Britons have ranked the best and worst value destinations around the world – and it’s Greece that takes the number one spot, with Scandinavia at the bottom overall.
The 28-strong ranking is courtesy of the Post Office Travel Money Holiday Spending Report survey, with 94 per cent of Brits saying Greece is good value while only 38 per cent rate Scandinavia (Norway, Denmark and Sweden) as such.
The second-best-value country overall is mainland Spain (93 per cent), followed by the Canary Islands (93 per cent), which covers Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro. Just above Scandinavia, the second-worst-value destination according to poll voters is Switzerland (38 per cent).
The best-rated long-haul destination is Thailand (89 per cent), followed by Mexico (87 per cent) and South Africa (85 per cent).
The lowest-ranked long-haul destination is the city of Dubai (51 per cent) in the UAE, while the second-worst for value is the United States (67 per cent), then Mauritius (68 per cent) in East Africa.
Greece is the best value overall destination with 94 per cent of Brits saying the country is good value. Pictured – the Acropolis in Athens
The Spanish mainland comes second in the ranking, followed by the Canary Islands (No. 3), ranked good value by 93 per cent of British holidaymakers. Pictured – Santa Cruz, capital of Tenerife
In bottom place overall is Scandinavia (Norway, Denmark and Sweden ), with only 38 per cent saying it is good value. Pictured left – Hamnoy in Norway. RIGHT: The lowest-ranked (No. 26) long-haul destination is the city of Dubai (51 per cent)
The top-five ranking for Europe is completed by Portugal (92 per cent) and Turkey (92 per cent).
The list for the five worst-value European destinations is also made up of France (65 per cent), Italy (79 per cent) and Croatia (83 per cent).
The Post Office report also reveals that over three-in-five Britons – and 68 per cent of families – plan to travel abroad this year, with overseas trips named the top priority after paying for food, energy and household essentials.
On their most recent trip abroad, almost four-in-five (78 per cent) holidaymakers set a budget averaging £334.47 per person, but only a third of holidaymakers stuck to it – 67 per cent broke their budget by an average of £154.62.
Families overspent by even more. The 73 per cent who bust their budget did so by 55 per cent, spending around £312 more than the average budget of £566.26.
The second-worst-value destination (No. 27) according to poll voters is Switzerland. Pictured – the Geneva skyline and the Jet d’Eau fountain
Thailand takes the gold medal (No. 7) for best-value long-haul destination. Pictured – the Big Seated Buddha Statue at Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen, Bangkok
South Africa (No. 12) rounds out the top-three best-value long-haul destination list. Pictured – Cape Town
Over half (57 per cent) of holidaymakers who overspent blame restaurant meals, while 32 per cent named food and drinks bought from a local shop or supermarket as the culprits.
A third (36 per cent) attribute their overspending to the cost of drinks and 44 per cent say they overspent on sightseeing and excursions.
An earlier survey shows 84 per cent of holidaymakers are concerned about the cost of meals, drinks and other tourist items in overseas resorts and cities.
Mexico (No. 9) is the second-best-value long-haul destination, according to the report. Pictured is the country’s Kukulkan pyramid in Chichen Itza
The United States of America (No. 24) is considered good value by just 67 per cent of voters. Pictured – New York City
Travellers staying in all-inclusive resorts show an increase in spending on food and drink – the Post Office claims in a press release that this is because fewer items are now included in the paid-for package.
The report says that 77 per cent of individuals and 81 per cent of families spend on trips to local restaurants for meals.
Laura Plunkett, Head of Travel Money at Post Office, said: ‘The opinions of holidaymakers who have visited a destination are really useful and likely to be a more reliable source of information about value for money than those expressed by people who have no direct knowledge of the country.
‘Most of the 28 destinations included in our good value poll achieved higher scores from past visitors than among those who had to rely on what they had read or heard about the country.’