The Expedia Value Tracker reveals top destinations for kiwis

The Expedia® Value Tracker reveals top international destinations for New Zealand travellers

• Of Kiwi favourites, Australia offers best value for money
• South America and Russia lead the way in affordability

As the Kiwi dollar struggles against some of the world’s major currencies, and holidays on home-soil grow in appeal for many, the Expedia Value Tracker, out today, reveals the overseas destinations offering the best value for money for travellers.

Expanding on its long-standing Foreign Exchange Index, which measures the performance of the New Zealand dollar against major global currencies, Expedia.co.nz’s new report examines foreign exchange movements, in addition to the average cost of international flights and accommodation in key destinations for Kiwi travellers, to provide holiday-makers with a holistic view of where they can find the best value.

Of Kiwi travellers’ international favourites**, Australia, while down 4% year-on-year, provides solid value. Average flight prices have decreased 12% to average $452 and accommodation rates have risen 1% to $224 per night. And, it appears travellers are being enticed to explore Australia’s cities and beaches with overall demand onExpedia.co.nz up, with places like Melbourne, the Sunshine Coast and the Whitsundays experiencing double-digit growth.

Despite the NZ Dollar falling 20% and 12% against the Thai baht and the Fiji dollar respectively, flight costs have decreased. The average cost of an air ticket to Thailand has dropped 16% to $1,185 whereas the average airfare to Fiji has decreased 4% to $849. The average accommodation costs have increased 4% in Thailand to $119 per night and 6% in Fiji to $269 per night, which is more modest than other destinations frequented by Kiwi travellers.

Managing Director of Expedia Australia and New Zealand, Georg Ruebensal, believes Kiwis are smart travellers who chase value for money: “Whilst the dollar may not be as strong as it has been in the past, Kiwis are still in an excellent position to get out there and tick off destinations on their bucket list. We are seeing strong demand for holidays to Australia and especially to places like the Whitsundays, a truly spectacular place to visit.”

For travellers planning a trip to South America, movements in currencies mean some destinations are more affordable than others. The Kiwi dollar has gained ground against the Colombian Peso (10%) and Brazilian Real (8%). Flights and accommodation in Brazil are also more affordable than they were a year ago.

Georg Ruebensal’s top tips for travellers planning an international holiday: “Most people look for ways to save money so we can get the most out of our holiday, and keeping an eye on currencies is smart. My other insider tips for travellers are to use a tool like Scratchpad on Expedia.co.nz, which allows travellers to monitor price movements on hotels and flights; look out for mobile-exclusive deals – apps are so easy; and also bundle flight and hotel together when booking – Kiwis have the potential to save hundreds of dollars by doing these simple things.”

ENDS

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