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Holiday Money Report 2024

Long-haul destinations offer the best value for UK holidaymakers this year, with the power of the pound set to pack quite a punch.

Vietnam tops our annual Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer for the first time this year. Read the highlights or download it in full to find out where your travel funds will go further.

An aerial view of boats on a river at dusk. Multicoloured lights illuminate the boats and the water around them. A bridge across the water is lined with tourists and other onlookers.

Colourful river boat rides in Hoi An, Vietnam – named best-value destination 2024 in our Holiday Cost Barometer

Revealed: the best value destinations worldwide for 2024

Each year, we share the destinations set to offer holidaymakers best value in the year ahead. And this year, sterling’s strength looks set to play a pivotal part in UK travellers’ holiday choices.  

The 18th annual Post Office Travel Money Holiday Money Report reveals 90% of our bestselling currencies are currently weaker against sterling than a year ago. This means price falls in many of the world’s most popular destinations – especially long-haul resorts and cities.   

Our Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer, published in the report, found prices for meals, drinks and other tourist items have fallen since last year in 25 of the 40 resorts and cities surveyed. But it’s the strength of sterling that will make many destinations cheaper for UK travellers.  

Local prices are up year-on-year in four out of five destinations. But, once these prices are converted to sterling, you can expect to pay less than a year ago in 19 long-haul destinations and six European ones. The price falls apply to seven of the 10 destinations offering British tourists the lowest prices. 

We’ve shared key findings and top 15 best-value hotspots from the 2024 report below. And you can download the full Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer for more details.

Best value destinations 2024 – key findings

  • Long-haul destinations top this year’s list: Vietnam, South Africa and Kenya offer the lowest prices 

  • Vietnam leads for the first time, up from sixth place last year. It’s one of only eight destinations to combine lower local prices (down 14.4% in Hoi An) with falling currency values 

  • Cape Town, last year’s leader, is now in second place. Even though sterling’s surged in value against the South African rand, prices there have increased by nearly 5%  

  • Costs in third-placed Mombasa, Kenya have fallen by almost 7%. It’s up one place since last year  

  • Portugal is the only European destination in the top five as Turkey and Bulgaria lose ground    

  • Prices rises in Marmaris, Turkey and Sunny Beach, Bulgaria have seen them drop from the top three to seventh and ninth places respectively    

  • Tamarindo, Costa Rica is the most expensive destination in the barometer. Its prices are up 13.2% year-on-year  

  • Over half of Britons will travel abroad this year – and 60% have already booked 

  • More than half will dip into savings to fund the trip despite concerns about overspending 

Find out where you’ll get the most out of your holiday money in 2024

Top 15 destinations for holiday money value in 2024

These are the 15 best-value destinations for 2024 according to our Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer. For a breakdown of these costs by the eight individual items we surveyed, please download the full barometer.  

Position Destination Total cost
1 Hoi An, Vietnam ↑

£51.18

2

Cape Town, South Africa ↑

£54.35

3

Mombasa, Kenya ↑

£54.93

4

Tokyo, Japan ↑

£59.05

5

Algarve, Portugal 

£59.69

6 Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt ↑

£61.37

7 Sunny Beach, Bulgaria ↓

£62.49

8 Kuta, Bali ↓

£63.31

9

Marmaris, Turkey ↓

£66.07

10 Paphos, Cyprus ↑

£73.32

11 Penang, Malaysia (new) 

£74.57

12 Phuket, Thailand ↑

£77.77

13 Delhi, India (new) 

£77.84

14 Costa del Sol, Spain ↓

£81.45

15

Montego Bay, Jamaica ↑

£87.11

 

Data relates to exchange rates on 11 March 2023
↑↓ Arrows denote price rises or falls compared with last year. No arrow indicates no change in position

 

Travel money: buy before your fly

Wherever you're travelling to, you’re likely to get a better rate on travel money if you buy it before you get to the airport. Check the exchange rate for your destination to get the best value from your foreign currency.  

With Post Office, you can order travel money online to collect from any branch or get it delivered to your door. You can also buy selected currencies in 7,000 branches. And you can also load holiday funds onto a handy, secure, prepaid travel money card.

Travel insurance: safeguarding your trip 

If you’re visiting EU countries, a Ghic or Ehic will provide some medical cover there but they don’t cover everything. remember to get good travel insurance for your trip too, whether it’s to Europe or the wider world. And make sure your policy includes coronavirus cover.

Always check the latest travel advice

The requirements of UK travellers travelling to and returning from different destinations can change at short notice. Check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice for your destination regularly, as travelling against this advice may invalidate your travel insurance.

Discover the best value travel destinations for 2024 in detail

Our travel services

  • Travel money

    Wherever you're going, pick up your holiday money from Post Office with 0% commission and competitive exchange rates.

  • Travel Money Card

    One prepaid Mastercard® that stores up to 22 currencies and can be managed on the go with our travel app.

  • Travel insurance

    Protect your trip with cover for cancellation, curtialment, emergency medical costs and more.

How the barometer is compiled 

40 destinations were surveyed for the Post Office Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer, compiled with the help of national and local tourist boards (Marmaris Info for Marmaris, Turkey). Eight items were selected as representative of the purchases UK tourists are likely to make. These were a three-course meal for two with wine, a cup of coffee, a bottle of local beer, a can of cola, a glass of wine, a bottle of still water, suncream and insect repellent. Prices were cross-checked by Post Office researchers. 

About our Travel Money Card 

Post Office Travel Money Card is an electronic money product issued by First Rate Exchange Services Ltd pursuant to license by Mastercard International. First Rate Exchange Services Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales with number 4287490 whose registered office is Great West House, Great West Road, Brentford, TW8 9DF, (Financial Services Register No. 900412). Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Google Pay is a trademark of Google LLC. 

*Read the full terms and conditions.