![Flight time to Thailand is around 12 hours - but August holidays are far cheaper than Europe](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Asia/Thailand/thailand-similan.jpg?imwidth=680)
It's cheaper to take the family to Thailand, Bali or Orlando this summer than to Spain
![Flight time to Thailand is around 12 hours - but August holidays are far cheaper than Europe](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Asia/Thailand/thailand-similan.jpg?imwidth=680)
If you haven’t yet booked your family’s summer holiday, it’s not too late. But here’s a surprise: a family holiday to Orlando, Thailand or Bali costs less than a trip with the kids to Menorca or Ibiza, new research has shown.
When taking into account flights, hotels of a similar standard, car hire and meals out, these three popular long-haul destinations are all cheaper than the two Balearic islands, according to the price comparison website TravelSupermarket.
A family of four will save around £800 by opting for Phuket rather than Menorca – or £1,240 if they pick Florida over Ibiza.
![Menorca is popular with families with young children - but is it the best option for those on a budget?](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Europe/Spain/Menorca/Menorca.jpg?imwidth=350)
How are exotic holidays cheaper than short-haul trips?
“People may think that their holiday budget can only stretch to the Med, that they can’t afford long-haul, and that holidays are going to be more expensive this year due to volatile exchange rates,” explains Emma Coulthurst, a travel expert for TravelSupermarket.
“But the reality is holiday package prices are lower this year in some locations and there are bargains to be grabbed, which provide the opportunity to experience long-haul for less.”
Bali and Orlando, in particular, have shown the biggest year-on-year price drops, according to TravelSupermarket, with holidays, on average, 16 per cent cheaper to Bali, and 11 per cent cheaper to Orlando, than they were in 2016.
Adding to the affordability of destinations like Thailand and Bali is the far lower cost of living. While the research compared the cost of a three-course meal, you can find far cheaper options - like lunch for £1.50 - in Thailand and Bali than you will in Europe.
Although the pound’s value against the dollar has fallen since the Brexit referendum, eating out, as well as car hire and petrol, remain good value in Florida, Ms Coulthurst adds.
![Despite the pound's recent fall in value against the dollar, Orlando remains affordable](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/Destinations/Asia/Japan/orlando-aerial.jpg?imwidth=350)
Some of the best deals are to be found from airports outside the capital. A typical holiday to Orlando, for example, flying from Manchester Airport, costs £276 - or 13 per cent - less than a similar trip to Ibiza. Travelsupermarket uncovered an August 15 departure for £574 per person, staying for a fortnight in a three-star hotel. A similar break to Ibiza, leaving on the same day, for the length of time, and also in a three-star hotel, costs £776 per person.
Thailand is also a good value option. Fly from Manchester to Phuket on August 14, for example, for a fortnight, with bed and breakfast in a four-star hotel, and you'll pay just £723 per person. If you wish to visit Menorca for two weeks, flying from the same airport on the same day, and in a similar hotel, the cheapest price available is £958 per person, 25 per cent more.
“These long-haul bargains also apply for couples”, notes Ms Coulthurst. “Normally, we’d say to avoid the school holiday dates if you haven’t got children and are going short-haul. However, the cheapest time to go long haul to many destinations, including Thailand and Bali, is May to August.”
Is there a catch?
Summer is the Med’s season to shine, and the Balearics tend to score daily highs of 29C, with 11 hours of sun, and a low chance of rainfall. Bali’s weather report tells a nearly identical story; August is one of the best months to visit Indonesia, as it is the peak of the dry season.
![August is one of the best months, weather-wise, to visit Indonesia](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/2017/May/bali-indonesia.jpg?imwidth=350)
Phuket is more of a mixed bag in August: expect brief, heavy showers in the mornings on, with temperatures around 31C. But this is a relatively empty time of year for the island, so you’ll enjoy space on the beach - and good-value dining.
Orlando will be steamier: in July and August, temperatures can top 33C, and some rainfall is likely. However, for families keen on child-focused activities, it’s hard to rival Orlando’s theme parks.
Perhaps the biggest catch is the flight time. While you'll reach Ibiza or Menorca in two-and-a-half hours, you'll need nine hours to get to Orlando and 12 hours to fly to Phuket. Flights from London to Bali will include nearly 17 hours in the air - and it won't be direct. This may rule out long-haul destinations for some families.
So it seems that British holidaymakers are missing a trick
“We see most search for the Canaries, Majorca, the Algarve and the Balearics and Spanish mainland for the summer,” says Ms Coulthurst. “However, it is definitely worth comparing and contrasting what you can get in long-haul destinations and short haul destinations for the same dates, to ensure you get the most value from your holiday money and choose the best holiday for you”.