The 10 best value long-haul holiday destinations revealed – and the expensive ones to avoid

HOLIDAYMAKERS hunting for budget winter sunshine should look to Vietnam’s Hoi An, which is the world’s best value long-haul destination for 2025.

The picturesque riverside town has knocked South Africa’s Cape Town off the top spot, with a basket of holiday essentials now just £58.81 – that’s less than sixty quid for meals, drinks and tourist staples.

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Vietnam’s tranquil Hoi An is pocket-friendly[/caption]

The ancient trading port is famous for its lantern-lit canals, while just minutes from the historic centre, stunning beaches offer grilled prawns and beers for pocket-money prices.

But it is not just Vietnam offering spectacular savings.

Asia claims seven of the top ten cheapest destinations in the Post Office Travel Money’s annual Long Haul Holiday Report, with massive price drops of nearly 19 per cent in some hotspots.

The timing couldn’t be better for sun-starved Brits desperate to escape the winter months.

With sterling holding strong against most foreign currencies and local prices tumbling across the globe, over two thirds of long-haul destinations are cheaper than they were last year.

Malaysia’s Penang has seen prices plummet by 18.6 per cent, while Thailand’s Phuket isn’t far behind with a drop of 14.1 per cent.

Even the Caribbean is getting in on the action, with Barbados slashing costs by 18.8 per cent – the biggest fall of any destination surveyed.

Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at the Post Office, said the prospects for winter sun-seekers look “bright” – particularly in Far Eastern destinations, where the combination of falling local prices and favourable exchange rates means our money will stretch further.

“Although sterling has fallen from its high point earlier this year, it’s still stronger against most currencies than a year ago,” she explained.

“Local prices are stable in most surveyed destinations, with falls in over 40 per cent of them.”

The research, which compared costs across 30 long-haul destinations, found that Cape Town, despite dropping to second place, remains excellent value at £64.28 for a basket of essentials.

Bali holds steady in third at £67.79 – while also offering the cheapest evening meal – with three-courses for two, including wine, just £35.48.

Kenya’s Mombasa (£68.33) and Japan’s Tokyo (£68.61) round out the top five.

For those who fancy the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo has overtaken Delhi as the better bargain, with prices down 5.4 per cent to £73.93.

Meanwhile, Delhi costs are up 4.6 per cent to £85.89.

But it’s not all good news.

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Cape Town remains excellent value at £64.28 for a basket of essentials[/caption]

Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh has suffered a spectacular price surge of 41.5 per cent.

It has tumbled seven places as sterling crashed 18 per cent against the Egyptian pound and local prices soared.

At £110.21 for the holiday basics’ basket, it’s nearly double the cost of Vietnam.

And if you’re dreaming of the Seychelles, you’d better start saving.

The Indian Ocean paradise of Mahe is the most expensive destination at £187.57 – more than three times the cost of Hoi An.

A single meal for two with wine will set you back £129.88.

Dubai has dropped 11.1 per cent, while Australia’s Darwin is down 10.1 per cent – though at £141.13, it’s still not cheap.