European driving holiday costs 'going down'

Travellers taking ferries to Spain and other European destinations to embark on a driving holiday this year will benefit from lower costs in many countries, according to research by the Post Office.

Fuel prices have "plummeted" across Europe, according to the organisation, with falls of up to 12 per cent in the price of unleaded petrol and as much as 31 per cent in diesel costs.

While Switzerland is the cheapest country for unleaded petrol at 91p per litre, the Post Office revealed that Austria and Spain offer better overall value when prices for petrol and diesel are taken into account.

'Staycationers' planning to catch ferries to Belfast, the Isle of Man and other domestic destinations will benefit from the fact that unleaded petrol is ten per cent cheaper in the UK this summer than last year.

Sarah Munro, head of travel for the Post Office, said: "Sterling is recovering just in time for the holiday season and combined with the price reductions for fuel and car hire, UK drivers can get more miles for the same money."

Travellers planning to visit Spain this year can catch ferries to Bilbao or Santander with P&O Ferries or Brittany Ferries. For those planning to stay in the UK, Norfolkline offers a Liverpool to Belfast ferry route and the Steam Packet Company sails to the Isle of Man.

Written by Andrew Smith