Now is a good time to book that European vacation

Vacation like a duchess at Chatsworth London calling? Dreaming of Tuscany? It's time to book your dream European vacation.

American travelers are set to save big money on trips across the pond following a sharp slide in European currencies.

The euro, which is used in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Belgium, among other countries, is now trading at $1.09, down from a $1.13 in February. As recently as two years ago, it cost nearly $1.40 to buy one euro.

The euro could drop further if the European Central Bank introduces more stimulus next week as expected.

The pound, meanwhile, has shed 4% against the dollar this year amid fears of a British exit from the European Union. The pound has slipped a total of 8% over the past year.

It's likely to decline further as the June 23 referendum on British membership approaches. UBS says the pound could fall to as low as $1.36 before the vote, while Goldman Sachs has warned of an even sharper decline to $1.15.

Related: Briti sh pound hit as risk of Brexit rises

That would make a London holiday much cheaper for American tourists. A Starbucks latte would cost $3.10 instead of the current $3.80, and two tickets to a West End musical would cost $126 instead of current $155.

Been there done that? Don't worry, there are plenty of other holiday destinations that are getting cheaper for Americans.

A trip to Norway would be a relative bargain, as the Norwegian crown has fallen 10% against the dollar in the past 12 months. Poland's zloty is down 6% over the same time period.

Source: Now is a good time to book that European vacation

Easter breaks will cost an extra £72 this year thanks to the falling pound: Exchange rates set to hit families visiting popular destinations in Europe and further afield

Nine in ten sunshine Easter holidays likely to be more expensive this year  

Research by M&S Bank also suggests spending will not go as far in resorts

Situation likely to get worse given data based on February exchange rates

Biggest cash increase was £167 for a one-week trip to Dominican Republic

By Alexander Robertson For Mailonline

Published: 19:09 EST, 3 March 2016 | Updated: 19:34 EST, 3 March 2016

2

View comments

Nine in ten sunshine Easter holidays are likely to be more expensive this year following the slump in the value of the pound.

Research published Friday suggests spending money will not go as far in most resorts given the pound buys fewer euros and dollars.

The average increase in the total cost of a holiday for a family of four this Easter is put at £72, according to the M&S Bank.

Nine in ten sunshine Easter holidays are likely to be more expensive this year following the slump in the value of the pound (stock photo)

The real situation is likely to be even worse because this figure is based on exchange rates that applied in the middle of February and the pound has fallen further since then.

City speculators have marked down the value of the pound because of the economic uncertainty sur rounding the EU referendum in June.

But while the pound is looking weak at the moment, there is a chance it could bounce back before the schools break up in the summer. 

Researchers looked at total holiday costs, including travel, accommodation and spending money, in resorts from Europe to Dubai, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Florida compared to a year ago.

The problems surrounding the value of the pound come at the same time as package holiday prices are already going up.

Prices to Spain, Portugal and Italy have risen this year because many families are choosing 'safe haven' destinations over places like Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt.

An investigation of 10 popular destinations found the cost of one week for a family of four ranges in price from £1,820 in Crete to £6,769 in Florida.

The figure for Crete is up by £78 to £1,820, Andalucia is up by £86 to £1,884, and Malta is up by £85 to £1,892.

The biggest increase in cash terms was £167 for a one-week trip to Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic, taking the total to £6,120.

An investigation of 10 popular destinations found the cost of one week for a family of four ranges in price f rom £1,820 in Crete to £6,769 in Florida (stock photo)

People holidaying in Dubai face paying an increase of £118, taking the price to £3,084, which works out at less than half the price of Florida.

The report said the Canary Islands offer the best temperatures at this time of year out of top five most affordable destinations.

The total cost of a holiday for four in Lanzarote is put at £2,552, which is up by £94 on a year ago.

The only destination that is cheaper this Easter is Cancun, Mexico, where the total cost is down by £66 to £6,056.

Paul Stokes, head of products at M&S Bank, said: 'Even though most holidays have risen in price this Easter, there are some great destinations that offer families warm weather and value for money.

