| 2009 – the year of value, budgets and research, | | | | Unfortunately, when it comes to this type of |
| especially when it comes to holidays. | | | | day-to-day living value, long-haul is certainly the best |
| I am not sure of the general opinion, but I for one | | | | option. Locations like Mexico, Costa Rica, Goa and |
| am fed up of every business, tourist office and guide | | | | Cuba still allow your holiday Pound to stretch to |
| telling me that their region offers the best value, that | | | | extraordinary lengths. Not all long haul destinations are |
| they alone can allow you to holiday in style for next | | | | good value though. There are some which have got |
| to no money. So where actually does offer | | | | used to the tourist Pound being an easy source of |
| outstanding value for those of us trying to escape | | | | income, and therefore take advantage. Thailand and |
| the UK for a few, priceless days. | | | | Bali spring instantly to mind. |
| Well, for the sake of this article, I shall ignore travel | | | | Those with a more acute sense of budget will rightly |
| costs. I know this may seem to defeat the entire | | | | point out that long haul flights can be hugely priced. |
| object of writing the article, as travel is an integral | | | | Those looking closer to home can find solace too |
| part of the holiday cost. However, and forgive me if | | | | however. Turkey and Croatia have both seen |
| I am wrong, but I assume you are all able of looking | | | | enormous rises in trade, as people flock to take |
| into these costs with relative ease. | | | | advantage of the excellent value. The |
| When it comes to actual value, when it comes to | | | | “eurozone” is still worth avoiding, i.e. those |
| being able to splash out on luxury without actually | | | | nations which have embraced the single currency, but |
| causing yourself to live of bread and water for the | | | | venture just outside, and you can bask in pure luxury |
| rest of the year to make up for your holiday | | | | for a fraction of the normal price. Bulgaria, Latvia and |
| extravagance, there are still a few options. | | | | Egypt also are well worth investigating for value too. |