Where to get best value in the world’s top holiday hotspots 

Each year, the Post Office Travel Money Holiday Money Report looks at the destinations set to offer holidaymakers best value for money in the year ahead. 

In 2022, we’ve surveyed 36 destinations worldwide to compare prices for meals, drinks and other essentials British tourists are likely to buy while abroad.  

We’ve shared the key findings and top 15 best-value hotspots below. You can also download our full Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer for more details. 

Key findings include:  

• Turkey and Bulgaria offer the best value overall. Prices are down in both, but a 37% drop in Marmaris sees it take the top spot from previous leader Sunny Beach  

• Portugal’s Algarve is in third and again cheapest in the Eurozone, with costs 25% lower than the Costa del Sol in sixth

• A price drop of over 15% in Cyprus sees Paphos move up from 11th to fifth. Prices have also fallen year-on-year in Greece, down more than 15% in Corfu 

• Cape Town, South Africa remains best the value for long haul, with prices down 1.6%  

• Reykjavik in Iceland remains the most expensive destination surveyed, followed by Barbados and Dubai. All three saw price increases of over 20% 

• Sterling’s strength against most currencies has helped keep costs down. Once the sterling exchange rate is applied to local currency prices, British visitors will pay less in half of the destinations surveyed 

• In contrast, there have been significant rises in some destinations – particularly those whose currencies have risen against the pound. Prices in Sri Lanka have increased by 26%, while visitors to Mexico can expect to pay around 22% more in Cancun than a year ago 

Best value holiday destinations in 2022 

Here are the top 15 best-value destinations for 2022 according to our Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer’s findings. To see how these total costs break down by the eight individual items we surveyed, download the full Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer.

Data relates to exchange rates on 10 March 2022  

^˅ Arrows denote price rises or falls compared with last year 

Travel money: buy before your fly

Wherever you're travelling to, you’re likely to get a better rate on the foreign currency you need if you buy before you get to the airport. And always check the exchange rate for your destination to get the most out of your travel money. 

With Post Office, you can order travel money online or in selected branches, collect it from any branch or get it delivered to your door. You can also load holiday funds onto a handy, secure, prepaid travel money card.  

Travel insurance: protect yourself on the pistes

Wherever you’re heading, don’t forget to pack good travel insurance for your trip. Make sure you have the right level of protection for winter sports activities and that your policy includes coronavirus cover. 

Always check the latest travel advice

As countries continue to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, UK travellers may face different testing and quarantine requirements for travel to and return from different destinations. Whether you’ve been fully vaccinated against the virus can also affect this. 

Check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice for your destination. Remember, travelling against it could invalidate your travel insurance. 

How the barometer is compiled 

36 destinations were surveyed with the help of national and local tourist boards (Balkan Holidays for Sunny Beach and Marmaris Info for Marmaris). Eight items – a three-course evening meal for two with wine, bottle of beer, glass of wine, can of Coca-Cola, large bottle of still water, cup of coffee, suncream and insect repellent – were selected as representative of the purchases British tourists are likely to make and prices were cross-checked by Post Office researchers.