Snow has finally arrived in the Alps after weeks of nervous nail biting by ski holiday operators and skiers with early season bookings. That is not the only good news as the latest Post Office Travel Money Ski Resort Report¹reveals that prices have slid downhill since last year in 19 of 21 European resorts surveyed.
The biggest fall has been in Soldeu, which also benefited from early
• Almost three-in-ten of long haul holidaymakers fail to take out travel insurance for trips to India – compared with 16 per cent for all destinations • India, Indian Ocean and Africa are where health, injury and theft issues arise most often • Under 35s are least likely to take out travel insurance • Average cost of long haul holiday insurance claims: £4,859
• The NYE night in trend continues with 1.5 million people more than last year opting to stay in • ….but damages from house parties costs £127
• Eurozone trio top the chart for New Year holiday bargains, led by Lanzarote • UK tourists get up to 33 per cent more travel cash than two years ago • Sharm-el-Sheikh is top contender among longer haul holiday resorts
• 19TH December is the busiest day for phone/online Post Office International Payments • A transaction will be processed every 90 seconds • One in 10 will send cash as a Christmas gift • USA, Spain and Australia the most popular destinations for money transfers
The average UK house price increased by £29,339 over the last year – more than the average UK wage (£27,271) More than three in five workers earned less than the average UK property appreciated in value over the last 12 months London homes earned £80,000 in the last year – nearly twice as much as the average salary in the capital
The Post Office has said that the CWU is being irresponsible in its decision to propose strike action on 12th December in its Admin and Supply Chain network. It has urged the CWU to reconsider the business’s offer of a six per cent pay rise - plus cash payments for colleagues in Supply Chain – over three years.
• Prices plunge in 24 of 27 ski resorts surveyed for the annual Post Office® Travel Money Ski Resort Report (www.postoffice.co.uk/skireport2014) • Biggest fall of 23 per cent in Soldeu, Andorra • Bansko, Bulgaria remains cheapest but eurozone favourites are closing the gap • Growing popularity of winter sports extras could add hundreds of pounds to a ski trip
- Prague is bargain choice for a two-night Christmas Markets break this winter - Riga is lowest-priced in the eurozone and cheaper for Christmas gifts than London
- Designer labels cost up to 73 per cent less in New York - Seventh annual Post Office® Travel Money Christmas Shopping Guide reveals almost one-in-five items surveyed cost over 50 per cent more in London - Sister brands Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister offer richest pickings in New York (www.postoffice.co.uk/christmasshopping2014)
The Post Office has today published interim results for the six months of the financial year up until 28 September 2014. The results show that the business has made further progress towards its ambition of achieving commercial sustainability, despite challenging market conditions.
- Half (49 per cent) of UK adults have concerns about the cost of their friendships - In the last year UK adults spent an average £158 on gifts for their best or closest friend - One in six (16 per cent) have used their overdraft to cover the price of a present - Four in ten (43 per cent) of 18-34s have lied about being busy to avoid the expense of celebrating with friends
