Spend Less In Britain This Summer

The exchange rate isn’t as good as it was for Americans visiting Britain early this spring, but there are still ways to save on a summer or fall trip to the U.K. this year. VisitBritain and Virgin Atlantic have teamed up for the Get more Britain for your buck promotion, which offers hotel packages and discounts on attractions, plus the latest airfare deals from Virgin Atlantic.

Two things about this deal caught my eye. First, VisitBritain doesn’t usually promote discounts this loudly, and second, a major summer promotion for U.K. travel is rare. Usually, the demand is high enough that providers can pretty much charge what they please. For these reasons, and because the site is full of activity ideas, it’s worth a look if you’re planning a vacation to the British Isles this summer.

Concerned about the exchange rate I mentioned above? Here’s the scoop: Back in March 2008, the exchange rate was pretty terrible for Americans. We had to shell out $2 for every British pound. But a year later, the pound had plunged a staggering 25 percent to about $1.40 per pound. As predicted, the pound has been rebounding slowly, and is currently at about $1.64 (check XE.com for the most current exchange rate). So while it still offers Americans more for their money than in previous years, it’s not the jaw-dropping deal is was a few short months ago.