Greece, Italy top affordability list

Greece and Italy have been ranked the most affordable destinations in Europe for a family holiday.

In its 'sightseeing on a shoestring' report, the Post Office revealed that the countries offered a number of benefits to visitors with young children.

Attractions such as Pompeii and the Colosseum in Rome offer 'kids go free' deals, meaning that a family of four can enjoy a day of sightseeing for under £20.

In Greece, the Acropolis, Knossos and Mount Olympus are all free for under-19s, while Spain also performs well in the family-friendly rankings as most of its heritage attractions are free or low-priced for younger visitors.

Post Office head of travel Helen Warburton said: "The survey shows that it will pay parents planning sightseeing trips to check out costs in advance to find the best deals.

"We found a wide range of cost-cutting opportunities, which savvy travellers can use to shave money off sightseeing trips. In Greece, for example, we found that the top attractions are completely free on the second Sunday of the month in July and August."

The most affordable long-haul destinations, according to the study, are South Africa and Thailand.

• Local brews on offer at Bristol Airport bar
• Stansted gets green light for growth
• Flybe searching for new destination namesakes
• London City Airport to expand
• British Airways to launch new Caribbean flights
• Birmingham Airport sees traffic rise in September
• New Australia campaign to launch
• Virgin Atlantic goes on the attack again
• Special service marks 50 years of transatlantic jet flights
• Tourists offered new guide to Scotland