British travellers are more likely to venture into Europe instead of the US due to the value of pound sterling, according to an American Express currency index.
Travel Weekly reports the pound is at an 18-month high against the Euro, making travelling within the Eurozone "more attractive" to holidaymakers. On the other hand, the US dollar is not as strong; thus reducing the spending power Brits have in the States.
Still, the number of visitors into to the US in 2011 increased, with numbers up one per cent to an estimated 3.6 million.
According to the index, there was a significant increase in the volume of Euros purchased in the last quarter of 2011; as British holidaymakers saved their pennies to purchase flights, hotels, car hire and spending money for their trip away.
Terry Perrin, the global foreign exchange director at American Express, commented on the power of the pound to Moodie Report: "In 2011, European holiday destinations became more attractive to British travellers as the pound strengthened against the euro, allowing Britons to enjoy better exchange rates and get more value for their money.
"Although the strong dollar is clearly not deterring people from visiting the US, it does appear that UK travellers are tightening their belts and reining in spending with the dollar no longer offering the value for money that Britons have seen in previous years," he added.