Best-value holiday destination

Malta is the best-value holiday destination in Europe, according to the influential UK 'Holiday Which?' magazine.

The magazine, which is published by the Consumers Association, conducted a survey of prices in 21 European countries covering all aspects of a holiday, including accommodation, car hire, petrol, dining out and shopping for holiday items such as sun cream, bottled water and camera film.

The report stated that as a general rule, prices across Europe reflect the north-south divide - holiday money goes further in eastern and southern Europe than in the expensive North.

When all six surveyed categories were taken into account, Malta emerged as the best value destination overall, followed by Turkey, the Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal and Greece.

The most expensive destination was the UK, mainly because of the exorbitant cost of staying in London, followed closely by Norway.