30 August 2016

For just a little over Dh100, you can enjoy a cup of coffee, two meals at a restaurant and more

Dubai: There are many things to take into account when budgeting for a vacation, aside from the cost of air tickets and hotels. Often, it is those little stuff here and there that can add up and derail one's very limited budget.

For those who intend to travel this summer or during the Eid Al Adha holidays, 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 fee at a nightclub, in five hotspots most frequented by UAE travelers.

The popular destinations included in the review were chosen 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 travelers 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 travel specialist told Gulf News 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. "[It] has consistently provided great value to visitors from UAE, with the dirham having maintained a strong position against Thai baht. It means once visitors have traveled to Bangkok, they can rest assured that every day purchases in the city will be affordable," he added.

The second-cheapest destination for UAE travelers 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.

Fonseca, however, said that while London is not the best destination for budget travelers, "those exchanging dirhams for British pounds will also be getting great value, with the dirham 19 per cent stronger against the pound compared to this time last year."

Travel-related expenses per city:

1. Bangkok: Dh103.53

2. New York: Dh197.76

3. Rome: Dh207.08

4. London: Dh231.69

5. Sydney: Dh252.20

(Cost covers a cup of cappuccino, a piece of burger, one-way ticket on a local transport system, bottle of water, can of cola, beverage, steak in a restaurant and nightclub entrance)

© Gulf News 2016