In it for the long haul

As always on the first Monday of every month, it's time for my travel ramblings! I don't know about you, but I absolutely love the excitement of travelling to long-haul destinations, but in times of recession and penny pinching it's not always easy for people to find the money to travel to far flung places.  Having said that although those sort of holidays are not necessarily as popular as they have been in the past, people are beginning to realise that venturing further afield can actually offer good value for money.

With holidaymakers in the UK suffering with the weak pound; more travellers are heading further afield for winter sun, and people appear to be cutting back on luxury items and non-essential purchases to try and save up for their family breaks. Although some people dread longer flights, I treat it as part of the excitement of the journey, and love arriving in an exotic, exciting location - something the a trip to Europe can't always provide.

So which long haul destinations provide the cheapest options when you arrive at your destination? Sri Lanka is a clear winner in a cost-of-living index of long-haul spots compiled by Post Office Travel Money. With ten different categories (including eating out, drinks and sun cream), it was 38% cheaper than its nearest rival Thailand. Vietnam was the third least expensive country in the list, with prices in South Africa tumbling 27% following on from the price hikes witnessed during the 2010 World Cup.

So where will you be travelling to this year? Do you plan a long-haul trip, or do finances mean you're staying closer to home? If you have a topic you'd like to ramble about, or would like me to feature as part of my own travel ramblings, then feel free to email me at the address on my contact page or leave your comments below this post.