Travel News

Travellers across the UK have been impacted by a cyberattack on Travelex, which has left many without travel money as they head abroad. Here we take a look at alternative ways travellers can get access to money before they travel.

Post Office Travel Money’s 13th annual ski resort report has urged bargain-hunters to head east this year in search of the best budget ski holiday.

Those looking for the best value when it comes to time on the slopes and après ski are being urged to head to Bulgaria this year. Produced in partnership with Crystal Ski Holidays, the report investigates both the on and off-slope costs of 30 top European ski resorts.

According to Post Office Travel Money, fluctuations in the value of the pound so far in 2019 have not deterred UK travellers from enjoying foreign holidays. In fact, long haul destinations seem relatively unaffected by the recent economic uncertainty, with winter sun and exotic destinations continuing to prove popular.

Largely due to the Rugby World Cup, Japan has seen a rise in popularity, with the Japanese Yen registering a 42% uplift in sales over the last year.

The Trinidad & Tobago dollar has likewise seen an increase in sales of some 53% year-on-year in 2019 – even without a major sporting event to boost figures – and have accelerated by a massive 205% in September, emphasising that Caribbean holidays are enjoying an upsurge in being the customer’s choice for winter sun destinations.

Bansko in Bulgaria has been named as the cheapest European family ski resort, according to the Post Office Travel Money Family Ski Resort Report, produced in partnership with Crystal Ski Holidays. However, while prices have fallen in six of the most popular resort destinations in Europe, Italy leads the way in terms of the best value overall.

Out of 25 continental ski resorts, Bankso beat popular skiing locations in France, Austria and Switzerland, costing just £1,530 for one week’s ski resort costs. Overtaking last year’s survey leader, Bardonecchia costing £1,622, the Bulgarian ski resort has regained its place as king of the mountain when it comes to pound-stretching, on-piste purchasing power.

Italy stands out as one of the best value countries for families keen on heading to the snowy slopes. Four Italian resorts dominate the top five value ski resort destinations in this report. Sestriere, Passo Tonale and Claviere are placed in third, fourth and fifth places respectively, after the overall runner-up Barconecchia in the number two spot.

Nick Boden, head of post office travel money, said: “While Bansko offers unbeatable value overall for families on a tight budget, resorts in the Italian Alps are a great choice for a pound-stretching ski holiday. With few exceptions, we found that Italian ski resorts were cheaper than in Austria, France or Switzerland.”