Flying economic: The 10 holiday destinations where the pound stretches the furthest
It's January, and those post-holiday blues can be pretty tough.
But they say the best way to shrug it off is to book a holiday, and although the pound's strength is hammering exporters, it offers holidaymakers an extra incentive to get away. And with oil prices tumbling, airline tickets are dropping to bargain basement prices.
But where will your money go furthest? We've analysed flights, currencies and purchasing power parity (PPP) – the number of units of a country's currency required to buy the same amounts of goods and services in the domestic market – to come up with a list of holiday destinations where you can get the most bang for your buck this January. Perfect for a quick weekend break to get you back on track for 2015.
Here's our top tips for how to holiday like a king, while spending like a pauper…
1. Moscow, Russia
Cheapest flight: £83 Return
Exchange rate: 1:90.96
PPP*: 0.5
It's not just the power of the pound that makes Russia attractive right now. The rouble is tumbling and with it, the cost of visiting Russia's capital, which is good news for those who have been put off by its expensive reputation. Admittedly you're unlikely to get much in the way of sun, but that could be a small price to pay when you've got sights including the Kremlin, Red Square, the Bolshoi Ballet and Moscow's renowned underground stations on a discount.
2. Dubrovnik, Croatia
Cheapest flight: £177 Return
Exchange rate: 1:1.28
PPP: 0.6
Dubrovnik is a fort city on Croatia's coast. It is cheap, they take euros and it's on the Mediterranean. Yes, January is the coldest time of the year to visit, but it's still warmer than London right now (and there are plenty of sites of historical interest to keep you going).
3. Marrakech, Morocco
Cheapest flight: £105 Return
Exchange rate: 1:13.97
PPP: 0.4
Marrakech is one of the warmer options on the list, and yet again your money will go far. Apparently the chances of there being a windy day are one per cent. Sounds like good odds to us. It's got more than weather to recommend it though, not least the world famous Jemaa el-Fnaa square.
4. Antalya, Turkey
Cheapest flight: £157 Return
Exchange rate: 1:3.47
PPP: 0.6
Beaches: if you love them, look no further. Antalya is a big summer destination, but at this time of year you're unlikely to have to put up with the crowds. And as for a change from London's blustery weather, how does a peak of 23.9 degrees celsius sound?
5. Athens, Greece
Cheapest flight: £123 Return
Exchange rate: 1:1.28
PPP: 0.9
Despite its recent political problems, tourism in Greece is still strong. Obviously, in January Greece is its off-season – but that means there are bargains to be had for the savvy traveller . Athens in January is less touristy, but still busy and metropolitan and it has more history than you could throw a stick at.
6. Paphos, Cyprus
Cheapest flight: £93 Return
Exchange rate: 1:1.28
PPP: 0.9
In ancient times, Paphos was believed to have been the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love – which means it's ideal for a romantic getaway.
Paphos will be the European Capital of Culture in 2017, suggesting now is the time to go if you want a real bargain.
7. Barcelona, Spain
Cheapest flight: £55 Return
Exchange rate: 1:1.28
PPP: 0.9
Barcelona is one of Europe's most popular cities, but visit in the off-season and you have the place to yourself. Popular choices, made cheaper by the euro's decline against the pound, include the Gaudi museum, the architect's unfinished church La Sagrada Familia and Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona's answer to Oxford Street.
8. Alghero, Sardinia
Cheapest flight: £54 Return
Exchange rate: 1:1.28
PPP: 0.9
Sardinia has more hours of sunshine than any other part of Italy, and it's not just the sun. The island, which is also known as "The Island of Winds", is a haven for all types of wind sports.
Throughout history, Sardinia has been invaded by Carthaginians, Phoenicians, Byzantines, Arabs and Catalans – and now there are influences from all of them in its food and culture.
9. Sousse, Tunisia
Cheapest flight: £139 Return
Exchange rate: 1:2.85
PPP: 0.4
The birthplace of the Arab Spring has been struggling to attract tourists, but the result is cheap resorts with excellent facilities and perfect winter sun. Sousse itself offers a huge amount of history, from the Sousse Catacombs to the colourful bazaars.
10. Sal, Cape Verde
Cheapest flight: £169 Return
Exchange rate: 1:141.11
PPP: 0.6
Known as the "African Caribbean", Cape Verde's coldest month is in January – but then again, a cold day in Sal, one of Cape Verde's 10 islands, is 24 degrees celsius.
Its food, culture and music take influences from Brazil, Africa and Portugal, while the island is surrounded with a variety of fishing. For those so inclined, big game fishing is one of the many activities available.
* for the purposes of our analysis PPP is in US dollars
Flights prices sourced from Flight Scanner, PPP World Bank, exchange rate, Google. All exchange rates were correct at time of publication.