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Posts Tagged ‘vacations’

Holidays In Malta – How To Keep The Costs Down

Friday, September 10th, 2010

Are you one of many people who work out how much you’re going to need for a holiday, think you’ve got everything covered – and then halfway through your trip realised your financial planning was out?

You’re not alone.

Many people have found the amount of money they thought they would need for a trip overseas hasn’t been enough. And with airlines and holiday companies adding extra on to a lot of items that used to come as standard it’s not a problem that’s going to go away.

In their defence it’s not surprising that airlines and holiday companies do this – the recession has hit the travel industry hard, and they need to increase the amount of revenue per passenger they are carrying on the airlines, and hotels for each guest they accommodate.

But putting the full price on advertised rates could affect their business, as it’s the headline price that catches many people’s attention – and with travel portals searching for the lowest price more popular than ever travel companies have to get around the low prices offered by making money elsewhere.

As an example we looked for a holiday to Ibiza for next summer, June 2011, to see what the holiday companies were offering, based on 2 adults with a reasonable hotel for 7 nights and Ibiza flights included.

Thomson Holidays, one of the UK’s leading tour operators, have available return flights and a choice of two different Ibiza hotels for 320 a person, and they also include getting to and from the airport to either of the Ibiza hotels.

Their main competitor, Thomas Cook, are doing even better with flights, hotel and breakfast from 285 a person for 7 nights. Their main competitor, Thomas Cook, are doing even better with flights, hotel and breakfast from 285 a person for 7 nights.

Great deals from Britain’s two leading holiday companies – but extras available include choosing a seat on the flight, a meal and travel insurance. The first two can be missed for the budget conscious, but travel insurance should never be cut out and can be taken either with the holiday company when booking, or independently.

In some ways the hidden costs that only become apparent when booking a trip, in the above example Ibiza holidays, aren’t surprising given that the cost is often the first feature considered, and many holidaymakers expecting to have 5 star flights, hotels and holidays at 2 star prices – the most reliable companies have to compete at the headline prices offered by others.

Away from the booking itself, once people are on their Ibiza holidays or elsewhere, the cost of mobile phone calls are the biggest cause of complaint, despite the EU having ordered charges to come down in recent years.

Other charges that holidaymakers deemed to be excessive included the cost of a taxi – most commonly used to get from the airport to the Ibiza hotels where most people would be staying.

To keep costs down it’s possible to book a taxi online with an agreed price and a driver waiting for you rather than taking pot luck upon arrival. Keeping luggage weights within the airlines allowance will ensure no surcharges, and some airlines offer half price luggage costs when it’s booked online instead of doing it at the airport.

For more details about 2011 Ibiza holidays with news and articles visit youribiza.net

Tags: 2011, flights, holidays, Ibiza, mobile phones, Spain, travel insurance, vacations
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Happiness Is…A Holiday In Malta

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

From the Daily Mail recently:

It’s the excuse we all needed to indulge in that well-earned break – scientists say holidays can help us live longer.

A new study has linked travel with increased happiness and better health suggesting trips could even be prescribed in the future as a way to beat depression.

The Australian research identified how travel can affect three different elements of happiness, meaning the joy of a holiday extends well beyond those days spent lazing on the beach and could help prolong our lives.

Dr Sebastian Filep, an expert in travel and wellbeing at Victoria University, found that motivations for travel, experiences at the destination and the post-holiday reflection all contributed to the pleasure of a jaunt abroad.

The first caused positive emotions in the traveller, the second gave them a sense of purpose and the third a sense of involvement – all key ingredients of happiness.

The in-depth analysis was undertaken with 60 different travellers and a further 200 backpackers for a chapter in a forthcoming book, Tourists, Tourism and the Good Life.

The results conclude that travelling really does make people happier, which improves our health and helps us live longer.

The full process from booking and organising the break to remembering the trip and looking at holiday snaps helps people feel better about their lives.

