Sterling rate spells bargains abroad

Soaring sterling rates are giving Britons as much as 14 per cent more cash for their summer 2012 trips to Europe compared with last year.

Bulgaria is the best bargain country for Britons, the cost index from Post Office Travel Money showed.

But for those shunning Europe and taking a holiday at home, Brighton was found to be the most expensive of the 15 destinations surveyed.

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While a basket of ten typical holiday costs, including a three-course meal, was just £42.79 in Bulgaria, the same items cost £79.25 in Brighton.

The second least-expensive destination was Turkey, where the items at the resort of Marmaris cost just £54.22 – a dip of 22 per cent compared with 2011 prices.

However, prices on Spain’s Costa del Sol have risen 35 per cent since last year, with the ten items now costing £56.84.

Of the non-eurozone destinations, Croatia was the most expensive, with the items costing £73.65.

Andrew Brown, head of Post Office Travel Money, said: “Resort prices and currency exchange rates are always changing, so it is worth doing some research to check the latest position before booking a holiday. It is also worth considering how you plan to spend your holiday cash.”