Turkey is top holiday hotspot as weak lira makes Marmaris cheaper than other European family favourites

• Marmaris, Turkey beats Sunny Beach, Bulgaria to rate as best value in Family Holiday Report – but the two offer cheaper prices than resorts in the eurozone
• Prices are up in 13 of the 16 European holiday hotspots surveyed by Post Office and TUI
• The Algarve remains cheapest of 14 eurozone destinations but Paphos, Cyprus is closing the gap
• Ibiza is most expensive in the survey of resort costs and almost twice the price of Marmaris as Post Office again finds big price variations across Europe (www.postoffice.co.uk/familyholidays)
• Kids’ beach extras contribute to overspending by families, costing an average of £202

As families get ready to head off to European hotspots in the school holidays, the Post Office Travel Money Family Holiday Report, produced in partnership with the leading travel and leisure operator TUI, reveals that Turkey and Bulgaria are likely to be cheaper for bargain hunters than Eurozone destinations¹. The survey of resort costs in 16 European destinations found that prices have risen in 13 of them over the past year, while new research commissioned for the report reveals that spending on kids’ extras contributed to high levels of overspending by families on their last trip abroad.

Marmaris in Turkey narrowly beat Bulgaria’s Sunny Beach resort to emerge as cheapest in the 17th annual comparison of costs for a basket of 10 tourist items, including lunch and evening meals, a range of drinks, suncream and insect repellent. At £128.99 – a rise of 10.3 per cent since July 2024, Marmaris overtook Sunny Beach to take the top spot. Prices in the Bulgarian resort rose 17.2 per cent year-on-year to £129.47. The two non-Eurozone destinations were found to offer prices nearly 10 per cent lower than their closest Eurozone competitor.

Laura Plunkett, Head of Travel Money at Post Office, which accounts for one-in-four UK foreign exchange transactions, said: “The collapse of the lira makes Turkish resorts like Marmaris a natural choice for families. However, visitors should be aware that while sterling is worth a third more than last July, local prices have increased dramatically because of the currency’s collapse. Thankfully, once the positive exchange rate is applied to those local prices, British visitors will only have to pay around 10 per cent more than a year ago and this increase is much lower than in many other destinations.”

In fact, Post Office Travel Money found that prices had risen in 13 of the 16 destinations once it converted the resort costs researched by TUI into sterling. The biggest increase of 21.4 per cent was in Majorca, where barometer prices have increased to £201.67². They have also risen by 15.5 per cent in the Algarve to £143.56 but Portugal’s sunshine coast remains cheapest in the Eurozone and third-placed overall. However, there is now less than £1 between prices in the Algarve and fourth-placed Paphos. At £144.44, prices in the Cypriot resort have fallen by 1.2 per cent since last summer.

The other two destinations to record falls were Lanzarote and Crete. Lanzarote has moved up the table into fifth place from seventh last year because of a 2.1 per cent fall in costs to £151.61. There has been a more marked drop of 7.8 per cent in Crete (£166.07), which rises to seventh place from 15^th a year ago.

Laura Plunkett said: “Once again, we found big price variations in the destinations surveyed, particularly comparing those in the Eurozone. For example, prices in the Algarve are almost £100 lower for the same 10 items surveyed than in Ibiza. This makes it vitally important for holidaymakers to do their homework and take enough travel money to cover costs in the resort they are visiting.”

Ibiza has again been rated the most expensive resort of the 16 surveyed. Although the Balearic island registered the lowest price increase of 5.9 per cent, its barometer total of £242.79 is almost twice the price of Marmaris.

Consumer research conducted for the Family Holiday Report³ found that over three-quarters (78 per cent) families are planning trips abroad this year but almost three-quarters (74 per cent) of them bust their budget by 42 per cent on their last holiday, spending £323 extra on the average budget of £766 they had set. Food and drink is the primary reason. Over 90 per cent said they spent an average of £378 on eating out, buying drinks in bars and restaurants and shop-bought food and drinks.

Parents admitted that pressure from their children for holiday treats also led to overspending and set them back an average of £202. Nine-in-ten parents splashed out an average of £39 on ice creams while other budget busters were water or theme park visits (£60), pedalo rides (£49) and beach gear like buckets and spades, swimming masks and snorkels and lilos (£54).

Post Office Travel Money and TUI researched prices for these extras for the Children’s Beach Barometer⁴ and found that spending on buckets and spade, lilos, swimming masks and snorkels, ice creams, pedalo rides and waterpark visits could set a family of four back between £179 and £290 on a week’s holiday, depending on their destination. Marmaris, Turkey (£179) and Puglia, Italy (£180) were the cheapest resorts, while the same items could cost as much as £260 in Porec, Croatia; £268 in Crete or £290 in Ibiza.

Post Office Travel Money’s Laura Plunkett advises: “The Children’s Beach Barometer reveals exactly how much it can cost to keep the kids entertained whilst abroad. One way to keep costs down is to squeeze children’s items like jelly shoes, snorkels and last year’s lilo into the suitcase. The money saved will be enough to pay for a pedalo ride, some ice creams and a bucket and spade.

“Overspending can also be reduced by buying currency before leaving home to avoid poor airport bureau rates. Budget carefully and change sufficient cash to avoid having to use an ATM abroad, which could be expensive for families once bank transaction charges are added. What’s more, changing over £500 in Post Office branches or online will offer a better rate.”

Chris Logan, Commercial Director of TUI UK & Ireland commented: "Not surprisingly our customers appreciate the pound stretching value offered in the top scoring destinations and with more than 40 partner airlines we offer plenty of choice and flex to get away to them.

“Turkey remains unbeatable – even with local price rises, the strong pound means your money goes further. Families can still enjoy premium experiences at budget-friendly rates this summer across a diverse portfolio of hotels. Those wanting to bag a deal in Bulgaria shouldn’t wait too long though, savvy travellers are catching on to this hidden gem of a location and it’s selling faster than last year as is Portugal. With school holidays upon us, I’d urge those thinking of a last-minute summer getaway, not to hang about and book now to get the best deals.”

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