Greece is the word: best and worst destinations ranked according to Brits

By Sophie Foster, deputy travel editor for Mailonline

4:06 PM June 7, 2024, updated 4:33 PM June 7, 2024

  • Rankings determined by the Post Office Travel Money Holiday Spending Report
  • It’s worth traveling to Europe this year for the best value for money holidays
  • Foreign travel is listed as a top priority after food, energy and essentials
  • What is YOUR favorite destination on the list? Vote in our poll…
  • READ MORE: Inside two of Spain’s cheapest coastal destinations



Brits have listed the best and worst destinations in the world – and Greece comes in at number one, with Scandinavia at the bottom.

The 28-point ranking is thanks to research from the Post Office Travel Money Holiday Spending Report, with 94 percent of Brits saying Greece is good value for money, while only 38 percent rate Scandinavia (Norway, Denmark and Sweden) as assessed as such.

The next best country overall is mainland Spain (93 percent), followed by the Canary Islands (93 percent), covering Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. Just above Scandinavia, Switzerland is the second worst destination according to opinion polls (38 percent).

The best-rated long-haul destination is Thailand (89 percent), followed by Mexico (87 percent) and South Africa (85 percent).

The lowest ranked long-haul destination is the city of Dubai (51 percent) in the UAE, while the second worst destination in terms of value is the United States (67 percent), followed by Mauritius (68 percent) in East Africa.

Greece is generally the best value destination, with 94 percent of Brits saying the country offers value for money. Pictured – the Acropolis in Athens
Mainland Spain comes second in the rankings, followed by the Canary Islands (No. 3), which are rated as good value by 93 percent of British holidaymakers. Pictured – Santa Cruz, capital of Tenerife
In bottom place is Scandinavia (Norway, Denmark and Sweden), with only 38 percent saying it is good value. Pictured – Hamnoy in Norway
The lowest ranked (No. 26) long-haul destination is the city of Dubai (51 percent)

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The top five in Europe is completed by Portugal (92 percent) and Turkey (92 percent).

The list of the five worst-priced European destinations also includes France (65 percent), Italy (79 percent) and Croatia (83 percent).

The Post Office report also shows that more than three in five Britons – and 68 per cent of families – plan to travel abroad this year, with foreign travel the top priority, after paying for food, energy and household supplies.

On their most recent trip abroad, almost four in five (78 percent) holidaymakers set a budget of an average of £334.47 per person, but only a third of holidaymakers stuck to it, with 67 percent exceeding their budget by an average of £154. 62 .

Families spent even more. The 73 percent who busted their budget did so by 55 percent, spending around £312 more than the average budget of £566.26.

THE BEST AND WORST VALUE DESTINATIONS FOR 2024, RANKED BY BRITISH

1. Greece

2. Mainland Spain

3. Canary Islands

4. Portugal

5. Turkey

6. Bulgaria

7.Thailand

8. Balearic Islands

9. Mexico

10. Malta

11. Cyprus

12. South Africa

13. Egypt

14. Vietnam

15. Croatia

16. Canada

17. Italy

18. New Zealand

19. Caribbean

20. Australia

21. Sri Lanka

22. Kenya

23. Mauritius

24. USA

25. France

26. Dubai

27. Switzerland

28. Scandinavia

Source: Post Office Travel Money Holiday Expenditure Report

The second worst destination (No. 27) according to voters is Switzerland. Pictured: the Geneva skyline and the Jet d’Eau fountain
Thailand takes the gold medal (no. 7) for the most affordable long-distance destination. Pictured – the large seated Buddha statue at Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen, Bangkok
South Africa (No. 12) rounds out the top three destinations with the best value for money. In the photo – Cape Town

More than half (57 percent) of holidaymakers who overspent blamed restaurant meals, while 32 percent blamed food and drink bought at a local shop or supermarket as the culprits.

A third (36 percent) attribute their overspending to the cost of drinks and 44 percent say they have spent too much on sightseeing and excursions.

A previous survey found that 84 percent of holidaymakers are concerned about the cost of meals, drinks and other tourist items at overseas resorts and cities.

According to the report, Mexico (No. 9) is the second most affordable long-haul destination. Pictured is the country’s Kukulkan Pyramid at Chichen Itza
The United States of America (No. 24) is considered a good value by only 67 percent of voters. In the photo – New York City

Travelers staying at all-inclusive resorts are showing an increase in spending on food and drink – the Post Office claims in a press release that this is because fewer items are now included in the paid package.

The report says 77 percent of individuals and 81 percent of families spend money on trips to local restaurants for meals.

Laura Plunkett, Head of Travel Money at Post Office, said: ‘The opinions of holidaymakers who have visited a destination are very useful and are likely to be a more reliable source of value for money information than the opinions of people who have no direct knowledge. of the country.

‘Most of the 28 good value destinations in our survey received higher scores from previous visitors than from those who had to rely on what they had read or heard about the country.’

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