‘I see an opportunity for a greater connection between tourism and health where holidays become a more important factor in leading a healthy lifestyle,’ said Dr Filep.

‘We know from studies in the US that experiencing positive emotions reduces the risk for cardiovascular disease, or that optimists live longer than pessimists.

‘So happiness is good for overall physical and mental health and holidays are a good vehicle for experiencing happiness.’

Dr Filep even went as far as to say that: ‘Holidays may possibly lead to people living longer, as holidays make people happy.’

Although he is not advocating prescribing trips over anti-depressants, he did think they could play a part in the treatment of depression.

‘I see holidays as part of the overall treatment for making people happy because we now have research evidence that demonstrates a clear link between holidays and happiness,’ he said.

‘Happiness is the opposite of depression. If thinking about a holiday, going on a holiday and remembering a holiday plays a role in making people happy, than I certainly think prescribing holidays or travel could help beat depression.’

For more details about Lanzarote holidays visit yourlanzarote.net – included is a Lanzarote map

Tags: depression, happiness, health, holidays, tourism, university, vacations
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20 Award Winning Tenerife Hotels

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Tenerife Blog

The best advertising is recommendations from previous users, and to win an award that comes about as a direct result of your guests saying you provide great service is one worth winning – and that’s what’s happened for twenty of Tenerife’s hotels.

Organised by Thomas Cook Holidays, the awards recognise excellence, and it’s judged by actual guests at hotels who share their experience with the company via a Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire.

As well as awarding the best hotels it allows the company to keep on top of which hotels they use are perhaps not performing as well as others, and being able to make sure the hotels in Tenerife they offer are the best in the travel industry.

Some of the hotels that won awards are already well known to tourists, and in Playa de las Americas for example include the Bitacora and the Hotel Sol.

Los Cristianos is another well known resort popular for Tenerife holidays, and winners include the Paradise Park, Arona Gran and the Los Alisios apartments, while the Barcelo Santiago picked up honours from their hotel in Puerto de Santiago.

The Iberostar’s two hotels in Tenerife’s Costa Adeje both were among the winners, along with the Gran, ensuring all the popular areas for tourists from the UK and further afield were well represented and showing that the island is capable of providing great accommodation in different locations and it’s not just the Tenerife weather that attracts tourists.

Thomas Cook Holidays whose clients made the nominations are one of the UK’s best known travel companies, along with First Choice and Thomson.

For those who haven’t been before, the Tenerife weather is often near perfect on the southern half of the island for a holiday, while the northern half offers lush greenery and beautiful vistas. The cities are always full of life, and the glorious view of Mount Tiede, Spain’s highest point, is one many tourists remember from past visits.

For specific areas, Thomas Cook Holidays offer good information on their travel site about each one, but some of the less known areas are:

Icod de los Vinos (just Icod to the locals) is Tenerife’s premier wine-growing region. Daily life in Icod moves at a more relaxed pace than some other places on the island. If you visit Icod, be sure to visit the Dragon Tree that the locals say is thousands of years old. The beautiful Playa San Marcos with its inviting black sand can be found nearby.

La Laguna is a good place to stay if you enjoy art and architecture, and is more suited for adults than family holidays. The Cathedral dates back to 1515, and there are many interesting churches to explore. The city was once the capital of the island and still bears the regal air of an important place.

Los Gigantes is a city at the foot of massive cliffs which bears the same name. The picturesque marina offers boat trips for dolphin and whale watching, while the town has a good choice of bars, restaurants and shops while out and about.

For more information including press releases visit yourtenerife.net

Tags: Canary Islands, Costa Adeje, holidays, Los Cristianos, Playa de las Americas, Tenerife, Thomas Cook Holidays, vacations
Posted in holidays | 1 Comment »

50 Years Of Malta Holidays

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

Malta

One British couple enjoy their holidays in Malta so much that they’ve vsited for the last 50 years…The Daily Telegraph ran a report recently, saying:

Michael Hirst, 79, and his wife Mary, 76, enjoyed their first trip to Malta so much that they have spent their holidays at the same hotel in the same resort for the last 50 years.

