The slump in the value of the pound has failed to dent British enthusiasm for foreign holidays, with early bookings for this summer’s getaway sharply up on last year. The overall number of Britons heading abroad is set to rise this year – just as a record number of tourists are expected to arrive in Britain, lured by cheap prices here. Abta, the Association of British Travel Agents, told The Mail on Sunday that British bookings for overseas holidays were looking strong for 2017.
Flying to Switzerland but heading to Austria, France or Italy? New EU rules mean ski trip Britons hiring cars could face trouble
Holidaymakers heading for a ski trip via Switzerland should tell their car hire firm plans in advance, or risk getting caught our by little-known EU rules. Last May, rules came into place which means Swiss-registered hire cars cannot be driven across the border to Austria, France, Germany and Italy by an EU citizen, such as a Briton. ...read ...read
How earlybirds can STILL find a holiday bargain: Discover cheapest times to book top European destinations
Travel costs are set to soar this year thanks to the poor performance of the pound, so it is tempting to lock into prices sooner rather than later. But the January sales are not the only way to find an escape from the rising cost of holidays. Follow our ingenious guide to saving a fortune on air fares and packaged trips. ...read ...read
'I paid £88 for quiet, comfort and a family meal in the airport lounge': Get a taste of first class travel - on an economy ticket
Economy travellers can now enjoy many of the perks associated with business class - at a fraction of the cost. From pay-per-use airport lounges, pre-booked priority lanes at security, and even gourmet meals that can be ordered by economy passengers, experts say these luxuries are proving more popular than ever.Gideon Hedley (pictured) chose to pay to use an airport lounge when he travelled to Turkey with his family from London Gatwick. ...read ...read ...read
The four great holiday rip-offs: Now stealth tax rises, currency con tricks, car hire extras and credit card swindles are making foreign trips unaffordable for British families
Families are being hammered with a £250 holiday tax - plus a triple whammy of stealth fees. Taking a family of four to Spain means handing the taxman £133.20 - 30 per cent up on 2008. Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon is set halve air passenger duty between 2018 and 2021 in a bid to boost business. Tory MPs are privately putting pressure on Philip Hammond, the new Chancellor, to cut VAT in the autumn statement to provide a post-referendum shot-in-the arm to the economy. Last night, they went public with calls for air passenger duty to be cut.
I paid for a package holiday and car hire with Thomson but was stranded at the airport when it failed to book the car. Now it's refusing a refund
After booking a Thomson holiday including car hire, a reader was left being stranded at the airport after it the tour operator failed to action his car hire. It admitted its mistake but failed to pay out. We spoke to the company to find out why it had failed its customer and to put things right. ...read ...read ...read ...read
How car hire firms take you for a ride: We head to Spain to identify all the sneaky rip-offs you need to watch out for
Ruth Lythe heads to Malaga to investigate the cash-grabbing world of car hire, where firms use every trick in the book to milk extra money from customers. From demanding extra excess insurance with threats of sky-high charges for damage if you don't take it, to charging in pounds over euros and identifying dubious damage on return, we reveal the tricks.
Can you beat a Kindle? The six best e-readers to take on holiday this summer and save space in your suitcase
It will soon be time to get ready for the summer holiday and to pack a few books to help you unwind while on the beach sipping cocktails. The problem is that when it comes to packing light to beat baggage restrictions, that pile of books adds up. We take a look at six of the best e-readers, including the Kindle's chief rivals.
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
Our tests show that three in five of the cheapest deals listed on comparison sites leave holidaymakers exposed to huge bills if they suffer the most common travel mishaps. Policies promoted as the 'best deals' typically contain stinging catches in the small print. Some pay out only a tiny amount if you suffer a serious injury abroad or if your bag is missing. ...read ...read ...read ...read ...read
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.
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
- Think you know all the sneaky car hire tricks? Read these horror stories and prepare to be alarmed...
- Flying to Switzerland but heading to Austria, France or Italy? New EU rules mean ski trip Britons hiring cars could face trouble
- Europe here we come! Summer holiday bookings rise despite the weakness of sterling
- Currency exchange: Latest tourist rates
- Has the big chill ruined your travel plans? Here's how you can get a refund on delays or cancellations
- Flight wars as Ryanair plans nine new routes in a bid to boost passenger numbers to 20M
- Beat the 25% currency hike, get an 18-day break with only nine days' leave and always fly on a Tuesday: 10 tips for getting the most out of your 2017 holiday budget
- How to get cheap flights
- Villa vultures strike again as holidaymakers are scammed with non-existent Canary Islands trips
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
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 ...read ...read ...read ...read
Currency | Rate | Buy now |
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Updated 20 Jan 2017. | ||
Euro | 1.1301 | Buy Now |
US Dollar | 1.2054 | Buy Now |
Australian Dollar | 1.5887 | Buy Now |
Canadian Dollar | 1.6037 | Buy Now |
Chinese Yuan | 8.1449 | Buy Now |
Croatian Kuna | 8.39 | Buy Now |
Czech Koruna | 30.342 | Buy Now |
Danish Krone | 8.3263 | Buy Now |
Egyptian Pound | 16.27 | Buy Now |
Hong Kong Dollar | 9.3069 | Buy Now |
Hungarian Forint | 343.47 | Buy Now |
Icelandic Króna | 129.58 | Buy Now |
Israeli New Shekel | 4.4935 | Buy Now |
Japanese Yen | 138.59 | Buy Now |
Malaysian Ringgit | 6.2624 | Buy Now |
Mexican Peso | 25.728 | Buy Now |
New Turkish Lire | 4.3405 | Buy Now |
New Zealand Dollar | 1.6734 | Buy Now |
Norwegian Krone | 10.104 | Buy Now |
Polish Zloty | 4.8687 | Buy Now |
Singapore Dollar | 1.712 | Buy Now |
South African Rand | 16.236 | Buy Now |
Sterling | 1.0 | Buy Now |
Swedish Krona | 10.674 | Buy Now |
Swiss Franc | 1.21 | Buy Now |
Thai Baht | 42.005 | Buy Now |
UAE Dirham | 4.42 | Buy Now |