Turkey's Marmaris tops ranking of cheapest family holiday destinations
The port city has the lowest prices out of 16 popular locations for a basket of 10 tourist items, Post Office Travel Money said.
This included just £67.67 for a three-course meal for two adults and two children with wine and soft drinks.
Other low prices included 16p for a 1.5-litre bottle of mineral water from a supermarket, £1.81 for a bottle or can of cola at a cafe or bar, and £2.61 for insect repellent.
Post Office Travel Money said the low prices for UK visitors are partly due to a sharp fall in the value of the Turkish lira.
Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, was found to be the second-cheapest destination, with Portugal's Algarve taking the third spot.
Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at Post Office, said: 'The collapse of the lira makes Turkish resorts like Marmaris a natural choice for families.
'However, visitors should be aware that while sterling is worth a third more than last July, local prices have increased dramatically because of the currency's collapse.
'Thankfully, once the positive exchange rate is applied to those local prices, British visitors will only have to pay around 10% more than a year ago, and this increase is much lower than in many other destinations.'
The total price for the basket of goods at Marmaris (£128.99) was nearly half the price compared with the most expensive destination analysed, Spain's Ibiza (£242.79).
Prices for UK holidaymakers have risen in 13 of the 16 locations.
Ms Plunkett added: 'We found big price variations in the destinations surveyed, particularly comparing those in the eurozone.
'For example, prices in the Algarve are almost £100 lower for the same 10 items surveyed than in Ibiza.
'This makes it vitally important for holidaymakers to do their homework and take enough travel money to cover costs in the resort they are visiting.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
U.S. passport power falls in global passport ranking
The United States passport dropped in the rankings of the world's most powerful passports. A U.S. passport was ranked at No. 10, tied with Iceland and Lithuania, in a recent report. It's the lowest position for the U.S. in the 20-year history of the Henley Passport Index, according to CNN. 'Notably, the U.S. is now on the brink of exiting the Top 10 altogether for the first time in the index's 20-year history,' the company said in a statement, per CNBC. What is the Henley Passport Index? The index explores how many countries a passport allows the passport holder to get into without a visa. The top spot was claimed by Singapore, with Japan and South Korea coming in at No. 2. Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain all tied for the third spot. India made a jump from 85th to 77th in just six months. 'The consolidation we're seeing at the top underscores that access is earned — and must be maintained — through active and strategic diplomacy,' said Christian H. Kaelin, the inventor of the passport-index concept, in a statement, per USA Today. 'Nations that proactively negotiate visa waivers and nurture reciprocal agreements continue to rise, while the opposite applies to those that are less engaged in such efforts.' Here's the top 10 in the ranking: 1. Singapore 2. Japan 2. South Korea 3. Denmark 3. Finland 3. France 3. Germany 3. Ireland 3. Italy 3. Spain 4. Austria 4. Belgium 4. Luxembourg 4. Netherlands 4. Norway 4. Portugal 4. Sweden 5. Greece 5. New Zealand 5. Switzerland 6. United Kingdom 7. Australia 7. Czechia 7. Hungary 7. Malta 7. Poland 8. Canada 8. Estonia 8. United Arab Emirates 9. Croatia 9. Latvia 9. Slovakia 9. Slovenia 10. Iceland 10. Lithuania 10. United States Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
I quit my job, divorced my husband, and moved to Italy to retire. I miss my kids, but I'm happier and healthier here.
Cindy Sheahan quit her job, got divorced, and began traveling abroad for a bigger, fuller life. She's visited more than 50 countries, but one city stole her heart: Palermo, on the island of Sicily. Sheahan told Business Insider she's happier, healthier, and saving more money in Italy. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Cindy Sheahan, 64, who retired from real estate in 2017 and left Colorado to travel abroad. In 2025, Sheahan settled in Palermo, Italy. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity. In 2017, I was at a crossroads. A lot of people I knew were dying, and I started thinking: You really don't know how many days you get or what's promised to you. I figured I'd start traveling abroad. My company was kind enough to let me take a sabbatical while I sorted out my world. It turned out to be a mistake for them, because I decided I wasn't coming back. Once I stepped out the door and visited places I had only dreamed of and ate food I had only read about, it was ridiculous to think I was going to go back to my "normal life." I wasn't getting any younger. I figured I could always work again if I wanted to. But right now? I wanted to climb a waterfall in Cambodia and ride a motorbike in Vietnam. So I quit my job, retired, and divorced my husband. We had 30 years together and raised our amazing kids. But I didn't want just to walk the dog, play pickleball, and tend a garden. I wanted a bigger life. I thought living abroad would be temporary, but I was wrong After the divorce, I moved into a small apartment in Colorado with a monthly rent of $1,700. I still have it and rent it out to traveling nurses abroad. In the beginning, I thought I'd travel the majority of the year, come back to the States, and live a "normal" life there for one month a year. For some time, I did that. I've visited nearly 50 countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Madagascar, Turkey, Cyprus, and the more popular spots, like France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece. After being a mom to four kids, it's amazing to travel alone. Eating, sleeping, and reading when you want to is nice. You can go back to the same restaurant twice or visit a museum. You have no one to apologize to or explain yourself to. I remember sitting on a bench in front of Picasso's famous painting Guernica in the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid. Who knew I could sit and look at it for half an hour without anyone saying: "Oh my God, can we go? Are you done?" It was a sense of freedom that was incredible. The US was no longer for me After seven years of full-time backpack and hostel traveling, I was ready to set up a home base. I wanted to put my toothbrush on my own sink and put my clothes on a hanger somewhere. I knew I didn't want to live in the US anymore. Not only did I feel empowered abroad, but I also felt that the US no longer aligned with my