tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68293411044625420802024-03-13T09:00:14.303-07:00Compare CurrencyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357321957822431135noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829341104462542080.post-23253233498585596112014-01-02T07:43:00.000-08:002014-01-02T07:43:15.325-08:00Where can I buy Icelandic Krona?<div class="MsoNormal">
With the best chance of witnessing the Northern lights
predicted in over a decade many Brit's will be heading to Iceland to witness
this spectacular event.</div>
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Travellers must be aware that the Icelandic government has
limited the supply of Icelandic Krona, meaning there is limited supply in many
British bureau de changes. Oliver from www.comparecurrency.com commented "We
have found that Natwest, M&S and the Post Office have had limited supply
and customers have reported difficulty buying Icelandic currency in branches of
Natwest and at the Post Office in the Bristol area."</div>
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If you are travelling to Iceland soon we would recommend
visiting the compare currency <a href="http://www.comparecurrency.com/travel-money">travel money comparison table</a> where you can check
which online currency providers are still able to provide Icelandic Krona.</div>
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Debit and credit cards are widely accepted in Iceland so if
you do fall into difficulty buying Icelandic currency in the UK you will be able
to spend whilst away on your cards. If you choose to make withdrawals from
ATM's in Iceland please ensure that you do so using your debit card as you will
incur hefty transaction charges for withdrawing money on a credit card.</div>
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You can also exchange pounds for Icelandic Krona in banks
and hotels in Iceland... generally banks offer more competitive exchange rates
than hotels so you would be wise to use the former.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357321957822431135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829341104462542080.post-35960792745933512112013-10-28T08:55:00.003-07:002013-10-28T08:55:51.026-07:00What did I miss about the Algarve?<div class="MsoNormal">
My family has recently returned from a trip to the Algarve
and don't get me wrong, we did have a nice time but that in itself was the
problem, it was just nice. Somehow we all seemed to miss out on the amazing
experience shared by so many others. Yes we had sunshine, yes our villa was
nice, the food was good and the people were friendly but the resort in itself
seems to lack a little soul.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The four of us travelled to Vale do Lobo a beautiful resort
just 25 minutes from Faro airport, which was extremely convenient as myself,
husband and children all dread another long journey once the plane has touched
down. Before we left the UK we had downloaded a map Portugal so we were fully prepared
for the car ride to our villa. During our short journey the road layout was
great and the traffic minimal which made a pleasant change from the gridlocked roads
of our hometown Bristol.</div>
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Vale do Lobo itself is an extremely attractive "holiday
suburb" the tree lined streets are lined with tidy villas, apartment
blocks and many of the larger houses would not look out of place on MTV cribs. The main draw of this development is the golf
and tennis facilities which are some of the best in the world. But as we were
travelling with a toddler, these were not facilities we got to experience. </div>
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<br /></div>
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We travelled around central Algarve visiting a number of
places recommended by friends who had stayed in the area. Some of our day trips
included Vilamoura which is a beautiful marina but we were ready to leave after
a 30 minute post lunch stroll. A
slightly mediocre ZooMarine that was amazing value for what it was but somehow seemed
to lack the wow factor offered by similar shows we have seen in other resorts.
If Marineland in Mallorca was the Manchester United of the Dolphin show world,
Zoo Marine should be regarded as a hard working but rather unsuccessful Bristol
City. </div>
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The shopping in this area is good, but then again so is the
shopping at home.... The forum Algarve is worth a visit on a wet day. It
includes Zara, Massimo Dutti and MAC.</div>
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One positive I must add about this exclusive but slightly disappointing
destination is that it is great value for money. We found the supermarkets far
cheaper than those in France and it was easy to find restaurants serving great
food at reasonable prices. </div>
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We love to explore on holiday and did venture into the
nearby towns of Almancil and Quarteira. Whether it was just our misfortune on
the days that we visited both destinations, but on each day we were greeted by
local drunks passed out on the street, old men begging and a feeling of desperation
and poverty by many of those walking around us. What we witnessed so near to
Vale do Lobo was a completely different end to life's spectrum and this is what
I think sits most uncomfortably with me about this holiday destination. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357321957822431135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829341104462542080.post-42717567563407046792013-10-14T05:32:00.001-07:002013-10-14T05:32:40.975-07:00Brit's abroad bad habits<div class="MsoNormal">
For many of us a holiday abroad is a chance to jet off
somewhere warmer where you can forget about the 9-5, the bills and other
commitments. It's a chance to relax, unwind and recharge your batteries.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Some however take the term "relaxing" to a whole
new level and get up to things they simply wouldn't dream of at home. A recent
poll by Cheapflights.co.uk surveyed 1,189 adults uncovered some of the most
common bad habits people admitted to abroad.</div>
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<b>British holiday habits<span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span></b></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">47% of those questioned admitted to overspending
whist abroad.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">47% Burned or had too much sun despite knowing
the health risks.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">38% Drank too much alcohol on holiday.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Many admitted to relaxing their diet and eating
less healthy food.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Bedtime and exercise routines also change
dramatically whilst on holiday</span></li>
</ul>
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<b>Brits behind bars</b></div>
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More worryingly the number of arrests the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office (FCO) has had to handle is on the increase. Between April
2011 and March 2012 the FCO assisted 6,015 British nationals that had been
arrested abroad compared to 5,700 the previous year. Brits have been getting
into the most trouble in Spain followed by the United States of America. During
this timeframe arrests of British nationals in Spain rose 9% and 3% in the USA.
</div>
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<b>Have fun but be safe when on holiday</b></div>
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Whilst it is good to let go and relax on holiday it is
important to remain safe. You do not want the consequences of your frivolous
carefree actions to negatively impact your life when you return home. Skipping the salad bar and snoozing through
your usual running routine isn't going to do you any harm. However excess
alcohol and sun exposure can seriously damage your health. Sunstroke,
sun burn and skin cancer are all serious risks resulting from over
exposure to the sun. Whilst excess alcohol can lead to a long list of trouble!!
You may seriously damage your health and also be unable to make rational
decisions putting yourself in danger.</div>
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<b>Overspending</b></div>
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It would be a shame to return from your relaxing holiday to
face the stress of the debts you had accumulated whilst living it up abroad.