The couple, from Harefield, Middlesex, have been back and forth to the Hotel Phoenicia in Valleta, Malta, since 1959.

Their holiday photographs chart the changes, as the structure of the building, pool, sun loungers and even the view from the balcony alters over time.

To read the full article click through to The Daily Telegraph here

Tags: holidays, malta, pensioners, travel, vacations, Valletta
Posted in holidays, malta, travel, vacations | 1 Comment »

Malta Properties For Sale To Be Promoted More

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

: Malta Property

Malta may not be a super power or big player in world politics.

Nevertheless, it holds its own even against much larger nations when it comes to the tourism industry.

Malta tourism numbers remain steady despite a declining world economy.

The Republic of Malta, a member of the European Union, is located in the Mediterranean off the coast of Sicily.

The country is actually an archipelago of seven small islands. It is located in prime Mediterranean territory, which is one factor that makes it such an appealing tourist destination.

Malta has long relied upon tourism as a driving force in its economy. Tourism Euros are what keep it thriving. The weather in Malta is often what draws first-time tourists to the area. A significant percentage of first-timers end up returning not just for the weather. Malta is rich in history, culture and activities which appeal to a wide range of holidaymakers.

Malta tourism hasn’t always been the country’s economic staple. The country has been known for a number of industries throughout the last few centuries. Cotton and tobacco were once prominently grown. The next era saw shipping and trade as a driving force.

However, Malta’s economy began to decline in the 1940’s. It was then that the Maltese government began to shift its focus toward generating a sustainable economy through tourism. Malta entered the tourism market as a force to be reckoned with. Little has changed in that regard since.

Today Malta tourism remains a top economical factor, though the country also has a thriving limestone production industry. Tourists continue to flock to the islands for the balmy climate, sandy beaches and gorgeous scenery.

Malta, like many tourism dependent countries, watched closely as the world economy took a nosedive over the past few years. The government and tourism promoters waited anxiously to see if the economic downturn would collapse it.

Some changes have been reported in Malta tourism trends and patterns over the past year. However, much of these have been minor. Many businesses in the islands still report a steady flow of foreign visitors eager to spend money on their Malta holiday.

One side effect of the economic downturn has been in the Maltese housing market. A government initiative to get more locals into home ownership in the 1980’s appears to have led to a surplus of <a href=”http://www.maltaproperty.info”>Malta properties</a> for sale now.

The programme was aimed at reducing the need for social housing. Its mission was to see more working people and families able to afford their own homes. Cheap land and accessible loans helped thousands of middle class working Maltese purchase homes.

The country enjoyed several years of prosperity, until the world economy collapsed. Housing starts in Malta have dropped considerably in recent years. Not only are new homes not being built, existing homes are sitting empty. Many who got into the market during the housing initiative have moved or passed away. Many of these properties have simply been left vacant for the lack of local buyers.

While this phenomenon has been detrimental to the local housing economy, it may mean deals for foreign visitors. Some property owners have turned to renting out vacant homes to tourists. An abundance of economical rentals has been one catalyst in Malta tourism in 2009.

It may also mean good deals for foreigners looking to purchase property on the island. Malta is home to ex-patriots from both Europe and the rest of the world. It is also a second home or vacation home-away-from-home to many regular and long term visitors.

Malta tourism officials may focus on the housing situation as one way to turn its economy back around. Marketing vacant homes to foreign buyers and renters may be one small way to keep visitors coming back to Malta for future visits.

Tags: holidays, malta, property, real estate, travel, vacations
Posted in holidays, malta, property, real estate, travel, vacations | 1 Comment »

Britons – Your Holiday Island Needs You!

Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

: Malta

British holidaymakers have been a mainstay of Malta tourism for many years. With the world economy being what it is, tourism in general is in flux not only in Malta, but everywhere. The emphasis on retaining the British market, which has always accounted for the largest percentage of the entire tourist industry in Malta, is more imperative than ever.

