Take Advantage of a Stronger Pound – an Easter Getaway Beckons! | Prepaid365

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24 February 2014
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The strengthening of the pound against several other major currencies suggests that the time could be right to consider an Easter getaway.

Half term is barely over but many families – and school children especially – will already be looking forward to the next opportunity for some time off.

This is reflected by figures from the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) too, who reported a surge in both summer and Easter holiday sales.

The poor weather in the UK to start 2014 is just one of the reasons why so many people are looking to get away.

Popular getaways

At Easter, ABTA said the Canaries were the top choice destination, while the Balearic’s, Malta, Tunisia and Egypt also saw a surge in people booking early.

South Africa and Australia also remained popular long-haul destinations, as the Southern Hemisphere summer is in full swing – meaning sunshine and heat in both locations.

With many school children off during Easter, this does push the prices up but flying early or late in the day could negate some of the costs.

At the same time, looking to go in the middle of the week will almost certainly represent a saving than if families choose to fly at weekends.

The strength of the pound

A further boost to Brits considering these destinations is the current strength of the pound, which is up by a third on the South African rand when compared to last year.

Meanwhile, the pound is also up by a fifth against the Australian dollar and 30% up against the Turkish lira when compared to February 2013.

It’s still possible to find value for money on most trips as well, thanks to the large amount of choice available for customers.

At the same time, exchange rates show the pound to be performing well against the Euro and the Dollar, meaning in the case of the former that a holiday closer to home could also be a feasible option.

Economic estimates suggest that this could remain the case for some time too, although securing a good rate of exchange in the future cannot be guaranteed.

Prepaid travel card options

Travelling with a prepaid travel card can provide money to spend without the need to carry a pocket full of travellers’ cheques or foreign currency.

Meanwhile, the exchange rate at the time of transferring money can also be locked in place, meaning customers can enjoy the benefits of excellent rates if they transfer at the right time.

With a prepaid card you can only spend the amount which is on it at any given time, making budget management possible, although it can be topped up if you so wish.

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