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07/06/2005: "Travellers miss out on currency deals"

MORE than half of Britons fail to shop around to check they are getting a good deal on their travel money, research showed today.
Around 53% of people admitted they did not bother checking exchange rates when it came to changing money into foreign currency, according to NatWest Travel Money Services.
One of the reasons for this may be people's tendency to leave organising their holiday money to the last minute, with four out of 10 people saying they left it until less than a week before they were due to leave the UK.

One in 10 people also said they waited until they arrived at their destination before exchanging the bulk of their money, despite feeling that foreign bureaux de change did not provide a good service.
A quarter of people said they found changing money confusing, saying they could not always tell if they were getting a good rate.
As a result the majority of people bought their travel money from a bank branch, with reasons for doing this ranging from the convenient location of branches to the quality of service and peace of mind they offered.
Meanwhile financial information group Moneyfacts today urged consumers to shop around for the best deals when changing money. The group said conversion charges could be as high as 2% with a minimum charge of £5, plus handling charges of more than £5, but it added that many providers changed money commission-free.
Rachel Thrussell, head of savings at Moneyfacts, said: 'With a little shopping around, it's very easy for hoildaymakers to save money.With most providers you don't have to be a customer, but do check exchange rates, as these can vary.'

(this article was taken from thisislondon.co.uk)

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Pet Travel Tips

Ensure you have a pet-passport for your animal, meaning you avoid the six month quarantine that is otherwise neccessary.
Ensure you are making a decision based on what will be best for your pet - if it is happier at home and does not appear willing to get into a car, it is unlikely to be happy surrounded by new smells and people.
Make sure your hotel still givesyou good service as a pet owner, and make sure you do your part for other holidaymakers by only taking a calm and well-behaved pet on holidays with you.
Be aware that most hotels will not allow you to leave your pet alone in the room, so if you take your pet on holiday with you it really will be going everywhere with you. This also means you have a plan for visiting places where a pet cannot be taken - leaving it in the car is rarely acceptable in hot or cold climates.
Ensure you have comprehensive pet insurance - there is a high risk of animals becoming ill in foreign countries, as they are contact with the native dirt and germs a lot more than ourselves.
Have a back-up plan. Animals are unpredictable, if you get to your destination and something goes wrong, have a course of action planned out - perhaps meaning there is someone back home ready to recieve the animal if you have to send it home, or you can make return plans that do not lose you money spend on travel and accomodation.
In a foreign country, silly though it may seem to some, your animal will benefit to the same extra care as us. Sun cream, sunglasses and coats are a few of the things that may be neccessary for your animal in an unfamiliar climate.