Costa del Sol one of Europe’s best value beach destinations, study finds

Affordable, friendly and bursting with choice, there are few better beach holiday destinations in Europe than the Costa del Sol.

A UK Post Office study of 19 European beach destinations has found that the Costa del Sol offers the third-most affordable resorts on the continent.

While Bulgaria’s Sunny Beach topped the poll, the Costa de Sol’s third-place ranking – just behind the Algarve in Portugal – was impressive given the fact that the region has some of the world’s most luxurious resorts, as well as some of its most family-friendly…

The Post Office found that a basket of every day items typically required by a family on holiday costs £61 on the Costa del Sol. This basket comprises 10 holiday staples, including sun cream, ice cream, evening meals and drinks.

At Sunny Beach on Bulgaria’s Black Sea, this basket would cost a mere £37, while in the Algarve that figure is £58.

Interestingly, the most expensive location in Europe is also in Spain, with Ibiza’s shopping basket costing a whopping £131. In contrast, the Costa del Sol appears to be great value.

While Puerto Banús and Marbella might not boast the international nightlife and reputation of Ibiza, they can certainly hold their own in terms of glamorous clubs. As for beaches, theme parks, restaurants, weather, transport, choice and culture, visitors to the Costa del Sol are spoilt for choice.

Just up the road on the Costa Blanca, the typical tourist basket would cost £76, which is 25% more expensive than the Costa del Sol, while Majorca – at £89 – is some 47% more expensive than the Costa del Sol.

The top five was rounded out by Marmaris in Turkey and Paphos in Cyprus, while the five most expensive resorts were Ibiza, Sorrento in Italy, Nice in France, Zadar in Croatia and Portugal’s Lisbon coast.