Which? researchers claim that Bulgaria and Italy have seen inflation-busting price rises this year, but that the cost of packages to some of the most popular Spanish destinations is down.
The consumer body analysed the prices of over 8,000 European package holidays, comparing the costs in January 2024 for an August 2024 departure with prices in January 2025 for August this year.
It found prices have risen by an average of 4.2% overall, with the cost of packages to seven out of 10 destinations rising by more than the 2.5% rate of inflation.
Which? put the price increases down to continued high demand for holidays, rising energy costs for hotels, and aviation fuel prices, plus a lack of air traffic control capacity on key routes and delays in new aircraft deliveries.
Prices to the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria have risen the most, up 11.5% to an average of £1,157 per person, said Which?
“It’s likely the particularly steep price rises in Bulgaria are tied to a lack of supply, with the country’s popular budget package holiday industry largely focused on just a few Black Sea resorts,” said the consumer body. However, it pointed out that Bulgaria remains ‘a comparatively good value European holiday destination’.
Italy, Portugal and Cyprus have also seen above average price rises, said Which?
In Italy, the average cost of a package is up by 7.4%, taking the average cost to £1,249.
This has been driven in part by steep price rises in luxury destinations like Lake Garda and Sorrento, while price rises have been less dramatic in regions like Sardinia, it added.
Portugal meanwhile has seen price rises of 6.8% to £1,353, while prices in Cyprus have risen 6.4%, to £1,321 on average.
Countries including Croatia, Spain and Greece have also seen prices rise since last summer – but at rates below 3% on average.
Surprisingly, Which? found prices in Ibiza were down by 6.4% to an average of £1,187, and in Spain’s Costa Dorada they are down by almost 3% to £1,042. In Tenerife they’re down by 2% to £1,175, it said.
Which? Travel Editor Rory Boland said: “While inflation has started to ease over the last year, our latest research has shown holiday prices bucking the trend, with a combination of increased demand, alongside rising energy and fuel costs, contributing to higher prices for holidaymakers.”
He advised customers to ‘book early’ saying: “Now is the best time to get the cheapest prices on summer holidays.
“Take the time to shop around, and if you’re holidaying with kids, consider travelling in the last week of summer holidays, as we’ve previously found this can be the cheapest week in the peak season.”
