From snorkelling sets to stroopwafels: Hotelplan Suisse takes a close look at prices at the most popular destinations
Adore gelato? Head for Hurghada! Love coffee? Sardinia is for you! Gourmets? It has to be Indonesia! Hotelplan Suisse has surveyed prices in the most popular destinations worldwide among the Swiss.
Many Swiss people head off on holiday in the summer. To give customers an overview of prices in various destinations, Hotelplan Suisse has joined forces with partner agencies to survey the prices of products and services at 15 Hotelplan destinations and 15 destinations served by the specialist brands travelhouse and tourisme pour tous. Prices in three categories – food and drink, souvenirs and activities – were scrutinised. The experts from Hotelplan Suisse also reveal what else the destinations have to offer in addition to culinary highlights and great activities.
A culinary trip around the world
The traditional Swiss brand Hotelplan stands for personal service and high-quality, customisable holidays. The price survey took a closer look at this tour operator’s most popular destinations for city and beach holidays.
Be it pizza on the piazza in Sardinia, fish & chips in a London pub or stroopwafels in Amsterdam – culinary highlights can be found in many of the top travel destinations preferred by the Swiss. But which Hotelplan destinations really tickle the taste buds while also offering great value? After an exhausting journey, the first thing many holidaymakers want to do is relax with a delicious cappuccino. This is particularly recommended in the beach destinations of Djerba, Hurghada and Sardinia, where your daily dose of caffeine costs between 1 CHF and 1.50 CHF. Those who prefer to sample the world’s beers while on their travels should definitely head to Malta. Maltese supermarkets sell three-litre kegs for just 50 centimes.
For many, dining out is a must while on holiday. Popular classics on the menu often include fries and pizza. The cheapest places for a portion of fries are Djerba and Hurghada (1 CHF). Holidaymakers can get a Margherita pizza for around 10 CHF in most destinations. In Sardinia, in the homeland of pizza, you can savour this speciality for 9 CHF. “It’s not just pizza lovers who get their money’s worth in Sardinia – this destination also scores points with our customers for its hospitality, picturesque old towns and white sandy beaches. My tip is the Cala Corsara bay on the island of Spargi,” says Kinga Rudek, Product Manager Hotelplan & Migros Ferien.
Souvenir of a perfect trip
Many holidaymakers want to capture their memorable experience by buying a souvenir or sending a postcard to their loved ones. A postcard for grandma costs between 0.50 CHF and 1.50 CHF at most Hotelplan destinations. So stick a stamp on it and send it off! Souvenir fridge magnets are likewise popular among holidaymakers. In Hurghada and Malta, they can be bought for as little as 1.50 CHF or 2 CHF – but even in other destinations, holidaymakers don’t need to dig too deep into their pockets for a souvenir to take home.
From parasols to snorkelling sets
Before making themselves comfortable on the seashore, holidaymakers may first need to hire sun loungers and parasols. In Cyprus and Djerba, two sun loungers and a parasol together cost around 10 CHF. If you’re visiting Bodrum or Cancún, you can confidently leave your own parasol at home and hire one on the beach. “It’s best to find out beforehand whether sun loungers and parasols are available from your accommodation, whether they can be hired on the beach or whether it’s better to get them yourself,” says Sebastian Kickmaier, Director Tour Operating Hotelplan & Migros Ferien. Malta is particularly worth recommending for adventurous travellers: you can hire a snorkelling set for exploring the island’s underwater world for as little as 10 CHF. Refreshments are also a must during a pool or beach holiday. Ice cream lovers are particularly well catered for in Hurghada. Holidaymakers can enjoy a scoop of chocolate ice cream for just 50 centimes, in this city on the Red Sea.
Which city gives you the most for your money?
While the cities tend to be more expensive than the beach holiday destinations, there are also clear differences between them. Hotelplan Suisse took a close look at prices in Dubrovnik, London, Budapest and Amsterdam. For fans of the typical hop-on and hop-off tour around the city, Amsterdam and Budapest are particularly recommended; here, the discovery tour costs around 30 CHF per person. For art lovers, on the other hand, the museum scene in London is particularly worthwhile. There’s an excellent selection of museums, and even better prices. Museum admission is cheaper in London than in the other cities. For those who like to party during a city trip, however, we recommend Budapest, where party-goers are often allowed into clubs for free.
The specialists at a glance
From beach holidays and city breaks to customised trips – the Hotelplan Suisse specialist brands travelhouse and tourisme pour tous offer bespoke adventure trips individually tailored to each customer’s wishes. The travelhouse and tourisme pour tous brands have also joined forces with their partners to survey product prices in a number of their most popular destinations. Cookery courses are especially popular – because, as we all know, the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, not least while on holiday. For the gourmets among the adventurers, Indonesia is particularly recommended, where you can conjure up a traditional meal under expert guidance for a bargain price. “Cookery courses are always very popular in Indonesia. I particularly recommend the traditional Balinese dish Lawar,” says Christoph Infanger, Lead Product Manager travelhouse Asia. Those who like to relax between adventures with a yoga class are particularly well catered for in the USA (14 CHF per hour) or Peru (12 CHF per hour).
Travel for every taste
Be it yoga enthusiasts, divers or fans of city breaks – Hotelplan Suisse offers trips to suit any tastes. As Nicole Pfammatter, CEO of Hotelplan Suisse, says: “With our different brands, we can adapt to individual needs so that all customers enjoy memorable travel experiences. At our 82 branches throughout Switzerland, our specialists are happy to advise customers and find the perfect destination match for everyone.”
*All prices were recorded in the local currency and converted into Swiss francs at the daily exchange rate.