Demand increases for long-haul destinations

RECENT data gathered by flight search and deals platform Cheapflights has shown that the poor Pound-to-Euro exchange rates are driving up the demand for long haul destinations amongst holidaymakers.

Pre-Brexit vote, three Eurozone countries – Spain, France and Greece – were in Cheapflights’ top-five most-searched-for destinations, ranking two, three and four respectively. Following the ‘flash crash’, 

• Spain remains second on the list, but demand for the destination has dropped by 22%. 
• France has dropped from third place to number five on the list, with searches down 28%
• Greece has fallen from number four to number seven, with demand dropping by 34%.

On the flip side. . . 

• Australia has moved up from sixth to fourth in Cheapflights’ long haul search rankings with searches up 28% 
• Searches for China are up a staggering 138% and the country is now number three on Cheapflights’ long haul search list (up from number eight pre-Brexit vote) 
• Searches for US destinations are up 12% overall versus pre-Referendum levels, despite the Pound falling to a three-decade low of just US$1.18 value. It remains Cheapflights users’ number one long haul search destination 
• Searches for Canada, at number six, are up 3%

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Cheaper travel costs offset £ slump

THE POUND has plunged to a 13-month low against the euro and some other European currencies, but there is still good news for people planning trips abroad in one of the busiest holiday booking months.

Research by Post Office Travel Money for its Holiday Money Report reveals that lower prices in most European resorts will cancel out the impact of the sterling slide. At the same time, currencies for many popular long-haul destinations including Mexico, Malaysia, and Thailand have weakened against sterling.

The biggest gain for sterling has been against the South African rand, so UK tourists on safaris, fly-drive trips along the Garden Route, or exploring Cape Town will see their travel cash stretch 26 percent further than last year. In just five years sterling has doubled in value against the rand.

Sterling is also surging against the Mexico peso, which means that Cancun will be a bargain bet in 2016. Holidaymakers heading east will be better off in Asia and the Indian Ocean, too. A sterling surge of over nine percent against the Malaysian ringgit compared with a year ago has compounded the impact of falling prices in Penang to make tourist staples 27 percent cheaper in Malaysia’s most popular destination. Sterling has strengthened by 1.5 percent against the Thai baht year-on-year.

While the US dollar is at a five-year high against the pound, making Orlando and New York some 10 percent more expensive, three other dollars are significantly weaker. The Australian, New Zealand and Canadian dollars have each fallen in value since last February, and are now over 10 per cent weaker than two years ago.

The Norwegian krone has lost value against sterling. A six percent year-on-year drop, rising to 22 percent over two years, makes a Northern Lights trip to Norway a better prospect than visiting Iceland for the Aurora Borealis. Sterling has fallen 10.5 percent in value since last February against the Icelandic krona.

Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money said: ‘This is definitely a year when it will pay people to do their homework before booking a destination. With sterling’s recent fall in value against more than half of our bestselling currencies, you can’t blame them for thinking twice about where to go on holiday. However, canny travellers will be quids in if they opt for destinations with weak currencies or those where local prices are low. Better still, if they combine both elements their holiday money will stretch further.’

Despite a fall of more than 10 percent since last summer, when sterling hit €1.41 to £1, the picture is far from gloomy for people planning visits to the eurozone. Post Office Travel Money research shows that fierce competition to attract tourists has led to hefty price-cutting in many popular holiday destinations – resulting in lower rather than higher prices this year.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Golf boom on the Algarve

#THEALGARVE has revealed record #golf participation levels for the first and second quarters of 2015, with more than half-a-million rounds played along its coastline. The destination's allure was particularly illustrated in the second quarter, which accounted for 70 percent of the total increase in rounds played in the first half of the year.   

Almost 35,000 more rounds were played than in the same period in 2014 – equivalent to an additional 190 rounds per day – with visiting golfers benefiting from the mild climate, strong European flight connections, and value for money, particularly with sterling against the euro.

The region looks forward to hosting Europe's disabled golf elite in the second European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) Algarve Open 2015 in November.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit:http://www.flickr.com/photos/40611389@N00/2486445385">View from the Club House</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">(license)

Travelling Brits losing £££s on foreign currency spreads

UK RESIDENTS lose more than £1.24 billion every year to currency spreads when travelling abroad, according to research by Centtrip.

Centtrip’s analysis reveals that travellers are hit by an average 3.5% spread on foreign currencies including the euro and the US and Australian dollars. On the average spend for a trip – £591 – this translates as a hit of £20.70 when converting sterling into the local currency.

