EASTERN PROMISE
Riga named cheapest city for Xmas markets
PEOPLE who fancy going abroad to visit Christmas markets may want to head to Eastern Europe to make their money stretch further.
Latvia’s capital, Riga, topped the list of bargain destinations for a European shopping trip for the fourth time.
This was due largely to the low cost of accommodation and cheap flights.
Zagreb in Croatia was the runner-up, while Krakow in Poland was third.
The Post Office Travel Money’s Christmas markets barometer compared costs in 12 European cities, with Vienna in Austria the priciest.
Lille in France was identified as the best value in Western Europe.
The Post Office looked at expenses such as return flights, two nights in three-star accommodation, airport transfers, two evening meals with wine, coffees, festive drinks and snacks.
The findings were released as Post Office research found more than twofifths (42%) of Britons felt that the rising cost of living would have some impact on their holiday plans.
Nick Boden, head of Post Office Travel Money, said: “Although prices have risen across the board since we last conducted the survey, the scale of those increases varies significantly.
“Budget-conscious Britons who do their homework can save hundreds by picking a city where costs are low.”