Where is the most expensive resort in the UK?
A new study has revealed that the most expensive seaside resort in the UK is St Ives - where the least expensive double room costs a shocking £123 per night in August.
The Cornish town benefits from having a number of sandy beaches - drawing sunbathers, families and surfers, while the picturesque town is notoriously nightmarish for drivers, but draws tourists in their droves to wander the narrow, winding streets. It's no wonder the hotels can afford to charge people so much.
Tenby in Pembrokeshire was second on the list, with the same winning combination of a pretty town and great sandy beaches. This was followed by Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Here the beaches are far less to write home about, but the tourists go for the picturesque town and the enormous yachting fraternity.
Dartmouth in Devon was fourth. Again this is more of a seaside town than a beach destination, drawing tourists with its ancient narrow streets, cobbled market and boutique shops. Rounding out the top five was Barmouth in Wales, on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park, and famed for its beaches, old town and spectacular bridge across the river.
Overall Cornwall emerged as the priciest region for a staycation, with five of the top twenty most expensive seaside resorts, while Wales took four places on the list, and Devon and Scotland managed two each.
The study, by Cheaprooms.co.uk, looked at the hotels and guest houses with three or more stars which were near the beach. They then found the cheapest room in each of the hotels, and calculated an average for the cheapest rooms in the resort. It used this to compile a top 20:
1. St Ives (Cornwall) £123
2. Tenby (Wales) £107
3. Cowes (Isle of Wight) £94
4. Dartmouth (Devon) £87
5. Barmouth (Wales) £86
6. Falmouth (Cornwall) £84
6. Oban (Scotland) £84
6. Padstow (Cornwall) £84
9. Swansea (Wales) £83
10. Swanage (Dorset) £81
11. Penzance (Cornwall) £81
12. Bude (Cornwall) £78
13. Worthing (Sussex) £75
14. Whitby (Yorkshire) £74
15. Brixham (Devon) £73
16. Ayr (Scotland) £72
17. Brighton (Sussex) £71
17. Southend-on-Sea (Essex) £71
19. Margate (Kent) £70
20. Aberystwyth (Wales) £68
It provides useful food for thought for those who choose to holiday in the UK in order to save money. If you were to stay in St Ives for a week, for example, it would set you back at least £861 for your accommodation.
Meanwhile, a last-minute search on Thomas Cook reveals a 7 night all-inclusive holiday to Dalaman in Turkey for two people starting on 18th August for £690, an all-inclusive trip to Magaluf for two people for £850, or a seven night cruise around picturesque Turkish islands for £750.
But what do you think? Would you opt for an overseas break, or do you think the UK seaside still wins out at this price?%VIRTUAL-SkimlinksPromo%
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