Are You Starting Your Family Holiday Countdown?

According to M&S Money, today is one of the most popular summer shopping days as families prepare for the holidays abroad and if you need holiday travel money you may be able to get more for your money this year.

Most British travellers apparently wait until 10 days before their summer holiday before they start their holiday shopping. With many school holidays starting on the weekend of 24 July it makes today the key shopping day for those travel essentials.

Holiday travel money may well be required and according to M&S Travel Money nearly 90% of people claim that getting good value on this is vitally important to them.

Many people buy their foreign currency in advance of travelling. One option is a prepaid currency card, such as that offered by FairFX or CaxtonFX. These are really growing in popularity with travellers.

You can of course use a foreign exchange facility on the high street. As James Yerkess, M&S Head of Travel Money, comments though: ‘It’s encouraging that so many holidaymakers are buying their travel money in advance, as it’s always a good idea to buy before you fly and make the best of competitive exchange rates on the high street.

M&S treats customers fairly by offering the same rate up and down the UK, in shops, online and by phone.’

This point about getting ‘the same rate up and down the UK’ is important as many providers alter their rates geographically, so many families could be gambling on getting best value this summer.

Data from M&S Travel Money reveals that currencies used in some of the most popular tourist destinations have increased in value against the pound, meaning Brits will find the cost of everyday items more expensive.

For example the pound has dropped in value by 7% against the US dollar and 11% against the Mexican peso.

However, there are eight currencies against which sterling has increased in value since summer 2009, including the euro, Danish Krone, Czech koruna and Latvian lat. It could well be time to take advantage of the value of the Pound against the Euro and get your holiday travel money.

If you do spend £250 or more on Travel Money at M&S you’ll get a £5 voucher to use when you spend £35 or more on Clothing or Homeware. This offer runs until 25 July 2010.

Marks & Spencer Travel Money is available at bureaux de change in M&S stores across the country, also by telephone on 0800 363 484 and online at www.marksandspencer.com/travelmoney