Think carefully about how much you want to spend before you travel and make
sure you save enough before you go to ensure you can afford all of the things
you want.</div>
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<b>Shop around for the best exchange rate before you travel</b></div>
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If you leave your holiday money till the last minute you
will be starting your holiday with less money than you could have had if you
had shopped around beforehand. Airport bureau de changes are notorious for
offering uncompetitive exchange rates. We have found that the best rates are
online. You simply order online and arrange for the currency to be delivered to
your home address. This page compares the leading travel money providers <a href="http://www.comparecurrency.com/travel-money/">http://www.comparecurrency.com/travel-money/</a></div>
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Currency Cards are a good way of preventing overspending.
Unlike using a debt or credit card you can only spend what you have loaded on
the card. Exchange rates are generally far better than what you'd get for
travel money which will help your money to go further. For more information on
Currency cards visit our <a href="http://www.comparecurrency.com/currency-cards/">comparison table.</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357321957822431135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829341104462542080.post-9241829591198882152013-09-30T03:36:00.000-07:002013-09-30T03:36:39.728-07:00Brits get more active on holiday<div class="MsoNormal">
A recent poll carried out by the Post Office Travel Money
Activity Barometer uncovered that over 75% of British adults questioned aged
18-64 wanted to "have a go at a new sport or physical activity while on holiday."</div>
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Most popular activities Brits want to try on holiday</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 48.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Rally car driving was top of the list for the
over 55's. 58% of adults aged 18-64 wanted to give it a go.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 48.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Scuba Diving 49%</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 48.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Water Skiing 47%</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 48.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Jungle Trekking 45%</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 48.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Sailing 44%</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 48.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->White Water Rafting 43% </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 48.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Canoeing
41%</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 48.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Paragliding 41%</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 48.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Snowboarding 41% </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 48.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Surfing/Kitesurfing 40%</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 48.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Figures are based on the Post Office Activity Barometer poll
which asked UK adults aged 18-64 what they wanted to try on a future holiday. Source: Omnibus
research by Populus (26-28 July) among 1,664 UK adults aged 18-64.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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The study revealed that three quarters of British holiday
makers want to experience a memorable new activity whilst away from home and
two thirds of the group questioned had already tried one of the 27 activities
they were questioned about on a previous holiday.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Water based sports as a group were incredibly popular with
over 40% of people choosing one of these activities which included Scuba
diving, water skiing, sailing, white water rafting, canoeing and surfing. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Family, work, home maintenance and other commitments seem to
prevent people from trying new activities at home. On holiday people are away
from their normal routine and want to use their leisure time to try something
new and exciting. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Post Office study also showed the average amount people
are willing to pay for an activity and compared this to the actual cost of each
activity. As you can imagine prices differ widely from ne destination to the
next.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
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Activity</div>
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Amount people are willing to pay for the activity</div>
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Closest to the amount people are willing to pay</div>
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<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154">
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Over budget</div>
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Rally Car Driving</div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.5pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£111.77</div>
</td>
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£166.97 Subaru Rally Experience - Australia</div>
</td>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£338.67 Subaru Rally Experience France</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Scuba Diving</div>
</td>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£83.12</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£35.56 1 x Dive Gozo Discover</div>
</td>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£80.00 1 x Dive Portugal Discover</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.5pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Water Skiing</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.5pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£64.29</div>
</td>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£43.33 1 x 30 Min lesson Maldives Beginner</div>
</td>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£71.11 1 x hour lesson Portugal introduction to water skiing</div>
</td>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Jungle Trekking</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.5pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£80.46</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£15.41 1 x Day Jungle trekking in Khao Thailand</div>
</td>
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£600 1 x Day Gorilla Trekking Tour Rwanda</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
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Sailing</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.5pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£74.79</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£51.23 Half Day Sailing Experience South Africa</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£300 2 x Day RYA Start Yachting Introduction to Sailing Majorca</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.5pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
White Water Rafting</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.5pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£67.88</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£40 3-4 Hours Austria Rafting</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£80.03 4 x Hours Switzerland River Rafting</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.5pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Canoeing</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.5pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£56.93</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£4.33 1 x Day Hire in Hungary</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
N/A</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.5pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Paragliding</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.5pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£95.37</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£55.33 Tandem Flight Portugal</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£106.67 Tandem Flight Spain</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.5pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Snowboarding</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.5pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£80.80</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£466.94 2 x Hour Private Session Bankso Bulgaria</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£192.67 2 x Hour Private Lesson USA</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.5pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Surfing/Kitesurfing</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.5pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£58.67</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£44.44 1 x Hour Private Kitesurfing Lesson Greece</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£75.56 1 x Hour Privte Kitesurfing Lesson Egypt</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are planning to try a new activity whilst on holiday
the cost of that activity can vary significantly from one destination to the
next. Most people expect to pay more for an activity than the cost in many
destinations apart from Snowboarding and Rally Driving where the actual cost
far exceeded the desired cost. It is therefore wise to do your research before
you book your trip to ensure that you get best value for money especially on
high value activities.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
To help your money go further whilst abroad check out our
<a href="http://www.comparecurrency.com/travel-money/">travel money comparison table</a> to find out who is offering the best travel money
deals. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357321957822431135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829341104462542080.post-55108213277831465342013-09-23T01:35:00.001-07:002013-09-23T01:35:23.179-07:00MoneyGram International gets closer to consumers by acquiring money transfer companies based in Greece<div class="MsoNormal">
International money transfer services provider MoneyGram acquires
super agent Advanced ChronoCash Services
(ACCS) and has signed an agreement to acquire MoneyGlobe Payment institution. The
acquisitions are thought to help MoneyGram get closer to consumers and add cash
to account services.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
ACCS have a loyal retail agent base in over 400 locations
and has been a great partner to MoneyGram. <span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"By
acquiring the company, we will now be able to continue to expand the network
directly in partnership with our agents who serve our consumers every day."</span>
explained Carl Scheible the executive vice president of Europe and Africa at MoneyGram. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
MoneyGobe on the other hand provide cash to account money
transfer services from Greece to Bangladesh. MoneyGram hope the acquisition of
this company will enable them to be able to offer a technology-driven solution
to people based in Greece with money transfer requirements. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
MoneyGram has acquired ACCS through a share purchase
agreement and has signed an agreement to do the same with MoneyGlobe subject to
closing conditions and regulatory approvals in the hope of capturing a larger
market share in Greece once the country begins to recover and new opportunities
arise. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357321957822431135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829341104462542080.post-82305190292136270822013-08-27T01:01:00.000-07:002013-08-27T01:01:23.092-07:00Currency Cards - A safer way to carry money abroad<div style="min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Currency cards are becoming more and more popular with tourists
travelling across the globe. They offer a safe and secure way of carrying lots
of money and can be replaced if lost or stolen. A prepaid card can be
topped up easily online or via SMS and unlike paying with credit or debit card
you can only spend the money you have and not dip into an overdraft (authorised
or unauthorised!!)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Travellers visiting areas notorious with pickpockets, don't want to
carry large amounts of cash in their wallets. All prepaid currency cards use
chip and pin security and if your card is stolen your money will be
replaced. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">What currencies are available on a prepaid card?</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The main currencies available are:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 18.35pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.35pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 42.6pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td colspan="8" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.35pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 310.35pt;" valign="top" width="414"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Currency</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 28.65pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 28.65pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 42.6pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Provider</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 28.65pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 37.05pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">£ British Pounds</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 28.65pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 31.4pt;" valign="top" width="42"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">€ Euros</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 28.65pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 37.0pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">$ US Dollars</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 28.65pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 48.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">$ Australian
