Your pound will go four times further in the best value holiday destinations than the most expensive this Easter, according to new analysis.
Although Easter bank holiday weekend is just over a week away, the potential to scoop up a last minute deal is very much there.
Researchers compared the cost of a typical basket of holiday purchases, including car hire for seven days, a family meal out, beer and a day's excursion
They found that a trip for four to the beautiful ancient city of Marrakech in Morocco is the best value at £216.
The walled city can be reached from the UK in around four hours via flights that can cost as little as £50.
There's plenty to see there, including dozens of rooftop restaurants, adorable kittens which roam the streets and stunning gardens fed by underground rivers.
Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt is the destination where your buck has the second loudest bang, with the basket of purchases costing £287.
A dramatic fall in the value of the Egyptian pound over the past 12 months has seen the strength of the British pound shoot up 73% in a year relative to it, according to Post Office Travel Money analysis.
That means that visitors to Egypt will get the equivalent of more than £210 extra on a £500 currency transaction.
Croatia’s walled city of Dubrovnik is the third best value over the Easter weekend, with a family of four likely to spend £306 on the listed items.
The coastal city is lovely in April, when the temperature starts creeping into the 20s and the Adriatic Sea begins to really glisten in the sunshine.
The abundance of beautiful nature in the area, as well as historical sights open to the public such as the Old Town and Gothic Rector’s Palace, means a trip to Dubrovnik can be done on a relative budget. (In fact, we've got a guide to the best places to visit in Croatia if you're after a dose of inspiration).
The city is less than half the price of the most expensive destination on the list, Orlando in the US.
While the Floridian hotspot may be a big destination for theme park enthusiasts, it is not cheap, according to analysis by No1 Currency.
A family of four can spend up to £1,036 during a week there, and that only takes into account one day's outing.
For those looking for an ‘out of this world’ day out, the nearby Kennedy Space Centre - scene of regular rocket launches - offers a ‘chat with an astronaut’ experience for £741.
This is in no small part due to the high cost of some of Orlando's biggest attractions such as Walt Disney World, which will cost each member of a family of four well over £100 to visit for a day.
It is well worth checking out how much specific items cost before you commit to a holiday, as they can vary massively location to location.
The price of a Heineken in Dubai costs £9.75, which is nearly five times what it is in Sri Lanka - £2.25.
However, a flight to Colombo in the latter is almost double what a journey to the UAE costs.
Generally the more far-flung locations such as Thailand and Sri Lanka, both of which boast palm-fringed beaches and year-round warmth, offer some of the best value for money when you’re there, but require pricey long-haul flights that make them more expensive overall.
UK travellers will find their spending money goes especially far in Sri Lanka thanks to the strength of the Pound against the Sri Lankan Rupee.
Sterling is up 6% since this time last year and has risen 47% in the past two years.
Best value Easter holidays for UK travellers
The below prices include the cost of an international beer, a steak dinner for four, seven days' car hire and a family day out.
- Morocco (Marrakech) £216 - £5.16, £52.41, £40, £118
- Egypt (Sharm El Sheikh) £287 - £3.69, £56.91, £90, £136
- Croatia (Dubrovnik) £306 - £5.71, £81.12, £23, £196
- Tanzania (Zanzibar) £415 - £4.88, £53.76, £194, £162
- Sri-Lanka (Colombo) £428 - £2.25, £51.87, £148, £226
- UAE (Dubai) £510 - £9.75, £136.35, £118, £246
- Thailand (Phuket) £553- £3.31, £85.11, £139, £325
- Barbados (Bridgetown) £754 - £3.25, £107.52, £254, £389
- Costa Rica (San Jose) £801 - £3.73, £98.55, £312, £387
- USA (Orlando) £1,036 - £4.88, £68.43, £222, £741
Simon Phillips, managing director of No1 Currency, said: “With Spring off to a soggy start, many families are understandably craving some sun as schools break up for Easter.
"If you’re planning a last-minute getaway and want the best value, it’s important to think about the price of the trip as a whole. While the cost of flights is a key factor, the strength of the Pound compared to the local currency has a big impact on how much you’ll spend while away.
“For example, flights to Dubai are relatively reasonable, but the cost of food and drink in the Emirate is the most expensive in our ranking, so you could quickly eat up all the money you saved on travel.
"On the other hand, flights to Sri Lanka are among the most expensive but the weakness of the island’s currency against the Pound makes Sri Lanka a bargain once you’re there.
“Wherever you choose, you can get more bang for your buck by planning ahead and by using cash rather than a card on your travels."
