Get more for your money this summer
With millions of Brits spending their hard earned cash on holidays abroad this year, new research from Nationwide Building Society has revealed travel delays, holiday money and the standard of the resort are the things we worry most about before going away.
To help holiday makers ensure they get more for their money this summer, Nationwide has unveiled a list of money saving tips for people travelling abroad.
The UK's biggest holiday worries:
Travel delays - 33%
Holiday money - 21%
Standard of resort - 21%
Losing passport - 12%
Excess baggage - 11%
Sunburn - 3%
Chris Rhodes, Nationwide's director of products and marketing said: "Going on holiday is supposed to be about relaxing and forgetting all our worries. Yet this research shows that people still worry about their holiday even when they're on the way to the airport. This is hardly surprising given the tough times the UK has had where much of the nation has had to tighten the purse strings. When spending money on holidays, we want to know that we're getting as much value for our money as possible. With our money saving tips holiday makers can ensure that every penny counts this summer."
Nationwide's money saving tips
1. Check any additional benefits you're entitled to. You may already have access through your credit or debit card to benefits such as travel insurance, airport parking discounts or cheap car rental. The Nationwide FlexAccount, for example, offers free European multi trip travel insurance. Your home insurance might also give you cover for your valuable possessions that you choose to take abroad.
2. Avoid changing money at the airport. You will usually find the exchange rate offered is worse than you can get by arranging your holiday money in advance or by using debit or credit cards like those from Nationwide that offer cheap and commission free card use abroad.
3. Be smart about how you use your card abroad. Use your card for purchases rather than withdrawing cash regularly to avoid higher charges
4. Pay in the local currency. Retailers often offer to let you pay in pounds instead of the local currency (known as dynamic currency conversion). This is sometimes more expensive so opt for the local currency over sterling, particularly if you have cards where you have or can earn commission free use like Nationwide's Credit Card.
5. Send back the extras. Restaurants will often provide bread or snacks to tempt you before you order. These may appear to be free, but if they're not, and you don't want them, send them back.
6. Learn key words in the local language to avoid being charged extra. One of the best to learn is the local word for tap water to avoid paying for costly bottled water (so long as you know the local tap water is safe to drink).
7. Pack light. Many airlines now charge for baggage, not just excess baggage over their limit. If you need to take several bags, consider booking in advance as prices at check-in or boarding are usually much higher.
8. Cut the cost of using your mobile abroad. Ask your mobile provider if they offer discounted call packages; some are free and some require a monthly fee. If you are a heavy caller, you might also consider switching SIM cards to a special multi-country SIM card
9. If you need to renew your passport, do so a few weeks in advance. The current adult standard price is £77.50 but rises to £129.50 if you leave it late and need a one-day premium service.
10. Arrange any tour passes in advance. Not only will this usually give you a discount on the full price, you'll often be able to skip those long queues.