Bangkok is on the money for UAE travellers
Airlines cash in on the trend, with flydubai announcing the launch of a double-daily service
Bangkok has emerged as the best value city destination for UAE residents looking to travel this summer, a new report showed.
Travelex has made a comparison of expenses that tourists usually incur, including the cost of a cup of coffee, a bottle of water, a serving of steak at a local restaurant or entrance to a nightclub, in five hotspots most frequented by UAE travellers.
The popular destinations included in the review were selected based on the most-purchased currencies at Travelex UAE within the last 12 months. The study found that Bangkok is where the UAE dirham can go farthest, as it offers the lowest price for drinks, food and nightlife.
“In Thailand’s bustling capital, the average cost of a can of cola is Dh1.59, compared to Dh8.79 for the same drink in Sydney. At only Dh3.33, the cost of a one-way ticket on Bangkok’s local transport system is only 20 per cent of the price you would pay in London,” Travelex said in a statement.
Bangkok has been one of the favourite destinations for travellers from the UAE, including families looking for more value for money and a variety of attractions. “Thailand [is popular because it] boasts a variety of locales namely resort, mountains as well as being an ideal family shopping favourite,” a Gulf News travel specialist told earlier.
Airlines have cashed in on the trend, with UAE-based carriers such as flydubai recently announcing the launch of a double daily service to Thailand’s capital city. In May this year, Emirates announced its seventh daily service between Dubai and Bangkok, originally set to commence on July 1.
“Thailand is clearly a great choice for those seeking an affordable break,” said Errol Fonseca of Travelex.
The second-cheapest destination for UAE travellers to get around in is New York, where less than Dh200 (Dh197.76) will be enough to cover the cost of a cup of coffee, a bottle of drink, entrance to a bar, a serving of steak at a restaurant and a piece of burger, among others.
The third-cheapest is Rome, where the same group of consumables could cost Dh207.08. The two most expensive cities are London, with average costs going up to Dh231.69 and Sydney, where a day’s expenses on food, nightlife and transportation can easily reach Dh252.20.