It’s not that British tourists need reasons for making Malta their holiday destination. The two countries share many cultural similarities. Taking holidays in Malta is almost like going home – with sunshine. This creates a level of comfort for British tourists that is not always found in other locations.

Language for one thing is a major attraction. While the official language in the country is Maltese, nearly all the residents speak English fluently. It is taught in Maltese schools from very early grades on, so natives of the country are very comfortable speaking the language. That makes the transition to spending time in a foreign country almost seamless for British tourists.

Little things, like using the same driving rules in Malta as they do in the U.K., add to the seamlessness of acclimating to a foreign country. For visitors to any country, there can be a tremendous amount of stress associated with observing the country’s rules of the road. While it may seem a small thing, it can definitely lessen the excitement and pleasure of being on holiday. British visitors have no driving hurdles to overcome when they arrive.

But even with the home away from home feeling that has been a major attraction for British tourists, the economy has thrown the proverbial monkey wrench into the mix. In particular the decline of the Euro in comparison to the Pound has created problems for the Maltese tourism industry. Families looking for value and savings in their holiday choices are considering other destinations. They are also opting for so called ’staycations,’ choosing to stay home for their holidays instead of packing up and going abroad.

The long and the short of it is that the Malta holiday industry must make extra efforts to bring tourists to Malta. It is especially intent on maintaining the British presence. Part of the problem is an old one that has become more problematic because of the state of the economy. Malta has long had an infrastructure problem. The country needs to upgrade its ability to service a greater number of tourists.

The combination of the need for more hotels in Malta and greater access to the island and all of the infrastructure problems associated with that is not helping to increase tourism. New hotels and especially more four and five star facilities would be a great addition to the tourist industry. But new hotels mean upgrading power and water supplies and improving the highway system. All of this requires sizable investments by the government and private industry. Securing investments is made trickier because the economy is so sluggish.

Nevertheless the tourist industry recognises that it is extremely important to maintain a sizable British presence among holiday visitors. Everyone seems committed to doing whatever can be done to make that happen.

Happily for British tourists, the attention paid to keeping them happy as an inducement to return time and again makes for a very pleasant situation. Malta has sufficient tourist attractions to grow their tourism industry. Whether tourists are interested in warm, sunny beaches, vibrant city life, exploring the countryside, a varied cuisine or exciting cultural offerings, Malta can provide them all.

As either a first time destination or a return destination, Malta is a good choice for tourists who thrive in a Mediterranean ambiance and wondering where to book for their 2010 holidays.

For a Malta blog and travel news visit yourmalta.com

Tags: economy, holidays, malta, travel, vacations
Posted in holidays, malta, travel, vacations | No Comments »

Malta Holidays Reach New Markets

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

This year the Mediterranean is battening down the hatches for what may be the worst year for travel for some time. That’s not to say every travel destination is suffering though. Malta recorded her best ever year for tourism in 2008. Visitors continue travelling to see its cultural and natural beauty.

A member of the European Union, Malta attributes its nearly 4 percent growth in its tourism sector to savvy marketing and increased traffic from low-cost airlines. The last quarter of 2008 showed a loss following the bank crisis and worldwide financial meltdown. Regardless, the overall trend of travel to Malta is on an upswing.

Both tourist and per capita expenditure in Malta were down a few percent. This is easily explained by the shift from packaged holiday deals to individual travel. Individual travel increased nearly 10 percent.

Mediterranean Malta Faces A Tourism Challenge

Economist Karm Farrugia believes that it’s impossible to increase the number of tourists per month. However, there are means to increase a tourist’s stay in Malta. By offering additional nights at a reduced cost, hotels make themselves more appealing to tourists with shrinking wallets.

Especially with non-five star Malta hotels, free or reduced rates for extra nights are the best way to compete in a tight market. This is also a great way to encourage tourists to spend money in Malta. Such strategies to extend the stay of visitors are working to increase overall revenue.

