Bulgaria is Best for a Bargain Break But Eurozone May Cost a LotLess...

Bulgaria has reclaimed the top spot in the annual Holiday Costs Barometer from Post Office's174; Travel Services - overtaking last year'ss top trio of Thailand, South Africa and Egypt, where prices have risen steeply.'s185;

At around 's163;42 for 10 holiday items, including drinks and meals, Bulgaria'ss Sunny Beach resort was two and a half times cheaper than Antigua - the most expensive destination surveyed in the foreign currency (http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/jump1mediaId=19300210's38;catId=19300207) survey. Two other holiday spots outside the eurozone - Turkey and Croatia - have joined Bulgaria as Europe'ss cheapest options for a bargain break.

But while attention has been focusing away from the eurozone for holidaymakers on a strict budget this summer, price cutting in some of the most popular eurozone destinations mean that the UK'ss traditional favourites may cost less than expected and help travel money (http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/jump1mediaId=19300210's38;catId=19300207) go further.

Prices have plummeted in Portugal'ss Algarve putting the destination back into the Post Office travel money top ten for the first time in two years - at only 39p more for the holiday shopping basket than in Spain, the cheapest eurozone destination surveyed.

Local prices have dropped in Greece and Italy as well, which means that the annual price increase for the tourist items surveyed by the Post Office is just seven and five per cent respectively - and wholly due to the 11 per cent sterling foreign exchange rate drop.

Sarah Munro, Post Office head of travel services said: The eurozone has taken a bashing this year but our survey suggests that tourist outlets in many resorts are taking dramatic steps to encourage tourists. Despite the weak pound, this means that UK tourists who shop carefully could find that they get more than expected for their travel

money.

France is the most expensive eurozone destination in this year'ss barometer - costing 's163;11.22 (+16.7 per cent) more than in Spain. And one of the newest eurozone entrants, Cyprus, joins France as the highest priced European holiday destinations. By contrast Malta, which, like Cyprus, joined the eurozone in January 2008, has held its prices steady and emerges as third cheapest after Spain and Portugal to help foreign currency go further.

Ironically the biggest price hikes were in the long haul destinations, highlighted as great value in previous foreign currency surveys. The 10 commodities surveyed by the Post Office have risen by 53.7 per cent in Thailand - which still remains the cheapest long haul destination - and by 46.9 per cent in Egypt.

Like the USA, which has dropped to 17th place in the barometer table after sterling slumped against the dollar in foreign currency exchange, the Thai baht and Egyptian pound have strengthened considerably against the UK pound.Although this foreign exchange rate helps to account for the increases, the Post Office warned that resort prices have risen more than in other holiday spots.

Sarah Munro said: Prices for eating out have shown some of the biggest rises in this year'ss survey. In Thailand we have tracked a 68.5 per cent jump, in the USA meals increased by almost 49 per cent and even in Turkey, one of our best buys, they have gone up by over one third. By contrast the increase in Greece was just above one per cent. However many of the same destinations where prices have gone up, notably Thailand and Turkey, remain great value for foreign currency.

One thing for people to bear in mind is to take enough foreign currency with them. Although the average holiday money transaction in Post Office bureaux de change has gone up seven per cent to 's163;240, prices have risen more sharply and holidaymakers should take sufficient funds to see them through. The cost of changing travel money abroad - or worse still - using most credit or debit cards will pack an unpleasant punch when they return home.

Over 1,600 Post Office bureau de change branches offer the most widely requested types of foreign currency on demand, including all those featured in the Post Office City Costs Barometer (except the Malaysian ringgit, which can be pre-ordered).

All type of foreign currency can be pre-ordered for next day branch collection at all 11,500 Post Office outlets or online at postoffice.co.uk. Home delivery can also be requested online. Travellers to the eurozone can obtain euro foreign currency over the counter at more than 8,000 Post Office branches while 4,000 branches carry Turkish lira.

Ends

CBPR Post Office Press Office

Christine Ball Hayley Fowell

01798 874177 020 7250 2417

cball(at)cballpr.co.uk hayley.fowell(at)royalmail.com

Notes to Editors:

's185; The Post Office Holiday Costs Barometer provides prices in 18 holiday destinations, using the lowest average prices in popular resort areas supplied by the tourist offices of participating countries (except Bulgaria where information is provided by Balkan Holidays). A list of the resorts featured is available on request, as are details of year on year increases for all those destinations featured in 2008 and 2007.

For more details on the Post Office's174; Holiday Costs Barometer 2009 (based on Post Office foreign exchange rates: 28 April), please contact Post Office Press Office on 020 7250 2468

About Post Office Travel Services

The Post Office is the UK'ss largest bureau de change provider and offers over 70 different currencies with 0 per cent commission on all foreign currency and travellers's cheques. 29 currencies are available on demand at 1,600 larger Post Office branches. The Post Office pre-paid Travel Money Card offers customers a secure and convenient way to carry their holiday money.

The Post Office provides a range of great value travel services including insurance, foreign currency, passport photos and Check 's38; Send, international money transfers, holiday phone cards, EHIC forms and Check 's38; Send, plus huge savings on car-hire and pre-booked holiday extras.

The Post Office Credit Card charges 0 per cent commission for all purchases made overseas and also offers customers 0 per cent on balance transfers for 12 months and 0 per cent on purchases for three months.

Post Office Ltd. Registered in England and Wales no: 2154540. Registered Office: 80-86 Old Street, London, EC1V 9NN.

The Post Office and the Post Office symbol are registered trade marks of Post Office Ltd.

Post Office Ltd is an appointed representative of The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland, which is authorised by the Irish Financial Regulator and the Financial Services Authority; regulated by the Financial Services Authority for the conduct of UK business. Bank of Ireland, incorporated in the Republic of Ireland with limited liability. Registered in England and Wales with branch number BR000459.

Card Account offered by J.P. Morgan Europe Ltd through Post Office Ltd. J.P. Morgan Europe Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered in England and Wales No. 938937. Registered Office: 125 London Wall, London, EC2Y 5AJ.

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