Check 2019 Prices in Popular African and Middle Eastern Destinations
Local price falls in half of the 30 destinations surveyed by long haul holiday specialist Travelbag for the 12th annual Post Office Travel Money Long Haul Holiday Report will help to cushion the impact of the weak pound. However, holidaymakers planning winter sun breaks can expect to pay more than a year ago in over three-quarters of the resorts and cities surveyed for the report. The Post Office therefore recommends careful holiday planning to find a holiday hotspot that will deliver the best overall value.
Key findings include:
- Tokyo has overtaken Cape Town, South Africa to regain its position as the cheapest long haul destination. Prices in the Japanese capital are under a third of those in the Seychelles, this year’s most expensive destination
Cape Town, South Africa
- Cape Town and Bali are runners up in the barometer table, although prices have risen by over 10 per cent in both of them. By contrast, visitors to Hoi An in Vietnam, now fourth-placed in the survey, will find that prices have fallen by almost two per cent since last year and are only £3 higher than in Bali
Bali, Indonesia
- The biggest fall over the past 12 months has been in Antigua, where prices are 28 per cent lower than a year ago. This year’s survey was conducted in the island capital St John, which offers cheaper prices than Jolly Beach, the resort featured in 2018. Elsewhere in the Caribbean prices have fallen by 2.6 per cent in St Lucia (Rodney Bay) and 3.4 per cent in Tobago (Scarborough)
- Other destinations where prices will be lower for UK visitors include Dubai (Jumeirah Beach), where they have fallen nine per cent, and Mauritius (Grand Baie), where they are down over two per cent.
A wide range of currencies can be ordered at over 11,600 Post Office branches nationwide for next day collection. Many long haul currencies are available immediately at over 1,600 larger Post Office branches. You can also order online at postoffice.co.uk for same day collection at selected branches, for next day collection at any branch or home delivery.
Long haul holidaymakers can also carry cash on the multi-currency Post Office Travel Money Card, which can hold up to 13 currencies at the same time. These include the Australian dollar, Canadian dollar, New Zealand dollar, South African rand, Thai baht, UAE dirham and US dollar.
Source: Post Office. Data relates to internet rates for exchange of £500-£999 on 5 September 2019.
The Post Office Long Haul Report barometer table is compiled from a combination of data supplied by the long haul specialist Travelbag and national or regional tourist offices of participating countries, except New York, which was researched online. Resorts featured are chosen as representative of the prices that UK holidaymakers will generally find in the country/destination. Random online checks were made to authenticate these prices.
