With the pound dropping, your holiday is going to cost more this year, but what else is in store?
PASSPORTS
Our passports may say 'European Union' on them, but it would be an admin nightmare, post-EU, if everyone had to apply for a new one at the same time. It is much more likely that they will phase in the new ones as the old ones expire.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
The EHIC card gives you access to the same state-provided healthcare as a resident of the EU country you are in at the time, EHIC cards are still valid until we actually leave, so apply now, if you don't have one already, and check the expiry date if you do – they don't last forever. The card is free but beware of scam websites that look very similar to the official ones but will charge you a fee. This is the official one www.ehic.org.uk
MOBILE ROAMING CHARGES
If Lily Allen was right, then this is all you'll be worried about anyway. In June 2017 excessive mobile roaming charges will be abolished, Brexit or no Brexit, and it is unlikely any UK government would let them be reinstated. That means networks can't add surcharges of more than €0.05 per minute for calls, €0.02 for texts and €0.05 for data.
CHEAP FLIGHTS
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The 'open skies policy,' which allowed any EU airline to fly between any two points in Europe, and paved the way for the proliferation of budget airlines we have today, has been operating since 1994. More airlines has meant more competitive fares. This will change when we leave the EU, and prices could rise, but we may still be able negotiate a new open skies policy, or become part of the European Common Aviation Area, which would give us a similar arrangement The UK market is a hugely important one for tourism in the EU, so it is unlikely they will do anything to put us off travelling there.
As Andrew Shelton, Managing Director of Cheapflights.co.uk said:
'We shouldn't assume that Brexit means a total change to the way we travel. Tourism is vital to the economy of many European countries, and it will be in their interests - as well as our own - to try to maintain freedom of movement.'
HOLIDAY MONEY
The pound is going to be unstable for a while (currently only buying 1.19 euros and 1.31 dollars), so unless you're going on holiday imminently, the best thing you can do is to watch exchange rates (xe.com), and if the pound starts to drop further, make a call then about buying in advance. I personally think wait, as things may stabilise – and who knows, maybe we can find some clever legal loophole to reverse the decision.
PACKAGE HOLIDAYS
Paid for your holiday already? You may think you're safe from any post-referendum price hikes, but actually tour operators have the right to impose charges once their costs have gone up more than 2%, although if those charges go above 10% you have the right to cancel.