Dollars</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 28.65pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 39.55pt;" valign="top" width="53"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">$ New Zealand
Dollars</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 28.65pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 44.65pt;" valign="top" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">$ Canadian
Dollars</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 28.65pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 34.45pt;" valign="top" width="46"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Swiss Francs</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 28.65pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 38.0pt;" valign="top" width="51"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">South African
Rand</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 28.8pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 28.8pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 42.6pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The Post Office</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 28.8pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 37.05pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 28.8pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 31.4pt;" valign="top" width="42"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 28.8pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 37.0pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 28.8pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 48.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 28.8pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 39.55pt;" valign="top" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 28.8pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 44.65pt;" valign="top" width="60"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 28.8pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 34.45pt;" valign="top" width="46"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 28.8pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 38.0pt;" valign="top" width="51"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 18.35pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.35pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 42.6pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Travelex</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.35pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 37.05pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.35pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 31.4pt;" valign="top" width="42"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.35pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 37.0pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.35pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 48.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.35pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 39.55pt;" valign="top" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.35pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 44.65pt;" valign="top" width="60"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.35pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 34.45pt;" valign="top" width="46"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.35pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 38.0pt;" valign="top" width="51"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.8pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.8pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 42.6pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">EasyJet</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.8pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 37.05pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.8pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 31.4pt;" valign="top" width="42"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.8pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 37.0pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.8pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 48.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.8pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 39.55pt;" valign="top" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.8pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 44.65pt;" valign="top" width="60"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.8pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 34.45pt;" valign="top" width="46"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.8pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 38.0pt;" valign="top" width="51"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 18.35pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.35pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 42.6pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Fair FX</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.35pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 37.05pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.35pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 31.4pt;" valign="top" width="42"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.35pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 37.0pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.35pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 48.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.35pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 39.55pt;" valign="top" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.35pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 44.65pt;" valign="top" width="60"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.35pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 34.45pt;" valign="top" width="46"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.35pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 38.0pt;" valign="top" width="51"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 4.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 4.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 42.6pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.55pt; mso-line-height-alt: 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Caxton FX</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 4.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 37.05pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.55pt; mso-line-height-alt: 4.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 4.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 31.4pt;" valign="top" width="42"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.55pt; mso-line-height-alt: 4.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 4.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 37.0pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.55pt; mso-line-height-alt: 4.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 4.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 48.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.55pt; mso-line-height-alt: 4.5pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 4.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 39.55pt;" valign="top" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.55pt; mso-line-height-alt: 4.5pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 4.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 44.65pt;" valign="top" width="60"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.55pt; mso-line-height-alt: 4.5pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 4.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 34.45pt;" valign="top" width="46"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.55pt; mso-line-height-alt: 4.5pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 4.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 38.0pt;" valign="top" width="51"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.55pt; mso-line-height-alt: 4.5pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 4.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 4.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 42.6pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.55pt; mso-line-height-alt: 4.5pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ice PLC</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 4.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 37.05pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.55pt; mso-line-height-alt: 4.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 4.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 31.4pt;" valign="top" width="42"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.55pt; mso-line-height-alt: 4.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 4.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 37.0pt;" valign="top" width="49"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.55pt; mso-line-height-alt: 4.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">☺</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 4.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 48.25pt;" valign="top" width="64"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.55pt; mso-line-height-alt: 4.5pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 4.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 39.55pt;" valign="top" width="53"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.55pt; mso-line-height-alt: 4.5pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 4.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 44.65pt;" valign="top" width="60"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.55pt; mso-line-height-alt: 4.5pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 4.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 34.45pt;" valign="top" width="46"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.55pt; mso-line-height-alt: 4.5pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 4.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 38.0pt;" valign="top" width="51"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.55pt; mso-line-height-alt: 4.5pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Benefits of using a prepaid card<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Unlike travellers cheques, a prepaid card will
fit conveniently into your wallet and does not require additional
identification for use, allowing you to keep your passport safe and
not on your person.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Secure - Chip and pin security gives you peace
of mind that should your card become lost or stolen it cannot be used
easily.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Fast replacement - If your card is lost or
stolen<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Competitive exchange rates - Most providers are
currently offering better exchange rates for prepaid card customers than
rates available for travel cash.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Budgeting - No overspending. You can only spend
the funds you have on the card.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Easy to top up. Prepaid cards can be topped up
online by you or a family member or friend giving you access to additional
funds quickly when you need it.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Travelling to a country with a currency
not on the list above?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">If you are
travelling to a country which does not use one of the currencies available on a
currency card you can load a card with British pounds. Your money will be
converted into the local currency each time you make a withdraw. This
method enables you to still benefit from the safety aspects of using a prepaid
card but the downside is that you will have little control over the exchange
rate you will receive. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="moduleHalf" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="moduleHalf" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="moduleHalf" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="moduleHalf" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357321957822431135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829341104462542080.post-87396706111526396942013-08-22T03:43:00.000-07:002013-08-22T03:43:33.321-07:00Changing face of the British High street - The closure of many bank branches is imminent<div class="storycopy" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">Over
the next decade 6,000 High street bank branches are set to disappear as more
and more customers use online banking facilities. Bank branches currently
account for around 60% of banking costs including salaries, rent and
maintenance. With a growing number of customers using telephone and online
banking, local branches are becoming obsolete. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="storycopy" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">In
2012 348 banks and building societies closed within the UK and experts are
predicting this number to escalate in the coming years. Property advisory firm Jones
Lang LaSalle have warned that by 2020 half of the banks within Europe will face
closure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="storycopy" style="line-height: 16.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.55pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">Currently
in Britain there are 11,600 bank branches on the high street. With the predicted
closure of so many how will this affect local towns in the future? A particular
concern is how the closures will affect the elderly..... Those most likely to
be without home internet and who struggle with automated telephone banking
services and foreign call centres. Even for those confident in using online
banking facilities when a problem occurs many find it far easier and less
stressful to get the issue resolved in branch than over the telephone. Many
people also enjoy the social aspect of going into their local bank branch and
speaking to a member of staff face to face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="storycopy" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12.55pt;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.75pt;">HSBC
has announced branches in Cheshire, Newport, Yorkshire, Gwent and Leicestershire
will shortly be closed, bring the total number of closures since June to 25.
