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Time Out
14-05-2025
- Time Out
Tokyo ranked among the most affordable holiday destinations of 2025
Japan's weak yen and fluctuating economy has created a golden opportunity for international travellers seeking more bang for their buck. The country has seen record-breaking numbers of visitors in just the first quarter of 2025, and no signs point to inbound tourism slowing down anytime soon. Japan simply offers top-of-the-line value, as a recent survey conducted by the UK's Post Office makes clear: the ranking has Tokyo as the third most affordable holiday destination worldwide in 2025. Also known as the Holiday Money Report, the survey studied 47 destinations for UK travellers, ranking them by 'overall holiday value for money'. These are the destinations that made up the top ten: Algarve, Portugal Cape Town, South Africa Tokyo, Japan Kuta, Bali Delhi, India Sunny Beach, Bulgaria Hoi An, Vietnam Prague, Czech Republic Phuket, Thailand Costa del Sol, Spain To come up with the final ranking, Post Office examined the average cost of eight common travel items that you'd most likely purchase on a trip. This includes essentials like sunscreen and insect repellent to consumables like a cup of coffee and a three-course dinner for two. According to the report, a cup of filter coffee in Tokyo comes out to approximately £2.44 (around ¥476) and a three-course dinner for two (including a bottle of house wine) costs roughly £44.58 (around ¥8,704). Compared to many other countries on the list, these prices are extremely favourable, and may only get better depending on the currency you are converting from. And with Tokyo also offering fantastic budget-friendly eats, free museums, and plenty more eminently affordable spots, it's safe to say that many travellers' money goes an extremely long way in the capital.
Forbes
31-03-2025
- Forbes
15 Affordable Places To Travel In 2025, According To A New Report
Albufeira, a vacation destination in the Algarve region of Portugal, the cheapest place to travel in 2025, according to a new report. Looking for the most affordable places to travel in 2025? A new report from the U.K.'s Post Office has the best places to stretch your travel budget this year. And while the annual Holiday Money Report is from a British-based company, it's a helpful resource for U.S. travelers looking for the cheapest places to travel. To come up with the list, the Post Office looked at 47 popular travel destinations around the world, comparing currency strength and the cost of eight tourist essentials—from dinner and drinks to sunscreen and insect repellent—and then ranked the spots that offer the best value. Even though the report doesn't include hotels or airfare, it gives a solid snapshot of on-the-ground expenses and where you can save the most. This year's winner? The Algarve in Portugal. This sunny region on Portugal's southern coast takes the top spot thanks to consistently low prices for meals and drinks, with a daily average budget for travel essentials of about $76.06. (The prices in this article have been calculated using a conversation rate on the date of publication of £1 to $1.29.) Ferragudo in the Faro district of the Algarve, Portugal. In the Algarve, a three-course dinner for two with wine costs about $52.03, which is a third of the cost of what you'd pay in New York City. Beautiful beaches, pretty beachside towns and world-class golf courses add to the Algarve's appeal. Coming in second on the list is Cape Town, South Africa, which also ranked second on the 2024 list. Cape Town offers incredible scenery along with solid value for money. And even though local prices rose about 11% from 2024, the destination is still a high-value spot. The total daily cost of essentials in Cape Town is around $77.19. A three-course dinner with wine costs less than half what you'd spend in many U.S. cities. Travelers can also explore Table Mountain, sip wines in nearby vineyards and enjoy ocean views without breaking the bank. Strolling through Shinjuku district of Tokyo, one of the cheapest places to travel in 2025. Tokyo takes the third spot on the list—up a notch from 2024, when it ranked fourth. Japan's capital isn't usually thought of as 'cheap,' but the daily tourist essentials are $81.71, which is