Albufeira in Portugal could prove cheapest for beach holidays

Families looking for a cheap beach break overseas for their summer holiday may want to consider Portugal as a destination.

The new Family Holiday Report from the Post Office looks at 12 destinations and considers how much it costs to purchase a number of items holidaymakers would typically buy on a break.

These include factor 15 suncream, a bottle of local beer, a beach towel, a lilo and one hour's use of a pedalo.

Albufeira in Portugal was found to be the cheapest location to visit, ahead of Sunny Beach in Bulgaria and Spain's Costa del Sol.

However, those looking to get the most from their foreign currency have been told how money could be saved by being more organised before setting off on holiday.

Sarah Munro, Post Office head of travel money, said: "There is plenty families can do to avoid getting stung on holiday.

"They should check excursion and attraction prices online before they go, and pack kids' beach items that could break the holiday budget if bought overseas."

Low-fares airline Monarch recently noted how the Canary Islands is proving popular with British holidaymakers, with bookings currently up by 63 per cent in comparison to the same period in 2009.

Posted by Emily Sanders