How a holiday to Bali or Florida could be cheaper than a trip to Menorca or Ibiza
A holiday to Orlando for a family of four from the UK is a whopping £1,240 less than the equivalent vacation to Ibiza
TAKING your family on holiday to Florida or Bali will cost you less than a trip to popular European hotspots, new research has shown.
Price comparison website took into account all of the major components for booking a holiday including flights, hotels, car hire and travel insurance.
It found that long-haul destinations Bali, Thailand and Orlando are all cheaper than Baleriac Islands Ibiza and Menorca for family holidays.
A holiday to Orlando for a family of four from the UK is a whopping £1,240 less than the equivalent trip to Ibiza.
Two weeks in Phuket is also a third less than the price of a similar holiday to Menorca.
Emma Coulthurst, a travel expert for TravelSupermarket, said: “People may think that their holiday budget can only stretch to the Med, that they can’t afford long-haul, and that holidays are going to be more expensive this year due to volatile exchange rates.
“But the reality is holiday package prices are lower this year in some locations and there are bargains to be grabbed, which provide the opportunity to experience long-haul for less,” she added.
TravelSupermarket price data found that holidays to Bali and Orlando show the biggest average year-on-year price drops - with trips 16 per cent cheaper to Bali, and 11 per cent cheaper to Orlando, compared to a year ago.
Adding to the affordability of these travel destinations is the cheaper cost of living.
For example, a three course meal in a mid-range restaurant in Bali or Thailand will only set you back around £7-8 and a pint of local beer about £1.20-60 – meaning you can spend less once you get there.
Although, the value of the pound has dropped against the dollar since the UK voted to leave the EU last year, Coulthurst said eating out and car hire for a fly drive holiday is often “very reasonably priced” in Orlando, especially if you plan it in advance.
Holiday deals: it's cheaper to go to Orlando this summer than to Spain
- OrlandoTravelodge Suites East Gate Orange, Celebration
3 star
Bed and breakfast
Departing London Heathrow on 2 Aug for 14 nights
£539pp or £2,158 for a family of four - Ibiza Nereida, San Antonio Bay
3 star
Bed and breakfast
Departing London Stansted on 2 Aug for 14 nights
£754pp or £3,016 for a family of four - Menorca Beach Club
3 star
Bed and breakfast
Departing London Luton on 9 Aug for 14 nights
£679pp or £2,716 for a family of fourAll deals via
You can also save money by flying out from an airport outside the capital.
A holiday to Orlando from the north west is £276 or 13 per cent cheaper for a family of four than a package to Ibiza.
Holidaymakers travelling from Manchester airport to Orlando on August 15 can fly for £574 each - much lower than the £776 Ibiza price from the same airport.
Currently, a flight to Phuket on August 14 for a stay in a four-star hotel also costs from £723 each from Manchester, compared to £958 in Menorca.
Coulthurst recommends that the best time, price wise, to go long haul to many destinations including Thailand and Bali is May to August in the low season.
How to get the best holiday money rate
Hannah Maundrell, editor-in-chief at money.co.uk, reveals how you can guarantee the best holiday money rate:
- Don’t buy cash at the airport – you’ll always be able to beat the rate with a bit of forward planning
- Compare travel money companies online – Factor in delivery costs and choose the option that gives you the most cash to spend on holiday. If you’ve left it until the last minute order online for airport collection so you get the best of both worlds.
- Use comparison tools – MoneySavingExpert’s TravelMoneyMax enables you to compare pick-up and pre-order rates.
- Don’t pay for travel money with a credit card – it’s likely you’ll be charged a cash withdrawal fee which adds to the cost.
- Top up a prepaid card to lock in your rate now – Choose your card and read the T&Cs carefully as some apply hefty fees. WeSwap, FairFX and Caxton FX are all worth checking out.
- Always choose to pay in the local currency rather than sterling – This will help you avoid sneaky exchange fees.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 78 24516