Thailand top for value

Thailand has been revealed as one of the world's top value destinations, according to a new holiday cost-of-living index.

A comparison of the cost of 13 items in 12 countries by national tourist boards on behalf of American Express found the popular South East Asian holiday destination to be the cheapest.

The combined cost of the 13 items - including drinks, meals and postcards - was £65.45 in Thailand, while the same items would cost £154.60 in Norway.

But if it's a cheap bottle of lager you are after, then South Africa is your destination.

At 65p a bottle South Africa is more than twice as cheap as second placed Thailand (£1.71), and over six times as cheap as Norway (£3.96).

The study also showed that holiday costs in Australia and America had fallen by about 20 per cent in the last year.

Italy, once considered as one of the more expensive European destinations, actually came out cheaper than all of its European counterparts; while Ireland was the second most expensive country surveyed.

The 12 participating countries were: Australia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand and the United States.