Scots pay less for holidays but top for spending money

UK regions have very different spending habits when it comes to holidays, according to research by M&S Travel Money. How much currency travellers take with them, and what they spend it on, varies across the nation depending on where we live.

Holiday Spending Money

Scots exchange the most at £287 on average before setting off on holiday, while those living in Northern Ireland only spend £196 on foreign currency – the lowest amount in the UK.

The north east is not far behind with an average of £283, followed by the north west at £276. Londoners spend £34 less than Scots (£253) and the Welsh are below average at £227.

Compared to the national average of £256, holidaymakers in the north spend the most at £282, followed by the midlands at £250 and the south at £228.

The cost of a week’s holiday (excluding spending money)

58% of UK adults spend less than £500 per person for a week abroad. Scots spend the least on the actual holiday – 63% spend under £500 per person – whereas only 53% of Londoners manage to keep the cost below £500.

Gifts and Souvenirs

Scots come top again, spending an average of £69.19 on souvenirs, compared to Londoners who spend the least at £57.73. A very small proportion of UK adults (3%) say that they spend the majority of their holiday money on gifts and souvenirs.

Food and Drink

The highest proportion of holiday spending money goes on restaurant meals (45%), followed by visiting places of interest (18%), drinks and snacks (15%) and alcoholic drinks (7%). More respondents in the north of England and London spend the majority of their money on alcohol, with Scots and southerners preferring to spend their money on eating out.

Commenting on the findings, James Yerkess, M& S Travel Money Manager, said; “Our research shows that by taking out more currency in advance, Scots and northerners are getting the best value on their holiday money. Leaving it until you get to the airport to buy travel money costs more as you’ll be charged commission and exchange rates tend to be uncompetitive. Withdrawing cash once you get to your destination can also mean paying extra on charges.

“M& S Travel Money gives everyone a fair deal, with the same competitive exchange rates at every one of our bureaux de change and no commission on foreign currency and foreign travellers cheques.”