Riga tops list for bargain Christmas breaks

Riga has been named as one of the top places for a bargain Christmas market break this winter, according to British retail post office company Post Office Ltd.

The study takes into account the price of two evening meals with wine, coffee, festive drinks and snacks, two nights’ B&B accommodation, return travel and airport-city center transfers in 12 different popular European Christmas market destinations.

At 631 euros for a two-night break for two in early December, Budapest emerged as cheapest of 12 European cities, costing around 39 percent less than Munich or Basel (both around GBP 866). These were the most expensive cities surveyed.

Latvia’s capital Riga was a close runner-up.

Once visitors arrive in Riga, they can expect to pay considerably more than in Budapest because ‘Post Office’ research revealed that meals, drinks and transfer costs were 91 percent higher.

Tallinn, 2012’s top spot for a Christmas market break, now costs 59 percent more for a two-night break than this year’s bargain choice; Budapest and has fallen to eighth place.

Andrew Brown of ‘Post Office Travel Money’ said: “The sterling is up to five percent weaker than a year ago against European currencies so it is doubly important for people to shop around for the best currency deals and factor in all the costs they will incur on a Christmas Markets trip. For example, meal and drink prices may be higher in Riga than in some other cities, but flight and hotel costs were the lowest we found.”

The ‘Post Office’s’ European Christmas Markets Barometer was compiled using prices sourced from national and regional tourist offices of participating countries.