Holidaymakers heading abroad this summer are in a quandary over their spending money. Whether the result is for Remain or Leave in 12 days' time there will be an impact on the value of the pound. Should you buy foreign currency now - or wait and see? We weigh up the options for British travellers.
I booked a discounted Florida villa to take my grandkids to Disney but Thomas Cook charged us £984 in under-occupancy fees
It was only after I had booked the Florida villa holiday with Thomas Cook that I was made aware that while the price quoted was what I would pay, it included an under-occupancy fee that I hadn't known about. When the booking confirmation came through, I had been charged six under-occupancy fees totalling £984. Is this fair?
Week in the Mediterranean sun gets more expensive for British tourists as pound dives against the euro
The pound has fallen to €1.24 yesterday, the lowest since June 2014, amid growing uncertainty in the run up to June's referendum over the UK's membership in the European Union. This means that having a meal, a drink or buying a tub of suncream in many European destinations has become more expensive for British holidaymakers, according to the Post Office Travel Money's latest holiday costs barometer.
Ghost town Sharm El Sheikh: Once bustling resort is almost deserted as terror attacks keep thousands of tourists away
The Egyptian resort on the Red Sea is still suffering after the downing of a Russian holiday jet. The number of tourists visiting last month has almost halved compared to the same time last year. A welcoming sign belies the reality of empty swimming pools and abandoned hotels. The UK Foreign Office is still advising against all but essential travel by air to Sharm El Sheikh airport. Travel firms including Thomas Cook have cancelled all bookings to the resort. The average number of nights tourists are spending in the country went down by 67.2 per cent in February this year compared to 2015, from 9.2 to 5.5.
'We cut the cost of our dream holiday using a house swap inspired by Cameron Diaz': Our 12-step guide to a trouble-free property exchange
It is one of Hollywood's corniest Christmas movies - but for some The Holiday, starring Cameron Diaz, is the inspiration for a luxury getaway on the cheap. The story hinges on the romcom's leading characters falling for new partners following an international house swap. Whether it is a spring, summer or winter holiday you are after, it is never too early to start looking for an exchange partner. Follow our 12-step guide to a trouble-free property exchange.
Want to swap the wet and windy weather for snowy peaks? How to bag yourself a ski or snowboard holiday that won't break the bank
Stop the costs of hitting the slopes snowballing out of control with This is Money's top tips for bagging yourself a ski-holiday bargain - covering everything from the cheapest resorts, when to travel and how to get your kit to your resort for less.
Strong pound means even Japan needn't break the bank but Bali remains the cheapest long-haul destination for Brits
The idyllic Indonesian Island of Bali, where a bottle of beer will set you back just 91p, is the long-haul winter holiday destination with the lowest cost of living for the third year running. The price of meals, drinks and other tourist staples has fallen in half of the 33 destinations surveyed in the Post Office Travel Money Long Haul Holiday Report.
Family booked on phantom flight to Portugal by budget travel agent left mystified at the airport as firm blames 'human error'
A family who turned up to Birmingham Airport in the mood for a sun drenched 10 day trip to Portugal were left panicking after it transpired the flight didn't actually exist. Darren Hall, his wife and two children were set to depart from the airport to Faro on Monarch flight ZB408 departing at 13.15, according to the travel itinerary booked through budget travel agents Lowcostholidays.
'I buy excess insurance online and it covers me if I lock the car keys in the boot': Don't let the car hire fees scupper your skiing break
Car hire excess insurance is the bugbear of many holidaymakers, who are often forced into buying the policy at the rental desk through fear of facing a high bill following an accident. Excess charges have been rising steadily over the past few years. Drivers hiring in Turin, for example, can expect to pay up to £1,800 towards the bill if they do not have insurance to cover it. Mark Bower has claimed twice for accidentally locking his keys in his hire car boot on a ski trip, something not covered automatically by most car hire firms' basic excess policies.
'Insurers treat us like old fogies who might drop off the twig at any moment': Growing numbers of pensioners grounded by travel cover costs that DOUBLE
Since Pat and John Lynam retired six years ago they have been spending the British winters in South Africa. But, every October, the break becomes ever more expensive because of the startling rises in their travel insurance. Pat, 66, and John, 68, have seen the cost of their policy increase by 50 per cent this year to £313 through specialist insurer Rias, which is owned by Ageas. Yet the only thing that has changed since their last visit is that they are both one year older. ...read ...read ...read
After some affordable winter sun? North African destinations are offering the cheapest holiday spends...
Holiday-makers looking for a bargain this winter should head to North Africa while those with more cash to splash should stick to the South of France, according to figures published today. A meal for two in Tunisia comes out at £10.32, while a glass of Coca Cola is just 39p. One 30-minute taxi ride only costs £1.72. In comparison, Transport for London estimates that the average cost of a 16 to 30 minute taxi ride in London will cost anything from £15 to £22.
