Greek Islands Among Top 10 Best-value Destinations in Europe for Families

Lindos, Rhodes.

The Greek islands of Kos, Rhodes, and Corfu are among the top 10 least expensive destinations for British travelers this summer, according to the latest Post Office Family Holiday Report, compiled in partnership with TUI United Kingdom.

Released at the end of the school year in the UK, the report helps readers budget for their holidays. It serves as a barometer for family vacation costs by comparing prices across 16 popular European destinations in ten essential expense categories. These categories include lunch and dinner, snacks, drinks, sunscreen, and insect repellents. The study indicates that families can save money by choosing their destinations wisely, despite price increases in 12 of the 16 destinations compared to last summer.

Four Greek destinations featured among the 16 listed

Corfu, Greece.

– Kos ranked 6th for the total cost of ten essential items for families, with expenses amounting to £150.33 (pounds sterling). This represents a 9.8 percent increase compared to the summer of 2023.
– Rhodes secured 8th place, with the same items costing 156.93 pounds, reflecting a 5.8 percent rise from last year.
– Corfu was in 10th place, with a cost of 167.36 pounds and a notable increase of 11.3 percent.
– Crete placed 16th, with expenses totaling 180 pounds, which is a slight decrease of 0.2 percent compared to the previous year.

Additionally, Paphos, Cyprus, ranked 5th, with the essential items priced at 144.48 pounds, showing a 4 percent increase from last year.

Least expensive destination in Europe: Sunny Beach, Bulgaria

It is noteworthy that with 68 percent of British families planning to spend their summer vacation abroad, the data revealed the following:

– The least expensive destination in Europe for purchasing the ten items is Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, where the cost is estimated at 110 pounds. However, this represents a 9.8 percent increase compared to July of last year.
– Marmaris, Turkey, which was the most affordable destination last summer, ranked second this year, with a significant 17.6 percent rise in the cost of essential items.
– The Algarve, Portugal, came in third, maintaining its status as the best value for money among the 14 Eurozone areas included in the study. However, prices for the basket of necessities increased by 18.4 percent from 2023.
– Ibiza, Spain, was the most expensive of the destinations studied, with the basket of essentials costing approximately 220 pounds—twice as much as in the least expensive destination, Bulgaria.

The same research found that three-quarters (73 percent) of families overspent by a record 55 percent on their last trip, exceeding their average budget of 566 pounds by an additional 312 pounds. The main culprits? Food and drink. Furthermore, the survey revealed that 67 percent of British holidaymakers went over budget on their most recent trip abroad.

Moreover, nearly nine in ten (88 percent) parents admitted that giving in to their children’s requests for beach items cost them an average of 202 pounds on their last holiday.

Photo source: Post Office

Besides Crete, which experienced a marginal price reduction over the past 12 months, prices for basic items also decreased in three other destinations studied. Lanzarote, in 7th place, saw a 7.2 percent price drop; Mallorca, in 9th place, experienced a reduction of 1.2 percent; and Costa del Sol, in 4th place, had prices fall by 0.7 percent.