How often have you budgeted minutely for a holiday and then found yourself spending over-limit? It’s the holiday maker’s most frequent complaint - and it’s usually caused by failing to factor in the extra costs of a holiday. By only calculating the cost of your holiday based on flights, accommodation and living expenditure, you could end up spending hundreds of pounds more than you bargained for. So here’s how to identify – and minimise – the hidden costs of holiday extras.
Money transfer
Many tourists lose money by using their card abroad and failing to grasp the best exchange rates. Always buy your foreign currency before you travel, and use the internet to find the best rates. Transferring cash at airport Bureau de Changes can be expensive – after all, they have a captive audience. Keep an eye on the exchange rate between sterling and the foreign current in the months before you travel. Buying at the right time can save you £££s.
Unless your bank is one of the rare few who don’t charge for taking out money abroad, you should also put your plastic aside until you get home. Industry experts suggest that banks earned over £500 million in 2007 by charging travellers for taking out money. Take a look at Travelex for foreign exchange, but it comes as recommended to get this from your local high street or travel agent.
Car parking
You may have budgeted for the flights, but have you taken airport parking into consideration? A week abroad could end up costing you up to £100 in parking charges – but you can minimise this cost by booking in advance. A site such as Essential Extras offers deals on Gatwick Airport parking, which can save you up to 60 per cent. Maximise your savings by booking far ahead and shopping around to find the best deals.
Alternatively, you might want to consider car hire as an option. Sometimes you can get a car locally, and then drop it off the airport. It’s not often cheaper than airport parking, but if you’re a large group heading away for more than a month or so then it might be the most cost effective way of getting to the airport. Take a look at Holiday Autos for car hire.
Insurance
Travel insurance really shouldn’t be viewed as an optional extra, because you really need cover in case things go wrong. An EHIC card is not always enough to save you from paying medical expenses within the EU, and outside of it, the card does very little anyway. Travel insurance can also cover you for loss of items and theft. If you’re planning a package holiday, check that your provider’s ‘optional travel insurance’ isn’t excessive. Compare this to the travel insurance offered by AA Travel to see if you’re getting the most for your money.
Fees
Some companies will advertise deals for cheap flights and accommodation which don’t include compulsory extras. Look out for booking, processing and administration fees, which are charged by some travel agents and websites on top of the cost of the holiday. Many budget airlines also fail to mention airport tax when they quote you a flight price, while some hotels will charge you a compulsory extra ‘resort charge’ for using the facilities of the resort. If you’re booking a flight, a hotel or a hostel, make sure you take into account the hidden fees.