RBS and Natwest has closed 60 branches and </span><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 22.329544067382813px;">Barclay's</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 16.75pt;"> has closed 30 this year <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357321957822431135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829341104462542080.post-9689336411991936132013-08-15T03:19:00.002-07:002013-08-15T03:19:46.859-07:00Mo Farah supports campaign to stop the closure of money transfer services <div class="MsoNormal">
One of Great Britain's top athletes, the Olympic Gold
medalist Mo Farah is helping to raise awareness about the issues people in the
developing world will face now that Barclay's Bank has withdrawn facilities for
money transfer agencies. He is backing a campaign started by MP for Bethnal
Green and Bow Rushanara Ali to save money transfer agencies that help to provide
a lifeline to some of the poorest people in the world.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Barclays bank has withdrawn remittance accounts for money
transfer companies due to money laundering scams and the difficulty in policing
the movement of money from the UK overseas. In May after a review of their current
anti-money laundering policy Barclays found that 250 companies did not meet
their current criteria. 80 of these companies are still active in the
remittance sector and were given 60 days notice that Barclay's would no longer
be providing facilities for them to operate. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over 25,500 signatures were handed in to 10 Downing Street
on a petition which included Mo Farah asking for money transfer agencies to be
protected. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Somalia Barclays was the last UK bank to provide money
transfer services to the country where it is estimated around 40% of the
population rely on money coming in from remittance firms. Oxfam have reported an
estimated £3.2 billion has been sent in aid via agencies from the UK with £109
million transferred from the UK to Somalia. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If residents of the UK are no longer able to send money to
the developing world using local remittance firms they will use alternative
methods which will cost more meaning the most venerable are likely to receive
much less financial help. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Large remittance firms such a Western Union and MoneyGram have not been affected by Barclays policy review. They still offer
money transfer facilities to countries such as Somalia but are far more
expensive with hefty transaction fees of up to £20 and provide uncompetitive
exchange rates. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People desperate to get money to their loved one overseas
may use unregulated dangerous and alternative methods that could see them
losing their cash. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
A meeting has been held with the British Bankers
Association, the UK's economic secretary Sajid Javid, the UKs financial
regulators, representatives from a number of major high street banks and representatives
from money service businesses to try and find a resolution and help to ensure the
safe provision of remittance services going forward. A spokesperson has
described the meeting as "very constructive" and a review is taking
place to see how those affected by the changes can be supported. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357321957822431135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829341104462542080.post-18539392321318867972013-07-31T03:57:00.002-07:002013-07-31T03:57:35.809-07:00British travellers increase the amount of travel money taken on holiday<div class="MsoNormal">
Our figures show that the amount of travel money people buy
for a holiday abroad is rising. In June 2011 the average travel money purchase
was £604.34, whilst in June 2012 this figure rose to £646.37. Last month (June
2013) the average travel money purchase was £894.71 a staggering 31.46% larger
than the amount purchased in the same month last year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A recent survey by Halifax reported that 60% of British
travellers buy currency in advance of their holiday to pay for items abroad.
They found that people did not want to use credit and debit cards abroad because
of the fees and costs involved. A mere 15% confirmed that they made withdrawals
with a debit card whilst abroad and only 14% of those questioned used mainly
cards or hard cash whilst overseas. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Despite the security risks of carrying money over using a
credit/debit or currency card people still prefer having cold hard cash in
their travel wallets. British holidaymakers need to be aware of the risks
involved in carrying a large amount of cash especially if they are travelling
to a developing country or visiting an area where pick pocketing is a problem.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Travel Money Safety</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Don't carry large amounts of cash when visiting
the beach, a market or on a night out.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Store money in your hotel safe.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Keep money in a purse under your clothes or in a
money belt on your front instead of in a handbag or pocket that pick pockets
can easily access.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Watch out for distractions.... The little girl
selling Roses in Rome may look sweet but she could be being used as a distraction
to take your attention whilst an experienced thief steals your money.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Store money on a currency card. Exchange rates
are agreed at the time of loading money on to the card and many providers offer
free withdrawals from ATM machines. A prepaid currency card can also be used to
pay for goods and services in most shops that accept debit and credit cards.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Travellers can use our <a href="http://www.comparecurrency.com/travel-money/">travel money comparison table</a> and our
<a href="http://www.comparecurrency.com/currency-cards/">prepaid currency card comparison table</a> to compare the UK's leading currency
providers in order to find the best exchange rate.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357321957822431135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829341104462542080.post-48079973186857603162013-07-18T05:53:00.000-07:002013-07-18T05:53:02.354-07:00Spanish property prices have fallen up to 70%<div class="storyHead" style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<h1 style="color: #1e1e1e; font-size: 2.4em; line-height: 1.16em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 8px;">
<br /></h1>
</div>
<div class="oneHalf gutter" style="background-color: white; color: #282828; float: left; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px; width: 460px;">
<div class="story" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px; margin-bottom: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 3px;">
<div id="mainBodyArea">
<div class="firstPar">
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.48em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;">
Brits are being lured back into the Spanish property market where prices in some areas have fallen by up 70 percent. An article in the Telegraph recently gave examples of a four bedroom "luxury seafront villa" close to two airports reduced from 2.1 million Euros to 650,000 Euros. Another villa in the same article in Mosa Trajectum had been reduced from 245,000 Euros to 125,000 Euros. </div>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.48em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;">
An increase in consumer confidence in the UK and a want for guaranteed sunshine is driving this resurgence in the Spanish property market. People can see the value in property being offered at rock bottom prices by Spanish banks desperate to offload the large number of repossessed houses they have on their books. </div>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.48em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;">
Search information provided by RightMove Overseas shows that Spain is currently the most popular prospective destination for a holiday home. Interest in property based in other countries hit badly by the recent financial crisis such as Cyprus have also risen. </div>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.48em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;">
These countries still have their problems but as long as you are financially self sufficient the lifestyle these destinations can offer is incredibly appealing. The culture and climate attract many Brits.</div>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.48em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;">
<b>Euro Exchange Rate</b></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.48em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;">
Although property prices have fallen by up to 70% the pound Euro rate has also changed dramatically. Before the financial crisis figures supplied by oanda.com show the average interbank GBP/EUR bid rate in July 2007 was 1.4817 whilst the average GBP/EUR rate for last month was 1.1734 (June 2013).</div>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.48em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;">
If we use the property price mentioned above which fell from 245,000 Euros to 125,000 Euros we can see how much the overall cost of purchasing this house in pounds has changed </div>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.48em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;">
<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 128.25pt;" valign="top" width="171">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -1.3pt;">
