Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
18 July 2013 08:06
Holidaymakers may save hundreds of pounds by avoiding all-inclusive holidays. according to research
All-inclusive holidays in many parts of Europe may not be the bargains they first appear to be, according to a new study.
In some areas of Portugal, Cyprus and Spain, holidaymakers would be better off booking a bed-and-breakfast trip, and eating out each night and buying their own drinks.
The biggest saving the Post Office Travel Money survey found was a seven-day break in the Portuguese Algarve, where an all-inclusive holiday for a couple could be as much as £648 more expensive than a B&B break.
Those booking a B&B package would pay £857 per couple compared with £1,505 for an all-inclusive package.
While all-inclusive holidays were found to be better value-for-money in Corfu, Majorca and the Costa del Sol, the study found one in six people on all-inclusive trips had paid for a la carte meals in an attempt to avoid the repetition offered by buffet meals in many resorts.
Andrew Brown, of Post Office Travel Money, said: "Our research has shown that European all-inclusive resorts consistently offer less than their long-haul counterparts, so holidaymakers need to be aware of what is included in order to avoid getting caught out.
"We found that the all-inclusive route is not always cheaper. In some destinations like the Algarve and Spanish Costas, where restaurant prices have fallen dramatically this year, it may be cheaper to book a B&B package and eat out each day."
No matter if you choose to go all-inclusive or B&B, you should not set off on your holidays without first arranging cost-effective travel insurance.
The study looked at the cheapest seven-night B&B and all-inclusive packages for two adults departing from London airports available on June 21 for travel between July 24 and August 6 this year.
All prices included return flights and three/four-star accommodation for two adults. For B&B packages the cost of evening meals, beer and Coca-Cola was added to the package price to provide a comparison with all-inclusive.
19 April 2018
A self-injected smart drug may be the key to easing and preventing pain for migraine sufferers.
[more...]
17 April 2018
Despite its reputation as a party drug, ketamine is licensed as an anaesthetic. A recent US study found use of the drug via a nasal spray led to "significant" improvements in depressive symptoms in the first 24 hours.
Simple brain-training exercises carried out at home have been shown to reduce emotional stress in female breast cancer survivors, it's recently been revealed.
13 April 2018
Drinkers who consume more alcohol than UK guidelines suggest could be cutting years off their lives, according to new research.
12 April 2018
A recent study has revealed that people who sustain brain injuries are at an increased risk of developing dementia later in life.
11 April 2018
Scientists have announced their latest breakthrough in the battle against Alzheimer's disease, after neutralising a high-risk gene in a human brain cell for the first time.
07 April 2018
The Philippines is set to shut its most famous holiday island of Boracay for six months, after the President described it as a "cesspool".
05 April 2018
Taxes on soft drinks, alcohol and tobacco - nicknamed "sin taxes" - could be a powerful step towards combating rising rates of chronic diseases worldwide, research has suggested.
New "one-stop shops" to speed up cancer diagnosis are being trialled across the country for the first time.
30 March 2018
Doctors should tell patients that e-cigarettes are less harmful than smoking but not without risk, according to new national guidance.
29 March 2018
Young people suffering from mental health problems are finding it hard to get the support they need, a survey has revealed.
28 March 2018
Children exposed to epilepsy drugs in the womb may achieve poorer test results at school, a study has suggested.