LAST CHANCE TO HOLIDAY WITH MALTESE LIRA AND CYPRUS POUNDS - UK pound will next year be the last pound in Europe
This summer marks the last holiday season where Britons can spend Maltese Lira and Cyprus Pounds, as the two countries gear up to join the euro in 2008. With the summer holiday season officially starting this weekend Thomas Cook has noted additional demand for holidays to these countries this summer, particularly from parents wanting their children to experience holiday money that's different from the euro.
The Maltese tend to call their currency the Maltese Pound, which means that when the two currencies disappear next year the UK Pound will be the last left in Europe.
Malta and Cyprus are already hugely popular with Britons for holidays, thanks to their warm climates and fondness for visitors from the UK. Britons can feel at home as both countries drive on the left, and in Malta there are even red pillar-boxes. Both destinations are unique for holidays and have many attractions for couples and families alike - whether they like long sandy beaches, exploring the mountains, theme parks and family days or sailing trips on the Mediterranean.
Both the Maltese and Cypriot currencies are within Thomas Cook's top ten best-sellers. Both countries offer good value for money for UK holidaymakers. In Cyprus a pint of beer costs around £2.50 and a three-course meal around £17. Meanwhile in Malta a pint is around £2.75 and a three-course meal around £15.
For those interested in holidaying in a non-euro holiday destination, these are the most
popular destinations according to Thomas Cook:
1. Turkey
2. Cyprus
3. Egypt
4. Tunisia
5. Bulgaria
6. Croatia
7. Morocco
8. Malta
9. Dominican Republic
10. Cuba
Melanie Whitehouse, Director of Foreign Exchange at Thomas Cook, said: "For some, having a new currency in their hand is all part of the holiday experience. The euro is certainly handy for travelling around Europe, but the unfamiliar notes and coins of other currencies can give a different insight into the country visited. With more and more countries joining the EuroZone, some customers are keen to visit places that still have an individual currency. For that reason we have found a number of customers wanting to visit Cyprus and Malta this summer - if only to show their children some money that will soon no longer be in circulation."