<o:p> GBP/EUR</o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> 125,000 Euros</o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 127.5pt;" valign="top" width="170">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>245,000 Euros </o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 128.25pt;" valign="top" width="171">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -1.3pt;">
<o:p> <b>1.4817 </b></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><b> £84,362.55</b></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 127.5pt;" valign="top" width="170">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><b> £165,350.61</b></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 13.35pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 13.35pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 128.25pt;" valign="top" width="171">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -1.3pt;">
<b> 1.1734</b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.35pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> £106,528.04</o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 13.35pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 127.5pt;" valign="top" width="170">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> £208,794.95</o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.48em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;">
*Figures supplied by oanda.com</div>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.48em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;">
If the property costing 245,000 Euros had been purchased in 2007 at a GBP/EUR rate of 1.4817 it would have cost £165,350.61. After the financial crash and the cost in Euros fell by 49% the actual cost to the UK buyer would have only fallen by 35.57% due to the decrease in value of the pound. The property would cost £106,528.04 in June 2013 £58,822.57 cheaper than the initial cost. </div>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.48em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;">
<b>Living costs</b></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.48em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;">
If you are considering buying a property within the Eurozone, the GBP/EUR rate will have a huge impact on your disposable income whilst you are abroad. Unfortunately a great number of retired expats have recently had to return to the UK as they could no longer afford the lifestyle they had become accustomed to thanks to the decreased value of the pound.</div>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.48em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.48em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="body">
<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.48em; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357321957822431135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829341104462542080.post-40461863421437558262013-07-04T05:23:00.000-07:002013-07-11T00:43:52.584-07:00Which? warns you should avoid buying travel money from the airportWhich? carried out exchange rate research on the main airport bureau de change providers and found that they offered substantially better exchange rates online compared to the rates available at the airport.<br />
<br />
Which? warns holidaymakers travelling overseas that "they could lose out on their foreign currency" if they make their exchange at an airport.<br />
<br />
Researchers compared exchange rates offered at Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Manchester and Stansted over a six week period and found the exchange rates available in the airports were significantly lower than the rates available at the same time online or on the high street.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="t1" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 695px;">
<table class="mini" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; height: 163px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 455px;" summary="Mortgages"><thead style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><th class="hdr" colspan="5" height="14" rowspan="1" style="background-color: #454545; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; color: white; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">Airport exchange rates and why you should avoid them</th></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><th class="main" colspan="1" height="30" rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); color: black; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; vertical-align: bottom;">Currency provider</th><th class="main" colspan="1" height="30" rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); color: black; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">Airport</th><th class="main" colspan="1" height="30" rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); color: black; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">Airport average rate</th><th class="main" colspan="1" height="30" rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); color: black; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">Online average rate</th><th class="main" colspan="1" height="30" rowspan="1" scope="col" style="background-color: #dddddd; border: 1px solid rgb(102, 102, 102); color: black; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, sans-serif; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;">Difference</th></tr>
</thead><tbody style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">
<tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td colspan="1" height="27" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moneycorp</strong></td><td colspan="1" height="27" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Stansted</td><td colspan="1" height="27" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€518.42</td><td colspan="1" height="27" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€569.82</td><td colspan="1" height="27" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€51.40</td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Travelex</strong></td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Manchester</td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€517.52</td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€564.46</td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€46.94</td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td colspan="1" height="10" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Moneycorp</strong></td><td colspan="1" height="10" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Gatwick</td><td colspan="1" height="10" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€523.29</td><td colspan="1" height="10" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€569.82</td><td colspan="1" height="10" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€46.43</td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Amex</strong></td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Heathrow</td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€521.79</td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€563.92</td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€42.13</td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Travelex</strong></td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Heathrow</td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€522.83</td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€564.46</td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€41.63</td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ice</strong></td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Luton</td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€528.28</td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€567.63</td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€39.35</td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ice</strong></td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Heathrow</td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€540.52</td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€567.63</td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€27.11</td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ice</strong></td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Gatwick</td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€546.92</td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€567.63</td><td colspan="1" height="15" rowspan="1" style="border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">€20.71</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Table supplied by www.which.co.uk</h3>
<ol style="border: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1em; list-style: none outside; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 23px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 430px;">
<li class="listlettr" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; list-style: lower-alpha; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The rates shown are for £500 worth of euros, taken online and at airports over a six week period between 13 February and 20 March 2013.</li>
</ol>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">
<span style="color: black; font-style: inherit;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
From the table above it is possible to see that Moneycorp have the most significant difference between their online and airport exchange rate. Exchanging £500 into Euros with Moneycorp would give you on average 518.42 Euros at the airport or 569.82 Euros if you bought online. That's a whopping 51.40 Euro difference. On BBC's Watchdog show recently they reported on similar findings and contacted many of the currency providers to find out why airport exchange rates are so different to the exchange rates available to customers online. The general response was that the cost of operating within an airport was greater and this had to be reflected in the exchange rates available to customers. However the lack of competition is also likely to be a significant factor. Traveler's arriving at the airport with no foreign currency have no choice but to buy currency from the airport Bureau de change.<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How to get a better exchange rate at the airport</div>
