Beach breaks 'cheaper than London' (From Sutton Guardian)

Beach breaks 'cheaper than London'

12:06am Monday 4th June 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

Beach breaks abroad will leave Britons an average of 25% better off than a stay in London during the first week of the Olympics, according to a survey.

A bucket-and-spade trip to popular overseas destinations will cost an average of £1,298 in the week from July 28 to August 4, the survey by M&S Money found.

In contrast, the same week in London, including spending money, will set Britons back by around £1,631.

The lowest price among the 10 destinations surveyed was Alicante in Spain at £927, while a seven-day break to Bodrum in Turkey would cost £1,102. The only destinations surveyed that were more expensive than London were Bridgetown in Barbados (£1,836) and Daytona Beach in Florida (£2,034).

M&S said the London figure was high due to the large amount of spending money needed - £596 a week.

The survey included the polling of more than 2,000 adults taking a holiday this summer.

A total of 54% plan to holiday in the UK this summer, with a quarter of these saying they are doing so to save money. Of those taking a break in the UK, 21% are opting for a seaside holiday, with 28% of those going abroad intending to have a beach trip.

Those taking trips are budgeting on £341 spending money per person per day, or £287 a week.

M&S Money's travel money head Jane Lawson said: "Staycations are clearly popular this year, particularly as people look forward to celebrating the Jubilee and Olympics, in what will be a British summer to remember.

"However, with the cost of activities and eating out in the UK relatively high and favourable foreign exchange rates helping to make your money go further abroad, a holiday at home is not always the most affordable option."