'However, with sterling down on most cur rencies since this time last year, it's important to take exchange rates into account and shop around to get more from your travel money this Easter.'

 

Source: Easter breaks will cost an extra £72 this year thanks to the falling pound: Exchange rates set to hit families visiting popular destinations in Europe and further afield

Zalando aims to become the "sports x fashion destination" for Europe

Vivian Hendriksz | Thursday, 03 March 2016

INTERVIEW German fashion e-tailer Zalando has its fingers in many pies - ranging from its international fashion platform, to its personal, curated shopping service Zalon, to its premium webshop. As the fashion giant continues to grow across Europe and gain market share, Zalando widens its net to appeal to even more consumers by strengthening its current focus as a online sportswear-fashion destination. This shift is said to be driven by a larger overall lifestyle trend witnessed across the globe and industries, namely fitness and health. "We want to establish Zalando as the sports-fashion destination in Europe," explained Benjamin Kruemel, Zalando's Vice President for Specialities to FashionUnited over the phone.

The German e-tailer has been paying close attention to overall shift occurring within the fashion industry, which sees more consumers prioritising their health and fitness. This has led to the rise of 'athleisure' wear, fashionable yet functional clothing items which can be worn to work and to the gym, as consumers continue to search for comfortable clothes to suit their increasingly busy schedules. In order to establish themselves as the main, online destination for fashion and sportswear in Europe, Zalando has dedicated its spring/summer 2016 to sportswear and athleisure. Featuring model Ann a Ewers and dancers Lil Phoenix and iDance Mikey, the campaign highlights the different facets within the activewear and fashion sceptrum Zalando has to offer.

Zalando places sportswear and fashion at the centre of its SS16 campaign

"This was a win-win situation for the company. For us it's always important that we have a season start that involves many categories and makes a real fashion statement," said Kruemel. "On the other hand we wanted to focus on sports and make it the center focus of the campaign. Seeing as athleisure is currently a big trend, we were able to do so. We think that sportswear is one of the biggest fashion topics now and we are lucky that we were able to combine sports and fashion in the campaign so well." Zalando picked Ewers as the face of the first part of its campaign, as Kruemel believes she can act as both an ambassador for the fashion industry as well as the sporting world.

In addition, to having an established face star in the campaign, Zalando also wanted to include movement in the campaign's first advert, so they hired Phoenix and Mikey to star in the campaign alongside Ewers. "We wanted to have two different storylines, the fashion side and the sports side and tie them together through movement." However as Zalando progresses with its campaign, Fashion x Sport, its adverts are set to become more sports and active focused. The second part of the campaign is set outside and ties in with the upcoming UEFA Champion league as well as the summer Olympics, kicking o ff in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this August. "This part focuses more on true sports and is shoot outside, away from a typical fashion environment to include more movement. So although the campaign begins with more of a fashion statement starting into the season, it steers to more a sports centric vision by the end of the season."

"Our focus is on the Millennials - but everyone is invited"

Zalando's SS16 campaign is the company's second endeavor to highlight its growing sportswear offering to its target group, millennials, and Kruemel is positive it is also a strong area that will continue to grow in the current fashion environment. "We really believe in sportswear and due to our young target group, (women between their 20s to 30s) we also believe that they want to consume sportswear in a different way compared to ten years ago, when it was normal to go to a brick-and-mortar store and still not have the perfect assortment." The German e-tailer is confident that they already have their fashion customers and now aims to convince this customer to shop for their sportswear of athleisure online at Zalando as well, as it become a larger part of the millennial lifestyle. The company has invested a substantial amount into expanding its sports and athleisure section and aims to highlight this both online in its store and with its online retail partners.

"We work very closely with our partners to offer dedicated collections and products, which are really curated for our customers and their needs," added the VP. "We brief our suppliers and constantly share information with them, so together we can continue to serve our customers in the best way. I think this way of working will help us achieve our goal, as we already hold a big chunk of the sportswear business." According to Kruemel Zalando already holds a double digit share of European online sportswear market, which is something they wish to maintain the long run. "We do not wish the change th e overall image of Zalando, but we think sportswear and fashion runs so closely hand in hand that we want to keep this share."

