Press Release
4 April 2023
M&S TRAVEL MONEY REVEALS THE ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY LOCATIONS THAT COULD SAVE FAMILIES £1000S THIS EASTER
- A family of four could save an average of £1,348 / £337pp on the cost of an Easter holiday by considering alternative destinations to popular family holiday locations.
Ahead of the Easter break, M&S Travel Money’s best value holiday destinations research¹ shows that, a family of four could save as much as £2,640 / £660 per person on their spring getaway by considering some budget-saving alternative destinations.
Both Mexico and the Dominican Republic offer white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters but the research revealed a beach break in Cancun, Mexico this Easter came in at over £600 less per person than Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic (£2,004 vs £2,664 per person).
Both Mexico and the Domican Republic have flight times of over nine hours from the UK. For families looking for a shorter trip this Easter, but still looking to enjoy a coastal get away and warmer climates, they could consider a Mediterranean break. By opting for a holiday to Dubrovnik, Croatia, families could save over £300 per person, compared to a holiday in Crete, Greece. The Grecian getaway is set to cost a family of four £6,934/ £1,733 per person while a trip to the Croatian old town overlooking the Adriatic Sea, will cost £5,672 for a family of four, or £1,418 per person.
Families looking for a city break could save over £250 per person / £1,000 for a family of four, by heading to the Northern Italian city of Bologna, rather than the capital, Rome, both destinations offer beautiful architecture and delicious local cuisine.
Families looking for a combination of city and beach life might consider Malta or Lisbon. This Easter, families heading to Valletta, Malta could save over £100 per person compared to a trip to Lisbon, Portugal. While the saving isn’t as big as some of the other alternative destinations researched, at £119 per person, or £476 for a family of four, it could enable families to enjoy more for their holiday budget on arrival, such as an excursion.
Nic Moran, from M&S Travel Money, said: “In the current climate, many of us are looking for ways to save and make our money go that bit further. Families that are able to consider some alternative holiday destinations, could find that their holiday budget goes a little further this Easter.”
| DESTINATION PAIR | 2022 HOLIDAY COST PER FAMILY | TOTAL COST SAVING PER FAMILY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWAP ONE | BUDGET BREAKER Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) |
£10,656 | £2,640 |
| BUDGET SAVER Cancun (Mexico) |
£8,016 | ||
| SWAP TWO | BUDGET BREAKER Crete (Greece) |
£6,934 | £1,262 |
| BUDGET SAVER Dubrovnik (Croatia) |
£5,672 | ||
| SWAP THREE | BUDGET BREAKER Rome (Italy) |
£6,272 | £1,018 |
| BUDGET SAVER Bologna (Italy) |
£5,254 | ||
| SWAP FOUR | BUDGET BREAKER Lisbon (Portugal) |
£5,944 | £476 |
| BUDGET SAVER Valletta (Malta) |
£5,468 | ||
Nic’s top travel money tips:
- Consider alternative airports: Flights to airports slightly outside of the destination you’re planning to visit sometimes work out cheaper – but be sure to factor in the cost of travelling to and from the area
- Travel outside of peak hours: If you can travel at less in-demand times (such as early in the morning or late at night) you may be able to snap up a bargain
- Plan spending money early: Get your spending money organised ahead of time; order your currency online, or visit a high street bureau de change, to secure a rate in advance – and travel with both local currency and a credit card, to ensure you’re covered for all eventualities
- Don’t leave yourself short when it comes to currency: ensure you have enough cash for snacks, taxis and tipping, ATMs may not always be readily available
The M&S in-store travel money bureaux, alongside its euro and dollar Click & Collect travel money service, means an M&S currency service is available in more than 450 M&S stores. The service offers a Click & Collect facility, so customers can order using their Smartphone or tablet – whether at home or in store – and collect in as little as 15 minutes.
ENDS
For more information about M&S Bank, please contact:
Louise Wheble on 079204 12086 / louise.wheble@mandsbank.com
Nikki Backler on 079204 17652 / nikki.backler@mandsbank.com
Notes to editors:
¹ Five destinations were chosen from TripAdvisor’s 2023 Travellers Choice Awards and include those which can be reached within 10-12 hours from the UK.
All holiday costs are for 4 people (2 adults, 2 children), for a thirteen-night stay from from 1 April to 15 April, and include thirteen nights’ accommodation, round-trip flights to and from London, thirteen evening meals at restaurants, and one walking tour. All flights/accommodation etc. are booked from 1 April 2023 to 15 April 2023. All flights represent the cheapest direct flight cost (wherever possible), departing from any London airport. Flight costs are from skyscanner.net. Accommodation is based on the most affordable three-star option for a family room from Expedia.co.uk. Meal costs are sourced from www.expatistan.com in local currency, exchanged into British Pounds via M&S Bank on 20/03/23 and represent the total cost of dining at an inexpensive local restaurant across thirteen nights. The activity is based on the cost of a local walking tour on Tripadvisor.com. Spending money was calculated using TUI.co.uk Travel Money Calculator based on 2 adults, 2 children having two meals a day, with no drinks and three activities per week.
About M&S Bank
M&S Bank (the trading name of Marks & Spencer Financial Services plc) launched in 2012 on the foundations of M&S Money, which was established in 1985 as the financial services division of Marks and Spencer plc. In November 2004, HSBC bought 100 per cent of the share capital of Marks and Spencer Retail Financial Services Holdings Limited.
Today, M&S Bank operates as a joint venture arrangement between HSBC and Marks & Spencer, however, M&S Bank has its own banking licence and its own Board.
M&S Bank offers a broad range of financial products, including the M&S Credit Card, and a range of loans, savings and general insurance products, while its travel money service offers one of the widest ranges of currencies available on the high street.
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