Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Money  analysed its Travel Money currencies to identify which destinations are becoming more popular for travellers, outside mainstream tourist locations.

In particular, four currencies have seen much broader use over the past four years, as the countries have grown in popularity with holidaymakers. The analysis also showed that British travellers are choosing to stay closer to home as European destinations dominate some of the most bought currencies.

The top currency climbers are the Polish Zloty, the Czech Krona, the Hungarian Forint and the Islandic Krona: Sainbury’s Bank said the Polish Zloty has leapt up in popularity, moving from the 14^th most bought currency in 2015 to the 7^th in 2018. Poland has seen record-breaking tourist numbers in the past two years. The Czech Krona has climbed up the charts from 12^th position to be the 8^th most popular currency, on the back of the Czech Republic’s 13.2m international visitors last year.

The Hungarian Forint saw the biggest increase in popularity, jumping to the 13^th most popular currency in 2018 from 20^th place in 2015. Equally, the Icelandic Krona’s popularity has been on an upward climb in recent years, moving from the 18^th most popular currency to the 15^th – 2.2 million people visited Iceland in 2017, a 24% increase on the year before

Simon Taylor, head of travel money at Sainsbury’s Bank said: “Our currency data shows that European destinations are popular with holidaymakers who are looking for cheaper short-haul flights for a cost-effective trip. When preparing for your getaway, make sure to check out the latest travel money deals beforehand to get the most bang for your buck so you can save your money for holiday treats instead.”

Top money tips for your next getaway from Sainsbury’s Bank:

1. Deals: Check out deals on offer to save you from spending your money on holiday must-haves before you’ve even left the house.
2. Panic at the airport: Airport travel money kiosks often have poor exchange rates, which can leave you getting less holiday money in your pocket. Be sure to leave plenty of time before your holiday to get your vacation cash.
3. Friendly finances: If you’re heading away on a trip with friends, have a conversation with them before you go about how much they are planning to spend. This way you will all be on the same page while you’re away.
4. Budget: On holiday it can be easy to get carried away with spending. Make a budget before you go and try your best to stick to it. Have a look at apps which split bills for you to save the hassle of working out how much everyone has to pay while you’re at the dinner table.
5. Don’t get caught out: Did you know that without travel insurance you’re not covered if your holiday is cancelled or you’re not able to go? Don’t leave taking out travel insurance until the last minute, or you could end up out of pocket if anything happened to your holiday plans.