Eye On Travel: Forexit: Avoid a Pounding in Currency Friendly Destinations

Exchange Rates: the Sharks are circling

With the declining value of the Great British Pound, are we to revert to Victorian era holidays: Isle of Wight instead of Ibiza, Barry Island instead of Barbados and Skegness instead of the Seychelles whilst waving farewell to our occasional friend, the sun?

In a word, no. So where will your money now go furthest? Let’s have a look at some long haul destinations that still give you more bang for your buck. Well, Pound anyway.

Sri Lanka: A postman’s nightmare

Mention Sri Lanka and you think of tea, elephants and a recent cricket series whitewash. But this diverse, fascinating and now peaceful country has plenty more than its Indian Ocean beaches to offer with a fast growing great value tourism market.

Inland hill station Kandy makes a great base for exploring the cave temples of Dambulla and ascending large rock Sigiriya. To the south is colonial Galle and serious wildlife awaits at Yala National Park. Then you can have a well earned rest in a beach front All Inclusive resort.

HOW: Fly to capital Colombo. Add a stopover in the nearby Maldives or en route in Dubai.

WHEN TO GO: December to March is high season and dry on the coasts. May to August is monsoon time in the busier south but drier in the less developed north east.

South Africa: Be a Cape Crusader

The South African Rand makes this one of the best value countries to visit now. Head north to Kruger National Park for a world class safari experience. Then take a leisurely trip along the coastal Garden Route from Port Elizabeth to the Western Cape.

But allow plenty of time for stunning Cape Town. Visit Robben Island, Table Mountain and the V&A Waterfront bars and restaurants before heading out to the Cape of Good Hope and returning via a wine tasting stop in Stellenbosch. Great food, drink and prices.

HOW: Fly to Johannesburg (for Kruger) or Cape Town (new Gatwick flights in Winter 16.)

WHEN TO GO: With opposite seasons to Europe, go there when it’s cold here.

Argentina: Better without Jeremy Clarkson

Like good wine and steak? Try great value Argentina. Lively Buenos Aires is hard to leave but this country is all about nature. Visit the Iguacu Water Falls on the Brazilian border before heading towards the Andes.

Go to Patagonia for Glaciers, mountains and whales. And Wales, as it has a Welsh speaking region and you really want to have a rack of lamb down there, washed down with a top quality and excellent value Malbec - perfect after a day horse riding and pretending to be a Gaucho.

HOW: Fly to Buenos Aires direct or via Madrid. Take internal flights as it’s a big country.

WHEN TO GO: Again, opposite seasons to the UK. It’s cooler the further south you go so hiking and rafting in their summer or skiing in their winter.

Thailand: The beach with the golden sand

Finally, for great beaches, high quality accommodation and mouth watering food, try Thailand as this country represents a bargain. Choose from big resorts or remote islands. Spa retreats or Full Moon parties. Energetic Bangkok or relaxed Chiang Mai.

It’s not all about the beaches so leave time to visit Buddhist temples, trek through rainforests, learn to dive, go rafting, visit hill tribe villages, haggle in the markets and take a Thai cookery course. Or you can relax on the beach.

HOW: Fly to Bangkok (direct) or Krabi, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui with one stop.

WHEN: High and dry season is December to March everywhere. June to August is wet in some areas but is high season in Koh Samui where it rains in October/November instead.

Standard low cost packages are bookable through my multi destination EyeLine Travel website.

For tailor made packages including any of the places featured above or just for some information, please Contact me and I will do the hard work for you. All holidays that I arrange are ABTA/ATOL protected.

For holidays to Thailand, please visit my dedicated website: http://boutiquethailand.co.uk and visit the Facebook page of the same name for current offers.

EyeLine Travel: http://eyelinetravel.co.uk

Thailand: http://boutiquethailand.co.uk

david@eyelinetravel.co.uk
020 8123 2569