The Days of Last-Minute Bargains Are Over: Book Your Clients In Advance Now to Lock in Today’s Favorable Pound-Dollar Exchange Rate
For several decades, consumers could always count on finding low last-minute rates for hotels and airfare when traveling internationally. Those days are over, at least for anyone traveling to the UK, where today the dollar is at a 40-year high against the British pound sterling, according to Avanti Destinations, wholesale tour operator specializing in customized independent travel.
This is good news for travel advisors booking with tour operators like Avanti, who lock in the entire vacation price using current exchange rates once a booking deposit is made.
“Clients who might book their own stays in London will pay a premium for hotels today because it is a very busy time there for tourism – both business and leisure -- and demand for hotels is very high,” said Paul Barry, CEO of Avanti Destinations. “Hotel rates are more than double what they have been in the past. But if travel advisors let clients know that booking a trip in advance can give them substantially lower hotel rates that also take advantage of today’s strong dollar vs the British pound, they can help save those clients lots of money.”
Besides locking in advantageous exchange rates, booking in advance also guarantees far more choice for accommodations and sightseeing tours, especially quality private tours with qualified guides, who are in short supply. Avanti offers 36 private tours and experiences in London alone, a total of more than 70 throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Many reasons to visit the UK in 2023
Tourism to the UK is recovering faster in the UK than elsewhere in Europe for a number of reasons. First, the falling pound vs the strong dollar makes it more affordable than ever for Americans. Second, it is among the most vaccinated countries in Europe. Third, special events that were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 and subdued in 2022 will be in full swing in 2023.
“There are so many reasons why Americans should visit Britain,” said Paul Barry, CEO of Avanti Destinations. “The first is English is the norm, even if it’s with a different accent. TV programs and movies had made much of the UK and its history familiar to American audiences. For gardeners, England is something of a holy grail, as it is for theater and literature fans. The diversity of natural and historical landscapes that make up England, Scotland, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland allows for family-friendly self-drive explorations. No matter what time of year and what their interests, Britain will please your clients on their first trip, and inspire them to keep coming back for more.”
The UK is Avanti’s #2 best-selling destination, after Italy, so far this year. London is the third most popular city among advisors booking with Avanti, after Rome and Paris. Other UK cities that attract the most bookings in England are the Liverpool, Bath, York, Manchester, Oxford and Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon. In Scotland, the most popular destinations are Edinburgh, Inverness, Glasgow, Isle of Skye, St. Andrews (birthplace of golf), Aberdeen, and Stirling.
Among the many special events taking place around Britain in 2023: Robert Burns’ Night (all Scotland) January 25; St David’s Day (patron saint of Wales) March 1; Glasgow (Scotland) International Comedy Festival March 1-15; Cheltenham (England) Jazz Festival April 26-May 1; the Chelsea Flower Show (London) May 23-27 (just before King Charles II’s coronation on June 3); Wimbledon tennis tournament (London) July 3-16, Henley Royal Regatta (London area) June 27-July 2;, Jane Austen Regency Week (Hampshire, southeast of London) June 17-25, Ascot Races June 20-24, British Open golf tournament (St Andrews, Scotland) July 16-23:Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo August 4-26, Notting Hill Carnival (London) August 27-28; Edinburgh’s wacky Fringe Festival August 4-28; Jane Austen Festival (Bath) September 8-17; Bonfire Night/Guy Fawkes Day (all Britain) November 5, and others.
For more information on custom-crafted independent travel in Great Britain 365days a year, log onto the recently revamped advisor portal https://book.avantidestinations.com or call 1-800-422-5053 to speak with an expert travel consultant.
From the Sponsor:
Since 1981, Avanti Destinations has been selling independent travel products and custom-crafted vacations in Europe and the UK, North Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Central and South America exclusively through travel advisors. The Portland, Oregon-based wholesale tour operator offers a wide range of F.I.T. (foreign independent travel) components to travel agents only, including air, rail, rental cars, hotels, sightseeing/attractions, transfers, and hard-to-find experiential travel options. Avanti specializes in hand-picked, locally-owned hotels in both large and small cities, and in connecting all the pieces of complex, multi-destination itineraries. The company also creates complete packages for custom groups of 15-100 passengers. For more information: https://book.avantidestinations.com .