Posted on 27 April 2018

Looking for a low-cost summer getaway destination? A new survey should help.

According to a report by the Post Office, Bulgaria and Turkey are the cheapest beach destinations to visit in 2018.

The cost of nine commonly-sought holiday purchases were analysed in the survey:

• a cup of coffee
• a bottle of local beer
• a Coca-Cola
• a glass of wine
• a bottle of water
• suncream
• insect repellent
• a two-course lunch for two
• a three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine  

The report will be a great help in determining day-to-day costs of a resort, although importantly it does not take into account the cost of flights or accommodation.

Coffee lovers should go to...

Head to the Lisbon Coast in Portugal if you love strong but cheap coffee, where a cup costs just 62p (71p in Bulgaria). But in Halkidiki, Greece, your ‘joe' costs a whopping £3.12.

Beer enthusiasts should go to...

While Bulgarian beer is worth enjoying for the taste alone, it's also the place to head for value: a bottle costs just 71p. By contrast, a bottle of local beer in Halkidiki, Greece, costs £4.46.

Foodies should go to...

Bulgarian cuisine is not on every foodie's radar, but its filling chopska salads, hearty clay pot stews and gigantic tomatoes are sure to delight. A three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine costs just £26.18 - the cheapest of the 18 surveyed. If you love low-cost dining, avoid Sorrento (Italy); Ibiza (Spain); and Limassol (Cyprus) where the same package costs more than twice as much - at £64.22.

In ascending order, here are the 18 cheapest places for a beach holiday in Europe this summer:

18. Sorrento, Italy — £122.65

• Cup of coffee: £1.78
• Bottle of local beer: £2.68
• Coca-Cola: £2.23
• Glass of wine: £2.68
• Bottle of water: £0.89
• Suncream: £8.92
• Insect repellent: £7.14
• Two-course lunch for two: £32.11
• Three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £64.22

17. Ibiza, Spain — £117.91

• Cup of coffee: £1.34
• Bottle of local beer: £3.12
• Coca-Cola: £2.23
• Glass of wine: £3.57
• Bottle of water: £0.80
• Suncream: £17.75
• Insect repellent: £8.83
• Two-course lunch for two: £16.05
• Three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £64.22

16. Limassol, Cyprus — £116.71

• Cup of coffee: £2.68
• Bottle of local beer: £2.68
• Coca-Cola: £1.78
• Glass of wine: £3.12
• Bottle of water: £0.76
• Suncream: £12.04
• Insect repellent: £6.33
• Two-course lunch for two: £23.10
• Three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £64.22

15. Nice, France — £113.91

• Cup of coffee: £1.43
• Bottle of local beer: £3.12
• Coca-Cola: £3.12
• Glass of wine: £2.68
• Bottle of water: £0.27
• Suncream: £9.99
• Insect repellent: £6.24
• Two-course lunch for two: £26.76
• Three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £60.30

14. Majorca, Spain — £108.43

• Cup of coffee: £1.34
• Bottle of local beer: £2.23
• Coca-Cola: £2.23
• Glass of wine: £3.57
• Bottle of water: £0.49
• Suncream: £13.38
• Insect repellent: £4.46
• Two-course lunch for two: £26.76
• Three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £53.97

13. Porec, Croatia — £106.29

• Cup of coffee: £1.36
• Bottle of local beer: £2.23
• Coca-Cola: £2.48
• Glass of wine: £3.47
• Bottle of water: £0.74
• Suncream: £7.43
• Insect repellent: £4.96
• Two-course lunch for two: £22.30
• Three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £61.32

12. Lisbon Coast, Portugal — £101.23

• Cup of coffee: £0.62
• Bottle of local beer: £1.78
• Coca-Cola: £1.78
• Glass of wine: £3.57
• Bottle of water: £1.78
• Suncream: £6.24
• Insect repellent: £7.14
• Two-course lunch for two: £26.76
• Three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £51.56

