Yahoo Finance Easter holidays will cost British families almost £200 more this year
Families planning an Easter sunshine break will be paying almost £200 more this year than 12 months ago.
The fallout from Brexit which has hit the value of sterling is the principal reason behind the 6% rise, new research shows.
According to M&S Bank’s holiday barometer, the average cost of a family holiday last year stood at £2,991.
But it looks like families this year will pay an average of £182 more to similar destinations.
Cost of a family Easter holiday in ten popular destinations
Location | 2017 price per person | 2017 price per family | 2016 price per family | Difference £ | Difference % |
Andalucia (Spain) | £491 | £1,964 | £1,819 | £145 | 8.0% |
Malta | £536 | £2,144 | £2,007 | £137 | 6.8% |
Crete (Greece) | £539 | £2,156 | £2,034 | £122 | 6.0% |
Madeira (Portugal) | £622 | £2,488 | £2,346 | £142 | 6.1% |
Lanzarote (Canary Islands) | £629 | £2,516 | £2,354 | £162 | 6.9% |
Paphos (Cyprus) | £728 | £2,912 | £2,755 | £157 | 5.7% |
Cancun (Mexico) | £947 | £3,788 | £3,624 | £164 | 4.5% |
Dubai (UAE) | £1,103 | £4,412 | £4,136 | £276 | 6.7% |
Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) | £1,174 | £4,696 | £4,495 | £201 | 4.5% |
Florida (USA) | £1,407 | £5,628 | £5,316 | £312 | 5.9% |
AVERAGE | £818 | £3,270 | £3,089 | £182 | 6% |
Source: M&S Bank
However, six out of 10 destinations researched all beat the £2,991 budget, leaving families a little wriggle room for add-ons such as car hire or upgrades.
For example, families travelling for a week’s holiday to Andalucía – the most affordable destination this Easter and over £1,000 less than the average – could upgrade to business class flights, four star accommodation and a seven-day attraction pass, and would still spend less than the average budget.
Malta and Crete complete the top three most affordable holiday destinations this Easter, at £2,144 and £2,156, respectively – and are the only two destinations where a family of four can get flights for under £1,000.
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“The cost for a family getaway this Easter has risen by over £180 this year, partly due to the weakening of the pound against other currencies like the euro, where it has lost around 8.5 per cent of its value,” said Liam O’Hara, head of network and bureaux at M&S Bank.
“Savvy families can trim nearly £1,700 off the cost of a holiday to Florida by opting for a flight with two stops instead of flying directly and downgrading to a two star hotel, bringing the cost down to £3,934.”
‘Budget beaters’ vs ‘budget breakers’
Location | 2017 price per family | Budget beater or breaker? (£2,991) | Upgrades/downgrades | Upgraded/downgraded price |
Andalucía (Spain) | £1,964 | Beater | Upgrade to a 4* hotel | £2,988 |
Get a 7 day attraction pass | ||||
Upgrade to business class flights | ||||
Malta | £2,144 | Beater | Take a private day tour | £2,981 |
Hire a mini convertible for a week | ||||
Crete (Greece) | £2,156 | Beater | Upgrade to a 4* hotel | £2,991 |
Hire a premium car for a week | ||||
Madeira (Portugal) | £2,488 | Beater | Upgrade to all-inclusive | £2,966 |
Hire a mid-size car for a week | ||||
Lanzarote (Canary Islands) | £2,516 | Beater | Take a full day trip | £2,964 |
Hire a mid-size car for a week | ||||
Paphos (Cyprus) | £2,912 | Beater | Take a trip to the local zoo | £2,953 |
Money left over for drinks/snacks | ||||
Cancun (Mexico) | £3,788 | Breaker | Downgrade to 2* accommodation | £3,510 |
Take a cheaper day trip | ||||
Dubai (UAE) | £4,412 | Breaker | Downgrade to a flight with 1 stop | £3,370 |
Have cheaper fast food for lunch | ||||
Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) | £4,696 | Breaker | Downgrade to a longer flight time | £4,275 |
Downgrade to a 2* hotel | ||||
Downgrade to a shorter activity | ||||
Florida (USA) | £5,628 | Breaker | Downgrade to a flight with 2 stops | £3,934 |
Downgrade to a 2* hotel |
Unsurprisingly, owing to the cost of long-haul flights, destinations further afield are the definite ‘budget breakers’ this Easter with Cancun, Dubai, Punta Cana and Florida all costing more than the average week-long family holiday. Florida comes in as the most expensive, at £5,628, followed by Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic (£4,696) and Dubai (£4,412).
Travel money top tips:
Try to be flexible with flight times, an indirect, night or weekday flight (if possible) could prove cheaper
Check comparison sites to compare the price of flights and accommodation before booking
Always set a budget and remember to factor in travel money for snacks, excursions, taxis, tips and other costs, even if you are travelling half-board or all-inclusive
Research to find out if buying tickets in advance and online, such as attraction passes, is any cheaper than waiting until you arrive
Don’t rely on internet rates if buying travel money in-store; many providers have different rates online and some change their rate throughout the day
Don’t leave your holiday money until the last minute; airport bureaux often offer less competitive rates and may not have a wide variety of note denominations
Always take both travel money and a credit/debit card to ensure you have multiple methods of payment.