Centtrip’s analysis of the destinations that benefit most from UK travel reveals that UK residents spend more than £16.3 billion each year travelling to their top five destinations, with more than £6 billion being spent in Spain alone. This equates to more than £190 million in lost sterling due to differences between the market exchange rate and the sell rate of a typical travel money company. This is followed by the US, where UK residents lose more than £109.1 million to currency spreads each year, and France, with £109 million.

Brian Jamieson, co-founder and managing director of Centtrip, said: ‘The recent fall in the euro has hugely aided UK travellers when going abroad, especially when considering that 12 of the 20 most-visited countries for Britons are within the eurozone. However, our research reveals the huge losses made by travellers to currency spreads, which can amount to a significant sum over the course of the year.

‘People travelling further afield – where the average spend on a trip is typically higher – or those who make frequent trips abroad are hit even harder by currency spreads. It is therefore imperative that regular travellers, whether for business or pleasure, ensure they protect themselves from currency spreads by paying close attention to currency fluctuations and choose a currency provider who ensures they get the best rates available.’

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/125992663@N02/14597682161">Forex</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

Strong £ slashes Turkey resort costs

THE surge in the value of sterling over the past month has sent resort costs in #Turkey tumbling.

The UK’s Post Office Travel Money Holiday Costs Barometer reported big resort price rises in April for UK holidaymakers in Marmaris. But a rebound in the strength of the pound against the Turkish lira has given families almost 14% more travel cash in their pockets compared with last May, making prices in the Turkish resort lower than a year ago.

But Paphos in southern (Greek) Cyprus remains the best value destination in the Eastern Mediterranean at £62.60 for a holiday basket of eight family travel essentials including meals and drinks – 12.4% lower than a year ago and 16% cheaper than in Marmaris.

Although concerns have been voiced about the possible impact of #Greece’sfinancialcrisis on tourism, Post Office Travel Money says that local prices in Greek resorts have stayed low. However, it advises holidaymakers to carry sufficient euros in cash to avoid uncertainty about the acceptance of credit cards at shops, restaurants, and bars because these are not always as readily acceptable as might be expected.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: 2005-04 Belek by R-E-AL (talk | contribs | Gallery)  (German Wikipedia) - English:  This Photo has been taken with a HP PhotoSmart 612 camera.. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Be ready for Greek cash crisis, British tourists warned

PLANS to assist British people on holiday in #Greece are being made as the country moved closer to bankruptcy and exit from the #eurozone, the Daily Mail reports.

Tourists have been advised to take enough euro notes to cover emergencies in case Greek banks close cash machines. The Foreign Office advises them to take ‘enough money to cover emergencies and any unexpected delays’, and to avoid relying solely on credit cards or ATMs.

It came as Greece’s prime minister Alexis Tsipras refused to implement further austerity measures needed to unlock emergency funds to avoid a debt default.

British government sources said ‘contingency planning’ was under way involving ministers from across Whitehall departments. Experts believe the threat of a Greek default could lead to a run on the banks, which could result in cash machines being left without money or being turned off. There are also fears the situation could spark civil unrest.

UK officials have held talks with tour operators, who would have responsibility for getting stranded British tourists home. A source said they are also making sure they have the resources in place to provide consular assistance to British nationals who might get into difficulties.

See also previous blog posts on this matter
http://goholidayworldwide.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/take-cash-greece-bound-travellers-told.html

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23429268@N00/8430692331">view from pyrgos</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)

How travel cards can save £££s

BRITISH holidaymakers are cashing in on the huge swings in the value of the euro to reduce the cost of their holiday spending by up to 11%. Operators of prepaid travel money cards are reporting a surge in sales of travel money cards in 2015, with tourists loading up with euros when exchange rates are most favourable, often many months ahead of travelling.

Over the last six months rates, have swung from a low of €1.247 to the pound to a high of €1.416. This means that a family buying €1,000 to cover holiday expenses would save more than £95 by picking the best week to buy. 

During the first few months of 2015, when rates have been particularly favourable, operators such as the International Currency Exchange have reported a 91% year-on-year increase in cards issued versus the same time last year, with customers loading euros on to prepaid travel cards.


Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Brits flock to Europe to cash in on £ strength

AS sterling continues its run against the euro, the number of Brits travelling to the single currency zone is dwarfing the number of Europeans visiting Britain – and the trend shows no sign of stopping.

