Looking for a travel bargain? Go east!

By Kay McMahon, 16 July 2010

Travellers on the lookout for a bargain this year should consider eastern Europe, according to Tesco Travel Money.

The company carried out a survey which looked at the cost of accommodation, car hire, eating out and family entertainment.

Sofia in Bulgaria was found to be the cheapest destination with an overall cost of £1,221 for a one-week break, followed by Warsaw (Poland) and Budapest (Hungary) at £1,315 and £1,455 respectively. The Cypriot resort of Limassol and Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana also featured in the top five in affordability terms.

If you’re short of cash, steer clear of Iceland and Italy! Reykjavik and Rome were found to be the most expensive cities.

John Howells, head of travel money at Tesco Bank, advised holidaymakers to research the costs of different destinations before booking.

“It is essential holidaymakers are not just looking into the cost of travel but also the expenses they are likely to incur once they are there,” he said.

“Holiday costs have clearly been impacted by the euro exchange rate and rising costs in the recession, therefore families wanting a holiday on a shoestring really need to do their research to make their money go further.”

Opodo cheap flights, hotels and car hire – let the journey begin!