Zalando targets core customer to grow sportswear business

Zalando is currently focusing its sportswear share on training gear, running, yoga as well as skiing and snowboarding. Although they stock 90 percent of the main sportswear brands, they are always on the lookout for new brands to add to their growing assortment. "For example, we recently started working with Carbon, a more upscale brand which lies within our premium section." In addition, they aim to ensure their selection remains one of a kind and attractive to their main audience, millennials, no matter where they live.

"Something like Sports Direct in the UK is based on low prices, or JD Sports, remains a real destination for sports," noted Kreumel. "But there is still the biggest opportunity in the market to offer something to consumers which is close to their fashion preference, and that is where we come in. Our edge is having the full brand assortment around the needs of our customer, whilst focusing on the core sports, which makes us unique in the market and relevant."

Photos: Zalando SS16 Campaign and Benjamin Kreumel

Source: Zalando aims to become the "sports x fashion destination" for Europe

International tourist arrivals to Europe increased by 5% in 2015

According to latest European Travel Commission's "European Tourism 2015 – Trends & Prospects", 2015 marked the 6th consecutive year of above-average growth for the most visited region in the world. This positive performance is attributed to the on-going economic recovery of the Eurozone, the decrease in oil prices and favourable exchange rates that make the region a more affordable option for visitors from overseas.

Growth spread across the majority of European countries, buoyed by Iceland (+30%), Romania (+17%) and Slovakia (+16%). Montenegro (+15.5%) and Ireland (+14%) recorded a substantial increase fuelled by the strong demand from key European source markets. Portugal, Croatia (both +10%) and Greece (+8%) also enjoyed sustained growt h. Croatia, particularly, benefitted from their on-going efforts to extend the pre- and post-summer period, while Greece owes its performance to improving flight connections and to the flow of tourists avoiding competing destinations perceived at risk of terrorist attacks.

"Travel to Europe continues to surge amidst a migration crisis, and safety and security concerns. Prospects for 2016 remain optimistic with growth expected to increase by 3%", said Eduardo Santander, Executive Director of ETC.

Weaker performance was recorded in a few markets, directly attributable to the fall in arrivals from Russia. Bulgaria, Turkey (both -1%), Estonia (-3%) and Finland (-5%) all saw a decline compared to the previous year. Montenegro was the only European destination that enjoyed growth from the Russian market (+6.4% overnights).

Key intra-European and long-haul markets to fuel a steadily strong performance

Travel demand from key intra-European markets continues to thrive within Europe. Growth from UK and Germany is in line with positive economic trends whereas increased demand from France and Italy is resulting from the strong appetite for traditional summer destinations.

In the US, the upswing of the economy, a strong US Dollar, and the ever-growing consumer confidence contribute to the appeal of Europe as a holiday destination. The United States accounts for 5% of total arrivals (25.7million) to Europe with further growth expected (+6% annual average) towards 2020. The majority of European destinations also reported growth, +30% Chinese arrivals to Europe, what suggests that the economic slowdown in China failed to deter tourists´ enthusiasm to travel internationally.

Source: International tourist arrivals to Europe increased by 5% in 2015

'Don't come to Europe' Austria takes out ADVERTS begging Afghan migrants to stay at home

GETTY

A record-breaking influx of migrants had edged Europe towards breaking point

The embattled central European country has warned would-be migrants they will not be granted asylum if they make the journey, adding that it will do everything in its power to stop people reaching Germany.

A record-breaking influx of migrants had edged Europe towards breaking point as countries along the key migrant route threaten to shut down their borders in response to EU inaction over the crisis.

Related articles

Austria, which has already introduced daily caps for migrants coming through the country, has now funded a desperate advertising campaign in Afghanistan.

The country wants to deter Afghans from seeking asylum in Europe by telling them not to expect a warm welcome in the last stop before Germany - the top destination for many of those entering Europe.

