Thailand is now top budget travel

Thailand is set to top the budget destination charts this year, with South Africa and Egypt in hot pursuit.

According to research by the Post Office, the cost of trips in the eurozone is increasing having been overtaken by the US which has become the seventh cheapest destination on the list of 16. Helen Warburton, Post Office head of travel claims that holidays "further afield will get excellent value for money".

She explained: "Elsewhere, sterling is up over eight per cent against the rand, making South Africa a good choice for UK tourists, and booming sales of Egyptian and Thai currency indicate that holidaymakers are already opting for trips where their pounds will stretch further.

"Thailand's appearance on the list will no doubt come as music to the ears of many backpacking travelers with whom the destination has become synonymous.

The Asian country held its new year Songkran celebrations earlier this month. The tourist resort of Patong on Phuket even upheld an alcohol sale ban to combat road accidents.