Amidst the Brexit rumbles, the uncertainty around travelling costs has been brewing in the background for most vacation planners. Specifically, how much it’ll cost you to jump on a plane (or train) and visit your favourite European cities if you hold a British passport. The fluctuating pound, which is reflective of the, shall we say, unsteady political climate, has everyone scratching their heads on prices for both visiting Europe and the UK alike. Throw in the ongoing VISA confusion and you have one big mess of unanswered questions. We get it. In fact, we’re right there with you.
Unfortunately for UK citizens, the Great British Pound is currently the weakest in value it has been since 1985. However, for everyone else living and working outside the UK, the exchange rate is the best it has been in years. Meaning you can get more pounds for your hard earned dollars and euros, which most importantly means more adventures to be had with your spending money. The downside to this, of course, is for our lovely travellers in the UK who will be feeling the pinch.
Read More: 5 things you need to know about travelling to Europe after Brexit
If you’re heading to the rest of mainland Europe from the UK, costs shouldn’t differ to any extreme from previous years, as inflation hasn’t risen since 2016. However, as with Brexit, this is all subject to change, so stay savvy and don’t lose out on potential holiday fun by being caught out on the costs. Basically, we’re not telling you to exchange all of your hard-earned cash into Euros just yet, but also wouldn’t blame you if you switched over a little stash for upcoming trips, just in case.
ETIAS
For you lovely lot who are travelling from outside of Europe, there is one thing to be noted. As of 2021, all visa-exempt Non-EU citizens (AKA anyone with a British passport) will need to complete a European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) before travelling. You can think of this like the ESTA you may have filled out if you’ve visited America before; a one-time, three-year permit which allows travel within Europe and movement in and out of the EU as many times as you want during this period. It will cost you €7, but in the scheme of Brexit worries, this might just be the least of them.
If you’d like more information on visiting Europe after Brexit (or entering the UK following Brexit), you can find that here and here.