far less than what you'd spend in London or Paris. Plus, Japan's weaker yen and relatively low inflation add to Tokyo's value-for-money—making it the best deal it's been in years. Bali climbs to fourth on the list for 2025, with an average daily cost of about $86.28 in the beachfront town Kuta. Prices are up about 5% from last year, but Bali still delivers outstanding value—think low-cost sunset beach dinners and massages for under $15. Delhi, India rounds out the top five. It jumped from 13th place in 2024 to fifth this year, thanks to a 10.7% drop in prices. The daily cost of essentials in Delhi is now about $89.68. Add in historical landmarks like the Red Fort and Humayun's Tomb, and you've got an affordable cultural powerhouse. Notably, Hoi An, Vietnam—the cheapest destination in 2024—fell to seventh place on the list after local prices surged by over 40%. That said, it's still a great deal with daily expenses around $94.47. In contrast to the bargain spots, the report also highlights the places where you'll pay the most. Topping the expensive list is New York City, where that cost of essential items averages roughly $216.53—nearly triple the cost in the Algarve. Close behind are Honolulu, Hawaii at about $200.98 and Nice, France at $197.41. In fact, Nice's prices jumped 27% since last year, making it the priciest spot in Europe. Overall, the 2025 Post Office report paints a good picture for budget-conscious travelers. While prices have crept up in many places, they've held steady—or even dropped—in nearly half of the destinations surveyed. That means there are still great deals to be found, if you consider destinations where the local currency is weak and tourist costs are down. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic is one of the best value destinations to travel in 2025. One great-value spot that U.S. travelers will appreciate is Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, which saw prices fall by more than 26%. It's the only Caribbean destination to crack the top 20 this year. The takeaway? Currency shifts and local inflation can reshape the travel landscape from year to year. But with the right intel—and a bit of flexibility—you can still plan an unforgettable getaway that doesn't blow your budget. Read on for the list of 15 most affordable places to travel in 2025, based on the U.K. Post Office 2025 report. You can download the full report here, which includes all the stats and more of the cheapest places to travel in 2025. A view of Twelve Apostles mountain near Cape Town, South Africa, one of the cheapest places to travel in 2025.
Khaleej Times
20-03-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Holidaymakers rate Dubai as more affordable than New York, Hawaii, Nice, Melbourne
Dubai has been placed 35th among cities that offer the best value and holiday hotspot for bargain hunters, according to Holiday Money Report from Post Office Travel. Dubai has been rated a more affordable city than New York, Hawaii, Nice, Melbourne and other Caribbean cities for British holidaymakers in the 19th annual report. The study, which was conducted in the UK, found covered prices of eight items — a three-course meal for two with wine, a cup of coffee, a bottle of local beer, a can of cola, a glass of wine, a bottle of still water, suncream and insect repellent. The cost of eight items totalled £125.9, compared to £167.85 in New York, £153.03 in Nice and £132.2 in Melbourne. Since many UAE residents travel to the UK for holidays, the UAE dirham has gained prominence as many residents exchange money in the UK. The United Kingdom expanded its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to include UAE and other GCC countries to streamline the immigration process. Travellers from the region must apply for an ETA before arriving in the UK. The Emirati dirham was the 6th bestselling currency at the Post Office between January 2024 and January 2025, and it was more than the Canadian dollar, Japanese Yen, and New Zealand dollar. Data showed the UAE dirham gained 0.8 per cent last year against the pound. Portugal's Algarve tops the chart of 47 destinations for the cheapest destination for the first time in nine years, with a total price of £58.95 for eight products. Algarve was followed by Cape Town, Tokyo, Bali and Delhi.
