Best Value Destinations 2009

by Fatim Sylla

2009 – the year of value, budgets and research, especially when it comes to holidays.

I am not sure of the general opinion, but I for one am fed up of every business, tourist office and guide telling me that their region offers the best value, that they alone can allow you to holiday in style for next to no money. So where actually does offer outstanding value for those of us trying to escape the UK for a few, priceless days.

Well, for the sake of this article, I shall ignore travel costs. I know this may seem to defeat the entire object of writing the article, as travel is an integral part of the holiday cost. However, and forgive me if I am wrong, but I assume you are all able of looking into these costs with relative ease.

When it comes to actual value, when it comes to being able to splash out on luxury without actually causing yourself to live of bread and water for the rest of the year to make up for your holiday extravagance, there are still a few options.

Unfortunately, when it comes to this type of day-to-day living value, long-haul is certainly the best option. Locations like Mexico, Costa Rica, Goa and Cuba still allow your holiday Pound to stretch to extraordinary lengths. Not all long haul destinations are good value though. There are some which have got used to the tourist Pound being an easy source of income, and therefore take advantage. Thailand and Bali spring instantly to mind.

Those with a more acute sense of budget will rightly point out that long haul flights can be hugely priced. Those looking closer to home can find solace too however. Turkey and Croatia have both seen enormous rises in trade, as people flock to take advantage of the excellent value. The “eurozone” is still worth avoiding, i.e. those nations which have embraced the single currency, but venture just outside, and you can bask in pure luxury for a fraction of the normal price. Bulgaria, Latvia and Egypt also are well worth investigating for value too.