The budget for the Maltese tourism authority has increased by 3.5 million euros this year. With this increase comes a refocused approach to marketing. Some areas have been targeted with more funds as trends change. One of the most reliable sources of tourism in Malta is being reconsidered.

British tourists, the group that comprises the highest percentage of tourists in Malta, have been decreasing in numbers. The pound sterling has been losing value against the euro. This is making Malta less cost efficient, though British tourists still make up the highest percentage. Farrugia says that Malta needs to keep its focus on the British tourism market but shouldn’t increase funding. Flying into Malta airport are airlines already who provide cheap Malta flights

Tourists from other European countries have also been taking more holidays in Malta. Italy, Germany, France and Spain have all seen an increasing number of tourists heading to Malta. In response, tourism funding toward Europe has been increased by 50 percent. For the first time, the MTA will broadcast television advertisements in Italy, Germany and France.

One reason for continuing optimism for Maltese tourism is the relatively small size of it. In a crowded industry where many countries aim too high, Malta hotels keeps its necessary room count low. This makes sustainability much easier.

In order to stay ahead, though, the MTA needs to increase their budget even more. A loss of 100,000 visitors could mean a potential loss of 50 million euros. By increasing the budget a mere 4 million euros, this can be avoided.

Malta is known as a destination for luxury, but it needs to reign in unruly guests that have plagued the island recently. It’s up to the MTA and hotel managers to assess this problem jointly. By working together, they can ensure that the industry maintains the high standard that is expected of the island.

It is also known as a spot for tourists to learn English. This explains its continuing popularity among students. Tourism has increased over the past two years in this key demographic.

As long as the MTA learns to refocus its assets and keeps standards high, Malta will continue to be a leader in world tourism. As other areas fall to a down economy, Malta must strategically market itself to new countries while remaining attractive to old favourites. The trends indicate that the country is thinking ahead and is ready for the challenges she faces for getting more people to take Malta holidays.

Tags: credit crunch, economy, holidays, malta, Mediterranean, recession, vacations
Posted in holidays, malta, travel, vacations | 1 Comment »

Malta Holidays Hoping 2009 Won’t Be A Disaster

Friday, January 23rd, 2009

Malta’s government counts tourism as an important part of her economy. This has magnified the concern associated with the decline in tourism in the last few years.

Malta’s Mediterranean climate of dry hot summers tempered by sea breezes and mild winters has been an attractive drawing card for visitors from the UK. It offers the usual water associated activities like sailing, snorkeling, sun bathing and swimming along with hotels ranging from four star to tourist level. Restaurants abound on the island and the cuisines offered range from Mediterranean to Japanese. Shopping, golfing and some spectacular sightseeing round out the activities.

Malta is fairly low key and more than suitable for family holidays. The tourist industry would like nothing more than to broaden its appeal to draw in more younger tourists as well. Developers have been planning on new hotels and upgraded activities. The deterrent has been the economy. With fewer tourists hotels have found themselves experiencing occupancy shortfalls, particularly the upmarket hotels in Malta.

Senglea is just one Malta village hoping for visitors this year...

Not only are tourists either staying home or choosing different holiday venues, but those who do visit Malta are opting for accommodation other than the usual hotels in Malta. Everyone in the tourist industry knows that the key to a robust tourist trade lies in the repeat visitors. Lately, however, Malta has become more of a on time destination.

Transportation to and from the island has been one factor that many industry experts have been struggling with for the past few years. Although a number of cut rate airlines have applied for routes to Malta, the government has been reluctant to grant them. The concern has been that the competition would not be beneficial to the state-sanctioned airline, Air Malta. Much to the relief of the hoteliers, airlines such as Ryanair were awarded landing rights in late 2006.

The success of the budget airlines that offer Malta flights at rock bottom prices is, at the same time, a double edged sword. As the cheaper airlines gain landing rights from more and more countries and cities, people who may have been drawn to the less expensive holiday destinations may start choosing other venues. And the domestic Malta tourist trade would have the same opportunity to go abroad for their holidays.