Telegraph
17-03-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
The destinations where your pound will stretch the furthest this summer
British holidaymakers seeking value on their next getaway should consider the Algarve, Cape Town and Tokyo, according to the latest Post Office Holiday Money Report. Post Office Travel Money's Laura Plunkett said: 'It's interesting to see the Algarve back at the top of the barometer chart again and this is largely down to the remarkable consistency in its low prices for meals and drinks.' The Post Office researchers assessed the price of a number of popular items, like coffee, beer, and a three-course meal, across 47 destinations. Bottom of the list for affordability was New York City, despite the fact that the pound is up against the dollar in recent weeks. The report also spells out the currencies against which the sterling is performing well in 2025, pulling out Turkey, Egypt and Mexico as some of the destinations where you will feel considerably better-off after exchanging money this year. Likewise, there is a list of countries where the pound is less powerful compared to last year, including Kenya and Thailand. Let's take a deep dive into the destinations where your pound will stretch the furthest in 2025. Sterling stretches far in Turkey, Egypt and Mexico You will feel considerably richer in some corners of the world. In Mexico, the pound is up 21.1 per cent against the Mexican peso compared to 2024. This means that £500 will buy you £87.01 more than it did last year. It is a similar picture in Brazil, where the pound is up 18.3 per cent against the Brazilian real, meaning you will have an additional £77.37 in your wallet if you change £500. One of the most eye-catching currency shifts is in Turkey. The pound is up an astonishing 114.7 per cent against the Turkish lira compared to 2023. This means that changing £500 will give you an additional £267.12, compared to two years ago. It is worth noting, however, that Turkey is suffering extremely high inflation right now. The other country where your sterling will stretch notably far compared to recent years is Egypt. The pound is up 79.6 per cent compared to 2023, meaning your £500 will get you an additional £221.64. Note, however, that the pound only grew 3.5 per cent against the Egyptian pound since 2024, so the exchange rate swing is slowing down. The pound is up 1.8 per cent against the Euro, giving you £9.06 more out of your £500 exchange, and sterling is up 0.8 per cent against the US dollar, buying you £4.10 more – which will just about cover the cost of your first caramel latte. Backpacker destinations offer less bang for your buck Sterling is down against a handful of currencies, although thankfully – from the perspective of the British holidaymaker – the negative swings aren't as severe as the positive gains. The bad news for British backpackers is that some of the currencies outperforming sterling are in south-east Asia and South America: firm favourites on the gap-year trail. The Kenyan shilling is 7.1 per cent up against the pound, the Thai baht is 5.3 per cent up, and you'll also be getting less favourable exchange rates in Malaysia, Chile, South Africa, Sweden and Peru. The country where a beer costs £1.53 The most pertinent section of the Post Office's latest Travel Money Report is, of course, the part where they crunch the numbers on specific holiday items like wine, beer and coffee. The cheapest beer across the report's 47 destinations is found in Hoi An, Vietnam. A bottle of 330ml local beer at a bar costs just £1.53. The most expensive destination on the list is (you guessed it) Downtown Dubai, where a small beer at a bar will cost five times more: an average of £7.92 per can. If it's a 200ml bottle of sun screen you're after, you will be able to pick one up for £4.44 in Delhi (the cheapest in the study), and a quite remarkable £23.94 in Grand Baie, Mauritius. The best-value destination on Earth The Algarve offers the best value of any of the 47 destinations assessed in the Post Office Travel Money Report. The total cost for a cup of coffee, a small beer, a can of Coke, a glass of wine, a 1.5ml bottle of water, a bottle of sun screen, a bottle of insect repellent and a 3-course evening meal for two (with a bottle of house wine) is just £58.95. Following close behind the Algarve in second place is Cape Town in South Africa, where that shopping trolley of goods comes to £59.84. Tokyo, Bali and Delhi are the other destinations where you can get all the above for under £70. In Europe, the report found that Sunny Beach in Bulgaria, Prague and Spain's Costa del Sol are destinations that offer the best value after the Algarve. Corfu and Rome were among the more expensive European destinations on the list. The worst-value destinations on Earth The most expensive destination on the list is New York City, where the shopping trolley of goods comes to £167.85 – nearly three times as much as the Algarve. Notably, an average three-course meal in the Big Apple costs £128.27. The other destinations near the bottom of the table for affordability are Hawaii, Nice, the Seychelles. Buying these items in Darwin, Cairns and Melbourne in Australia will also be heavy on the wallet.
