While Europe has plenty to offer, from cool, artsy neighbourhoods to autumnal hikes in fairytale forests, sometimes you crave a holiday further afield. The snag? Long-haul flights mean long-haul prices – and you’ve already blown your savings on rent, restaurants and reformer pilates.
But long-haul travel doesn’t have to mean unaffordable. Sure, flights can sting, but you often make it back on the ground with cheaper hotels, food and activities by picking a destination with more affordable costs.
Recommended: The 20 best destinations for winter sun to visit this 2025-26 season
The Post Office has crunched the data and named the top 10 best value far-flung destinations for winter sun, based on the everyday costs of things like a bottle of water, suncream and cocktails.
Snagging the top spot is Hoi An in Vietnam (which also took the crown in 2023). Here, a three-course evening meal for two, including a bottle of house wine, will give you change from £40, while a local lager costs £1.23. Beyond the bargains, Hoi An is one of Vietnam’s most photogenic cities, with cobbled streets curling around a lantern-lit river, world-class street food, idyllic beaches and a buzzing night market.
Coming close behind was Cape Town in South Africa, where glasses of wine average £2.65. The city has it all: the awe-inspiring Table Mountain (known as Cape Town’s ’back garden’, the colourful streets of Bo-Kaap and penguins waddling around Boulders Beach.
Rounding out the top three is Bali in Indonesia. The island is refreshingly purse-friendly with cocktails costing just £4.86 on average in everything from laid-back beach shacks to glitzy rooftop bars. And while Bali has a reputation for crowds, there are still plenty of under-the-radar spots – especially along the south-facing coastline, where surfers can find empty breaks and secluded beaches.
For more good-value long-haul trips, read the full list below.
The best value long-haul destinations for winter travel, according to the Post Office
1. Hoi An, Vietnam
2. Cape Town, South Africa
3. Bali, Indonesia
4. Mombasa, Kenya
5. Tokyo, Japan
6. Columbo, Sri Lanka
7. Penang, Malysia
8. Delhi, India
9. Phuket, Thailand
10. Santiago, Chile
ICYMI: Europe’s best autumn walking destinations named – from the German hills to ‘Hawaii dupe’ islands
Plus: The South American neighbourhood ranked third-coolest in the world.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.