How much is too much booze? How travel insurers are rejecting claims from holidaymakers who have had 'a drink or two'
Insurers appear to be using alcohol consumption as a reason not to pay out even when there is little evidence that inebriation contributed to the accident. There are also cases where insurers jump to conclusions about what happened - for example they assume that a customer was drunk because of their age or because they were staying at a resort known for its party culture.
How to avoid a gap-year disaster: How to prepare you kids for their travels
The prospect of your teenager travelling the globe will naturally fill many parents with fear. This is Money has come up with some top tips to pass on to your adventure hunters to help avoid any gap-year disasters from setting a budget they can stick to to ensuring they call home. ...read ...read ...read
TOP CARDS FOR USE ABROAD
NO FEES ON FOREIGN PURCHASES
|
|
|
|
TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
- Why a three-hour flight delay could now get you £500: How to claim compensation
- Currency exchange: Latest tourist rates Tourist rates updated daily, with predictions on where next for the pound. Cheap currency is also available.
- Going on holiday? Best debit and credit cards to help you avoid overseas fees
- Free currency exchange card Readers can get a FREE FairFX card, accessing better excha<x>nge rates and dodging expensive bank ch<x>arges abroad
- This is Money's top tools to keep your holiday costs low Sick of getting lost in foreign cities or overspending while abroad? Six of the best holiday apps
- Travel insurance: How to get the cheapest cover Our tables list THE best deals on travel insurance and allow you compare the small print
- How to get travel insurance if you're suffering from a serious illness ...and why you musn't just rely on EHIC
Latest from Holidays
- Buy now or wait and see? With the pound hanging in the balance, here's the lowdown on how the EU vote affects your holiday spending
- Travel cover that's useless if your bag's pinched on the beach: Cheap deals are being peddled online – but don't expect much help when things go wrong
- How it costs £329 to change name on a £160 plane ticket as airlines claim fees are needed to avoid fraud
- Five tips to save money over the holidays and still have a great time
- I booked a discounted Florida villa to take my grandkids to Disney but Thomas Cook charged us £984 in under-occupancy fees
- So how much should you tip on holiday? It's a minefield... but our definitive guide will save you any embarrassment
- Britons will spend an average of £1,300 on their summer holiday - but PM claims that Brexit could add another £230 to the cost
- Travel insurance: How to get the cheapest quotes and best cover
- Ryanair revolt takes off as more than 5,000 disgruntled customers join court case against rip-off admin fees
GUIDES & TOOLS TO HELP YOU SAVE ON HOLIDAYS
ESSENTIAL HOLIDAY GUIDES
- Airline and holiday failure: Your rights
- Five tips to save money during the holidays and still have a great time
- How to get cheap flights
- Best debit and credit cards to help you avoid overseas fees
- Top tips and apps to avoid a data roaming bill headache
- Six of the best apps to save you money on holiday
- How to stay safe and legal while abroad
- Found a cheaper flight? How to get your airline to pay YOU the difference
- How to apply for the free EHIC card and avoid scams which make you pay
HOLIDAYS: TOP TIPS
HOLIDAY ESSENTIALS
How to avoid the over-65s travel insurance trap and get the best cover at the right cost
Hunting down travel cover can be both difficult and expensive with older travellers typically paying more for insurance because they are judged more likely to claim.On top of inflated prices, those over 65 also have to contend with age caps which can mean they are turned away by standard providers when they reach certain age brackets. ...read ...read ...read
Currency | Rate | Buy now |
---|---|---|
Updated 12 Jun 2016. | ||
Euro | 1.24 | Buy Now |
US Dollar | 1.4 | Buy Now |
Australian Dollar | 1.8961 | Buy Now |
Canadian Dollar | 1.7969 | Buy Now |
Chinese Yuan | 9.103 | Buy Now |
Croatian Kuna | 9.2974 | Buy Now |
Czech Koruna | 33.556 | Buy Now |
Danish Krone | 9.2022 | Buy Now |
Egyptian Pound | 11.169 | Buy Now |
Hong Kong Dollar | 10.89 | Buy Now |
Hungarian Forint | 383.14 | Buy Now |
Israeli New Shekel | 5.29 | Buy Now |
Japanese Yen | 150.82 | Buy Now |
Malaysian Ringgit | 6.2624 | Buy Now |
New Turkish Lire | 3.9925 | Buy Now |
New Zealand Dollar | 1.9842 | Buy Now |
Norwegian Krone | 11.451 | Buy Now |
Polish Zloty | 5.3477 | Buy Now |
Singapore Dollar | 1.9038 | Buy Now |
South African Rand | 20.883 | Buy Now |
Sterling | 1.0 | Buy Now |
Swedish Krona | 11.468 | Buy Now |
Swiss Franc | 1.3578 | Buy Now |
Thai Baht | 49.0 | Buy Now |
UAE Dirham | 5.1745 | Buy Now |
ASK AN EXPERT
Insurance
Compare thousands of policies
Credit cards
Compare today's best buys and other outstanding offers
Energy bills
Compare the cheapest gas and electricity tariffs in your area
Loans
Our tool scans the market for the cheapest rates on personal loans
Find the best deal for you GO