In the closing days of June, the people of the United Kingdom participated in a landmark vote after months and months of fierce debate. The vote concerned a countrywide decision on one single question: to leave the European Union or stick around. Though their were arguments on both sides of the issue (and we’ll take no sides, here), the vote eventually landed on the side of “Leave,” with the dissenters outnumbering the rest 52 percent to 48 percent. Initial reports of the BREXIT vote have seen its passage as almost immediately unpopular (so it very well might be fleeting), however, it’s a real thing, and it’s something that you have to take into account when it’s time to head to the United Kingdom. It looks like they’re no longer going to be a member of the European Union … so what does that mean for you?
1. Go There Now!
First and foremost, if you’ve ever contemplated a trip to the bustling streets of London or a scenic trip through the stunning countryside, this might be the time to do it. In the wake of the BREXIT vote, the United Kingdom kind of took a PR hit, so they’re more welcoming and happy to see foreigners than ever before (because they like tourist dollars).
2. It’s Cheaper Than Ever Before
Okay, so the flip side of the coin, here, is that the world economy took a trillion-dollar hit in the wake of the BREXIT vote. The upside of that downturn is that the pound is falling which means your American dollar will go farther than ever before. You’ve always heard that it’s extremely expensive to visit London or Wales, but that’s not the case anymore … well, not as much the case as it was (at least for now).
3. They Don’t Tell You About the Lines
So, at the moment, EU citizens traveling through airports get to go through a different line at security when they’re traveling through the continent (just like Americans do in the U.S.). That may change in the future — which would require any Europeans traveling to the UK to stand in the foreigner line when entering and exit the airport. Just something to consider.
