SL tops best value breaks of 2012 in UK Post Office holiday barometer

Sri Lanka and Spain have come out on top as the cheapest overseas holidays, according to the new Post Office Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer.

The annual barometer monitors the price of eight popular tourist items in 40 holiday destinations worldwide – including dinner for two, light refreshments and sun cream.

A fall of almost one-third in the cost of tourist staples has made Sri Lanka cheapest of 40 destinations surveyed. A cup of coffee costs as little as 47p and a three-course evening meal for two adults (including a bottle of house wine) in local restaurant averaged at £18.12.

 Spain has overtaken Portugal to become Europe’s cheapest holiday destination, narrowly beating the Czech Republic and Bulgaria and over a third cheaper than Turkey.

A coffee in the Costa del Sol will cost around £1.09 and a three-course evening meal for two adults (including a bottle of house wine) in local restaurant averaged at £22.73.

Thailand is the cheapest Far Eastern destination according to the report – although just £5 divides Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia.