Sterling rebounds to bring improved exchange rate
Seasonal British travellers are likely to get more for their money this year, with the pound worth more against three quarters of the most popular holiday currencies compared to December 2016.
Travel money specialist No1 Currency has compared the exchange rates for 40 tourist destinations around the world and has found that sterling is up as much as 17%.
Since Christmas last year, the pound has risen in value by more than 4% against half of the most popular foreign currencies.
No 1 Currency retail director Simon Phillips has likened the pound’s rebound to ‘Christmas coming early’ for travellers.
The Pound is doing best against the Turkish lira, rising 17% since last Christmas, while doing worst against the Polish zloty, dropping 9%.
Sterling is up 7% against the US dollar but down 4% against the euro.
This year a family holiday to Europe costing €2,000 will set travellers back an additional £80.
By contrast, every £1,000 exchanged into dollars will buy $90 more than last year.
A trip to Costa Rica is 12% less expensive than last year and Indonesia and Kenya are 9% cheaper.
As well as the Eurozone, Croatia, Hungary and Sweden are all more expensive this year. Poland is at rock bottom with everything in Poland costing Brits 9% more than it did at this time last year.
Phillips said: "For those planning to get away to one of those destinations where the native currency has dropped by more than 5% against the sterling, it’ll feel like Christmas has come early.
"For those who have left their festive destination planning to the last minute, it’s worth looking around to see whether you’ll be getting more for your pound."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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