The 28 best and worst destinations ranked by Brits, with Greece top overall, Scandinavia bottom – and Dubai and the US last in the long-haul class
Brits have ranked the best and worst destinations in the world – and Greece comes top, with Scandinavia at the bottom.
The 28-point ranking is thanks to research from the Post Office Travel Money Holiday Spending Report, with 94 percent of Britons saying Greece offers good value for money, while only 38 percent rate Scandinavia (Norway, Denmark and Sweden) as such.
The second best country overall is mainland Spain (93 percent), followed by the Canary Islands (93 percent), which include Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. Just above Scandinavia, Switzerland is the second worst destination according to opinion polls (38 percent).
The best-rated long-haul destination is Thailand (89 percent), followed by Mexico (87 percent) and South Africa (85 percent).
The worst performing long-haul destinations are the city of Dubai (51 percent) in the UAE, while the United States (67 percent) and Mauritius (68 percent) in East Africa are the second worst destinations in terms of value.
Greece is the best value destination overall, with 94 percent of Britons saying it offers value for money. Pictured – The Acropolis in Athens
Mainland Spain comes second in the ranking, followed by the Canary Islands (No. 3), which are rated as good value by 93 per cent of British holidaymakers. Pictured – Santa Cruz, capital of Tenerife
In last place is Scandinavia (Norway, Denmark and Sweden), with only 38 percent saying it is good value for money. Left in the photo – Hamnoy in Norway. RIGHT: The lowest ranked (No. 26) long-haul destination is the city of Dubai (51 percent)
The European top five is completed by Portugal (92 percent) and Turkey (92 percent).
The list of the five European destinations with the worst value also includes France (65 percent), Italy (79 percent) and Croatia (83 percent).
The Post Office report also shows that more than three in five Britons – and 68 per cent of families – plan to travel abroad this year, with foreign travel the top priority, after paying for food, energy and household supplies.
During their most recent trip abroad, almost four in five (78 percent) holidaymakers set a budget of an average of £334.47 per person, but only a third of holidaymakers stuck to it, with 67 percent going over budget by an average of £154.62.
Families spent even more, with the 73 per cent who blew their budgets doing so by 55 per cent, spending around £312 more than the average budget of £566.26.
The second worst destination (No. 27) according to poll voters is Switzerland. Pictured – Geneva skyline and Jet d’Eau fountain
Thailand takes the gold medal (no. 7) for the most affordable long-distance destination. Pictured – the large seated Buddha statue at Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen, Bangkok
South Africa (No. 12) rounds out the top three destinations for the best value for money. Pictured – Cape Town
More than half (57 percent) of holidaymakers who overspent blamed restaurant meals, while 32 percent blamed food and drink bought at a local shop or supermarket as the culprits.
A third (36 percent) attribute their overspending to the cost of drinks and 44 percent say they have spent too much on sightseeing and excursions.
A previous survey found that 84 percent of holidaymakers are concerned about the cost of meals, drinks and other tourist items at overseas resorts and cities.
Mexico (No. 9) is the second-best long-haul destination, according to the report. Pictured is the country’s Kukulkan Pyramid at Chichen Itza
The United States of America (No. 24) is considered valuable by only 67 percent of voters. Pictured – New York City
Travelers staying at all-inclusive resorts are spending more on food and drink, with the Post Office claiming in a press release that this is because fewer items are now included in the paid package.
The report says 77 percent of individuals and 81 percent of families spend money on trips to local restaurants for meals.
Laura Plunkett, Head of Travel Money at Post Officesaid: ‘The opinions of holidaymakers who have visited a destination are very useful and are likely to be a more reliable source of information on value for money than the opinions of people who have no direct knowledge of the country.
‘Most of the 28 good value destinations in our survey received higher scores from previous visitors than from those who had to rely on what they had read or heard about the country.’