Taking your holiday outside the eurozone could end up costing a lot more than you think, according to research conducted by a leading travel agent.

While the current advice to cash-strapped families hoping to avoid the effects of the soaring euro is to book holidays in countries such as Turkey and Egypt, Manchester-based Co-op Travel has revealed that, year on year, the prices of holidays in destinations such as Bodrum and Dalaman, in Turkey, and Sharm el Sheikh, in Egypt, have now overtaken the cost of trips to many resorts within the eurozone.

While the average price of a family holiday has risen by 18% since last year, the price of a trip to Bodrum has rocketed from £1,095 in 2008 to £1,538 in 2009 - an increase of 40.4%.

Dalaman - was £1,154, now £1,466 - has gone up by 27% and prices for Sharm el Sheikh have risen by 17%.

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BACKGROUND

• Seven top city breaks for under £100

• 5 splendid city breaks on a budget

• How to minimise the euro holiday misery

• Trips abroad take a pounding as euro strengthens

The lowest increase, according to the Co-op, and against all expectations, is in Mallorca, where prices have risen by just 3.2% to an average of £1,502.

The tour operator Sunvil reports that prices of holidays to Greece have risen by a less than average 8%.

Criticism over spiralling costs has forced Spanish restaurateurs and retailers to rein in prices, and the cost of a representative selection of holiday purchases - including a cup of coffee, a bottle of beer, a tube of sunscreen and a three-course meal for two - has dropped by 8.5% from £70.22 to £64.22.

Outside the eurozone, however, the increased popularity of once cheap resorts has led to price rises.

Research by the Post Office shows that in Egypt, the cost of the same selection of holiday items has shot up from £24.21 to £68.44 in the past year - a staggering rise of 183% - while in Turkey, the price of the basket has gone up by 6.5%.

Sercan Gul, who owns restaurants in the resorts of Marmaris and Dalaman, says businesses are making hay while the sun shines: “Before, we were too cheap; now the people are coming, we can increase our prices - but we’re still better value than Greece,” he says.

Good value is currently available in abundance, as nervous tour operators and airlines continue to cut margins to entice wary travellers, but early reports suggest that, although we’re looking - Travelsupermarket.com reports a 15% increase in traffic on the same period last year - we’re not buying. Online flight searches are down by 42% year on year.

If you know where to look, there has rarely been a better time to grab a deal. Here’s where to find the best bargains.

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