Cape Town cheapest long haul destination for UK holidaymakers

CAPE TOWN has regained its position as the best value long haul destination for UK holidaymakers, an annual study has found.

Local price falls and a weaker South African rand have combined to bring prices down 20% since last autumn, Post Office Travel Money said.

Japanese capital Tokyo leapfrogged the coastal city in last year’s Long Haul Holiday Report.

But the latest study found UK visitors to Cape Town typically pay the equivalent of just £30.33 for a three-course evening meal for two with a bottle of house wine, £1.31 for a cup of filter coffee and £1.44 for a bottle of local lager in a bar.

The total cost of a basket of 10 tourist staples was £51.48.

Despite this year’s 17% increase in prices in Tokyo, it was the second cheapest destination at £57.40, followed by Bali (£63.95) and Mombasa, Kenya (£67.11).

Bali has become better value due to a strong sterling exchange rate and a drop in local costs after last year’s steep meal price rises.

The most expensive of the 34 resorts and cities surveyed was the Seychelles, where the basket of goods costs £192.47.

Abu Dhabi was next highest at £166.54, ahead of Dubai (£164.74) and Barbados (£163).

Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money said: “After a summer when sterling gave holidaymakers less cash to spend in Europe, winter sun tourists will see their pounds stretch further in many of the most popular long haul destinations.

“However, we advise them to consider the whole picture and not just the package price before booking.

“By doing their homework to see where the pound is worth more and where resort costs are low, holidaymakers could save themselves a lot of money.”

Prices were researched by tailor-made holiday firm Travelbag.