11. Halkidiki, Greece — £100.34

• Cup of coffee: £3.12
• Bottle of local beer: £4.46
• Coca-Cola: £2.68
• Glass of wine: £4.46
• Bottle of water: £0.89
• Suncream: £13.38
• Insect repellent: £5.35
• Two-course lunch for two: £26.76
• Three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £39.24

10. Sliema, Malta — £98.60

• Cup of coffee: £1.34
• Bottle of local beer: £2.23
• Coca-Cola: £1.78
• Glass of wine: £3.21
• Bottle of water: £1.25
• Suncream: £11.24
• Insect repellent: £2.89
• Two-course lunch for two: £26.76
• Three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £47.90

9. Zadar, Croatia — £98.13

• Cup of coffee: £1.49
• Bottle of local beer: £2.11
• Coca-Cola: £2.11
• Glass of wine: £3.10
• Bottle of water: £0.74
• Suncream: £9.29
• Insect repellent: £4.96
• Two-course lunch for two: £17.34
• Three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £56.99

8. Corfu, Greece — £91.23

• Cup of coffee: £2.23
• Bottle of local beer: £2.94
• Coca-Cola: £1.78
• Glass of wine: £3.12
• Bottle of water: £0.89
• Suncream: £7.14
• Insect repellent: £6.24
• Two-course lunch for two: £21.41
• Three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £45.48

7. Paphos, Cyprus — £88.49

• Cup of coffee: £2.68
• Bottle of local beer: £2.05
• Coca-Cola: £2.23
• Glass of wine: £3.39
• Bottle of water: £0.24
• Suncream: £7.84
• Insect repellent: £5.49
• Two-course lunch for two: £20.51
• Three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £44.06

6. Costa Blanca, Spain — £83.58

• Cup of coffee: £1.34
• Bottle of local beer: £1.78
• Coca-Cola: £1.34
• Glass of wine: £3.12
• Bottle of water: £0.49
• Suncream: £13.38
• Insect repellent: £4.46
• Two-course lunch for two: £21.41
• Three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £36.26

5. Crete, Greece — £81.35

• Cup of coffee: £2.23
• Bottle of local beer: £2.23
• Coca-Cola: £2.23
• Glass of wine: £2.68
• Bottle of water: £0.45
• Suncream: £6.24
• Insect repellent: £1.96
• Two-course lunch for two: £21.41
• Three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £41.92

4. Costa del Sol, Spain — £71.55

• Cup of coffee: £1.25
• Bottle of local beer: £2.23
• Coca-Cola: £1.69
• Glass of wine: £2.23
• Bottle of water: £0.35
• Suncream: £4.41
• Insect repellent: £2.76
• Two-course lunch for two: £16.05
• Three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £40.58

3. Algarve, Portugal — £68.24

• Cup of coffee: £0.62
• Bottle of local beer: £0.98
• Coca-Cola: £1.16
• Glass of wine: £1.11
• Bottle of water: £0.18
• Suncream: £4.45
• Insect repellent: £5.16
• Two-course lunch for two: £15.88
• Three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £38.70

2. Marmaris, Turkey — £56.88

• Cup of coffee: £1.40
• Bottle of local beer: £2.21
• Coca-Cola: £1.30
• Glass of wine: £2.23
• Bottle of water: £0.24
• Suncream: £6.68
• Insect repellent: £1.86
• Two-course lunch for two: £9.31
• Three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £31.65

1. Sunny Beach, Bulgaria — £43.44

• Cup of coffee: £0.71
• Bottle of local beer: £0.71
• Coca-Cola: £0.95
• Glass of wine: £1.19
• Bottle of water: £0.38
• Suncream: £2.38
• Insect repellent: £2.38
• Two-course lunch for two: £8.56
• Three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine: £26.18

Data taken from this year's Post Office Travel Money Holiday Costs Barometer.

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