Paphos among cheapest getaways for Brits

Paphos has found itself among the cheapest destinations, ranked eighth in a total of 42 places in this year’s Post Office Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer.

According to the UK Post Office’s website, Cyprus and the Canaries topped the chart for best value during current New Year holiday bargains for British tourists. Specifically, Paphos, Lanzarote and Tenerife were cheapest by far in a survey of 12 winter sun resorts, while the lowest-priced long haul destinations -Orlando and Bali- were hundreds of pounds pricier.

Post Office Travel Money, which conducted its own research online and facsimile research, says its methods ensure the validity of all data published, including countries across the Atlantic and elsewhere.

It found that by combining the cost of a one-week holiday package, where two adults would be sharing a room, the price in Paphos was just under £382 per person. This was at least 17 per cent cheaper than Lanzarote (£461.86) and Tenerife (£469.48). The survey considered variables such as time, at the beginning of January, and the cost for evening meals for an entire week including wine plus coffee and beers.

A total of 42 destinations were examined by the Post Office Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer, with prices provided by national and local tourist boards. Although a list of items compared was subjective, comparisons remained consistent throughout out the countries.

A surprising find in the study was Orlando, one of the priciest getaways and 70 per cent more expensive than Paphos. The world’s theme park capital in Florida, USA remained the cheapest long haul getaway due to low transatlantic air fare, despite the continuing strength of the US dollar against sterling. When compared with its long haul competitors, Orlando was less than half the price of Montego Bay, Jamaica (£1,346.89) and Grand Baie, Mauritius (£1,600.35), the two most expensive destinations.

According to Post Office Travel Money’s Andrew Brown, holiday seekers should do their homework carefully, adding that all-inclusive packages would bring costs further down.

“Sterling’s continuing volatility means it is more vital than ever for holidaymakers to be aware just how much the cost of their winter sun trip can escalate once the cost of meals and drinks is added to the package price,” Brown said.