Spain is eurozone bargain for motoring holidays in Europe
Spain emerges as the best value destination for UK holidaymakers in Europe in a new report by Post Office® Travel Services – despite the fact that pump prices in Switzerland have made it cheapest for unleaded petrol for the second year running.¹
In its’ Motoring on the Continent report, the Post Office® reveals that Switzerland is now the only major motoring holiday destination where unleaded fuel costs less than GBP 1 per litre.
However, the report places Spain as best value across Europe for both diesel fuel and motoring in a hire car. At GBP 1 per litre, it is also cheapest in the eurozone for unleaded petrol. Prices are around 30 per cent lower than in either Belgium or the Netherlands, which are popular motoring holiday choices for UK tourists.
The cost of unleaded petrol rose substantially in all 12 countries surveyed over the past 12 months. Increases ranged from 20 per cent in Italy and the UK to 32 per cent in France. But, although these figures make the much-debated rise in UK petrol prices look comparatively modest, the falling value of sterling masks the true position in Europe.
Post Office® head of travel Helen Warburton said: “Sterling has fallen in value by 14 per cent against the euro in the past year – and by even more in the other motoring holiday destinations. When we extracted this percentage from the price rises, we found that the UK had suffered the highest underlying price hike – 20 per cent at the pumps.
The report paints a very different picture for UK holidaymakers travelling to Europe in a diesel car. Spain is the cheapest destination by a wide margin. At 94p for a litre of diesel it is seven per cent cheaper than its nearest rival Austria (GBP 1.01) but 26 per cent lower than the UK, where diesel prices are some of Europe’s most expensive.
The differential between unleaded petrol and diesel was most marked in the UK and Sweden, with diesel costing 13p and 16p per litre more respectively. However the Post Office® found that diesel costs significantly less than unleaded fuel in four countries – the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Spain. Spain emerges as the best value destination for UK holidaymakers in Europe in a new report by Post Office® Travel Services – despite the fact that pump prices in Switzerland have made it cheapest for unleaded petrol for the second year running.¹
In its’ Motoring on the Continent report, the Post Office® reveals that Switzerland is now the only major motoring holiday destination where unleaded fuel costs less than GBP 1 per litre.
However, the report places Spain as best value across Europe for both diesel fuel and motoring in a hire car. At GBP 1 per litre, it is also cheapest in the eurozone for unleaded petrol. Prices are around 30 per cent lower than in either Belgium or the Netherlands, which are popular motoring holiday choices for UK tourists.
The cost of unleaded petrol rose substantially in all 12 countries surveyed over the past 12 months. Increases ranged from 20 per cent in Italy and the UK to 32 per cent in France. But, although these figures make the much-debated rise in UK petrol prices look comparatively modest, the falling value of sterling masks the true position in Europe.
Post Office® head of travel Helen Warburton said: "Sterling has fallen in value by 14 per cent against the euro in the past year – and by even more in the other motoring holiday destinations. When we extracted this percentage from the price rises, we found that the UK had suffered the highest underlying price hike – 20 per cent at the pumps.
"By contrast we found that underlying prices had gone up by only five per cent in Switzerland and by six per cent in Italy, which looks the best value within the eurozone. Using this formula, France has seen the biggest price rise across Europe of 18 per cent."2
The report paints a very different picture for UK holidaymakers travelling to Europe in a diesel car.³ Spain is the cheapest destination by a wide margin. At 94p for a litre of diesel it is seven per cent cheaper than its nearest rival Austria (GBP 1.01) but 26 per cent lower than the UK, where diesel prices are some of Europe’s most expensive.
The differential between unleaded petrol and diesel was most marked in the UK and Sweden, with diesel costing 13p and 16p per litre more respectively. However the Post Office® found that diesel costs significantly less than unleaded fuel in four countries – the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Spain.
Holidaymakers driving a diesel car can therefore expect to get more miles for their euros by planning to tour the Benelux countries, where they will pay 11 per cent less in the Netherlands and nine per cent less in Belgium than for unleaded petrol.
Post Office® Travel Services also examined the cost of holiday car hire for its 2008 Motoring on the Continent report, extending the number of countries surveyed to 20 and including Florida, the most popular US summer destination for UK tourists.4
Competitive three day rental rates and low fuel costs for 200 miles’ motoring put Florida way ahead of its Continental rivals – 40 per cent cheaper than the lowest priced European country for unleaded and 36 per cent less for diesel fuel. Spain proved cheapest in Europe, under half the cost of petrol and diesel motoring in Greece, the most expensive country surveyed.
Turkey, one of Europe’s cheapest destinations, could only achieve fifth place for holiday car hire. Although its car rental prices are the cheapest in Europe, high fuel costs made it more expensive than the eurozone trio of Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands.
Helen Warburton said that UK holidaymakers planning to drive in Europe could cut their costs by "checking rates carefully and purchasing currency commission-free at any Post Office® Bureau de Change branch before leaving for Europe. For those paying for fuel on holiday with plastic, it’s more cost effective to use a card with 0 per cent commission like the Post Office® credit card or to load up a pre-paid card like the Post Office® Travel Money Card with cash before leaving home."
The Post Office® Motoring on the Continent report is available for holidaymakers to view online at postoffice.co.uk/holidaymotoring. Car rental is also available via a link from the Travel Extras section of the Post Office® website.
ENDS
Note to Editors: Unleaded petrol and diesel prices used in the Post Office® Motoring on the Continent Report were sourced from National Tourist Offices, Statoil (Norway and Sweden), AA Roadwatch (Ireland) and petrol prices.com (UK).
¹ Post Office® one and two year comparisons of unleaded petrol prices per litre and the cost of motoring for 1,000 miles (based on 30 miles per gallon/five litres).
Read best value for motoring on the continent table
For further information please contact:
CBPR
Christine Ball
01798 874177
[email protected]
Post Office Ltd
Hayley Fowell
020 7250 2417
[email protected]
About Post Office ® Travel Services
The Post Office® is the UK’s largest bureau de change provider with a market share of more than 25 per cent, offering over 70 different currencies with 0 per cent commission on all foreign currency and travellers’ cheques. The Post Office® pre-paid Travel Money Card offers customers a secure and convenient way to carry their holiday money.
The Post Office® provides a range of great value travel services including insurance, foreign currency, passport photos and Check & Send, international money transfers, holiday phone cards, EHIC forms and Check & Send, plus huge savings on car-hire and pre-booked holiday extras.
The Post Office® Credit Card charges 0 per cent commission for all purchases made overseas and also offers customers the flexibility to pay for two large purchases at any time at a discounted fixed rate – ideal for splashing out on holiday.