<div>
It is possible to avoid receiving the poor exchange rate shown on the currency board at the airport bureau. Better online rates are available to customers who reserve/buy online beforehand for airport collection. To secure your online rate you should reserve/buy online at least 24 hours in advance of your flight. Travelex and American Express only require four hours notice for advanced ordering enabling you to place your order on the day of your journey.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Online exchange rates</div>
<div>
As well as reserving foreign currency for airport collection you can also buy online for home delivery or arrange to collect your travel money from a local branch days before you travel.</div>
<div>
Our<a href="http://www.comparecurrency.com/travel-money/"> travel money comparison table</a> allows you to see who is offering the most competitive exchange rate so that you can be sure to get the best deal.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Although high street exchange rates are generally better than airport rates, to get the very best exchange rate it is always wise to go online and arrange to reserve and collect. The main high street providers such as the Post Office offer better rates online.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357321957822431135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829341104462542080.post-52098095011325556132013-07-04T03:04:00.001-07:002013-07-04T03:04:15.659-07:00Cheaper family holidays as English State Schools allowed to set own term dates.<div class="MsoNormal">
Plans outlined by the Government to allow British State
Schools to set their own term dates could help families to travel on more
affordable holidays as they will no longer be restricted to taking the family
away over the national six week school summer holiday.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The number of unauthorised absences and fake illness will
hopefully be reduced as parents can afford to travel during school holidays. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Government wants to increase school autonomy and allow
individual schools to set their own term dates like academies. The Department
of Education reported that "heads and teachers who know their parents and
pupils best" should be allowed to decide term dates. There will need to be
a certain level of cohesion between local schools to ensure that families with
children in different schools still have the same time off together. Both
Labour and the current coalition government are both in favour of the new term
date flexibility plans which should come into effect from September 2015.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Currently schools can control over the structure of a school
day but from September 2015 they will have control over the length of terms and
could plan school terms outside of the term dates set by the local authorities.
Each school would still be required to operate the minimum 190 school days per
year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The new plans are likely to affect more primary schools as
not as many have adopted academy status. Whereas the majority of secondary
schools in the UK are now academies and already have greater flexibility on
term dates.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Current school term
dates make holidays unaffordable<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We compared the cost of a family holiday during different
school holiday dates. The two secondary schools we used are in Bristol. John Cabot an Academy that has a shorter
summer holiday and an extended two week half term from 19th October until 4th
November. Whilst Wellsway Comprehensive school (a non-academy state school) has
the standard six week summer break and a one week autumn half term holiday from
the 26th October - 3rd November. We looked at the cost of 2 adults and 1
thirteen year old child going abroad during the autumn half term break in each
school.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 74.3pt;" valign="top" width="99">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
School Holidays</div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 89.05pt;" valign="top" width="119">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Travellers</div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 83.3pt;" valign="top" width="111">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Date</div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.25pt;" valign="top" width="104">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Destination</div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 69.8pt;" valign="top" width="93">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Hotel and Board</div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 67.4pt;" valign="top" width="90">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Cost</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 74.3pt;" valign="top" width="99">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
John Cabot Academy</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 89.05pt;" valign="top" width="119">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
2 Adults + 1 Child</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 83.3pt;" valign="top" width="111">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
19th - 26th October 2013</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.25pt;" valign="top" width="104">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Fuerteventura </div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 69.8pt;" valign="top" width="93">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
3 Star All Inclusive</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 67.4pt;" valign="top" width="90">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£1573.00</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 74.3pt;" valign="top" width="99">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Wellsway School Non-Academy</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 89.05pt;" valign="top" width="119">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
2 Adults + 1 Child</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 83.3pt;" valign="top" width="111">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
26th October - 2nd November 2013</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.25pt;" valign="top" width="104">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Fuerteventura</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 69.8pt;" valign="top" width="93">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
3 Star All Inclusive</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 67.4pt;" valign="top" width="90">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£1925.00</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 394.7pt;" valign="top" width="526">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Difference
in Cost</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 67.4pt;" valign="top" width="90">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£352.00</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Prices based on 7 nights flying from Gatwick staying at the
Hotel Costa Caleta Fuerteventura, board all inclusive taken from
www.thomascook.com on 4th July 2013</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From the table above you can see that the family able to
travel outside of the holiday dates set by the Local Education Authority (LEA) can
save £352.00 on booking the same holiday as the price available to the family
restricted by the current non-academy term dates.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Flight Only</div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 74.3pt;" valign="top" width="99">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
School Holidays</div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 89.05pt;" valign="top" width="119">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Travellers</div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 83.3pt;" valign="top" width="111">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Date</div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.25pt;" valign="top" width="104">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Destination</div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 69.8pt;" valign="top" width="93">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Flight Operator</div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 67.4pt;" valign="top" width="90">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Cost</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 74.3pt;" valign="top" width="99">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
John Cabot Academy</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 89.05pt;" valign="top" width="119">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
2 Adults + 1 Child</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 83.3pt;" valign="top" width="111">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
19th - 26th October 2013</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.25pt;" valign="top" width="104">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Fuerteventura </div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 69.8pt;" valign="top" width="93">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
EasyJet</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 67.4pt;" valign="top" width="90">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£684.96</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 74.3pt;" valign="top" width="99">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Wellsway School Non-Academy</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 89.05pt;" valign="top" width="119">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
2 Adults + 1 Child</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 83.3pt;" valign="top" width="111">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
