New figures show that the average rugby fan visiting New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup will spend £1,176.33 a week.
The figure, part of research undertaken by Sainsbury’s Finance, shows that sports fans will need spending money of at least £1,174.17 a week on top of the cost of their match tickets. This figure also excludes the cost of return flights to New Zealand, too.
Almost three-quarters (73 per cent) of the £1,174.17 will go on hotel rooms as demand for hotels across New Zealand has pushed prices up by an average of £213.75 per week.
Despite the increased costs, New Zealand offers great value compared to the UK. Most visitors to Auckland should be able to have an evening meal with wine or beer for around £27.30. Perhaps more important for rugby fans it is possible to buy a beer in a bar for around £2.
David Barrett of Sainsbury’s Travel Money argues that any visitors to New Zealand looking to extend their trip with flights to Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Middle East and other Asia Pacific destinations would do well to look at travel money options.
“With many fans shelling out a small fortune on tickets and feeling the high demand for accommodation on their wallets, shopping around for the best deal on travel money could make a big difference,” he says.
Up until 10 October, Sainsbury’s Travel Money is running a currency sale, with reduced rates and commission-free exchange. Rugby-goers exchanging £1,000 at today’s rate of exchange at Sainsbury’s in-store Travel Money Bureaux or online will get an extra NZ$40.
When it comes to currency and travel money many holidaymakers have fallen victim to “buy-back schemes”. Buy-back schemes typically advertise zero per cent commission on any currency bought back from travellers following a holiday.
FairFX, a leading online travel website, recently surveyed more than 1,000 consumers and found that 93 per cent of them believe that “zero per cent commission advertising” should be banned. It has since launched an online petition of the Office of Fair Trading to have the misleading advertising banned.
(Image: eguidetravel)