values. I wasn't into the US's overconsumption. With the divisive political climate and the ridiculous gun culture, there was no way in hell I'd live there after experiencing a more peaceful life in so many other countries. Palermo, Italy, has my heart In 2022, moved to Portugal on a retirement residency visa. After about 11 months, I realized I could apply for Italian citizenship through ancestry, and the process would be faster in Italy than in the US. That was a game changer. For some time, I explored different parts of Italy, trying to determine where I wanted to live. I lived in a small medieval village in Umbria, and visited Bologna, Milan, Torino, Rome, and Florence. Then I went to Palermo, a city on the island of Sicily, and it hit me: I had found my soul city. Palermo is a feast for the senses. There's laughter, joy, noise — it's completely lovely. I moved to the city in October 2024. I didn't want to live in the suburbs — though living in the outer areas will always be less expensive and, in some ways, more authentic. So, I chose to live in the city center. I live in an area where I can walk for about 15 minutes and be at a cathedral, the gardens, or in the neighborhoods where all the restaurants, markets, and festivals happen. Palermo has a vast and active expat community. I feel safe in my neighborhood. I have a good friend who lives by the local train station, about a 30-minute walk from my apartment. I walk back from her house all the time late at midnight, and there's no stress — I'm not walking with my keys in my hand. My apartment is about 1,100 square feet, and I pay around $800 monthly plus a $100 condominium fee. It came completely furnished and is gorgeous. I have three sets of French doors that open onto three separate balconies. The floors are terrazzo with border patterns, and there are medallions on the 12-foot-high ceiling. My bathroom is spacious, which is hard to find in Italy, where showers are often the size of a phone booth. The apartment building dates back to the early 1930s. Although it is old, compared to some other buildings in Italy, it feels relatively new. Life is more affordable in Italy I couldn't afford my lifestyle if I moved back to the US. I receive $1,500 a month in Social Security. It's not enough to cover rent in Denver, but abroad, it easily covers my housing and much more. Daily expenses are affordable in Palermo. I love that I can go to the grocery store and not break the bank. You can buy tomatoes, eggplants, zucchini, sun-dried tomatoes, and everything else for a song. Healthcare is also much more affordable in Italy. In 2024, while traveling in Tunisia, I broke my foot. When I returned to Italy, I had two sets of X-rays and two appointments with an orthopedic specialist, and the total cost was less than $150. At the time, I wasn't even on the national healthcare system. Now that I'm an Italian citizen, I'm fully covered, which means there's no charge for general care. If I need to see a specialist, like a dermatologist, I might pay around $40. I am happier in Italy than I'd ever be in the US Living in Italy, I make a new discovery every day. That sense of wonder and joy has become a regular part of my life. I feel like I outgrew a lot of people and places in the US. Don't get me wrong, I desperately miss my friends and family, especially my kids. But they're all able to travel, and they'd much rather visit me somewhere fun than grab a drink at a bar in Denver. My quality of life has improved in Italy. I walk almost everywhere, so my blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol are in better condition. I eat better, I've made new friends, I've cut down on expenses, and most importantly, I'm happy. Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
This Caribbean Island Just Ranked the Safest in 2025 for Its Low Crime—and It's a Hurricane-free Destination, Too
"One Happy Island" outshined other destinations. With its laid-back charm and crystal-clear waters, the Caribbean often feels like a living postcard. And while many of the islands live up to that image, recent U.S. travel advisories have raised concerns for travelers—with U.S. travel advisories citing rising crime, civil unrest, and limited health care. Enter Aruba, a refreshing exception to the trend. This sun-drenched island not only defies those warnings but has also earned top honors in the Caribbean Island Safety Index 2025, released on July 14, 2025 by Always All Inclusive, a team of Sandals Resorts experts. The index evaluated U.S. travel advisories, local crime data, hurricane risk, and health care readiness to determine the safest destinations in the region—and Aruba claimed the No. 1 spot. To those familiar with the island, the ranking comes as no surprise. Known as "One Happy Island" thanks to its warm, welcoming culture, Aruba boasts low crime rates and a robust focus on tourism safety. The island is compact and easy to navigate, with well-maintained roads and reliable public transport. It's also blessed with a location that's safely situated outside the hurricane belt and enjoys over 300 days of sunshine per year on average. But Aruba's appeal goes well beyond safety. Nearly 20 percent of the island is preserved as Arikok National Park, home to volcanic hills and natural wonders like the Conchi Natural Pool, a natural saltwater tide pool that's big enough to swim in. The park offers a striking contrast to the island's famed coastline, where Eagle Beach and Palm Beach—both consistently ranked among the world's best—boast powdery white sand and shimmering turquoise waters. Beyond the beach, visitors can explore attractions like The Butterfly Farm and experience the island's vibrant culture through the Aruba Carnival, a lively celebration dating back to 1954. The festivities begin in November and peak in January and February — making it a perfect escape during the U.S. winter months. In the 2025 safety index, Aruba received a perfect score for its U.S. Travel Advisory status (Level 1, the safest rating) and non-existent hurricane risk. The island also scored 9 out of 10 for its low crime rate and 8 out of 10 for health care access, which adheres to high Dutch medical standards. The index compiled data from sources like the U.S. State Department, local law enforcement, NOAA, and WHO. Rounding out the top three on the list were Barbados at No. 2 and Grenada and Curaçao tied for No. 3. The full list, along with each destination's final safety score (higher is better), is included below: 1. ArubaScore out of 10: 9.3 2. BarbadosScore: 9.2 3. Grenada Score: 9.0 3. (tie) Curaçao Score: 9.0 5. Antigua & BarbudaScore: 8.1 6. Puerto RicoScore: 7.6 7. Dominican Republic Score: 7.0 8. Saint LuciaScore: 6.8 9. The Bahamas Score: 6.5 10. JamaicaScore: 5.5 Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
