THE BEST value long-haul holiday destinations have been revealed – and the cheapest is a great winter sun spot.
The Post Office’s 2025 Long Haul Holiday Report has analysed 30 long haul destinations for affordability.
I visited the city that has been named the cheapest[/caption]
I saved thousands in Hoi An getting cheap suits[/caption]
Looking at 10 different items from bottles of beer to three course meals, the top spot went to Hoi An in Vietnam – for the second year in a row.
I visited the Asian city last year and was left astounded by how cheap it was.
The city’s popular Larue larger can be found for just £1, or try the Bia Hoi – Vietnam’s much-loved fresh beer – for as little as 30p a glass.
Bia Hoi is often cited as one of the world’s cheapest beers, behind other local offerings in Nigeria, Belarus and China, according to price search engine, Bountii.
A distinctive feature of Vietnamese beer culture is the practice of serving beer over ice, often accompanied by an array of snacks such as peanuts, dried squid, or fermented pork rolls.
Food in Hoi An is also just as delicious as well as affordable.
Bánh mìs are a national favourite, merging both French and Vietnamese influences.
The crispy baguette is filled with meats such as pork or chicken alongside pickled vegetables, fresh herbs, cucumber, and a tangy sauce.
My top spot to get one? Madam Khanh, known locally as “Bánh Mì Queen,” who has been selling the sandwich for more than 30 years.
Even staying in Hoi An is super affordable.
While four night stays can be found for £23 each per night, I opted for the Uptown Hoi An Hotel and Spa which costs around £35 a night.
It was worth every penny when making the most of the rooftop pool when I needed to cool off in the 30C heat.
Outside of dining and stays, one of the most famous things to do in Hoi An is getting a cheap suit or dress made.
I paid around £155 to get two two-piece suits and linen trousers made, custom fit and delivered just 48 hours later.
The city is known for its affordable beers and shopping[/caption]
Make sure to grab a delicious banh mi as well[/caption]
Beers could be found for just 30p[/caption]
If I was to do that in London, I could have easily seen myself splashing out £800 for a custom suit, so it was easily a few thousand pounds saved.
If you just want to sight-see, I recommend exploring the ancient city by foot.
There are lazy boat trips along the Thu Bon River, or relaxing on the golden sands of An Bang Beach.
Take a boat ride and dusk and see all of the brightly coloured lanterns along the riverbanks.
In second place for being the best value long-haul holiday destination was Cape Town and the Sun’s Head of Travel (Digital) recently went – here’s what she thought.
And the Sun’s Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski went to Tokyo which also featured in the top 10.
Post Office Travel Money Long Haul Holiday Report 2025
The top 10 best-value, long-haul holiday destinations when looking at 10 items: cup of coffee, bottle of local lager, can of Coke, glass of wine, cocktail, small chocolate bar, bottle of water, suncream, insect repellant, three course evening meal.
- Hoi An, Vietnam – £58.81
- Cape Town, South Africa – £64.28
- Bali, Indonesia – £67.79
- Mombasa, Kenya – £68.33
- Tokyo, Japan – £68.61
- Colombo, Sri Lanka – £73.93
- Penang, Malaysia – £83.85
- Delhi, India – £85.89
- Phuket, Thailand – £87.82
- Santiago, Chile – £93.02
Laura Plunkett, Head of Travel Money at Post Office, said: “Although sterling has fallen from its high point earlier this year and there are concerns about possible volatility this autumn, it’s important to note that it is stronger against most currencies than a year ago.
“Furthermore, local prices are stable in most of the destinations we surveyed, with falls in over 40 per cent of them, so the prospects for winter sun holidaymakers look bright – especially in many Far Eastern and Caribbean countries where a combination of these factors means reduced prices for British travellers.
“Holidaymakers can save themselves a lot of money if they pick a winter sun destinations where the pound is riding high and where tourist costs are low.”
The most expensive destinations on the list were Mahe in the Seychelles (£187.57), New York in the US (£165.85) and Honolulu in Hawaii (£153.51).
It is also one of the prettiest towns I’ve ever been to[/caption]