26th October - 2nd November 2013</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.25pt;" valign="top" width="104">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Fuerteventura</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 69.8pt;" valign="top" width="93">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
EasyJet</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 67.4pt;" valign="top" width="90">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£1455.96</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 394.7pt;" valign="top" width="526">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Difference
in Cost</div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 67.4pt;" valign="top" width="90">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
£771.00</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Prices based on return flights from Bristol to
Fuerteventura taken from www.easyjet.com on 4th July 2013</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The different in cost was even greater when we looked at
flights to Fuerteventura with Easyjet. Flights are more than double the cost for families restricted to travel during current state school holiday dates. The cost of flights for the family able
to travel outside of the LEA term dates was £771.00 cheaper. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
With the introduction of individual state schools being able
to set their own term dates hopefully more families will be able to travel
abroad and enjoy an affordable family holiday.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357321957822431135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829341104462542080.post-91341075667087279612013-06-27T03:40:00.000-07:002013-06-27T03:40:34.946-07:00Marks And Spencer's Offer An Alternative Way of Banking - But Is It Really Better?Marks and Spencer are set to launch 50 bank branches by the end of 2013 complete with flowers, handbag hooks and more personal touches in an attempt to offer an alternative experience to disgruntled customers of traditional banks.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The M&S branches have been launched in stores across the UK and offer customers access to M&S Money products including Travel Money, Current Accounts, Credit Cards and Loans. The branches operate a pager service allowing customers to continue shopping instore instead of queueing. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Interestingly the move is backed and owned by banking provider HSBC, so you have to question whether this is really a fresh new alternative way to bank or simply a wolf in sheep's (or M&S) clothing? HSBC already own M&S Money and profits are shared equally between the two firms.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Consumer confidence in the main banking providers is at an all time low. M&S have seen a steady rise in the number of customers switching to their current accounts following recent banking scandals in the media. The Metro, Nationwide and Co-operative Bank have also reported a healthy increase in new customers switching accounts due to an ever increasing mistrust of the big banks. </div>
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Because M&S bank is backed by HSBC we wanted to investigate how good a deal customers are really getting...... We compared a number of products offered by each company and found that customers generally got a better interest rate with M&S. For example an M&S personal loan of £7,000-£15,000 has a 5.4% APR (representative) for new customers and 5% APR representative for existing customers. HSBC offer 5.9% APR (representative) on the loans within the same value range.</div>
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Likewise with credit cards M&S offered the a more competitive interest rate of 16.9% APR (representative) variable whilst HSBC offer 17.9% APR (representative) variable. </div>
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HSBC offer better online travel money exchange rates than Marks and Spencer. Many may find this surprising as we regularly spot comments on Twitter suggesting the opposite!! At the time of writing this article HSBC were offering a Euro rate of 1.1450 and a US Dollar exchange rate of 1.4994 whilst Marks and Spencer offered a Euro rate of 1.1267 and a US Dollar rate of 1.4908. </div>
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It was difficult to compare bank accounts because the incentives differ enormously between the two providers and determining which current account is best is entirely dependent on an individuals lifestyle and shopping habits.</div>
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We would always recommend shopping around to find the best deal when purchasing any financial product. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357321957822431135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829341104462542080.post-92193223257339806272013-06-20T01:23:00.002-07:002013-06-20T01:23:31.898-07:00Thomas Cook Launch 11 Mitre Street Skills Soccer Academies <br />
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Thomas Cook will be running 11 Soccer Academies in resorts across European in an attempt to attract more families to their Familyworld and Airtours Sunstar resorts. </div>
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The Mitre Street Skills Soccer Academies are reasonably priced at 20 Euros for three 60 minute sessions and are available to boys and girls aged five and over. They aim to help children develop energetic, creative and deceptive moves to beat opponents on the football pitch. The sessions are set to music and provide a great safe environment to make friends and use up energy!! Uli Speri the Product and Yield Director for Thomas Cook believes that the"<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">new partnership with Mitre offers a great way for budding street soccer stars to develop their passion for the sport while on their family holiday, as well as an exciting way for our younger guests to meet new friends and have lots of fun."</i> </div>
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You can relax by the pool whilst your child has great fun developing their soccer skills and making new friends.<br />
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Courses will be run from the 1st July until the 1st September 2013 in the following 3 and 4 star resorts:<br />
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Thomas Cook FamilyWORLD hotels:</div>
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4 Star Stella Palace, Analipsi, Crete</div>
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4 Star Parque Cristobal, Playa del Ingles, Gran Canaria</div>
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4 Star Blanc Palace Resort, Sa Caleta, Menorca</div>
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4 Star Iberostar Vell Mari, C'an Picafort, Majorca</div>
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Airtours Sunstar Resorts</div>
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4 Star Zorbas Beach Hotel, Tingaki, Kos</div>
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3 Star Marelen Hotel and Apartments, Kalamaki, Zante</div>
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4 Star Aparthotel Paraiso De Albufeira, Albufeira, Algarve</div>
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3 Star Oasis Village, Corralejo, Fuerteventura</div>
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3 Star Sun Tropical Island, Playa Blanca, Lanzarote</div>
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3 Star Binimar Resort, Cala'n Forcat, Menorca</div>
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3 Star Hi! Bouganvilla Park in Sa Coma, Majorca<br />
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Thomas Cook offer a great range of <a href="http://www.thomascook.com/holidays/family-holidays/familyworld/">family holidays</a>. You can also book travel insurance, <a href="http://www.comparecurrency.com/thomas-cook/">travel money </a>and airport parking via Thomas Cook. However we would always recommend shopping around first to find the best deal.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357321957822431135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829341104462542080.post-76167893172525335022013-06-13T02:18:00.002-07:002013-06-13T02:18:57.664-07:00Travel Money: BBC Watchdog reveal another post code lottery Last night BBC Watchdog investigated the difference in exchange rates offered from the same providers at various locations throughout the UK and revealed that the same providers can offer up to a 40 Euro difference (when exchanging £500 into Euros) between branches.<br />
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Riz Lateef at BBC Watchdog explained how exchange rates are determined internationally by global factors such as economic growth, inflation and political stability. During the past 12 months the British pound has fallen in value against 80% of the major currencies around the world making it far more expensive for us Brits to go on holiday.<br />
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The exchange rate you will receive when you purchase holiday money will vary due to the factors mentioned above and the rate offered by each currency provider will differ slightly depending on their costs and profit margins.<br />
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Or so you would think........<br />
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BBC Watchdog contacted the 10 leading currency firms and revelled that the same provider does not offer the same exchange rate across the country. On the same day they found that the Post Office, Thomas Cook, No.1 Currency, Ice PLC, American Express and Travelex offered different exchange rates at different locations across the UK.<br />
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When exchanging £500 into Euros with No.1 Currency you would receive 572 Euros if you visited the Cardiff branch where as up in Glasgow on the same day you would receive only 566 Euros.<br />
