Month: May 2013

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Money Saving Tips For Visiting Relatives

Money and passportFigures released by the European Commission revealed that 566,000 migrants arrived in Britain in 2011. This latest statistic comes from a recent article in The Express which reports that 1 in 5 people travelling around Europe, both outside and inside of the EU head to the drizzle of the Britain.

Britain is the most popular destination from those beyond Europe, and second only to Germany for residents of the EU. While measures have been made to reduce non-European migration, the EU bans Britain from shutting those out from inside the EU. Independence Party leader Nigel Farage said “The statistical evidence is clear. The UK is clearly the one of the favourite ports of call for migration from within the EU. According to the EU, almost half of the 4.8 million people living here who were born elsewhere came from other EU countries.”

Britain has always been a country of fluid cultural influence and origins and so our people more often than not have family outside the UK. Visiting relatives aren’t put off by the rain, like other tourists as reported in a recent article by The Guardian . According to the story, “visitor numbers to the UK’s top tourist attractions plummeted in 2012 after the wettest summer for 100 years …triggering the worst trading period in living memory for key destinations”.

When visiting relatives come to visit, there is a variety of things you can do, to ensure their stay is comfortable and pleasant. Whether they’re visiting from Australia or China, Lebanon or Poland, they will most likely feel the same level of culture shock, because even though some relatives might be able to speak the language, doesn’t mean they will understand what’s really being said.

To help make the visit smooth, here are a few tips to help your family members feel at home.

Spending money

The first point to consider is currency exchange. There’s a number of ways you can help your visitors manage their money while they’re in the UK but one of the best methods is to purchase travel cards on their behalf.

Instead of them worrying about constant fees and charges involved in currency exchange, an easy way around this is to have them transfer a fixed sum to your bank account. There will be a one off charge for an international transaction and an exchange fee but that is all. Then you can purchase and load with their transferred funds a travel card which works with the as any major credit card.

This will give your relatives the independence they need without the worry of exorbitant fees. This method is particularly handy for elderly relatives who are concerned about carrying cash.

Accommodation

While it might be nice to offer a bed for your visitors, chances are you have no room to spare. Take this as a blessing because there is no quicker way to breed animosity. Having relatives stay with you simply puts too much pressure on both parties to maintain certain levels of courtesy. It might be fine for a few days, but anything longer than that and resentment is sure to build.

Instead, find them a serviced apartment nearby, or look for homes available for short term rent or stay. There are many websites dedicated to longer term accommodation and this will give your visitors the freedom to relax in their own space and cook their own meals. Being able to prepare food in their own space will also save your visitors a significant amount of their spending money

Touring and trips

Taking your guests around the country or even the town might not be as easy as you might think. You have to consider how to get everyone to the destination and what they’re capable of doing.

Hiring a car or a van is a good idea, but can get pricey. Consider signing up to a company that hires out street cars by the hour, these can work out much cheaper. A valid driver’s license will be required, don’t forget to check what the requirements are from various countries.

Alternatively travelling my mini-cab can work out well for short distances around the local area.

Trains are the next best option, it’s economical and can accommodate many. Research about what tickets are best and what time they’re valid for. No point buying off peak tickets if you need travel first thing. All day passes into London are great value for getting in around the city. For long distances by train, try and book in advance to save money as this can get pricey.

If you plan on taking your family to some of the historical castles and sites, it’s worth buying a membership to either the National Trust or the Historic Royal Palaces, as entry prices can get expensive.

With some of these basic aspects covered, you should be able to enjoy the visit from your family no matter how long or short the stay. They’ll be grateful that you’ve taken the time to help them make some savvy decisions and save more than a pounds during their trip.

 

About the Author

Sarah Thompson reports from London on a wide variety of lifestyle topics ranging from fashion and gardening to travel and finance. Sarah enjoys helping readers to budget for life’s little luxuries and how to make the most of the online banking revolution. Sarah recommends Tuxedo, a leader in the field of currency cards and prepaid technologies. You can read more of Sarah’s articles in a wide variety of blogs and websites. Sarah is also a lover of brogues, vintage dresses and trips to Paris – and the occasional glass of red wine.