The value of the £

The wife was looking into a girly trip to NY over the past couple of weeks with her friends on Virgin Holls... the price for most hotel and flight combos have gone up over £300 in that time!!

reading between the lines it seems that the "hard Brexit" announcement seems to be taking it's toll.... OK it's probably great for American tourists coming in but maybe will see a reduction in Brits going the other way

Yeah, just back and its very noticeable.

When we went in June £500 got you around $750

2 weeks ago, before we left £500 got you $615

Yesterday £500 got you $595

Its certainly caused a rethink about another trip before the years out, but saying that. I think in 4 or 5 months time, there will be some cracking deals to entice people back.

David

yep, am absolutely delighted, managed to bag 4 x PE tickets in the recent sale to MCO for £2.7k, current price £2k more so was feeling good on that front. Hotels and car yet to be booked and pricing all over the place. COuld end up being a very expensive trip if the rate keeps up its free-fall. Was an article on the BBC News website yesterday on the terrible in terminal exchange rate on dollar and euro...£1=sub€1

NOthing like progress.....

We have deferred our second annual California trip this year - currency fluctuations mean it's 20% more expensive, and that's on an already normally steep bill. Will wait to see what happens ...

Quite a few families on a "visit Ordlando" facebook site seem to be defering for a year "to see what happens"

Luckily I'm booked up well in advance so the couple of trips I've got are paid!

[Neil]

It certainly was noticeable during our trip at the end of September where the average rate I got was just over 1.28. From when I booked the hotel in October 2015 to paying for it on the 1st October this year the difference was £350, plus then all of the other things we bought in $ for our trip and our spending money, I imagine it cost us another £1000-1250 more than if we had gone last October.

I've now missed cashing in my 2 for 1 on BA next year, because I was holding back because of currency. Now thinking it is worth leaving the voucher to expire, or waste it on some shorthauls (then again, who'd even use BA for SH now, after food and drink dropped?).

I read this thread and out of curiosity I have just re-priced the hotel element of our upcoming trip to Orlando, staying at Sheraton Vistana Village on I-Drive. All the prices are like for like, i.e. all for a 2 bedroom villa for 15 nights.

Booked in early April with BA Holidays (hotel only)... price back then was £1769 - todays price £1991.
Virgin Holidays (hotel only) wanted about £2225 back in April - todays price £2555.

The increases are not just limited to hotels either - just repriced our theme park tickets on the same UK based website we purchased them from in June & they would cost us £102 more if we bought them today. Alamo want £18 more for the exact same car/package now than they did in early September.

So I can certainly see why people are delaying trips to the USA - especially if they have been saving for a long time & working on pre-referendum / hard-Brexit announcement exchange rates. Their planned budget has been thrown out of the window. Fingers crossed the rate picks up a bit in the next 26 days before we head out there.

I'd certainly not bet any money on the currency improving anytime soon, with the potential for this chaotic brexit to come...

Indeed, even the pro leavers I've read (who were blaming the bad currency on "bitter eu bureaucrats", erm, what?) were reckoning it could hit parity sooner rather than later (ie: well before March).

the only plus to Trump becoming the next President is the sudden likely dollar free-fall which may help shift some short term benefit back in the pounds direction....if that plays out anything is possible let face it

the only plus to Trump becoming the next President is the sudden likely dollar free-fall which may help shift some short term benefit back in the pounds direction....if that plays out anything is possible let face it

Seems increasingly unlikely though, but on plus side, wouldn't want to see any of the four horsemen of the apocalyse...

Swings and roundabouts.
A few years ago we got over $2 to the pound which was brilliant.
This year definitely not brilliant. I will not let it spoil my holiday though.
No super flashy motor. Eat in a couple of times more a week.
Save like mad and take every job I'm offered for the next 130 days.

Dick D

Fortunately, we bought our tickets for next summer (well paid the tax) at T-320 or so. Any chance of the pound's devaluation sparking a fuel surcharge?

I've now missed cashing in my 2 for 1 on BA next year, because I was holding back because of currency. Now thinking it is worth leaving the voucher to expire, or waste it on some shorthauls (then again, who'd even use BA for SH now, after food and drink dropped?).

Does no food really make that much difference in SH? If you really can't last an hour or two without food then go to Pret or Eat or somewhere else at the airport and buy a sandwich of your choice which will be far superior to the wrap / finger sandwich you get onboard.

I've now missed cashing in my 2 for 1 on BA next year, because I was holding back because of currency. Now thinking it is worth leaving the voucher to expire, or waste it on some shorthauls (then again, who'd even use BA for SH now, after food and drink dropped?).

Does no food really make that much difference in SH? If you really can't last an hour or two without food then go to Pret or Eat or somewhere else at the airport and buy a sandwich of your choice which will be far superior to the wrap / finger sandwich you get onboard.

I did not care about the food, they devalued that so much that I'd be surprised anyone cared it was gone. It was the booze which they sneaked in on the last announcement. I'd typically have 2 drinks over a flight of a shorthaul on a BA flight, kind of like punctionation of the middle of the flight. Sure I can have that in the lounge due to my status, but I'll not likely hold that status past 2018... I also get a lounge via PP, so the Easyjets are really no different.

