TURKEY is becoming THE place to head for a bargain break thanks to plummeting hotel and restaurant prices.
A survey of visitor numbers shows Turkey is closing the gap on long-time favourite Spain and is now the cheapest short-haul sunshine spot outside the eurozone.
Resort prices have plunged by 10 per cent since last year – the biggest drop across Europe – and the pound has strengthened against the Turkish lira.
While prices elsewhere have risen, the average cost of a coffee in Turkey has fallen from £2.03 a year ago to £1.97 now, beer is down from £2.49 to £2.41 and a pack of cigarettes is £2.49, down from £3.07. Post Office researchers compared the year-on-year cost of 10 tourist staples including soft drinks, sunscreen and an evening meal in the resort of Marmaris.
The price of bottled water and sunscreen has risen, but the cost of a restaurant meal for a family of four has dropped from £69 to £55 – 21 per cent cheaper
Many are already taking advantage of the deals, with sales of Turkish lira up eight per cent on last year at post offices.
And tour operators have responded to the better exchange rates by cutting the cost of package deals by up to £203.
Around 2.6million Britons visited Turkey last year – up from 2.1million in 2008.
Post Office head of travel Sarah Munro said: “Turkey is back on the radar as a value destination. Prices are well down while Sterling is up four per cent.”
via Turkey closes in on Spain as Brits’ top cheap holiday destination, says new survey – mirror.co.uk.