GETTY

The Austrian Interior Ministry will pay for huge posters, declaring "No asylum in Austria"

The Austrian Interior Ministry will pay for huge posters, declaring "No asylum in Austria", to be put up in Afghanistan's five biggest cities as well as for adverts on more than 1,000 Afghan websites and in daily newspapers.

The adverts will detail the time limits for asylum as well as how the country is increasing deportations and has strict conditions for family reunification.

GETTY

The crisis is taking place while Calais has been set ablaze

If we had waited for EU guidelines, we would have been flooded with refugees

Macedonian President

The move follows a similar Austrian-backed campaign in Kosovo last year intended to curb migration.

Austria has come under fire from the European Commission and human rights groups for its hardline migration stance and its strict asylum claim cap.

Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner said: "The federal government has a limit of 37,500 asylum requests this year. In order to get to this number it is necessary to reduce the influx of refugees.

"It's only a question of fairness to tell people in their home countries about the strict asylum laws in Austria."

Austria received 90,000 asylum requests last year - around a quarter of them submitted by Afghans - a trend which is continuing this year.

The Alpine country is not the first to fund such a campaign to reduce immigration.

Australia launched a similar initiative warning "You will not make Australia home" and an anti-immigration party in Sweden plans to launch a campaign in foreign media to discourage asylum-seekers.

The news comes as Macedonia ordered a "shutdown" of the overcrowded Balkan route for migrants once Austria hits its asylum seeker limit.

GETTY

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has ordered Europe to help Greece during the migrant turmoil

Macedonian police are currently allowing Syrian and Iraqi refugees but sending back those from Afghanistan.

According to EU border agency Frontex, the Balkan route "continued to be directly affected by the unprecedented number of migrants who first come to Greece to later continue their journey through its northern border."

There were 1.83 million illegal border crossings in 2015 compared to the previous year's record of 283,500.

Macedonia's president Gjorge Ivanov said: "In times of crisis, every country must find its own solutions."

He added: "We can't wait until Brussels makes a decision. We have made our own decisions.

"We need a political decision now. Soon it will be too late

"Whenever a country to the north closes its borders, we follow suit."

President Ivanov explained that if Macedonia "had waited for EU guidelines, we would have been flooded with refugees."

Yesterday Macedonian police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of asylum seekers who attempted to storm the fence on the border with Greece.

GETTY

The country wants to deter Afghans from seeking asylum in Europe

Macedonian officials insisted that borders would remain sealed "until further notice".

The shut down risks a "self-induced humanitarian crisis" according to the UN as more than 200,000 migrants are expected to be stranded in Greece by the summer.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has ordered Europe to help Greece during the migrant turmoil as she said they "cannot let this country down".

Brussels has already prepared to send an £545m aid package to Athens to deal with the overcrowded chaos.

Related articles
Source: 'Don't come to Europe' Austria takes out ADVERTS begging Afghan migrants to stay at home

Strong Sterling provides great value hotels for UK travelers in 2015

LONDON, England - There was good news for UK travelers coming from the latest Hotel Price Index (HPI) with average prices paid per night for hotel accommodation up only 1% globally in 2015 as compared to 2014. Specifically, British travelers enjoyed lower average hotel prices in over half (64) of the 100 popular destinations with the strength of the Pound increasing across the globe.

The global Index sat at 114 for 2015 and is closing the gap on the previous peak of 117 in 2007, the year before the global economic crisis. North America drove the global increase as the only region to see hotel prices rise (up 3%) throughout 2015 with the Index hitting 119, exceeding its pre-recession high of 117 in 2007.

The HPI is a regular report on hotel prices in major destinations across the world, tracking the movement in prices that people actually paid for their accommodation and providing valuable insight into the reasons behind these changes. The data is drawn from bookings made on the hundreds of thousands of hotels on the Hotels.com websites worldwide.

Isabelle Pinson, VP Marketing for EMEA of the Hotels.com brand, said: "The value of Sterling may have dropped this year but there are still plenty of bargains to be found out there for anyone wanting to stretch their wings beyond these shores. Our HPI data provides consumers with easy access to information on hotel prices paid around the world to enable them to do just that."

