Euro trips where your pound still flies

By Carl Chambers

If a strong euro is putting you off a trip to the continent, here’s a list of non-euro countries where your pound may still fly.

Back in summer 2007, your hard-earned pound was worth a well-bronzed 1.48 euros and we were jetting across the channel faster than Ryanair could think up extra charges. Since then, of course, the pound has paled to a sickly 1.10 euros, and as a result, many traditional eurozone travelers have taken the ‘staycation’ option.

Despite this, die-hard short-haulers have stuck at it, with many keenly embracing non-eurozone continental destinations. But which countries, exactly, are ‘non-eurozone’? And more importantly, how much is a beer once you get there?

Eurozone/Non-Eurozone

Europe comprises 50 countries. Strictly speaking, only 16 are in the eurozone as they use the euro as their sole currency, however, five more can be added as they also use the euro. That leaves 29 non-eurozone countries. Here’s a helpful table…

*Not formally eurozone but can be considered as such because they have the €.

It’s worth noting that several non-eurozone countries are planning to migrate to the eurozone over the next few years, including Estonia, the Czech Republic and Poland, so the above table should be viewed as correct as of November 2009.

Ten Non-Eurozone Hot Spots

Of the 29 non-eurozone countries, some aren’t exactly what we’d call ‘holiday hot spots’ (e.g. ‘Eurasian’ states such as Armenia, Belarus or Kazakhstan), so here’s a quick peek at ten of the most popular destinations. The table shows exchange rates compared with pre-credit crunch, plus what a typical pint will cost once you land (as shown on pintprice.com – a website useful for the fun-seeking city breaker).

Note. Rate data from Oanda.com. Rates shown are Interbank rates, not high street rates. Follow the link for tips on finding great holiday cash deals.

You can see from the table that Iceland is the only place where you’ll get a better exchange rate than two years ago – a somewhat depressing indicator of Sterling’s current clout.

A far more informal (but much more fun) indicator of what you’ll get for you money is the average pint price. The fact that a lot of eurozone city break destinations now charge around £5 a pint has contributed to the current decline in eurozone travel. But be aware that a non-euro country doesn’t automatically mean cheap drinking and eating. For example, Denmark’s average pint price is £4.24 and Norway’s is £6. Something worth considering if planning a boozy stag or hen weekend.

Travel Money Saving Tips

One way to offset an expensive exchange rate or a pricey holiday bar bill is to cut costs everywhere else. You can search online for cheap flights on sites such as Easyjet or Ryanair, and find bargain hotels or buy cheap travel insurance on sites like Confused.com. It’s also worth reading up on how to find the best holiday cash exchange rates, plus here are some top tips for spending abroad. These tips could help those wanderlusting after a foreign break that’s comparable in cost to a staycation.

To round off, here’s a travel tip for those who want to head for a quick continental city break without the hassle of money exchange.

Gibraltar is a tiny British territory attached to the Spanish mainland, overlooking the strait where the Atlantic and Mediterranean meet. A part of Spain until 1713, ‘The Rock’ has for years been a prosperous area of commerce and a strategic military base. As a city break destination, Gibraltar offers sunshine, numerous duty-free outlets, 79p-a-pint beer, stunning views over the Med and Africa, easy access to Spain, plus they take pounds or euros. British Airways, Easyjet and Monarch all have regular services.

Happy holidays!