Cheap Holidays Thanks to a Strengthening Pound

The past three years has seen the Pound take something of a battering against its rivals, resulting in more expensive goods, and even worse, more expensive holidays. Thankfully Sterling is enjoying a gradual return, pushing as high as 1.20 (Euro) to the pound having just about reached parity at the end of 2008. It may not be as attractive as the 2007 price which was above 1.50 but still it makes all the difference for Brits looking to enjoy cheap holidays abroad. The top destinations are still the same as ever, Spain, Greece and also Turkey thanks to the Pound also doing well against the Turkish Lira. The Greek Islands are always great for holiday deals at any time of the year, mostly due to the hot weather and the abundance of cheap flights from UK airports. Corfu is a top destination among Brits of all ages, depending upon which part of the island travellers are visiting. All planes touch down at the airport in central Corfu, close to the island’s capital, Corfu town. Unlike many of its peers Corfu is lacking in classical ruins but does have some wonderful sites thanks to periods of French and British rule. One of the main sites, the Liston is a beautiful promenade built to resemble the Rue de Rivoli in Paris and is great for afternoon drinks. Around the island there are plenty of places that are popular for all inclusive holidays. The beautiful landscapes and secluded coves in the north are popular among hikers, as are the holiday resorts around Sidari which are frequented by families looking for a warm break. The 18-30 crowd tend to head for Kavos in the south, a resort known for wild summers of excess and frivolity. From Corfu there are beautiful views of Albania and the Greek mainland with a choice of ferry excursions to make the journey across. The benefits of good exchange rates are really felt on city breaks. Two good places to head for are Paris, a notoriously expensive and extremely popular city destination, or Lisbon, the beautiful Portuguese capital. Paris is best for visitors that are really in to the tourist experience as the sites are among the best in the world. The Louvre museum has some of the world’s greatest collections of historical artefacts and the Pompidou centre is full of priceless modern art. Add the grand palace of Versailles and the Eiffel tower to that list and Paris is a world beater. Lisbon is a different offering to Paris. The atmosphere is far more relaxed, and even in the high season the city never really feels overcrowded. Where the Portuguese capital really wins is in its proximity to the beaches. Within twenty minutes on a train from Cais do Sodre rail station sun lovers can be relaxing on the gold sands of the beach at Carcavelos. Lisbon’s beaches are one reason to swap cheap holidays in the Algarve for a city break, and that’s before taking the historical sites into consideration. Sintra is one of southern Europe’s most enchanted towns, full of stately homes and castles resting high up on the hills, it is a definite must see.