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.
23 June 2017
The fall in the value of the pound could pose a shock to British holidaymakers this summer, a currency expert has warned.
[more...]
22 June 2017
Britons have been warned that they could be banned from all-inclusive holidays unless they stop making bogus food poisoning claims.
21 June 2017
Holidaymakers could save themselves money by opting for self-catering breaks this summer, a report has shown.
20 June 2017
From trips abroad to days out closer to home, the school holidays can be a costly time for families.
17 June 2017
Debit and credit card charges are causing holidaymakers to "waste" more than £100 million each year, a new report has warned.
16 June 2017
Aggressive and potentially lethal prostate cancer could be detected more quickly thanks to a simple blood test, scientists have revealed.
15 June 2017
Many holidaymakers are over-estimating the benefits offered by European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs), a new study warns.
14 June 2017
British holidaymakers will benefit from the end of mobile roaming charges this week.
13 June 2017
UK holidaymakers could face higher costs in the months ahead following the collapse in the pound, the owner of a major travel firm has warned.
10 June 2017
Holidaymakers planning trips abroad in the coming days will be monitoring the progress of the pound closely following the surprise general election result.
09 June 2017
Family holidays to traditional hotspots like Menorca and Ibiza could end up costing more than far-flung destinations such as Orlando, Thailand and Bali, surprising new research suggests.
08 June 2017
Two of Europe's major budget airlines enjoyed strong passenger growth last month, as the summer holiday season got under way.