Britons living in Bulgaria. Guide to Bulgaria, Sofia and Varna

Holidaymakers turn to eastern Europe as euro prices surge - Telegraph.co.uk

Holidaymakers turn to eastern Europe as euro prices surge Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - Jul 18, 2008 Greece welcomes 2.2 million Britons – a million more than Turkey. Tunisia, despite its new found popularity, attracted just 270000 British holidaymakers in ...

Holidaymakers turn to eastern Europe as euro prices surge - Telegraph.co.uk
A year ago holidaymakers' money went 20 per cent further, with the exchange rate at €1.49. ABTA estimates that 1.32 million people will fly out of Britain this weekend from just the main airports. Bob Atkinson at TravelSupermarket, the price comparison website, said: "There is a clear trend towards visiting more exotic locations, and doing something a bit more interesting or active on holiday. By Harry Wallop, Consumer Affairs Correspondent Last Updated: 11:05PM BST 19 Jul 2008 With state schools breaking up, many families will spend this weekend packing their bags to go to Turkey, Croatia, Bulgaria, Tunisia and Egypt rather than Greece, Spain or France. By its calculations, bookings for Egypt are up 28 per cent and Turkey are up 20 per cent. Explore Britain with Holiday InnIt's easy to forget sometimes, but Britain has a lot to offer the sightseer. Fantasy FootballFantasy Football is backPick a team for the chance to win a share of over £1,000,000 pounds. Greece welcomes 2.2 million Britons – a million more than Turkey. Holiday companies, anticipating the economic slowdown, have cut back capacity . However, the popularity of non-eurozone countries is no short-term blip, experts said. Let Noble Caledonia plan a holiday to remember. Meanwhile, bookings to Italy are down eight per cent, Spain is down four per cent, Greece is down eight per cent and France has dipped by two per cent. Most eurozone countries have never represented such poor value for British travel makers, with £1 buying just €1.26. Northwest SportThe Northwest of England has a reputation as a hotbed of sport, but 2008 is set to be a year to remember.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertiser Links TravelThe big pictureSee the week's best travel photography competition entries. Phil Davies, the editor of TravelMole, the travel industry website, said: "Given people are counting the pennies, the strong euro is having a significant impact on where people are going. Prices in Greece are 22 per cent more expensive than its neighbour Turkey when it comes to a basket of popular goods such as beer, sun cream and insect repellent, due to the strong euro and relatively weak Turkish Lira. Telegraph TVGadget InspectorsWhipping up a treat with the Magimix Gelato Chef 2200 ice-cream maker. The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) pointed out that while Spain was "having a poor year" official figures show that it remains clearly the number one destination with more than 12 million Britons visiting the country every year. The cheapest deal for a week long trip to Croatia will set you back £414 per person, according to the travel website. The Co-Operative Travel Company describes the new trend as a "seismic shift". These figures are backed up by CheapFlights, which specialises in finding air plane tickets for independent travellers. This factor, combined with the fact that very few people have actually cut back on their holidays means that prices for last minute deals are high. Those countries outside of the eurozone – but only slightly further in terms of flying time – such as in eastern Europe and north Africa have witnessed a surge in bookings, according to travel companies. Tunisia, despite its new found popularity, attracted just 270,000 British holidaymakers in 2006, the most recent year for which figures are available from the Office of National Statistics. While bookings to Barcelona have fallen by 16 per cent, tickets being bought to Dalaman, on the southwest coast of Turkey, have increased by 9 per cent. Why not visit Tunisia, Egypt or Croatia – once you are there the holiday will be significantly cheaper." Families that have not booked a holiday in the hope of catching a last minute deal to these cheaper destinations are set to be frustrated, however.