Malta’s tourist industry according to some people who write a Malta blog must persuade the government that it has to upgrade its infrastructure and improve the environment for tourists. The hope is that Malta will win back more of its lost UK tourists and that visitors will stop viewing Malta as a one off trip. So far the cheaper airlines seem to be doing their part. Though tourism is still off due to the state of the economy, Ryanair was reporting that immediately after winning landing rights, it was taking a reservation for Malta flights at a rate of one every minute.

In addition to the cultivation of cheaper airlines, tourist industry experts in Malta are also eyeing the cruise ship market. Malta based cruise ships could be a boon to some of the tourism problems. In addition the government is doing its best to refit docks and build new berths for cruise ships.

Getting cruise line passengers onto the island will not solve the struggling hotels in Malta problem – but the influx of customers spending money shopping, dining and sightseeing will definitely help to get things back on track. If enough tourist euros can be generated, the government and private enterprises will be able to initiate the long overdue improvements necessary to draw more tourists to Malta.

It’s likely that tourism will continue to experience more downs than ups until the general economy begins to rebound. There are some good signs for Malta’s tourism industry. While visitors from the UK continue to decline, there is an increase in holidaymakers from other countries. Visitors from Germany, France, Italy and Spain, among other European countries, have increased slightly in the past few years. The numbers have not yet offset the drop in British visitors, but these days any good news is welcome for those in the Malta holidays business.

Malta property

Tags: cruise, holidays, malta, Mediterranean cruise, tourism, travel, vacations
Posted in cruise, holidays, malta, travel, vacations | 12 Comments »

2009 Holidays – First One With Children

Thursday, January 1st, 2009

Taking your children away for the first time on an overseas holiday is an exciting time for both parents and children – but which destinations are a good idea for a first trip abroad?

A survey undertaken by a British insurance company reveals that by the time children today are eleven years old, they would have travelled to as many places and flown as many miles as their grandparents have during their entire lifetimes.

Even more astonishing perhaps is the revelation that one in four babies in the UK have been on an overseas holiday by the time they are six months old, with this figure rising to over sixty per cent by the time children reach the ripe old age of three years old.

In contrast nearly a third of Britons over the age of sixty had never been abroad, while seventy per cent wished they had travelled more and seen more of the world.

One British company who run a series of European travel sites suggests that for baby’s first holiday overseas, Malta could be a good choice of destination.

Golden Bay in Malta courtesy of http://www.yourmalta.com

‘The important thing for a first holiday abroad when a baby is so young is that should the baby become unwell that you are in a country with good hospitals and staff, of the popular holiday destinations Spain is very good.’ They say.

‘But Malta is just a three hour flight from the UK and Malta has equally good hospitals and staff, but critically while most Spanish doctors speak good English – they all do in Malta, as do the nurses and all the staff – there just wouldn’t be language difficulties in the same way as there could possibly be in some non English language nations.’

They further add that wherever that first holiday is, keep close to medical facilities, so not too rural, a cottage a few hours away from the nearest big city hospital isn’t recommended for example.

And finally, try to avoid going to Spain or Malta in July and August. Heat can be oppressive in much of mainland Europe, with temperatures in Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Malta often in the mid 90’s, quite a change from the UK that is more often in the 70’s, and can be uncomfortable for a baby and the transition within a few hours quite a bit to take at that age.

As a possible destination Malta has a lot to offer UK tourists with a young family as well as the common language bond and driving on the same side of the road as in Britain – a legacy of when Malta was part of the British Empire, and quite a few people from the UK have bought Malta property.

St. Paul’s Bay for example is the holiday spot for tourists who like some variety. Whether they want to take a meandering stroll around the harbour and look at the Mediterranean, to indulge in a coffee and something sweet, or simply to relax and take in some rays, St. Paul’s Bay is a good Malta holidays area and has a range of hotels.

