Package holidays to Dubai and Egypt cheaper as European prices creep up

Image source, Getty ImagesByColletta Smith, BBC Your Voice correspondent and Elaine Doran, BBC Your Voice producerPublished4 hours agoFamily package holidays to destinations like Dubai and Egypt are cheaper this summer than last as tour operators cut prices to tempt people back.

The war in Iran has put many UK holidaymakers off travelling to countries near to the conflict or through Middle Eastern airspace - opting instead to stay in Europe.

Prices for an average all-inclusive seven-night family stay in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have dropped by 25% this August compared with last. And the same holiday to Egypt is 8% cheaper, according to TravelSupermarket data compiled for the BBC.

At the same time, the cost of package deals to Spain, Portugal and Greece are up between 3-5%, the data suggests.

Tim and Natalie Harris from Swansea had booked a holiday to Dubai with their two teenage daughters this summer, but when the Iran war broke out they cancelled and lost their deposit.

"We did manage to find a package for £6,400 for all-inclusive in Mexico which we've booked," says Tim.

Last month, the Foreign Office dropped its advice against travelling to Dubai, after the US and Iran reached an agreement to stop the war, but warned British citizens that "the situation remains unpredictable" in the region.

Tour operators have cut prices to other destinations - an average holiday to Morocco is down 6.5%, Tunisia down 2.5% and Turkey 1.6% cheaper than last summer.

Mollie Hitchen, assistant manager of Marple Travel Hyde, says customers were more nervous this year about going anywhere near the Middle East, or getting stuck somewhere further afield because of fuel shortages.

"People will ask questions, but we just reassure people that there is absolutely no problems with those destinations," she says.

Flora Badger is taking three teenage girls on their first holiday abroad this summer.

She contacted BBC Your Voice to share her frustrations in watching holiday prices fluctuate.