Travellers could save money using a pre-paid currency card

Despite the credit crunch putting a squeeze on everyone's wallets new research from FairFX.com reveals British holiday makers still aren't spending prudently abroad. 69% of people might say every penny counts when buying their foreign currency, but 98% still don't use pre-paid currency cards - the cheapest way to spend abroad.

Two thirds (66%) prefer to spend foreign cash taken abroad with them, and a further 29% choose to withdraw foreign currency from a hole in the wall once they get overseas. Despite the extortionate fees involved, 21% of holidaymakers still choose to spend on their credit cards.

Stephen Heath, Chief Executive of FairFX.com, said: "Will 2009 be the year that travellers wake up to the savings they can make by using a pre-paid card for all their holiday spending? Two thirds of people might say every penny counts, but then don't actually ensure they have the right tools to make it happen.

"A family of four could have an extra $300 or €200 to spend on their holiday this summer if they used a pre-paid card, more than enough to pay for a days entry for the whole family to Disneyland in Paris or Orlando.* What's more, the FairFX.com card is the only card with no global surcharge."

For example, a family of four planning to exchange £1,500 for their holiday, would get $2,347.50 or €1,691.25 using a FairFX.com card compared to only $2,170.35 or €1,575.15 if they exchanged at Heathrow airport.**

Before buying their holiday money just 9% of people check a comparison site, and 16% of people don't bother to do anything and simply use the card they already have in their wallet - a costly mistake which will only come to light when they check the statement the following month.

58% say they look for a supplier that charges 0% commission when they get their holiday money, but simply opting for deals based on "0% commission" or "commission-free" doesn't ensure the best rate of exchange, in fact in some instances they could lose up to 19% of their holiday cash value.

Sadly, a misplaced belief that there is little difference between the best and the worst rates (one in ten consumers), or the view that foreign travel is costly already so there is no point in penny pinching (one in twenty consumers), mean many people are simply not willing to shop around for their foreign currency despite the extra money they could have with minimal effort.

Stephen Heath, Chief Executive of FairFX.com, continued: "There seems to be quite a large divide between consumers' desires to make the most of their cash, and the reality of their foreign spending habits.

"Many of us might intend to look for the best deals, but when it comes to the crunch people aren't making the effort to get the best bang for their buck. But they might think twice if they knew they could save up to 18% if they use the FairFX.com card instead of changing their money at the airport - savings not to be sniffed at."

** Exchange rates as at 10am 26th May 2009