bargain

Research highlights the vast difference between the same holiday items – from a cup of coffee to a meal out – between summer destinations popular with UK families

Families after a bargain break this summer should head to the Algarve, research found.

Portugal’s ever popular hotspot emerged as cheapest once holidaymakers get to their destination.

The research by Post Office Travel Money looked at 10 things tourist typically shell out on, including a three course family meal, lunch for two, through to suncream, a cup of coffee, and insect repellent. The results revealed a near £130 difference between the cheapest and the most expensive amount 22 destinations included, which could really stack up for a typical family over the course of a week or longer.

The Algarve came out top, with the 10 items costing £139.65, and 2.7% less than a year ago.

Next cheapest was Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, where the same came to £142.16, with the Canary Islands, Menorca and Spain’s Costa Brava making up the remainder of the top five where travellers’ money will go the furthest.

At the other of the scale, the most expensive among the 22 destinations included was Sorrento in Italy, with the 10 purchases costing £268. Families should expect to shell out a whopping £150 for a meal, compared with £88 on the Algarve.

The Post Office Travel Money Family Holiday Report was published in the week that many schools in England break up for the summer holiday

Echoing past years, prices varied by as much as 92% across the 22 destinations surveyed. There are also big differences between resorts in the same country.

In Greece, for example, the barometer totals ranged from £181 in Kos to £222 in Crete.

And while a cup of coffee in Sorrento can typically set tourists back £4.37, four hours across the country in Puglia it is £1.14, according to the report.

Laura Plunkett, head of Post Office Travel Money, which accounts for one-in-four UK currency

transactions, said: “We found big variations in costs between the European resorts surveyed, which means it is more important than ever to do some research before heading off on your holiday to inform how much holiday cash you’ll need for meals, drinks and other tourist staples. For those families who haven’t already booked and are looking for a late deal, the low resort prices in Portugal and Spain make these countries great value for money, while Bulgaria’s Black Sea resorts are strong contenders too.”

1. Algarve, Portugal £139.65

2. Sunny Beach, Bulgaria £142.16

3. Canary Islands £147.42

4. Menorca £151.28

5. Costa Brava, Spain £155.02

6. Canary Islands £158.31

7. Marmaris, Turkey £158.33

8. Costa del Sol, Spain £163.17

9. Costa Blanca £173.41

10. Paphos, Cyprus £177.18

11. Sliema, Malta £181.21

12. Kos, Greece £181.38

13. Rhodes, Greece £186.10

14. Porec, Croatia £199.68

15. Puglia, Italy £203.05

16. Corfu, Greece £204.34

17. Zadar, Croatia £211.90

18. Ibiza £211.90

19. Majorca £219.65

20. Crete, Greece £211.57

21. Funchal, Madeira £260

22. Sorrento, Italy £268.23

Passengers wanting to fly with easyJet could get some pretty cheap deals

Booking flights can be expensive, with many people clicking on random days of the week to find the best deal. But did you know two days of the week are likely to be better than the rest?

Travel experts at easyJet say that while the ‘cheapest day to fly’ often depends on factors like destination and flight availability, there are two days of the week you really want to look out for. The airline says: “The cheapest day of the week to fly can vary depending on the destination, flights available, and time of year.

“However, we’d recommend being flexible with your dates and considering flying outside of peak weekend flight times. By booking to fly on Wednesday or Thursday rather than Friday, you can find bargain flights (and get more time at your destination!).”

What is the cheapest month to fly in?

The low-cost airline also noted that the start and end of the year are key periods to look for if you want a trip that won’t break the bank. It adds: “The cheapest month to fly often depends on the destination and the type of trip you’re planning.

“For traditional warm-weather destinations in Spain or Italy, you can often find the cheapest plane tickets in the winter months of January and February. If you’re booking a trip to the mountains or traditional winter destinations like Finland, you’ll often find cheaper flights in November or March.”

As one of the world’s largest airlines, it operates a fleet of 355 aircraft, connecting 164 airports in 38 countries through 1,207 routes. While booking flights during these specific days and months is not a guarantee of the best deal, it urges people to use its Low Fare Finder when searching for the cheapest flight dates to secure the best deals.

Mum blocked from easyJet flight and left £700 out of pocket

In other easyJet news, a mother was prevented from boarding an easyJet flight with her family and lost £700 after being caught out by a crucial passport rule.

Bolaji Omisade was looking forward to a family trip to Greece and arrived at London Gatwick Airport with her husband and three sons. However, after checking in at the airport, easyJet staff informed her that she was not permitted to board the flight.

Confused by the situation, she was informed at check-in that, although her passport had not yet expired, it was no longer valid for travel due to passport regulations. You can read the full story here to make sure that you don’t fall foul of the same rule.