How often have you budgeted minutely for a holiday and
then found yourself spending over-limit? Itís the holiday makerís most frequent
complaint - and itís 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 hereís 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 donít 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.
Itís not often cheaper than airport parking, but if youíre 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 shouldnít 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 youíre planning a package holiday, check that your
providerís ëoptional travel insuranceí isnít excessive. Compare this to the
travel insurance offered by AA Travel to see if youíre getting the most for
your money.
Fees
Some companies will advertise deals for cheap flights and accommodation which
donít 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 ëresort chargeí for using the facilities of the resort.
If youíre booking a flight, a hotel or a hostel, make sure you take into
account the hidden fees.
For travel
insurance try Go Travel.
