After Brexit, London hotel rooms now at half price
Hotel rates in London are dropping significantly.
A June 29 news release from Hotels.com said that hotel deals are now half the price compared to last year.
According to the Hotels.com Hotel Price Index for 2015, Singapore travellers paid on average $327 per night for a hotel in London. Following the Brexit vote, deals for top hotels in London are now 50 per cent less.
For example, a top five-star hotel in London's West End is available on Hotels.com from $177 per room per night during the peak travel season in August.
Hotels.com has seen an 8 per cent increase in searches for hotels in London.
Ms Zoe Chan, the public relations director of Hotels.com, said: "Hotels are almost 50 per cent cheaper now than they were in 2015. This comes as an added bonus for those who have yet to choose their accommodation.
"We do believe the Singapore dollar's strong currency rate will favour Singapore travellers looking to book trips in the coming months as the pound drops."
One person looking forward to her annual year-end trip with her family is student Shanice Lin, 18.
Miss Lin said: "My mum usually tries to find the cheaper travel destinations. When I heard the British pound started dropping, I told my mum I wanted to visit the UK as I've never been there.
"I prefer joining tour groups on vacation, but I will shop whenever there is a chance when I'm there."
Although her family has yet to book a flight, the UK is definitely a destination they are considering.
Since Brexit, the British pound has been weakening. Yesterday, the sterling slumped to yet another new low in 31 years against the US dollar, hitting US$1.29. Against the Singapore dollar, it was S$1.74.
Ms Alicia Seah, director of public relations and communications for Dynasty Travel, said: "We are predicting a 15 per cent increase in overall bookings to the UK for the third quarter of the year.
"The weaker pound has raised the attractiveness of the UK. Accommodation, dining and entertainment are of better value to Singaporeans now."
Dynasty Travel will be promoting its travel packages more aggressively as more Singaporeans would be keen to travel to the UK.
In just a day, on June 24, a 44 per cent increase in travel inquiries to the UK was seen on Kayak Singapore, an online travel search engine.
Data from global travel search engine Skyscanner showed a 73 per cent jump in the number of queries on flights from Singapore to the UK on June 24, compared to the same date a year ago.
My mum usually tries to find the cheaper travel destinations. When I heard the British pound started dropping, I told my mum I wanted to visit the UK as I've never been there.
- Student Shanice Lin
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now
