Brits enjoy more affordable holidays in Europe

This summer, Brits taking holidays in Europe will benefit from more affordable prices on food, drink and other holiday goodies, largely due to the rise of the pound against the euro.

Post Office's Family Holiday Report has revealed the affordability of 12 items (such as beer, meals and sun cream) in popular countries in the Eurozone.

Portugal, Bulgaria and mainland Spain offered the most affordable prices overall. In Bulgaria, you can enjoy a beer for as little as 95p. Meanwhile, a family meal in Portugal is cheap as chips at £27 and sun lounger hire in Spain is a cool £1.80.

Turkey was once a holiday destination that offered some of the most affordable holidays in Europe, but that's no longer the case. In Olu Deniz on the Turquoise Coast you could expect to pay £70 for a family meal and nearly £10 for a bottle of sun cream. Prices on popular holiday items in Turkey are up by 12% this summer, and the British pound has fallen against the Turkish lira.

Out of all the Eurozone countries that were targeted in the study, France and Italy had the most expensive holiday items. A beach towel in France costs a whopping £15, while a beer in Italy costs nearly as much as it does in the UK at £2.70.

The 12 items in the study totalled £68.80 in Portugal, but Italy's total was more than double at £141.08. Italy has long been known as a more expensive destination for Brits taking holidays in Europe.

To keep costs even lower while you are on holiday in Europe, it helps to order holiday money online in advance. The worst thing you can do is change your hard earned cash at the airport, where you are likely to get the poorest exchange rate. Also, if you intend to take money out of ATM machines while you are abroad, check how much your bank will charge you for the privilege before you leave.

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