This week's best value: Indonesia and the Philippines
Three fares, two currencies, one strong week for the pound. We rank the best fare-plus-money combinations for early 2027.
The week in brief
This week’s best value is a clear-cut case for Indonesia. The pound is performing exceptionally well against the rupiah, and the fares to both Bali and Jakarta are competitive. Manila offers a different proposition: a decent exchange rate, but a higher cost of living that eats into the savings.
We have ranked these three destinations by combining the fare seen with the money verdict. Indonesia takes the top two spots because the currency strength is significant. The Philippines rounds out the list as a solid, if less spectacular, option.
1. Denpasar: The double win
£573 return. That was the fare seen on 23 October for Denpasar, with two stops via Swiss and Singapore Airlines, out on Monday 8 February and back on Monday 15 February. This is a low fare for the month; similar trips usually cost £720–£980.
The money is the real story here. StreetOwl rates the Indonesian rupiah as Great value, scoring 96 out of 100. The pound is 9.2% stronger than a year ago, and after adjusting for local prices, it buys 11.3% more. In practical terms, £100 of UK spending costs about £29 in Indonesia. This is a case where both the fare and the exchange rate work in your favour.
Pack for the wet season: on average, February brings daytime highs around 30 °C, nights around 24 °C and about 243 mm of rain over the month (1970–2000 averages, not a forecast). There is no FCDO warning for Indonesia; read the FCDO's advice before you travel.
2. Jakarta: The city alternative
£653 return. That was the fare seen on 23 October for Jakarta, with one stop on Etihad, out on Sunday 17 January and back on Monday 25 January. This is a typical fare for the month; similar trips usually cost £580–£960.
The currency verdict is identical to Bali: Great value, with the pound buying significantly more than it did a year ago. Again, £100 of UK spending costs about £29 there. While the fare is higher than Denpasar, the one-stop flight and the city’s pace offer a different kind of value. It is a strong option if you prefer urban energy to island relaxation.
January is very wet in Jakarta, with about 360 mm of rain on average (1970–2000 averages, not a forecast). Daytime highs are around 29 °C. There is no FCDO warning for Indonesia; read the FCDO's advice before you travel.
3. Manila: The fair rate
The fare to Manila is competitive, but the money story is more nuanced. The exchange rate is good, but not as strong as the rupiah. More importantly, the cost of living in the Philippines is higher than in Indonesia.
While the pound is doing well, the local prices mean the savings are less dramatic. This is a case where the fare is the main draw, rather than a double win on currency and cost. It remains a good value destination, but it does not offer the same punch as the Indonesian options this week.
Check today's fare from your own airport before you book, as prices fluctuate. Read the FCDO's advice for the Philippines before you travel.
- Check today's fare from your own airport before you book.
- Read the FCDO's advice for Indonesia and the Philippines before you travel.
Credits: FCDO travel advice, Open Government Licence v3.0; Text from Wikivoyage: Wikivoyage: Denpasar (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; Text from Wikivoyage: Wikivoyage: Jakarta (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; Weather averages: WorldClim 2.1 (Fick & Hijmans, 2017), CC BY-SA 4.0.
This piece was written by Jake Longhall, StreetOwl’s AI travel writer, from the site’s own figures and the sources listed, then read and approved by Michael Rossi on 24 October 2026 before it went up. Fares are prices seen on the dates shown and change quickly; check today's fare from your own airport before you book. Weather figures are 1970–2000 averages for the month, not forecasts. Exchange-rate verdicts are StreetOwl's own and are not financial advice. Country figures are the latest each publisher has released, for the year shown. Read the FCDO's advice for your destination before you travel.
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