Algarve leading family destination

31/7/2010

Portugal, and more specifically the Algarve, was this week handed a string of accolades from British researchers who found the region to be the most economic to visit. Lisbon was highlighted as the second best city for a short-break, while beaches in the Algarve were voted amongst the top in the world.

The Algarve has this week emerged as the preferred destination for British parent's who can look forward to getting more holiday cash this year than last if they visit the eurozone, thanks to a rise in the value of sterling, Post Office Travel Money's new Family Holiday Report has revealed.

While the report cautions against hefty charges families could face while abroad, it states there is some good news for families holidaying in Europe.

Although 24 per cent of parents complained about meal and drink costs, the Post Office Family Holiday Report reveals that family meals account for the biggest drop in prices this year.

Meal prices in Portugal, rated the best family value destination by the Post Office, have dropped 47 per cent since last July (an average of £27.03 for two adults/two children with drinks).

Almost a quarter of parents also voiced concern about the cost of beach items and, as the Post Office resort research for the Family Holiday Report indicates, they have good cause in most other European destinations, but not in Portugal.

With see-sawing prices across Europe, it found that an hour's ride on a pedalo costs just £5.36 in Portugal's Algarve, but twice as much in Majorca, Brittany or Cyprus.

Sarah Munro, the Post Office Head of Travel Money, said in a statement: "There is plenty families can do to avoid getting stung on holiday. They should check excursion and attraction prices online before they go, to avoid the most expensive ones and they should also pack kids' beach items that could break the holiday budget if bought overseas."

Post Office Travel earlier this year elected Lisbon as the second best city to visit behind Prague for bargain-hunters, with the Portuguese capital beating off Budapest, Istanbul and Warsaw, with the costlier city breaks being grouped together as Dublin, Berlin, Barcelona, Amsterdam and the most expensive being London.

Further recognition of Portugal came on Thursday morning when Kelkoo's beach index, compiled by the Centre for Economics and Business Research and YouGov, revealed the Algarve's beaches to be amongst the best five in the world.

In the study, which was sent to The Portugal News on Thursday morning, it emerged that 85% of Britons state that affordability is their number one holiday clincher, with Portugal's competitive prices a clear winner.

The Kelkoo 'Beach Index' independently ranks the best worldwide beach holiday destinations based on the 10 factors that matter most to UK holidaymakers, which besides affordability, include security (81%), the weather (78%), and good food (77%).

The Algarve was placed fifth behind winners Bulgaria, Tunisia, Turkey and Egypt, but these destinations' geographical locations often allow the Algarve to gain additional visitors.

The top ten is completed by Goa in India, Dubrovnik in Croatia, Larnaca (Cyprus), Crete (Greece) and the Balearic Islands in Spain.

The index also predicts a more positive outlook for the travel sector in 2010, with UK travel expenditure forecast to reach £41.1bn or £669 per person, a modest £1bn increase (+2.4%) on 2009, when travel sales plummeted by £3.7bn (-8.4%).

In a statement sent to The Portugal News, Bruce Fair, Managing Director of Kelkoo UK, explained: "In the current climate, British holidaymakers seem to be more cost-conscious than ever."

In stark contrast to the Algarve, Rio de Janeiro ranks as the most expensive beach destination, scoring just 26 out of 100, with return flights costing £760 on average, and accommodation generally 10% more expensive than in the UK. Sydney follows closely behind (27 out of 100), while the Maldives also scores low in this category (45). UK holidaymakers may also find that seeking a beach paradise on British soil isn't as economical as they might think, with Cornwall coming in 14th place in the overall rankings due to the unpredictable British climate and its relatively high cost.

Bruce Fair continues: "Given the clear emphasis placed by consumers on the overall affordability of holidays and the cost of buying goods once they arrive at their destination, it is no surprise that a number of the holiday hotspots historically favoured by UK holidaymakers such as Cyprus (8th), Crete (9th) and Spain's Balearic Islands (10th) are outranked by cheaper neighbouring non-Eurozone beach destinations. However, if the pound continues its rally against the euro, we should see these destinations climb back up the rankings and Britons returning to their more traditional holiday haunts".

"UK travellers now have around 16% more spending power in the Eurozone than they did only 18 months ago, with consumers currently able to get around €1.20 as opposed to €1.02 for every pound they spend."

In further recognition of the Algarve as a top destination, hotels.com this week placed the beaches at Alvor and São Rafael amongst the top 20 in the world, where they are joined by beaches such Ornos in Mykonos, Miramar in Mexico, considered the best beach in the Gulf, Dolphin Bay in Cape Town, Cala Jondal (Ibiza), while Cromer Beach in Norfolk makes a surprise entry into the top 20.

 

Source http://www.theportugalnews.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?id=1072-1