Lanzarote is the most affordable family holiday destination this Easter, costing £3,604 for a family of four.

This beats the average week-long family holiday cost of £3,750, up just 1% from last year. Portugal at £3,653 and France at £3,713 all came out under the average cost as well.

However, those with grander ambitions will have to pay a little more. Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic comes in as the most expensive destination at £6,024 in total, followed by Florida in the United States (£5,568) and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (£5,236).

The largest cost is often long-haul flights. M&S suggests that families looking to reduce costs should consider downgrading flights by travelling indirect, accommodation, and include self-catering options instead of eating out. It calculates that this can push costs 5.9% lower, bringing the cost for Punta Cana down to £4,941, Florida down to £4,856, and Dubai down to £4,196. UK holidaymakers are better off in some of these areas thanks to an improvement in the value of the pound.

Paul Stokes, head of products at M&S Bank, said: “Families may find that there are only three budget-breaking destinations this Easter, but there are a number of ways to make those budget-breaking destinations a little more affordable; families can save hundreds of pounds by flexing the type of flights and accommodation they select. Those heading away this Easter should also be encouraged by cheaper local costs in a number of locations. Families can save a significant amount of money by researching their travel money and ensuring their provider offers the same rate they’ve seen online when they arrive in-store to purchase their currency.”

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Table 1: Cost of a family Easter holiday in ten popular destinations

Location	2018 price per person	2018 price per family	2017 price per family	Difference £	Difference %
Lanzarote (Canary Islands)	£901	£3,604	£3,451	£153	4.4%
Portugal	£913	£3,653	£3,512	£141	4.0%
France	£989	£3,713	£3,546	£167	4.7%
Malta	£991	£3,964	£3,790	£174	4.6%
Italy	£1,048	£4,192	£4,026	£166	4.1%
Cyprus	£1,073	£4,292	£4,158	£134	3.2%
Greece	£1,079	£4,317	£4,170	£147	3.5%
Dubai (UAE)	£1,309	£5,236	£5,416	-£180	-3.3%
Florida, (USA)	£1,392	£5,568	£5,854	-£286	-4.9%
Punta Cana (Dominican Republic)	£1,507	£6,026	£6,403	-£376	-5.9%
AVERAGE	£1,120	£4,457	£4,433	£24	1%