UK Ferry Tickets

It is a well known fact that the British Pound has dramatically reduced in value in the past few months. The economic downturn has most definitely proven to be quite bad for the strength of the pound and its immediate future. This has also affected tourism quite badly because it has reduced in value against the Euro and the American Dollar. As such, it is expected that fewer people will travel abroad this year. However, if you are planning to go on a self drive to Europe then you may want to know just how it will affect you.

The British Pound was being exchanged like for like with the Euro a few weeks ago, meaning that travel companies were offering one Euro for one Pound. That is a major problem for holidaymakers heading abroad because you have less to spend than in previous years and will find it difficult to get value for money purely and simply because some European countries are far more expensive than the UK. Take France and Italy for example. If you head to city centres or more rural tourist areas in either of those countries then you will find that accommodation, food and items you may like to buy will cost you a lot more than they would here, and even more than they would there this time last year as well. I should know. I went to Italy in September and found that items were already more expensive then and the exchange rate was nowhere near as bad as it is now.

However, it is really important to remember that Europe is going through a recession the same as the UK is at the minute so you will find that many shops, restaurants and hotels are offering discounts. It is literally just a matter of knowing where to go. If you know the areas of the country to head to for a cheaper holiday then you could make the most of your money and still see a little of the world instead of staying at home!

When doing your research to determine where the best places to go for value for money are, the Internet is a vital tool. There are websites that will list discounts and sales that various European cities are featuring at the moment. These are invaluable because you can get all the information you need to plan a holiday that is worth every penny. Similarly, be sure to use currency converters to find out how much various hotels are if they charge in Euros. Comparison sites are good for spotting bargains in terms of travel too.

Holidays to Europe will need a lot more planning than in recent years if you are watching the pennies. After all, the pounds are not taking care of themselves these days so you absolutely must budget and stick to it. Watching the exchange rate and doing what you can with it will benefit you in more ways than one!

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

Thursday, January 8th, 2009