Best value winter sun holidays in 2023

For the second year running, Vietnam’s ancient and picturesque coastal town of Hoi An is officially the long-haul destination giving the most for your money, and that’s not all. Thanks to a fall in Vietnamese prices and a drop in its currency value against the pound, real-term costs for UK travellers are a huge 19.2% lower than in 2022. An average coffee is £1.36, cocktails come in at £4.73, and a three-course meal for two with a bottle of wine is just £34.03, total.

All this means you can splash out at more than just the beach with sensational street markets, a wealth of local restaurants, and a thriving nightlife to tempt you from the sand after sunset. Beyond the historic resort where lanterns light the evening streets, the cost of living anywhere in Vietnam is around half that of the UK. Whether you’re sailing in the emerald waters of Ha Long Bay, wandering the grand halls of the Reunification Palace in Ho Chi Minh City, or touring Hue on the back of a scooter, every pound is twice as valuable in Vietnam.

Between November and March, Kenya’s oceanside resort of Mombasa enjoys nine hours of sunlight and heats up to 30°C most days. It also costs, on average, 19.8% less for holiday treats in 2023 than it did in 2022. Three courses and a bottle for two are around £38.86, a local lager is £1.97, and a glass of wine is around 40p cheaper than in Hoi An at £2.45. All this means luxury all-inclusive stays with world-class dining on the Indian Ocean coast could be up to 20% less than this time last year.

Of course, Kenya is about much more than beach days and cocktails, and the same economic factors mean your money also goes further in 2023 for safaris in Amboseli, Tsavo, and even the iconic Masai Mara. Wildlife and watersports in the new year? It’s just a flight away.

South Africa’s Cape Town is one of the best winter sun holiday destinations for travellers who like a little variety. Stand on the flat summit of Table Mountain as clouds roll around your feet. Sail to Robben Island and walk in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela. See penguins on the sand at Boulders Beach. Stand at the corner of Africa, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. Tour world-famous wineries and boutique cellar doors. Stay in luxury on the waterfront, eat high tea overlooking the bay, and taste exquisite cuisines from all over the world. Do all this for over 8% less in 2023 than in 2022.

This year, wine in South Africa averages around £2.67 per glass, or you can upgrade that to a bottle and add a delicious two-person three-course meal for just £34.24. After your dinner, treat yourself to one of the world’s best-value cocktails. Or at an average of just £4, why not have three?

Indonesia’s most established holiday island has been welcoming guests to winter sun for decades, and this year, it’s almost 10% better for your bank account than in 2022. Hot, sunny, and picturesque, Bali has a beach for every budget and a shore for every style.

Choose all-inclusive in Nusa Dua, nightlife in Kuta, swimming in Sanur, or fine dining in Seminyak. Inland, Ubud is an art and wellness haven surrounded by lush rainforest and beautiful rice field landscapes. If the sunshine makes you thirsty, that’s fine; 1.5 litres of mineral water will cost less than 50p, or local lager is just £2.30 on average. Oh, and whether you choose to eat that meal in Seminyak, Sanur, or Ubud, three courses and a bottle of wine should work out at not much more than £40 for two.

Thailand has enjoyed a deserved reputation as a budget-friendly winter sun destination for years, and the Post Office Travel Money Long-Haul Holiday Report has confirmed that’s still the case in 2023. In Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, the report found costs for UK travellers were down 3.7%, ranking it seventh in the world’s best-value long-haul list.

To get an idea why - a local beer will cost on average £2.40, often much less, a coffee is only £1.68, and a full three-course dinner with wine is only £61.38 for two. This all sounds even better when you remember November to March is the best time to visit Phuket or any of Thailand’s wonderful locations. Leave long nights and cold days for blue skies and warm afternoons as you visit tranquil temples, dynamic cities, bustling markets, and - of course - sweeping golden beaches lined with palm trees, gentle waves, and laidback, low-cost bars.

Egypt’s best beach destination is new to the Post Office Travel Money Long-Haul Holiday Report in 2023, but it’s already earned a place at number eight. Even better, it’s less than six hours from the UK by direct flight and enjoys all-year sun with pleasant temperatures of 20°C to 25°C between November and March.

Family-friendly hotels and all-inclusive packages make getting away for a winter escape to Egypt easy. Dinner for two with a bottle to share for under £50 makes it affordable, too.

Malaysia is an idyllic destination for a sun-soaked winter break and the resort island of Penang remains a consistent 25°C to 30°C all year round. Not only is it extraordinarily beautiful, but it’s better value than ever, rising from tenth place in the Post Office Travel Money Long-Haul Holiday Report 2022 to ninth in 2023. Despite it being a luxury island resort, beer, wine, and cocktails average just a few pence more than the destinations above, and a full three-course dinner with a bottle comes in at just £54.31 for two people. 

Sri Lanka, the Indian Ocean’s best island for adventure, culture, and history - not to mention the home of amazing beaches and incredible food - is back open for business. In 2023, travellers can safely explore more of Sri Lanka than has been possible for decades. It’s also one of the best value destinations in the region.

At an average of £65.82 for two, a meal with wine in the capital of Colombo is a little more than some of the destinations above, but that’s still a significant saving on British cities and the rich, distinctive flavours of Sri Lankan cuisine are worth every pound. Relaxing afterwards will be easy on the pocket with local beers around £1.94 and, at an average of just £3.32, the lowest price cocktails of any destination surveyed.

With ideal weather and 22°C average temperatures, winter is the perfect time for a private guided tour of Sri Lanka’s inspiring towns and monuments before leopard spotting safaris and a blissful beach stay to relax before coming home.