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The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Irish Sun
We bought a huge 3-bed home in Bulgaria without viewing for £25k, we've quit the UK with our kids, every day's a holiday
BUYING a home can be expensive in the UK - and one couple decided to think outside the box. TikTok users RenovateBulgariaWithUs shared how they managed to snap up a huge three-bedroom house in the European country for just £25,000. 2 A British family have shared how they bought a home spontaneously in Bulgaria for £25,000 Credit: 2 The couple have been sharing their renovation story on TikTok Credit: Relocating from the UK with their kids, they have now set about turning it into their The large family pad needed quite a bit of work to it, and they have been updating following with their renovation journey. On their They wrote: 'We bought this three-bedroom house in Bulgaria without viewing on a spontaneous Wednesday afternoon. More on homes 'Three bedrooms, half an acre of land, outbuildings.' One of the first jobs they tackled when they moved in was adding a working toilet to the bathroom, as it didn't have one. Thankfully they did have a working shower and sink to get them started. They've also replaced the windows, laid a new stylish floor and added a fire, which looked perfect for winter. Most read in Fabulous The couple shared how they have decked out the house with bargain furniture that they have upcycled to make them look stylish. This included £15 chairs and a £15 dresser. I fled the UK for sunny Dubai - life back home is miserable & no-one has any cash Given the national average house price in the UK was reported at £264,500 in 2024, the family's As well as managing to snap up a cheap property, the couple shared how living costs are less in Bulgaria too. The mum wrote: 'You pay a tax yearly, like council tax, which is around £45. 'Then there is water and electric to pay, costs are very low compared to UK.' While the renovation appears to be a large project, the family have been taking advantage of a nearby pool and stunning lakes and hikes. And thankfully the kids are said to love their new home, with the mum saying: 'It's lovely.' Many people were impressed with their DIY renovation, with one saying: 'amazing house.' Another added: 'Everything you've done so far looks incredible!' A third commented: 'What a life.' Why you should consider visiting Bulgaria BULGARIA has been described as a "fabulous family-friendly holiday destination Holidays this summer are still available from £910 for a family of three - which works out at £303pp, including flights. The Balkan country is well-known for its affordable holidays and stunning Black Sea coastline, with The affordable resorts are packed with activities, restaurants, beaches and hotels. But those looking for a more tranquil holiday should also consider lesser-known spots like Regardless of where you go, Jet2holidays says you should find "unbeatable value," with many free sights to visit and cheap places to eat and drink. This is also backed up by this year's Post Office Holiday Money Report, which shows Bulgaria in seventh place in the holiday cost barometer. According to the study, a three-course evening meal for 2 (including a bottle of house wine) costs around £39. Meanwhile, a cup of coffee should cost £1.83; bottles of local beer and soft drinks are also available for just under £2.
The Sun
30-04-2025
- The Sun
UK report crowns Penang a top-value holiday hotspot for 2025
PENANG has once again proven itself as a top-value destination, ranking 12th in the 2025 UK Post Office Holiday Money Report for affordability among 47 global holiday spots. This annual report, produced by the UK's leading foreign exchange provider, evaluates travel expenses across key destinations using the Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer. ALSO READ: Woman commutes by air from Penang to KL for work, says it is 'well worth the sacrifice' Eight everyday holiday items were assessed — including a three-course meal for two with wine, drinks, sun cream, and insect repellent — with Penang's total cost standing at £83.05 (RM479.94). The Pearl of the Orient finds itself in good company, with Algarve in Portugal topping the list at £58.95, followed closely by Cape Town (£59.84), Tokyo (£63.34) and Kuta, Bali (£66.88). Others ahead of Penang include Delhi, Sunny Beach, Hoi An, Prague, Phuket, and Costa del Sol, while Penang edges out Mombasa, Lanzarote, Marmaris, and more. 'For the 19th annual Post Office Travel Money Holiday Money Report, we surveyed 47 destinations to create our biggest ever barometer of costs. It found prices for food, drinks and other things tourists buy have gone down in around half of those we also looked at in 2024,' the report read. Penang's reputation for value has been consistent. In 2024, it ranked 13th in the UK's Post Office Travel Money Long Haul Holiday Report and 11th in the previous edition of the Holiday Money Report — even beating destinations like Phuket, Delhi and Costa del Sol.