Europe proves popular

Many European hotspots from Russia and Estonia in the North, to Mediterranean favorites such as France, Italy and Spain in the South saw a modest decrease in average prices paid. Due to the falling rouble, Moscow in particular saw a significant decrease, which dropped over a quarter (-27%) from the previous year. In total, Britons paid less in 42 of the 57 most popular European destinations compared to the previous year.

North America continued to increase

It was a different story in the US however, due to the continuing strength of the US Dollar. In fact, it was only New York out of the 13 most popular US destinations that saw a marginal decrease in average prices paid (down 2% to £177). Lake Buena Vista near Orlando, Florida meanwhile saw the most significant rise jumping 21% (£122 in 2014 to £148 in 2015).

Best value destination for British travelers

UK travelers were able to part with less throughout numerous Asian destinations in Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan and Singapore. It was predominantly popular destinations throughout Thailand that saw a decrease in rates, including areas such as Pattaya (-15%), Chiang Mai (-6%), Phuket (-16%), Krabi (-5%) and Koh Samui (-3%).

The Pound also stretched significantly further last year for those visiting popular Australian destinations as room rates paid dropped 7% in Sydney and 6% in Melbourne.

Isabelle Pinson added: "Following a record year for world tourism in 2015, Brits can look forward to another season of globetrotting this year. A little knowledge goes a long way and we hope that our HPI data provides travelers with the inspiration and the knowledge to help make a decision on where to go that little bit easier."Average prices paid per night by UK travelers in selected European destinations in 2015 as compared to 2014

City Country 2015 2014 % ChangeParis France GBP111 GBP125 -12%Barcelona Spain GBP97 GBP102 -5%Rome Italy GBP90 GBP98 -7%Vienna Austria GBP82 GBP92 -11%Warsaw Poland GBP60 GBP65 -8%Krakow Poland GBP57 GBP61 -6%Riga Estonia GBP52 GBP63 -16%

Average prices paid per night by UK travelers in selected North American destinations in 2015 as compared to 2014

City Country 2015 2014 % ChangeBoston USA GBP182 GBP158 15%New York USA GBP177 GBP180 -2%San Francisco USA GBP165 GBP156 6%Los Angeles USA GBP149 GBP134 12%Lake Buena Vista USA GBP148 GBP122 21%Chicago USA GBP137 GBP126 9%Vancouver Canada GBP115 GBP107 7%Las Vegas USA GBP101 GBP92 9%Toronto Canada GBP101 GBP103 -1%Orlando USA GBP92 GBP79 16%

Average prices paid per night by UK travelers in selected Asia Pacific destinations in 2015 as compared to 2014

City Country 2015 2014 % ChangeSingapore Singapore GBP121 GBP129 -6%Hong Kong Hong Kong GBP113 GBP121 -7%Shanghai China GBP103 GBP90 15%Tokyo Japan GBP102 GBP110 -7%Mumbai India GBP96 GBP89 8%Beijing China GBP86 GBP82 6%Seoul South Korea GBP82 GBP92 -12%Bali Indonesia GBP77 GBP84 -9%Koh Samui Thailand GBP74 GBP76 -3%Krabi Thailand GBP66 GBP70 -5%Kuala Lumpur Malaysia GBP61 GBP69 -11%Bangkok Thailand GBP54 GBP53 2%Phuket Thailand GBP50 GBP59 -16%Hanoi Vietnam GBP40 GBP36 11%Chiang Mai Thailand GBP38 GBP41 -6%Pattaya Thailand GBP34 GBP39 -15%

Average prices paid per night by UK travelers in selected global destinations in 2015 as compared to 2014

City Country 2015 2014 % ChangeDubai UAE GBP142 GBP151 -6%Sydney Australia GBP114 GBP123 -7%Abu Dhabi UAE GBP108 GBP105 3%Rio de Janeiro Brazil GBP107 GBP150 -28%Melbourne Australia GBP87 GBP93 -6%

Source: Strong Sterling provides great value hotels for UK travelers in 2015

What's Next in Europe for Philippine Airlines?

