Could going abroad this winter be cheaper than staying and paying UK energy bills? – A bills-inclusive month in a Portuguese beach town could cost you as little as £670 this winter, finds Lucy Thackra…
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The Independent
2022-09-14T14:59:56Z
If a one-bedroom flat’s £97 monthly energy bill doubles to £194, just nudging the upper end of the government cap (which works out to £208 per month), it will put a huge strain on the occupant’s finances.
Those who are able to get out of a rental arrangement – or property owners able to rent out their place on a short-term basis â and spend up to two or three months living abroad this winter could save hundreds or even thousands in the process.
These are based on the cheapest listings for those locations on Airbnb, booked two months ahead â the rentals website’s monthly-bookings discount is a huge help here, giving you between 5 to 50 per cent off when you stay at one property for 28 days or longer.
Holiday apartments are even cheaper than they look, because you’re not responsible for utility bills during your stay. So by staying in the Faro apartment, you’re saving not just £455 a month on the average non-London UK rent, but hundreds more on utility bills such as gas, electricity and water.
On top of being bills-free, you’d be less chilly: Valencia’s average daily temperature in November is 13C to London’s 7C, with Faro’s average at 16C.
Factoring in a pricier flight, you could rent an apartment in a farther-flung city with better weather, lower rent and even cheaper cost of living.
This means you could stand to save up to £1,095 a month (based on the assumption of £2,000 living costs detailed above), plus travellers will of course get the best deal on vitamin D here, too â the average temperature in Thailand in November is 28C, with a mix of warm sunshine and brief spells of rain.
In Europe, post-Brexit, Britons can visit for up to 90 days in any 180 day period â so if you haven’t been to a European country in the past six months, you could stay in Spain or Portugal for nearly three calendar months. Meanwhile, in Thailand you can stay for up to 30 days visa-free, then apply on the ground to extend for another 30 days.
The longer you go for, the more that flight cost will average out across your total “winter abroad” spend. Go to Thailand for the maximum 60 days, and you’re paying £319 a month on getting out there and back, but saving more than £1,000 a month on life after rent.
Other far-flung, cheap cities include Cape Town (consumer prices 50.75 per cent lower than in London; Britons can stay up to 90 days for tourism purposes); Mexico City or Tulum (consumer prices 37.91 per cent lower than in London; stay up to 180 days with a Mexico Tourist Card); and Morocco (consumer prices 52.06 per cent lower than London; Britons can stay for up to three months).
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