New Straits Times
30-04-2025
- New Straits Times
Penang stands out in UK's Holiday Money Report, highlighting its value for money
GEORGE TOWN: Penang has solidified its position as an affordable and exceptional holiday destination. The Pearl of the Orient secured 12th place globally in the prestigious UK Post Office Holiday Money Report 2025. The annual study evaluates the cost of holidaying across 47 international destinations, highlighting those where travellers can maximise their budget. The 47 destinations were surveyed for the Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer, with the help of national and local tourist boards. Eight items, namely, 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, sun cream and insect repellent, were selected as representative of the purchases UK tourists are most likely to make. Prices were cross-checked by Post Office researchers. It costs £83.05 (RM479.94) in Penang. Topping the list of the top 20 are Algarve in Portugal (£58.95), Cape Town in South Africa (£59.84), Tokyo in Japan (£63.34), Kuta in Bali (£66.88), Delhi in India (£69.52), Sunny Beach in Bulgaria (£71.46), Hoi An in Vietnam (£73.23), Prague in the Czech Republic (£75.92), Phuket in Thailand (£76.10), and Costa del Sol in Spain (£76.51). Others on the list include Mombasa in Kenya (£77.20), Lanzarote in the Canary Islands (£85.42), Marmaris in Turkey (£86.00), Sliema in Malta (£88.91), Paphos in Cyprus (£91.26), Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt (£91.48), Toronto in Canada (£92.78), Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic (£93.09), and Santiago in Chile (£94.13). Tourism Malaysia London director Sulaiman Suip was quoted in a report by Travel and Tour World as saying that Penang's inclusion in this year's UK Post Office Holiday Money Report as a top-value destination was a fantastic endorsement for Malaysia. "It shows that travellers can enjoy world-class experiences in Malaysia while still getting exceptional value for their money. "We're delighted to see Penang recognised on the global stage and hope this inspires more UK travellers to discover what Malaysia has to offer," he was quoted as saying. The timing of this recognition aligns with Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026), a campaign aimed at highlighting the country's diverse attractions and enticing more international travellers. With this year acting as a prelude to the landmark initiative, the honour provides a timely boost to Malaysia's growing global profile and tourism appeal. Penang secured 13th place in the UK's 2024 Post Office Travel Money Long Haul Holiday Report, ranking among 32 global resorts and cities surveyed for affordability. Post Office Travel Money is the UK's largest foreign exchange provider and accounts for one in four of all UK currency transactions. As part of its market-leading services, Post Office Travel Money offers news briefings on topical currency-related stories and provides informed commentary on currency movements and trends, with intelligence from industry-leading experts. It was reported in April last year that Penang was ranked as the 11th best-value destination in the 2024 edition of the Holiday Money Report, ahead of Phuket in Thailand, Delhi in India, Costa del Sol in Spain, and Montego Bay in Jamaica. The report was by Post Office Ltd, the biggest retailer in the UK. The Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer, published in the report, found that prices for meals, drinks, and tourist items had fallen since 2023 in 25 of the 40 resorts and cities surveyed. 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, sun cream and insect repellent — were selected as representative of typical UK tourist purchases, and prices were cross-checked by Post Office stood out with a total weekly cost of just £74.57.[Hyperlink:
The Independent
15-03-2025
- The Independent
Best-value holiday destinations for Britons in 2025 revealed
The Algarve in Portugal is the best-value holiday destination for British travellers, the latest Post Office Holiday Money Report has revealed. Portugal 's southern region has topped the annual report for the first time in nine years. The destination moves from fifth position in 2024 thanks to the continuing low price of meals and drinks. The cost of a three-course meal for two with wine came in at £40.33 – the lowest recorded across the 47 destinations surveyed. Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at Post Office, said this makes the Algarve a great choice for holidaymakers looking to keep spending low. The annual survey by Post Office Travel Money compared the prices of eight items – a three-course meal for two with wine, a cup of coffee, bottle of local beer, can of cola, glass of wine, bottle of still water, sun cream and insect repellent – to create the Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer. According to the survey, long-haul destinations are better value for money than many European destinations. Cape Town, South Africa, has retained second place position despite costs being 11 per cent higher than last year. In third place is Japan 's capital Tokyo, with the Indonesian island of Bali just behind in fourth. However, prices however have risen in both destinations, with Tokyo's rising by 7.4 per cent while prices are five per cent higher in Bali year-on-year. Alongside the Algarve, prices have fallen in four other top 10 destinations. Delhi is the highest placed of these, rising to fifth from 13th place a year ago on the back of a 10.7 per cent drop in costs. New York is the most expensive destination of the 47 surveyed, with an increase of 15.6 per cent year-on-year. Prices for the same items in New York are almost double compared with elsewhere in the US. In 18th place, Toronto is rated the best value of eight new destinations featured this year. The top 10 best-value destinations 2025 According to the Post Office Holiday Money Report 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
