Given the global economic downturn and wildly fluctuating exchange rates, many holidaymakers are searching for those elusive holiday destinations that really do offer value for money. The holiday market is extremely competitive these days, making it hard to cut through the huge amount of last minute deals, budget flights and cheap holidays to pinpoint locations that really are a great deal. What follows is a look at ways to enjoy a great holiday at a great location without breaking the bank.
A good place to start when planning your holiday is the Post Office Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer, which gauges the cost of a range of items abroad to identify which are the cheapest locations once you are there. This is extremely important at the moment, as the pound has not been doing well against the Euro. In terms of affordability, Spain and Portugal topped the chart of 36 nations.
Portugal has witnessed a 49% fall in prices over the last year. One of the key reasons for this price fall was the worrying decline in holidaymakers to popular resorts in the Algarve. Portuguese hotels, bars and restaurants lowered their prices to stimulate more business, which prompted hotels, bars and restaurants in popular Spanish resorts like the Costas to do the same to compete for the year’s holidaymakers. As the exchange rate also improved, Portugal and Spain have become excellent holiday locations in 2011 for a great deal.
Of course, there are the flights and accommodation to factor in, but a good search of the market will reveal a number of competitively priced deals and there are always last minute holiday deals to take advantage of.
Comparing the holiday item costs with the average flight costs reveals a number of other locations which represent a great deal for holidaymakers. The Czech Republic is very competitively priced and a trip to the historical capital city of Prague will make a wonderful holiday. Bulgaria also makes an affordable holiday destination, with a beautiful sandy coastline on the Black Sea to the east of the country. Hungary is another alternative to the usual European destinations, boasting stunning scenery and the magnificent capital city of Budapest to visit. British holidaymakers are also enjoying far better exchanges rates for Bulgaria and Hungary, making them excellent value locations to visit overall.
If you are a little more adventurous and want a holiday where, after your flight costs, you can move from cheap accommodation to cheap accommodation enjoying extremely low priced food and drink and seeing incredible sights, then these two exotic locations represent great deals, especially if you plan an extended vacation or a sabbatical.
Manta in Ecuador presents a great opportunity to lap up a chilled and relaxed beach town while indulging in some top surfing. Spanish and surfing lessons can be bought for as little as £3, while hotel rooms with air conditioning can be found for £7 per night. Of course, Ecuador also provides the opportunity to hike the majestic Andes and explore one of the last unspoilt regions of the world, the Amazon rainforest.
Cusco in Peru is an excellent location, as Peru is less expensive than Argentina, Brazil and Chile. There are fabulous markets to discover and the historic Inca buildings are a joy to explore. Double rooms can be found for as little as £10 per night and the Peruvian cuisine is also very cheap. A friendly city with a host of incredible treks to enjoy, Cusco is a must visit.
Whatever your holiday plans, a little research will unearth a wealth of locations that represent a great deal. If this has inspired you to get abroad then our friends at hotel club have a range of hotels in destinations from London to Taipei!
Last week I came across ths very old but still valid BBC article 
