Kids’ holiday treats could bust the family budget

The sun may be shining in Europe and the pound rising in value, but families heading off to resorts abroad could face hidden beach costs they had not bargained – or budgeted for – according to the new Post Office Travel Services’ Beach Barometer.

As the school holidays get underway, new research by the Post Office, conducted as part of its annual Family Holiday Report, shows that almost half of UK tourists are looking for ways to reduce their holiday costs – like eating out less, buying fewer drinks or cutting back on sightseeing excursions.

But, despite these good intentions, families could still get stung when it comes to paying out for ‘must have’ kids’ items – such as buckets and spades, lilos, jelly shoes and pedalo rides. As with other holiday costs, the Post Office Beach Barometer found big price variations in top European destinations that could rock the family budget.

Hard-pressed parents could pay over three times as much for the same six beach items in Greece, for example, (£56.50) as in Croatia (£19.41) and around twice as much as in Portugal, Malta, Italy, Turkey and Bulgaria.

And, believe it or not, a family of four could have a day out in a water park in six of the countries surveyed for less than half an hour for two on a jet ski. A jet ski ride could set families back over £40 in Turkey, £55 in Spain and Greece or a hefty £69 in France - while at around £9 an hour, a pedalo ride was a fraction of the cost.

The good news for pressured parents still planning their holiday is that the rising pound, package discounting and falling resort prices mean they need not forgo their sunshine break. The pound now buys over nine per cent more euros than earlier in the year, 16 per cent more Turkish lira and over 20 per cent more US dollars.

Families could still plump for traditional favourite Spain because prices have now fallen to make this Europe’s lowest-priced summer sun choice – cheaper by a whisker than non-eurozone destinations like Bulgaria, historically the bargain basement in the Post Office Holiday Costs Barometer, and Croatia. In Turkey, however, resort living costs are now over 60 per cent higher than in Spain.

Or they could holiday further afield. Some of the lowest ever package prices and resort costs have made long haul trips to Thailand – again lowest priced in the Holiday Costs Barometer - and Malaysia comparable to many European destinations.

For those families considering axing sightseeing days out while abroad, the Post Office research suggests that prices are lower than expected. Top attractions in half the countries surveyed – among them a chairlift up Bulgaria’s Blue Mountains, a visit to the Tomb of the Kings in Paphos, Cyprus or the funicular experience of Malaysia’s 830-metre high Penang Hill – cost less than £10 for the family.

In Brittany or Normandy, a trip to Mont St Michel, one of France’s most visited attractions, is free – although families are warned to avoid its tourist shops.

Sarah Munro, Post Office head of travel services, said: “Sightseeing costs are generally lower than might be imagined. However there are some exceptions to the rule and visits to Turkey’s Bodrum Castle or to the Leaning Tower of Pisa will set families back over £20, while an Everglades Alligator Tour for holidaymakers to Florida costs over £40.”

Families watching their food bills will be relieved to know that a meal out for four will cost them significantly less in many European and worldwide resorts than in the UK.

Sarah Munro said: “We found that while a family meal costs around £57 in Brighton, it would set UK tourists back much less in Croatia and Bulgaria – and least of all, £31, in Spain. More good news for holidaymakers is that the French government has just slashed VAT on restaurants to 5.5 per cent from 19.6 per cent.

“This means that a €10 lunchtime menu in France, which would have cost almost £10 earlier this year, is now £7.50 – quite a saving when you have a family to feed.”

However, that benefit could be wiped out before UK tourists set foot on foreign soil because around £20 million a year is wasted by changing pounds into euros at UK airports. Even more is wasted by paying higher charges to change money abroad.

Sarah Munro said: “Our research revealed that some UK tourists are thinking more carefully about buying currency in advance when rates are better – but the amount lost by leaving it late still adds up to a tremendous waste of hard-earned money. Families who want to stick to a budget should consider putting their cash on a prepaid card like the Post Office Travel Money Card, so that they can track their expenditure.”

All Family Holiday Report currencies are available at the Post Office. Over 70 currencies can be pre-ordered for next day branch collection at all 11,500 Post Office outlets or online at postoffice.co.uk. Home delivery can also be requested online. Euros are available over the counter at 8,700 Post Office branches, with US dollars also available at 2,600 of these. The full range of currencies is available at 1,600 Post Office branches.

For more information on the report, visit postoffice.co.uk/beachbarometer2009.