According to a travel barometer by GoEuro, 53% more Brits travelled to the continent in March than Europeans visited the UK.

Currently, London is the most searched for European destination, but as current trends develop, GoEuro predicts that Paris will become the new favourite by European travellers in the second quarter of this year.

While the strengthening British economy is beneficial for Brits travelling internationally, the UK tourism industry is likely to take a hit as European travellers look for more affordable options such as Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin.

Says Pablo Martinez at GoEuro: ‘It is interesting to see the widening gap of outbound UK travellers versus incoming European visitors as the British pound continues to rise against the Eero. London traditionally has been the top destination for European visitors, but as the UK becomes more expensive, we predict London will be overtaken by Paris.’

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

British travellers could save £££s on eurozone trips

BRITISH travellers could save £2.7 billion this year on the value of spending money on holidays in the eurozone due to the strength of sterling, a new report estimates.

The analysis is based on the pound now being worth 13.8% more against the euro than it was at this time in 2013.

The study by travel money business Centtrip suggests that the UK spends around £19.56 billion a year on overseas trips to the single currency zone. 

If the valuation of sterling against the euro remains the same this year when compared to two years ago, travellers could spend £2.7 billion less in 2015 and have more or less the same spending power as in 2013.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

What that Greek vote could mean for tourism

THE response of the international money markets to the outcome of the Greek election was immediate: the euro – already in a long slide – dived to a seven-year low of €1.34 against the £, or €1 worth 74p/$1.12. It means lower prices on the ground for UK and US holidaymakers not only in Greece but also in every other Eurozone country.

But Noel Josephides, chairman of the Association of British Travel Agents and managing director of Greek specialists Sunvil Holidays points out that not all holidays in Greece might come at bargain rates.

“Tour operators are tied in when it comes to both currency and fuel, so booking late and independently could be cheaper,” he says. “But it’s difficult to tell and probably depends more on supply and demand. If the demand is high, hotel prices are unlikely to fall – and certainly not in honey-pot destinations such as Mykonos or Santorini.”

Will Greece leave the Eurozone (given that joining it in the first place was a catastrophic mistake)?

Says Nick Trend, travel consumer editor at The Daily Telegraph: ‘It would be a long, drawn-out process which would take months of political wrangling – therefore it’s highly unlikely before this summer.’

And if it did?

‘It should make holidays there cheaper, because a new drachma would be worth far less than the euro. Independent travellers would benefit most at first because they will be paying for accommodation in drachmas, as opposed to the prices in sterling offered by tour operators.

‘Some things – imports such as coffee, petrol and technology – would not be any cheaper. And the bad news is that the Greek hospitality industry does not have a strong track record when it comes to competitive pricing. When the euro was first introduced, prices went up disproportionately. If it were to leave, there is no guarantee that rates charged by hotels and restaurants will fully reflect the change in the value of the currency.’

Mr Trend suggests that because the new government will have a honeymoon period, political tension and strikes – “the bane of travel in Greece” – are probably less likely than they have been in the past three years.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: "Flag-map of Greece" by en.wiki: Aivazovskycommons: Aivazovskybased on a map by User:Morwen - Own work.via Wikimedia Commons

Euro slide boost for British holidaymakers

THE CURRENT slide in the value of the euro has created the cheapest UK holiday-booking season since the financial crisis, say experts. 

People booking holidays in eurozone countries this summer can expect to save between five and 15 percent on the cost of travel and accommodation, and save almost 20 percent less on holiday expenses such as such as eating out.

Sterling is trading more than seven percent higher against the euro in comparison with last spring and close to the highest level against the single currency for more than six years. A euro is currently worth just over 78 pence, compared with almost 84 pence in March last year.

In the past two weeks, the change has sliced more than £100 off the cost of renting a self-catering villa in Italy. 

Post Office statistics show that costs such as a meal for two have fallen by almost 20 percent on Crete in the last year alone and 11 percent in Croatia.

Sterling has also made gains against European currencies outside the Eurozone, especially in Norway, Sweden, and the Czech Republic.

Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money, said: ‘Holidaymakers travelling to Europe can look forward to better value-for-money, although they should still do their homework to ensure they don’t miss out on the best deals. There is currently little difference in resort costs between the Algarve, Bulgaria and the Costa del Sol, which are cheapest in Europe, but keep an eye on Crete and Cyprus where falls in the cost of eating out make these islands better value than ever before.’


Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: via Wikimedia Commons.