WARNING: Don’t get burnt for cash on your holiday
YOUR summer break is time to relax, but if you are too laid-back your trip could be ruined by holiday rip-offs.
Two-thirds of British families were stung by hidden fees and charges last summer
New research shows two-thirds of British families were stung by hidden fees and charges last summer, to the tune of £159 each.
With the holidays just weeks away a bit of smart planning today could help you stay within your budget and avoid getting burnt in the sun.
Exchange shock
One of the worst things to do is buy travel money at the last minute from an airport foreign exchange kiosk.
You can get superior rates ordering online in advance through Asda, FairFX, ICE, the Post Office, Tesco and other websites.
Research from Post Office Money reveals that regional airport kiosks offer some of the worst deals.
Families changing £500 in euros would get £55 more buying online and having it delivered than buying it at Liverpool Airport.
Similarly, they could get £81 more by purchasing £500 in Turkish lira online than changing their money at Bristol Airport.
David Black, a personal finance specialist at DJB Research, says: “Home delivery charges for currency ordered online rarely add more than £5 and are free on larger orders.”
Families could save money on flight costs by avoiding pricey food on flight and making their own
Do your homework and you could avoid overspending by hundreds of pounds.
Flight costs
Hidden flight charges are the bane of every traveller, as airlines slap on fees for travel baggage, priority boarding, early check-in and other extras. And it doesn’t end when you step on board, with Britons naming flight food and drink prices the number one holiday rip-off, according to the Post Office.
A family of four could easily pay £33 on a meal deal of sandwiches, crisps and soft drinks on a low-cost airline, against just £16 in the airport.
You can save money by making your own sandwiches. But remember, you cannot carry drinks through security.
Holidaymakers also claimed that the high cost of excursions, local taxis and compulsory restaurant service charges bust their holiday budgets.
Andrew Brown, travel expert at Post Office Travel Money, explains the average family spends £242 on meals out on their family holiday but prices vary massively: “A family could pay around £134 for a single meal in southern Italy while in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, £200 would cover eating out for a week.”
Many Britons got caught out by foreign transactions charges by using their debit or credit card
Tips to get the best deal out of your package holiday
Plastic Meltdown
Millions of Britons got caught out by foreign transaction charges when using their debit and credit cards abroad last year, costing on average £48.57.
Many card issuers slap on extra fees for withdrawing cash or using plastic in foreign shops, bars and restaurants, Brown says: “Many only discovered them once they received their bank statements.”
It may be cheaper to take out a pre-paid travel money card, offered by Caxton, FairFX, the Post Office and others.
Brown says the key is remembering how you were ripped off on your last trip: “Do your homework and you could avoid overspending by hundreds of pounds.”
Avoid car hire cons by taking your own child’s seat and sat nav, or having just one named driver
Rental car crunch
If picking up a rental car this summer, you could steer straight into one of the biggest rip-offs of all.
Britons flying abroad pay on average £301 a week to rent a VW Golf, but that doubles to £626 after extras are added at the rental desk, according to research from iCarHireInsurance.com.
Super damage waiver, an extra driver, a sat nav and a child’s seat can more than double the cost.
Ernesto Suarez, founder of iCarHireInsurance, says: “Companies make a lot of their money on the extras they sell at the rental desk.”
Avoid car hire cons by taking your own child’s seat and sat nav, or having just one named driver.
Super damage waiver, sometimes called car hire excess cover, can cost around £10 a day and pays the rental hire company’s excess for any damage, which can be £1,000 or more.
Stand-alone insurers such as iCarHireInsurance, Insurance- 4CarHire.com and WorldWideInsure. com give you superior cover for a fraction of the cost.