I did not care about the food, they devalued that so much that I'd be surprised anyone cared it was gone. It was the booze which they sneaked in on the last announcement. I'd typically have 2 drinks over a flight of a shorthaul on a BA flight, kind of like punctionation of the middle of the flight. Sure I can have that in the lounge due to my status, but I'll not likely hold that status past 2018... I also get a lounge via PP, so the Easyjets are really no different.

Agreed. Never bothered with the food as it really could not be classed as food on BA SH however did look forward to my G&T

Add me to the numbers of those thinking twice and showing restraint on booking future US trips for the time being due to the pound becoming very weak against the USD. As much as I like going to the US, the currency situation is making things more expensive compared to the same period last year (and even more so compared to just over 2 years ago when it peaked at £1/$1.70), although to be fair I've had a good run given my 5 trips in the last 2 years.

Given VS' expansion at MAN for next year, I do hope demand holds up for the new flights to last more than one summer season, though I'm not sure any downturn in visitor numbers from the UK will be offset sufficiently by visitor numbers from the US.

I think next year my trips will be consigned to Europe and at least one trip next year will involve going to Spain to attend a wedding. The pound isn't doing much better against the euro and is rapidly reaching parity like it was at the height of the last recession in 2008/2009, but it's less money on flights to begin with.

It certainly was noticeable during our trip at the end of September where the average rate I got was just over 1.28. From when I booked the hotel in October 2015 to paying for it on the 1st October this year the difference was £350, plus then all of the other things we bought in $ for our trip and our spending money, I imagine it cost us another £1000-1250 more than if we had gone last October.

One of the places we stayed at in our own trip to Florida last month was a private rental that was booked just over a year ago and the prices were in USD. Compared to now, it worked out about £120 more expensive, though this was partly offset by the deposit being returned which meant we got more of the deposit back as we got paid back in USD, but was still more expensive overall. The other 2 places we stayed at was booked through Virgin Holidays and this was a masterstroke as booking direct would have meant paying in USD and some of this was more expensive to begin with anyway.

Quite a few families on a "visit Ordlando" facebook site seem to be defering for a year "to see what happens"

Luckily I'm booked up well in advance so the couple of trips I've got are paid!

I had a quick nosey on The Dibb and some are commenting along the lines of how this has put them off and made a big hole in the budgets of those committed to travel very soon. If you're taking kids with you the weak pound is no joke.

I hear what y'all are saying................................but bollocks to it I am not cancelling/postponing anything ! Life's too short !

had planned on West Coast next year & Santiago/Easter Island + Lima/Inca trail the year after.
I really need to sit down & bang out some calculations.
While I know both will be more expensive than they was a few weeks ago, It may mean South America next year in the hope there is a recovery for the year after. As it stands, I am priced out of West Coast Trip (was hoping to drop down to pick up a 49ers game, over to lake Tahoe, up to Yosemite & then to Nappa & back to SF for a few days before flying home).
I also have to juggle my vouchers. 2x E to PE for Virgin & 1x 2-4-1 BA. Annoying when I have miles for both trips!
Worst case scenario I delay one by a year & risk losing a voucher or wasting the BA on my annual snow trip in Europe

I hear what y'all are saying................................but bollocks to it I am not cancelling/postponing anything ! Life's too short !

Couldn't agree more! We are feeling the weak pound on hols in Florida at the moment but have soon stopped doing the conversion in my head... We are here on holiday to enjoy ourselves and are already planning next years US trip...

Not to gloat but for the first time in years it's the opposite for us. We have a trip booked to go to London and Liverpool next month for my husband's 50th. I originally priced out everything in January/February with conversion rates at that time and now that I'm paying for train tickets, hotels, etc. we're actually coming out a little bit ahead for a change. I don't expect this to be a forever thing so we will enjoy it while we can.

Not to gloat but for the first time in years it's the opposite for us. We have a trip booked to go to London and Liverpool next month for my husband's 50th. I originally priced out everything in January/February with conversion rates at that time and now that I'm paying for train tickets, hotels, etc. we're actually coming out a little bit ahead for a change. I don't expect this to be a forever thing so we will enjoy it while we can.

Well, somebody's got to benefit from our misfortune Hope you have a great time over here.

On the upside my company share holding is denominated in USD, so I will be able to put some of that as a downpayment on a caravan rental in Tenby or somewhere (off peak, of course).

Not to gloat but for the first time in years it's the opposite for us. We have a trip booked to go to London and Liverpool next month for my husband's 50th. I originally priced out everything in January/February with conversion rates at that time and now that I'm paying for train tickets, hotels, etc. we're actually coming out a little bit ahead for a change. I don't expect this to be a forever thing so we will enjoy it while we can.

Well, somebody's got to benefit from our misfortune Hope you have a great time over here.

On the upside my company share holding is denominated in USD, so I will be able to put some of that as a downpayment on a caravan rental in Tenby or somewhere (off peak, of course).

Spendthrift!

Fortunately, we bought our tickets for next summer (well paid the tax) at T-320 or so. Any chance of the pound's devaluation sparking a fuel surcharge?

Fuel has already increased on US routes by about £40 round trip.