Travel Calculators
Plan smarter trips with our free travel calculators — from currency conversion and flight cost estimates to trip budgets and time zone conversions.
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Currency & Costs
Currency conversion, travel budget, and airline miles
Time & Distance
Time zones, flight time, and distance calculators
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Travel Glossary — Key Terms Explained
- Exchange Rate
- The price of one currency in terms of another. Exchange rates fluctuate constantly based on economic conditions, interest rates, and market sentiment. The rate you get at an airport or currency exchange is usually 3–8% worse than the mid-market rate.
- Mid-Market Rate
- The midpoint between buy and sell rates for a currency pair — considered the fairest rate. Banks and exchange services add a margin above this. Wise (formerly TransferWise) and Revolut offer rates close to mid-market.
- CPP (Cents/Pence Per Point)
- The value of airline miles or hotel points when redeemed. Calculate by dividing the cash price of the booking by the points required. 1–2 cents per point is typical; 2+ cents is good value; under 1 cent is usually poor value.
- Time Zone (UTC offset)
- Time zones are expressed as offsets from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). London is UTC+0 in winter, UTC+1 in summer (BST). New York is UTC-5 in winter (EST), UTC-4 in summer (EDT). Tokyo is UTC+9 year-round.
- Travel Insurance Excess
- The amount you pay when making a travel insurance claim before the insurance covers the rest. Higher excess = lower premium. Consider the excess when comparing policies — a cheap policy with a £500 excess may not cover many common claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get the best exchange rate when travelling?
Best options: (1) Wise or Revolut debit card — rates near mid-market, low fees. (2) ATM withdrawal in local currency overseas (check your bank's foreign transaction fee). Avoid: (1) Airport currency exchanges (worst rates). (2) Dynamic Currency Conversion at ATMs or card terminals (choosing to pay in home currency) — always pay in local currency.
How do I calculate the value of airline miles?
Value per mile = Cash price of flight ÷ Miles required. A business class ticket worth £3,000 redeemable for 100,000 miles = 3 pence per mile (good value). The same miles used for a £200 economy redemption = 0.2 pence per mile (poor value). High-value redemptions are typically long-haul business class.
What is the cheapest day to fly?
Generally, Tuesday and Wednesday flights tend to be cheapest; Friday and Sunday most expensive. However, this varies by route and season. The biggest savings come from booking 6–8 weeks in advance for domestic flights, 3–6 months for international. Flexible date search on Google Flights shows cheapest days across a month.
How much should I budget per day for travel?
Budget travel (Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe): £30–£60/day including accommodation, food, and local transport. Mid-range (Western Europe, North America): £80–£150/day. Luxury or expensive cities (London, Tokyo, Sydney): £200–£400+/day. Always budget 20% extra for unexpected costs, entrance fees, and souvenirs.