For eating out, St. Paul’s Bay has a good choice of restaurants. The area is well appointed by many tourist and child friendly cafes and restaurants. For a taste of more upscale dining there is Old St. Paul’s Bay, where there are generally upmarket eateries, and all around the bay there are many good fish restaurants that serve up some of the best fish that Malta has to offer for the adults. For a little window shopping, tourists can take a stroll around the many shops located in the old village.

Malta is also very rich in history, with some artifacts pre-dating Egypt’s pyramids. History buffs will enjoy the variety of treasures and artefacts on display in Malta’s museums. But perhaps not the best place to head with a young family in tow!

But overall, for families wondering where to head for their first overseas holiday, a holiday in Malta could be a good choice if 2009 is to be the year to start family holidays abroad.

Tags: children, holiday, holidays, malta, Spain, travel, vacation, vacations
Posted in holidays, malta, vacations | 9 Comments »

Euro Crash Hits British 2009 Malta Holiday Plans

Saturday, November 22nd, 2008

Malta Holidays

A dream Disney holiday in Florida with children or grandchildren, a Caribbean cruise, or a holiday in many European countries has been put on hold for many British families who have seen Sterling – the British currency – slip badly against the American dollar and the Euro.

And now countries like Malta who are heavily reliant on tourism from the UK are waiting anxiously to see how many bookings are made in January – traditionally the busiest month for holiday bookings – for next summer.

Even low cost flights to Malta might not be enough to stop people revising their 2009 holiday plans.

An exchange rate is simply the price of one country’s currency expressed in another country’s currency. The exchange rate is the rate at which currencies can be exchanged. A good example is that of the British pound and the US dollar. In August the pound bought 2 dollars – in November it was buying less than a dollar and a half – cutting spending money by a quarter for Brits taking a trip to Florida.

Many factors help determine the exchange rate of one currency vs. another. Supply and demand is only one of the factors. Each country’s government, interest rates and inflation, as well as the stock market are also contributing factors. The most trustworthy locations to exchange money are banks, exchange bureaus and ATMs. Credit cards are a viable way to spend money while travelling internationally because they offer a form of payment in nearly any currency.

The dollar and sterling have both been steadily losing ground to the euro. Ever changing exchange rates are going to make international travel more expensive for 2009.

Tourists are relying more and more on ATMs to exchange currencies while travelling. Most tourists say this form of exchange bypasses the exchange bureaus that often charge high commissions. Others argue that banks offer the better exchange rate without charging unreasonably high fees.

To ensure you receive the best exchange rate at the time of your planned vacation, check with your bank, your credit card company and the exchange bureau. Some credit card companies have begun charging a flat fee for overseas purchases. This fee is charged in addition to foreign exchange fees the customers already pay.

When booking your hotel internationally, if you live in the US look for dollar rate guarantees offered by many international hotels. This will help protect you from fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Hotels offering a dollar rate guarantee often book more quickly than those that do not. When possible, try to book your hotel several months in advance to lock in a good monetary exchange rate.

Monetary conversions will definitely take their toll on holidaymakers this summer. Tourists will need to be more mindful of when to exchange their currency. As exchange rates change, the overall cost of the international holiday increases. An apartment that would have cost $100 per day six months ago now costs about $120 per day for Americans. Over the course of a 2-week vacation, this could determine the difference between international travel and changing plans entirely.

Recent exchange rate changes in favor of the euro could also mean more international visitors to the U.S. and Europe from other areas of the world. If the dollar and sterling continue to fall, new doors could be opened for tourists wishing to visit the U.S. and Europe.

Those looking to purchase property overseas will also feel the pinch. Property for sale in Malta for example that previously cost the U.K. purchaser £105,000 now cost £120,000 due to present exchange rates, and any drops in prices are being cancelled out because of currency fluctuations.

Tags: economy, Florida, holidays, malta, property, real estate, recession, vacations
Posted in property, real estate | 6 Comments »