, Kotoku-in and Kane-ji Buddhist temples, and brilliant Tsukiji fish market (getyourguide.com).
Post Office ‘barometer basket’ holiday costs: £68.61.
Best bargain: Cocktail £4.07.
Average price for three-star hotel: £78.
Return flights: From £799 (ba.com).
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka’s intriguing capital is packed with attractions including Sri Kailawasanatan Swami Temple (Hindu) and Gangaramaya Temple (Buddhist), as well as Independence Square and St Anthony’s Shrine.
Take a dip in the Indian Ocean at Mount Lavinia Beach.
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s intriguing capital is packed with attractions including Sri Kailawasanatan Swami Temple (Hindu) and Gangaramaya Temple (Buddhist), as well as Independence Square and St Anthony’s Shrine
Post Office ‘barometer basket’ holiday costs: £73.93.
Best bargain: Filter coffee £1.71.
Average price for three-star hotel: £46.
Return flights: From £715 (srilankan.com).
PENANG, MALAYSIA
This large northwest coast island has a bustling capital, George Town, home to British colonial architecture, botantical gardens and Buddhist/Hindu temples aplenty.
Penang National Park features leopards and flying lemurs.
Lots of good beaches.
PENANG, MALAYSIA: This large northwest coast island has a bustling capital, George Town, home to British colonial architecture, botantical gardens and Buddhist/Hindu temples aplenty
Post Office ‘barometer basket’ holiday costs: £83.85.
Best bargain: 1.5 litre mineral water 32p.
Average price for three-star hotel: £43.
Return flights: From £737 (cathaypacific.com).
DELHI, INDIA
Must-see attractions include the huge Akshardham Temple, the ancient Qutab Minar complex (featuring ruins and a 73m tower) and Humayun’s tomb.
A visit to the poignant memorial to Mahatma Gandhi at Gandhi Smriti is moving.
And take a fun rickshaw ride (tripadvisor.co.uk).
DELHI, INDIA: Must-see attractions include the huge Akshardham Temple, the ancient Qutab Minar complex (featuring ruins and a 73m tower) and Humayun’s tomb (pictured)
Post Office ‘barometer basket’ holiday costs: £85.89.
Best bargain: 1.5 litre mineral water 28p.
Average price for three-star hotel: £35.
Return flights: From £515 (airindia.com).
PHUKET, THAILAND
Thailand’s largest island enjoys beaches galore.
Kata and Freedom beaches are among the more secluded, while Patong is much livelier, with endless nightclubs.
Visit the 148ft Big Buddha and drop by the Sunday night market in Phuket Old Town.
PHUKET: Thailand’s largest island enjoys beaches galore. Kata and Freedom beaches are among the more secluded, while Patong is much livelier, with endless nightclubs
Post Office ‘barometer basket’ holiday costs: £87.82.
Best bargain: Bottle of lager £2.23.
Average price for three-star hotel: £54.
Return flights: From £576 (qatarairways.com, ba.com).
SANTIAGO, CHILE
Enjoy sweeping views of Chile’s capital from a hilltop overlooking the city at Templo Baha’i de Sudamerica, an unsual modern temple reached by a gondola.
Be sure to visit the imposing Metropolitan Cathedral and vibrant Bellavista neighbourhood.
SANTIAGO: Enjoy sweeping views of Chile’s capital from a hilltop overlooking the city at Templo Baha’i de Sudamerica, an unsual modern temple reached by a gondola
Post Office ‘barometer basket’ holiday costs: £93.02.
Best bargain: Filter coffee £2.52.
Average price for three-star hotel: £59.
Return flights: From £724 (avianca.com).
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