After committing to acquire at least six Airbus A350-900 aircraft, Philippine Airlines is now in a position to increase capacity and add new destinations. At the announcement of the order, the national flag carrier revealed that it was targeting new flights to Paris, Rome, and Frankfurt. While it is a strong possibility that a new route may be launched by 2017, it remains unclear what city will be served next. Copyright Photo: Angelo Agcamaran/PPSG At present, PAL only operates one European long-haul route to London's Heathrow Airport. That route is presently served by four weekly Airbus A340 flights. However, Philippine Airlines intends to offer daily flights to London beginning in June of this year. Since opening the route to London in 2013, the national flag carrier has been eager to tap into other parts of Europe.  Philippine Airlines President Jaime Bautista recently revealed in an interview with Travel News Asia that he hopes to launch a new route to Europe by 2017. According to Philippine Airlines spokesperson, Cielo Villaluna, PAL is currently evaluating Paris and Rome as candidates for its next European destination.  Unconfirmed reports from the Exciting Centennial for Philippine Aviation blog indicate that Philippine Airlines is currently securing regulatory approvals from both Italy and France to operate flights to both countries. A slot application has been submitted to Rome Fiumicino Airport to begin four weekly flights at the end of 2016 with an Airbus A340-300 aircraft.  Meanwhile, the national flag carrier is also in slot negotiations with Paris. According to David Lim, PAL Commercial Group Senior Vice President, Philippine Airlines intends to begin flights to Paris in 2016 pending the successful acquisition of favourable slots at Charles de Gaulle Airport. However, it is believed that PAL is currently having difficulty obtaining its preferred slots.  It remains unclear whether flights to Paris will be initially operated by an A340-300 or an A330-300 aircraft. The latest unconfirmed reports indicate that the route to Paris may be operated by a 368-seat A330 four times weekly with a stop in Dubai. However, these aircraft would only operate the route temporarily until the arrival of the Airbus A350-900. NEXT DESTINATION: FRANCE VS. ITALY In a report released by anna.aero, it was reported that Milan, Italy is the number one unserved market from Manila, according to data from the OAG Traffic Analyser. Passenger traffic between the two cities grew nearly 27% in 2015 compared to 2014 with approximately 37,630 passengers travelling the route.  Image Source: anna.aero Nearly 24% of the traffic between Manila and Milan is currently travelling via Muscat aboard Oman Air. Meanwhile, traffic between Manila and Rome grew by 7.5% up to 32,513 passengers. That represents a combined total of 70,143 passengers travelling between the Philippines and Italy in 2015. According to the International National Institute of Statistics, Italy is also home to the largest population of Overseas Filipinos in the European Union with more than 170,000 living in the country. Although there is strong demand between the two nations and a large market for religious tourism, Philippine Airlines is faced with a challenge in that it wants to fly to Rome via Dubai. However, the Italian government only granted direct flights between the Philippines and Italy.  Being able to make an intermediary stop in Dubai to pick up passengers bound for Italy would not only help ensure the viability of the route, but it would also give Philippine Airlines the flexibility of operating the route with an Airbus A330-300.  Meanwhile, passenger traffic between Manila and Paris grew by 33.3% in 2015. Approximately, 34,347 passengers travelled between the two capitals last year. Although the numbers are considerably smaller than Italy, Paris may be a more appealing and viable destination if Philippine Airlines is able to obtain its preferred slots and serve the destination via Dubai.  It is also rumoured that Philippine Airlines may be exploring the possibility of flights to Frankfurt and Amsterdam. Both flights could also be routed via Dubai, where the national flag carrier currently holds fifth freedom rights.

However, not all industry experts believe mounting additional flights to Europe is the best strategy for Philippine Airlines. According to the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, while the A350 might make potential European routes look more attractive, Philippine Airlines will face intense competition from Gulf carriers and several other Asian carriers in the European market. PAL may generate better returns by using its newly expanded long haul fleet to expand in North America, while establishing partnerships with other airlines to cover Europe. Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook
Source: What's Next in Europe for Philippine Airlines?