British holidaymakers looking for the best value this winter will find the strongest deals across the Far East and Indian subcontinent, with Vietnam taking the number-one spot in the latest Post Office Travel Money Long Haul Holiday Report. Seven of the top ten best-value destinations are in these regions, while parts of the Caribbean also show meaningful price falls.
The report compares the cost of a basket of 10 typical holiday purchases (for example, a three-course meal for two and a range of drinks) across 30 long-haul destinations. Overall, barometer costs have fallen in two-thirds of destinations versus last year, with some of the sharpest drops seen in Barbados and Malaysia (both down almost 19%).
What’s driving the value?
Two key forces are working in travellers’ favour:
- Currency tailwinds: Sterling is stronger against 20 of the 25 currencies used in the survey, helping to offset local price rises in many places.
- Local price shifts: In several destinations, on-the-ground prices are steady or lower, compounding the benefit of a stronger pound.
Standout movers
- Hoi An, Vietnam: A small fall in local prices plus a weaker Vietnamese dong versus the pound bring barometer costs down 10.9% to £58.81, now the cheapest in the survey and over 8% lower than Cape Town in second place (£64.28).
- Bali, Indonesia: Local prices are up 10.8%, but the rupiah’s 11.3% fall against sterling nudges the barometer down 0.5% to £67.79. Bali also posts the cheapest meal: a three-course dinner for two with wine at £35.48.
- Penang, Malaysia and Phuket, Thailand crash into the top ten on the back of sizeable falls (-18.6% and -14.1%, respectively).
- Mombasa, Kenya edges up to fourth as costs dip 1.7% to £68.33, moving ahead of Tokyo, where prices rose 5.6%.
Not everywhere is cheaper. A steep 18% year-on-year drop for sterling against the Egyptian pound, combined with a 16% local price rise, catapults Sharm el-Sheikh costs 41.5% higher to £110.21, pushing it down seven places to 14th.
Top 10 best-value destinations
(Barometer total; year-on-year change)
- Hoi An, Vietnam — £58.81 (-10.9%)
- Cape Town, South Africa — £64.28 (-0.3%)
- Bali, Indonesia — £67.79 (-0.5%)
- Mombasa, Kenya — £68.33 (-1.7%)
- Tokyo, Japan — £68.61 (+5.6%)
- Colombo, Sri Lanka — £73.93 (-5.4%)
- Penang, Malaysia — £83.85 (-18.6%)
- Delhi, India — £85.89 (+14.6%)
- Phuket, Thailand — £87.82 (-14.1%)
- Santiago, Chile — £93.02 (-8.5%)
Biggest price falls highlighted
- Barbados — £116.38, -18.8% (20th)
- Malaysia (Penang) — -18.6% (7th)
- Thailand (Phuket) — -14.1% (9th)
- Dubai — £124.99, -11.1% (22nd)
- St John, Antigua — £112.90, -10.9% (17th)
- Darwin, Australia — £141.13, -10.1% (27th)
Most expensive destinations
- Mahé, Seychelles — £187.57 (highest basket; dining is the main driver at £129.88 for a three-course meal for two with wine)
- New York, USA — £165.85 (+4.7%)
- Honolulu, Hawaii — £153.51
- Darwin, Australia — £141.13 (-10.1%)
- St George’s, Grenada — £137.66 (+9.5%)
How to use this if you’re booking now
- Think regionally: If you’re set on Southeast Asia, consider Vietnam, Thailand (Phuket) or Malaysia (Penang) for the sharpest savings.
- Leverage the pound: Where sterling is stronger, lock in hotel/prepaid items in local currency when possible.
- Mix and match: Multi-centre trips (e.g., Bali + Singapore, Phuket + Khao Lak) can balance value with variety.
- Budget smartly: The barometer focuses on everyday holiday spends; resorts and fine-dining will naturally price higher than local cafés and casual spots.
- Watch currency moves: Rates can shift quickly. If you see a favourable rate, consider buying some currency ahead of travel or using a fee-free card.
Method note: The Post Office barometer compares a fixed basket of 10 common holiday purchases to give a like-for-like picture of on-the-ground costs. Your personal spend will vary by destination, travel style and resort choice.
If you’d like tailored suggestions (or sample budgets) for any of the destinations above, tell me your dates, airport and preferred board basis and I’ll shortlist the best-value options.
