Escaping the Eurozone
Escaping the Eurozone for a bargain beach break
From house swaps to camping trips, there are lots of innovative ways to help make your travel money go further. And now there's one more to add to the list.
If you and your family normally go on a European holiday, you could potentially make significant savings by looking beyond the usual contenders of Spain and Greece to countries outside the eurozone. Not only could it make your travel money go further, but you'll still be able to enjoy everything you usually look for in a holiday - unspoilt, sandy beaches, authentic restaurants and some great cultural hotspots.
So where should you head for? With new arrivals in recent years, it can be hard to keep up with which countries are in the eurozone. But wherever you book, it's a good idea to get your travel money and travel insurance sorted out well in advance.
Swap Greece for... Croatia
Foreign currency: the Croatian kuna
Greece doesn't have the monopoly on charming fishing villages, beautiful beaches and stunning islands. Croatia has all these things in abundance - and often cheaper than the Greek option. Take Korcula, for example. So good The Guardian named it as one of its top 20 'paradise islands', this sunny isle has wooded hills, unspoilt beaches and an elegant old town - and it's far less developed than resorts like Corfu. And as the Croatian kuna goes a bit further than the euro, it means you can afford to eat some lovely local seafood at the swankiest restaurants the country has to offer, without feeling too guilty.
Swap Spain for... Bulgaria
Foreign currency: the Bulgarian lev
Spain's Costa del Sol has long been a top destination for families looking for sandy beaches and child friendly resorts. However, if you're looking for a change of scene, Bulgaria's Golden Sands resort offers up the same type of holiday, and generally at an economical price too. The 3.5km beach is said to be gorgeous, and with an average summer temperature of 27oC, it's perhaps no wonder Bulgaria's Black Sea coast came first in a poll of Britain's favourite beaches around the world. In addition to this, there's beautiful wooded countryside and mineral springs nearby, along with all the traditional eating and drinking attractions of a resort.
Swap the Canary Islands for…Morocco
Foreign currency: the Moroccan dirham
With their wild waves and great facilities, islands like Fuerteventura and Tenerife are a mecca for watersports. But hire charges can be expensive, particularly if the whole family want to head out in the crashing Atlantic surf. So where else is there? The answer may almost be staring you in the face. Essaouira in Morocco on the African coast is almost directly opposite the Canaries and is a brilliant windsurfing destination - in fact, it seems to share a 'Windy City' nickname with Chicago. Unlike Chicago, though, it's a gloriously atmospheric port, shaped over many centuries, with souks adding mystique to the obvious charms of its golden beaches.
Issued by Sainsbury's Finance