Telegraph
15-03-2025
- Telegraph
Europe's greatest holiday destination? There's no contest
Where is Europe's greatest holiday destination? Surely such a subjective question is impossible to answer. Not so. There is an answer, and it is Portugal. To reach this conclusion I received no bribes from the Portuguese tourist board (I am, however, open to any incidental pastel de nata sent to The Telegraph's offices at 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London), but rather I addressed a series of tangible factors including cost, weather, availability and a recent flurry of Michelin stars. Plus some less tangible metrics, too. Portugal is affordable. In the Post Office's latest Holiday Money Report, released today, the Algarve ranked as the best value destination for British holidaymakers, up from fifth place last year. Anyone who has visited Portugal will know this is true for the whole country. On the south coast, an average three-course meal for two with wine comes in at just £40.33. Sterling's strength against the Euro (up 6.3 per cent compared to March 2023) is helping to make things feel cheaper across the Continent. We are talking about marginal gains here, but the weather in Portugal is more pleasant than its Mediterranean competitors. In Lisbon, the average August high is 28C, compared to the daily highs of 31C in Malaga, 32C in Sicily or 33C in Athens. You'll feel that difference. Things are warmer down in the Algarve, which will suit the desires of sunbathers, but with those coastal Atlantic breezes the climate is less stifling, and ocean temperatures in the low 20s are far more refreshing than in the warmer corners of the Med. For some reason, Portuguese food seems to get overlooked in debates about Europe's finest cuisines. It's just cod and custard, right? Wrong. In Lisbon, the Timeout Market is one of the most exciting food halls on the Continent. Located in the historic Mercado da Ribeira, you will have your pick of two dozen food stalls representing the top chefs in the country. Up in the Douro Valley, mineral-rich white wines complement seafood platters of sardines and goose barnacles. In 2025, the number of Portuguese restaurants with one Michelin star increased from 31 to 38, and there are eight with two stars. Things are undeniably on the up. Aside from the hard data, there is a spiritual breeziness to Portugal that should be factored into your holiday decision making. The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance of 1386 is the oldest diplomatic agreement in the world that is still in force. And this 'perpetual friendship' of two seafaring states seems to play out on the beaches, too. While 2024 saw anti-tourism demonstrations across the Canaries, the Balearics and Spanish cities, with 'tourists go home' (and more unsavoury versions of this phrase) written in English on walls and placards, you can travel to Portugal safe in the knowledge that you won't be squirted with a water pistol or denied access to any of its beaches. Although there does seem to be a simmering pushback against the explosion of British 'digital nomads', who have cottoned on to all of Portugal's wonders and are pushing up rental prices in Lisbon. Despite all this, availability is looking good for the summer of 2025. Villa firms Oliver's Travel and Vintage Travel both tell me that bookings are slightly down for Portugal, year-on-year. What this looks like in practice is 40 per cent of Oliver's Algarve two-bed villas available during the peak week of August 9–16, and 57 per cent of Vintage's two-bed villas available that same week. You know about Lisbon, Porto and the main beach resorts of the Algarve, so where else should you be considering for your next Portugal getaway? Our Portugal destination expert, Mary Lussiana, argues that the fishing village of Vila Real de Santo António, right on the Spanish border, is the Algarve's best-kept secret. She recommends dining like a local on clams: the best, she says, are served at the Grand Beach Club, where you can feast with your feet in the sand. My personal pick is the Troia Peninsula, which I visited last year. Here you will find silky hourglass sands backed by tall dunes, populated mainly by locals. Comporta, at the base of the peninsula, is a soulful, low-rise town where storks nest on the rooftops. The nearby beach bars, all of which serve the regional speciality of black rice, are unshowy and effortlessly cool. No wonder George Clooney, Madonna and – if rumours are to be believed – the Sussexes have chosen Troia as their European outpost. If money were no object, I would do the same. Instead, I will happily keep returning to Portugal as my summer holiday destination of choice, where prices are fair, the welcome is as warm as the summer sun, the atmosphere as laid-back as a cool Atlantic breeze.