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The Post Office offered 565 Euros in their Camden London branch but only 555 Euros in Leeds. Thomas Cook offered 570 Euros in Cardiff and only 537 Euros in their Newcastle branch. <br />
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Exchange rate differences weren't based just on regional differences, the BBC programme found a difference within cities from the same currency provider. For instance when exchanging £500 into Euros, Ice PLC offered 574 Euros in their Earls Court, London branch but 3 miles away in Westfield you would receive 564 Euros.<br />
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When the major firms were asked why exchange rates varied from one location to the next it became clear that local competition was a major factor.<br />
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<b>But is this fair on you? </b><br />
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If you live in an area with numerous currency providers up and down the high street you are likely to get a getter exchange rate and have more money to spend whilst away. However if you live in an area with fewer bureau de changes you are likely to get a worse exchange rate.<br />
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Airport currency providers have even less competition and will offer you a much worse exchange rate to convert your cash. Watchdog was unable to confirm which airport provider offered the best exchange rates as they also vary depending on location!!<br />
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If you were to convert £500 into Euros with American Express you would receive 536 Euros at Edinburgh Airport or 510 Euros in Birmingham Airport. Travelex offered 537 Euros in London City Airport or 513 Euros at Liverpool Airport whilst Ice PLC offered 560 Euros at Norwich Airport and 520 Euros at Luton Airport.<br />
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Riz Lateef confirmed "If you are unprepared changing money can be the same as playing a game of chance. Exchange on the wrong day with the wrong company and in the wrong city or airport and you could end up losing out."<br />
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However there are simple steps you can take to ensure you don't suffer from the pitfalls of this unfortunate post code lottery. Nick Trend Consumer Editor from the Telegraph Travel recommends that you "order it (travel money) online in the UK before you go..... For the very best deal make sure you pay all of your big bills such as eating out using your credit card." (Remember to pay the balance off of your card at the end of each month to avoid any charges and never to use your credit card to withdraw money from a cash machine)<br />
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We have found that nearly every currency provider offers a better exchange rate online than in branch. If you order in this way to can avoid the post code lottery and get more Euros or Dollars for your pound. The major providers such as Ice PLC an Travelex offer an airport collection service so you can order online and collect just before your flight to save time and still get the best exchange rate.<br />
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On the high street the Post Office offer preferential rates to customers that purchase online for branch collection.<br />
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Our <a href="http://www.comparecurrency.com/travel-money/">travel money comparison table</a> can show you who is offering the very best exchange rate, you can order your currency online and choose to have it delivered to your home address or arrange for branch collection. <br />
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Watch the BBC One <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b02xcvq9/Watchdog_Series_31_Episode_7/">Watchdog Travel Money Episode</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357321957822431135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6829341104462542080.post-57064860818348464602013-06-06T04:30:00.001-07:002013-06-06T04:30:58.015-07:00The end of the Travel Agent.... How the internet has changed the way we shop for a holiday<b id="docs-internal-guid-6751383e-1935-c27f-6019-b3ab8d21c2ac" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-6751383e-1935-c27f-6019-b3ab8d21c2ac" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6751383e-1935-c27f-6019-b3ab8d21c2ac" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-6751383e-1935-c27f-6019-b3ab8d21c2ac" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6751383e-1935-c27f-6019-b3ab8d21c2ac" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The days of booking a holiday in your local high street travel agent and picking up your currency at the same time are long gone. People have wised up to their limited selection of overpriced apartments and need more than a personal recommendation from Sue at the bureau de change counter that the food in Hotel Con Descuento is any good.</span></b></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-6751383e-1935-c27f-6019-b3ab8d21c2ac" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Travellers want more choice and at far better prices. Websites such as </span><a href="http://travelrepublic.co.uk/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">travelrepublic.co.uk</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="http://www.trivago.co.uk/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.trivago.co.uk/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><a href="http://lastminute.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">lastminute.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> offer information on thousands of hotels at much better prices. However people do not buy on price alone.... Once upon a time a personal recommendation from Sue would have been enough, today we want more. We want views of hundreds of other travellers to see whether the hotel of our choice truly lives up to the glamorous pictures we have viewed online. Reviews on </span><a href="http://tripadvisor.co.uk/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tripadvisor.co.uk</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> have become as important to shoppers as price and a hotel with a bad Tripadvisor rating can really suffer as a consequence. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This change in the way that we shop for a holiday does save money and will hopefully reduce the chance of staying in a substandard hotel however it does come at a price..... You can often end up feeling overwhelmed with the number of flights and hotels available and the actual decision making process can feel rather arduous. Following these simple steps can help you to speed up the process and feel confident that you have found the best deal at the best price.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to book a holiday quickly:</span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jot down your travelling dates, the climate and type of holiday you want (Beach, City break, Adventure, Skiing etc)</span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Think about airports, if you fly short haul you can probably fly from your local airport but if you want to go further afield you may have to travel further for a long haul flight (unless you live in London or Manchester!)</span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now with your dates and destination in mind use the travel comparison sites to find the best deals.</span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Check out the reviews on Tripadvisor and if the hotels overall rating is positive - book it!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few more holiday essentials you can buy online to save money.....</span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Travel Insurance</span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Foreign Currency</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you don’t have travel insurance with your bank account visit </span><a href="http://www.moneysupermarket.com/travel-insurance/%E2%80%8E" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.moneysupermarket.com/</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">travel</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">insurance</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">/</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and find the best priced insurance for your requirements. If you are a frequent traveller a multi-trip annual policy may work out cheaper than taking out a single trip policy every time you fly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few weeks before you travel it is wise to start monitoring the exchange rate to ensure you get a good travel money rate. Similar to shopping for your holiday you will save money by buying online. At </span><a href="http://www.comparecurrency.com/travel-money/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.comparecurrency.com/travel-money/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> you can compare the main currency providers and find who is offering the best exchange rates. You can buy online for next day home delivery or reserve a rate online for branch collection. This service is really handy if you want to collect currency from your local high street and companies such as the Post Office offer far better exchange rates online than they do in branch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On Twitter it is common to see people ask "where's the best place for Euros?" the night before they fly. A frustrated "rip off" tweet is then sent out the next day explaining how they feel about the exchange rate they received at the airport as they had left it too late to buy from anywhere else. Don't let this be you!!</span></div>
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</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12357321957822431135noreply@blogger.com1