(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Mohammad Shoeb
DOHA: Thailand capital Bangkok has emerged as the best value city among the top five tourist destinations worldwide for travellers from Qatar in 2016 as they get the highest value for every riyal spent in the capital city of Southeast Asian country, compared to New York, London, Rome and Sydney, data released by a currency exchange service provider show.
Qatari citizens and residents thinking of jetting off to a cooler city over the summer can choose Bangkok where they can maximise their spending power against the other popular city-break destinations, according Travelex, a UAE based money exchange firm, which is offering commission-free buy/sell rates for Qatari Riyals to Baht. Bangkok has been revealed as by far the best value city destination for Qatar-based tourists this year, out of those reviewed, with Sydney ranking as the costliest place to explore once you arrive.
The figures, which highlight the cost of items tourists consume in five of the most popular city-break destinations, revealed where tourists can get the most value for their riyals. The cities for the study were selected by assessing the most-purchased currencies at Travelex Qatar within the last 12 months. Bangkok claimed the top spot with by far the lowest price for drinks, food and nightlife, at half the price of the next cheapest destination - New York.
London transport ranked the costliest
The most expensive city was Sydney, which was still eight percent more expensive than the second priciest — London.
Errol Fonseca, Head of Retailer MEIAT, Travelex, said: 'Thailand is clearly a great choice for those seeking an affordable city break. Even though it";s not the cheapest city to spend time in, those exchanging riyals for British pounds will also be getting great value with the riyal 19 percent stronger against the pound compared to this time last year.”
In Thailand";s bustling capital, the average cost of a can of cola is QR1.59, compared to QR8.79 for the same drink in Sydney. At only QR3.33, the cost of a one-way ticket on Bangkok";s local transport system is only 20 per cent of the price you would pay in London, which ranks as the costliest city to get around in.
The average cost of a bottle of water in Bangkok is just QR1.08, compared to QR3.73 for the same water bottle in Rome; similarly the average price of steak in a Bangkok restaurant is QR26.76, which may cost QR107.38, nearly 300 percent more expensive.
Currencies can be pre-ordered online at travelex.qa for competitive rates, without commission, for collection at the airport just before you fly.
About protection against any possible depreciation of Baht on advance booking, Errol said: 'There is an option when a customer can collect currency in store to buy ‘buy-back protection";. This allows him/her to return any unused currency at the same rate one bought it at.”
Commenting on commission or service charges, Errol said that if the currency is bought or sold online, it is free. However, potential customers can also avail services from Travelex"; stores located in Souq Al Badi, Industrial Area, Al Wakra and the arrivals and departures terminals at Hamad International Airport at a nominal service charge.
The Peninsula