Strong euro complicates cheap holiday breaks for Britons

Increasing numbers of Britons planning their summer holidays this year are planning shorter breaks in the UK, but they may be surprised to find that prices at home are higher than expected as European visitors arrive in greater numbers than anticipated.

Lastminute.com, a European-wide travel operator, has noted a 20 per cent hike in the number of foreigners booking holidays during July, August and September in the UK. In fact, the number of Germans booking holidays in Edinburgh has just about doubled over last year, according to company figures.

“The UK is traditionally an expensive destination for European tourists, but its competitiveness has improved dramatically because of the fall of the pound against the euro,” noted lastminute.com’s managing director, John Bevan. “This summer the UK appears to be the place to be for all of Europe’s nationalities.”

The net result is that Britons looking to book their summer holidays at home may have a problem finding accommodation – or at least reasonably-priced accommodation. A report by YouGov is showing that nearly half of UK consumers are indicating that they find Britain more expensive than foreign destinations at this point in time.

Ironically, even with the weakness of the pound, demand fluctuations mean that Britons may well find some good bargains on the continent as this summer season progresses.

www.lastminute.com