New research on the cost of a break in a number of cities across the UK has found that Belfast is among the cheapest, though it will still cost at least £650 (roughly €740 ) for a weekend away in Northern Ireland’s capital.
The research, conducted by travel experts Jersey Island Holidays, collated Airbnb and hotel rates, meal and drink prices, local transport fees, taxi fares, and leisure activity costs for each city, to identify how much it currently costs for a couple to take a weekend break in the UK.
The analysis found that when two nights of accommodation, restaurant meals, fast food lunches, taxi rides, public transport and a cinema/theatre excursion are taken into account, the cheapest city in the UK to visit right now is Leicester - but it will still cost you £572 (€650 ).
The biggest expense for those looking to visit Belfast is lodgings, with a hotel costing £77 (€87 ), and an Airbnb priced at an average of £100 (€113 ) per night.
Also among the cheapest UK destinations were Leicester (£572/€650 ), Coventry (£581/€660 ), Cardiff (£588/€668 ) and Northampton (£592/€672 ), with no city costing less than £500 per trip.
However the data also revealed that the average UK city costs £715 (€811 ) to visit, with London coming out as the most expensive destination for a weekend break at £1,230 (just under €1,400 ).
The price rises further if there are more than two people planning to get away, with a family of four expected to shell out an additional £130 (€148 ) on just food and drinks alone.
The estimates also don’t take into account additional costs associated with getting away, such as travel to/from the city destination, additional leisure activities or excursions, or boozy nights out.
