Exchange rate causes Brits to flock to Europe
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Favourable exchange rates combined with the Jubilee weekend has led to more holiday bookings to Europe.
Travel Counsellors has seen sales for the Jubilee weekend increase 29% in the last month compared to the same period last year, while there has been a 26% rise in people travelling to European countries during June.
Tour operator Families Worldwide has also seen demand for European holidays improve in recent weeks as more Brits become aware of the exchange rate.
The announcements come after research revealed by Skyscanner today said destinations such as Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Poland and Germany are cheaper in resort that consumers expect. In addition, Hotels.com’s latest Hotel Price Index (HPI) also showed hotels in Warsaw are amongst the cheapest, with 12 nights the equivalent to a three-night stay in New York. Estonia capital Tallinn, Portugal’s Lisbon and Brussels were also amongst the cheaper hotel prices.
“Holidays in Europe have been expensive in recent years with the pound’s poor showing against the euro,” said Mark Wright, managing director of Families Worldwide. “But for some time now it has ever-so-slowly, but steadily, been climbing back, and it looks set to hit 1.3 before the summer”.
Travel Counsellors’ managing director Steve Byrne said the Jubilee bank holiday has also sparked the increase in bookings, with shorter lead-in times. “We have certainly seen more people travelling in June as they want to make the most the extended bank holiday, whilst also taking advantage of the strong exchange rate which means their money will go further in Eurozone destinations,” he added. “We are also seeing a late booking pattern, for example bookings in April to depart before the end of May are up by 30%”.