Recent research conducted by beach holiday specialist On the Beach, has revealed summer holidays in many of Europe’s most popular beach resorts during August are cheaper than at seaside locations in the UK.
The research revealed that in seventy percent of the time European beach vacations are cheaper than exorbitant prices vacation prices within the UK. According to the research, the biggest problem is high prices for trains and hotels in the UK.
A survey of 1,000 British families, conducted by On the Beach, found overall value for money was the number one consideration when choosing a family holiday destination. So, with air carriers and hoteliers across Europe offering heavily discounted prices and deals in order to attract British holidaymakers, beach stays abroad are a far better choice affordability wise.
The research, which compared the average cost of public transport and a one-week 3* hotel stay on a bed and breakfast basis in the UK for a family of four, with a one-week holiday* to Europe’s most popular beach destinations, revealed that in some cases, foreign holidays are more than 60% cheaper.
One of the UK’s more expensive seaside locations, a stay in Cornwall’s St Ives commands high prices, along with substantial travel times by train from many destinations. A family of four traveling from London for a week-long holiday could expect to pay a staggering £2987 for transport and a week’s accommodation on a B&B basis.
In contrast, the same family traveling for a week in Skanes, one of Tunisia’s most sought-after holiday destinations, would save a whopping £1919, with the holiday, including flights, costing just £978 (66% less).
In addition, avoiding lengthy travel times tops many families’ list of holiday requirements. So, whilst the flight to Skanes takes around three hours from London airports, the train from London to St Ives can take up to six hours. At the end of the day a vacation abroad means more time on the beach, end of story. Alan Harding, Marketing Director at On the Beach commented:
“European beach holidays provide extremely good value for money, even in the school holidays. Our research shows that in many cases, it’s cheaper to take your family abroad than stay here in the UK. Not only can you save money on the initial cost of a holiday, in-resort costs are almost always cheaper abroad than they are in Britain.”
Research also shows holidays to Marmaris in Turkey are 36% cheaper than a week in Margate, whilst jetting off to Benidorm rather than Southport could save almost 10%.
Home or Away – it’s cheaper to jet off to Europe
| Departure Point | UK Cost & Average Temperature | Abroad Cost & Average Temperature | Saving |
| London | St Ives – £2897 (15o) | Skanes – £978 (28o) | 66% |
| Glasgow | Torquay – £1939.42 (17o) | Torremolinos – £1091 (26o) | 43% |
| Birmingham | Brighton – £2558.96 (17o) | Bodrum – £1643 (28o) | 36% |
| Newcastle | Margate – £1721.33 (18o) | Marmaris – £1199 (27o) | 30% |
| Bristol | Southport – £1127.77 (16o) | Benidorm – £1021 (25o) | 9.5% |
| London | Llandudno – £1149.80 (15o) | Tenerife – £1102 (24o) | 4% |
| Manchester | Newquay – £1062.60 (16o) | Corfu -£1057 (25o) | 1% |
Cheaper in the UK, but only just…
Blackpool remains one of the cheapest UK seaside destinations for Brits, however, a one-week holiday costs only 27% less than a holiday on the Costa Brava, whilst Great Yarmouth offers a slightly cheaper option than a holiday in Majorca, although holidaymakers would only pay 5% more (£XX for a family of four over a week’s holiday) to spend their break in the Balearics.
Holidaymakers would save just 3% if they chose Paignton in Devon over a week in the sun-blessed Costa Del Sol region of Spain.