Top 5 Easter Hot Spots
March 29th 2010, Vanessa Whittingham @ The Currency Exchange Site
One of the new buzz words sitting on the lips of seasoned travellers this year is ‘staycation’. With the pound’s strength in currency exchange markets declining, and the Easter Break right on our doorstep here are a couple of ideas that are just a bunny hop-skip-n-jump away.
Closer to home…
1 – Easter Corrie, Scotland
Traveller’s cheques and currency convertors are not needed in this little Scottish gem, situated near the Cairngorms National Park in the county of Glenlivet. Bird watching and hill walking will ensure that your holiday money goes that much further in this little hamlet dating back to the early 18th century.
2 – Whitstable, Kent
Tired of travelling? Not a problem when your destination is less than a 2 hour drive from London. This little seaside village has a lot to offer, from fresh oysters to seashore antique shops, knowing what the best exchange rates are will be the furthest thought from your mind as you take in the seaside air and charm.
3 - Bockhampton, Dorset
A time old Easter tradition was to roll colourful hard boiled eggs down a hill, apply the modern twist and you get a trend fast sweeping the UK, Zorbing! Experience the thrill of tumbling down a 200m hill while you splash around in an orb, which is generally made of transparent plastic so nothing on your trip down will be missed.
If you are ready to brave the currency exchange rates, there are other options further afield…
4 – Rome, Italy
If you are planning to buy Euros’ then consider Rome. Easter is a big event in Italy, so a trip to Vatican City could either be a great chance to experience the Easter Vigil and Easter Holy Mass, or a good reason to avoid it and experience the city's bars, parks, museums and more with most visitors heading to St Peter's Basilica.
5 – Lucerne, Switzerland
If you have some travel money and would prefer a vacation rather than a staycation, then just an hour's drive from Zurich, Lucerne in central Switzerland is a cultural hotspot set among the natural beauty of the Swiss mountains and Lake Lucerne. An annual three-day festival takes place during the Easter weekend but if you miss it there will also be many other concerts taking place in April, from brass bands to international jazz groups. In contrast to the modern culture centre, holidaymakers can see Lucerne's historical side in the old town, with the rebuilt Kapellbrucke bridge, another top attraction.
Consider your Easter holiday options and the foreign exchange rate before you decide to stay close to home or bunny hop to the continent. If you do decide to venture overseas, don’t rush to convert currency before you have compared providers to find the best exchange rates available.
With the pound not stretching as far as it used to, plastic savvy consumers are switching to prepaid currency cards to help make their travel money go further. Offered by foreign exchange providers including ICE plc and MyTravelCash, these cards often offer the best exchange rates, even compared to cash, keep your money safe and are more cost effective than your UK plastic. As the exchange rate is fixed on loading, and free transactions and free or low cost ATM withdrawals are offered, you know exactly how much you are spending throughout your trip unlike with your credit or debit card. Also, if your balance runs low most providers let you top-up on-line or via text allowing you to exchange Euros or dollars anywhere in the world. Best of all, they are powered by Visa or MasterCard so you can use them wherever you are in the world!
Wherever you go, Happy Easter!
