Helping you make the most out of your money
Helping you get the most bang for your buck
Updated January 25, 2024
Despite cost-of-living pressures, vacationing is our “number one priority when it comes to discretionary spending,” according to research firm Mintel. And let’s face it, we deserve a break! But unfortunately things can go wrong, so here’s what you want to know to laugh in the sun.
The winter months have been tough and thoughts are turning to the summer. But before you jump online to book your trip away, it makes sense to pause and reflect.
I don’t need to be a killjoy, but a lot of things can go wrong when I’m on vacation or at home. Heavy-handed bureaucratic scammers, a few careless mistakes, or lost checks can ruin your experience.
In this article, I cover:
Read more: 22 Hidden Vacation Costs and How to Avoid Them
If you’ve not booked a flight for a while, you might be in for a shock with the number and cost of all the additional sneaky charges that you could face. These include:
Many airlines now charge maximum prices, even for carry-on luggage. And there have also been significant price increases for other items on your flight, adding checked baggage location and variety of seats alongside those you enjoy.
Also be wary of the costs of stealth flights.
If you need to have WiFi on your long-haul flight, expect to pay. On the airline and on the plane, however, connectivity on a Virgin Atlantic B787 flight, for example, can charge anywhere from £2. 99 for courier to £29. 99 for premium surfing.
Watch out for onboard “deals” too as they might not be as good as they appear. I recently spotted one airline claiming that its duty-free goods, food and drinks were all reduced by 20%. Which would be great, if the airline hadn’t increased prices by 40% a few months earlier!
Read more: Hidden airline fees and charges in more detail and how to avoid them
A number of airlines have begun to include a number of additional fees in packages. But this data is confusing and overly complicated, so it’s hard to know if you’re getting a smart offer or not.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) publishes comparative tables of airfares in an attempt to help us understand all of this. However, I recently booked a flight where the minimum seat was worth £6 and hand luggage £26, not £0. 99 or £6. 99 indexed through the airline on the CAA chart.
Read more: Airlines face clampdown on hidden fees
There are tactics to anticipate and prepare for those cheeky fees, but by setting a rough budget.
When you check flight prices, think about what’s vital that you add.
Using non-scientific averages, you can consider roughly:
That’s an average of £62 to load on each flight or £124 for a circular journey. If you have those numbers in mind before you buy, you may not face a surprise bill at checkout. And you might get a nice sorpresa. si your airline charges less than your estimate.
It’s also a smart idea to buy food and beverages before boarding. While department stores tend to rate higher at airports than high streets, they’ll most likely get less expensive (and arguably better) food than on the flight.
Going on vacation? Make sure you’re covered. Check out our top picks for the best insurance providers
Online sites, such as Expedia or Booking. com, and apartment rental sites, such as AirBnB, can be a wonderful way to find a wonderful place to stay during your big vacation. I use those sites all the time. But it pays to be careful about what is offered and do your homework.
Watch out for tickers. Those on-screen alerts informing you that there’s only one room left in the hotel you’re staying in or that things are “booking up fast,” for example, aim to inspire you to shop under pressure.
Despite the warnings and fines, the travel industry still manages to find deceptive tactics to trick us into parting with our cash before we’ve had time to check all the terms and conditions.
Many booking sites offer personal rentals in hotels and aparthotels. If there are any problems with your hotel, you can complain at the front desk. You may struggle to get the same level of care and features with a personal rental, depending on your host.
Be sure to review the photographs carefully to make sure all advertised amenities are there and ask questions before booking. Don’t also read online reviews and focus on the most recent ones.
Watch out for descriptions like extra bedrooms that turn out to be just a sofa bed in the living room. To try to gauge the quality of the host, check for details on the handover and the return of keys too.
Read more: How to rent your holiday home
Many sites list houses within 500 meters of the city center, for example. However, some sites do not specify in which center. You’ll probably notice that you’re not a kilometre from the centre of Barcelona, but a nearby suburb.
Consult an online map to locate where the main tourist attractions in your destination are located and make references to the main points on the booking site.
Nine Things You Want to Know Before You Book Your Next Vacation
Every year, other people who rent apartments through personal rentals get caught up in a common scam that is undeniable to pull off but has devastating consequences.
Scammers will promote you as a hot asset on a valid site, using fake reviews and wonderful photos. These vacation rentals exist regularly, but they do not actually belong to the scammer.
If you request or pay to book the property electronically, the scammer will offer you a reduction if you transfer cash directly from your bank account instead of through the host’s online page. They regularly use the argument that they transfer property savings online. page for you.
Alternatively, they would possibly recommend a valid payment method like PayPal, but ask you to use the cheaper “friends and family” option.
When you transfer cash from your bank account or use the Friends & Family option in PayPal, cash is exceptionally difficult to retrieve, so when you sent it, it was gone. And if it’s a scam, you may never see it again.
I’ve written more about how the way you pay can affect your rights.
I’ve come across too many horror stories of readers who came on vacation and found that their personal rental or residence didn’t exist.
So to try to beat the scammers:
Find out what the six scams are for this winter
Car rental has one of the worst reputations in terms of fraudulent sales, fraudulent costs, and lousy service.
These companies know that you may get tired of the adventure when you arrive at your vacation destination and just need to continue on your way.
Be wary of upsells, where add-ons are presented that you don’t need or need. Also, be sure not to rush through the procedure without the company having specified the main terms of the contract.
Car rental contracts have significant overcharges, which can mean that you may have to pay £1,000 or more for minor damage to a vehicle.
Having an insurance policy that covers excesses is essential, but those sold at car rental locations can be expensive. You can get smart insurance in the UK before you do for around £30.
I hear many reports of car rental companies claiming that you want to subscribe to their own logo policies. It’s true! In the UK, companies are prohibited from restricting you to your own insurance and the EU’s maximum regulations are similar. Tell them in writing that you will take out your own insurance when you book.
Discover the dangers of renting a car that can cost you a lot of euros on vacation
Surreptitiously, some companies update the brand and styling of the car when it arrives. It is possible for you to get a manually driven vehicle even if you apply for a particular automatic vehicle. This can be dangerous, so stand your ground if a company tries to replace vehicles.
If there is no other option, please inform your inr so that they can modify the policy accordingly.
It is imperative to photograph and film the car from all angles before setting off to avoid costly disruptions later on.
Finally, Brexit means there are a few new rules around driving in the EU. Make sure you’ve read the Government guidance in full before traveling: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-the-eu
Thousands of travellers are still denied boarding at UK airports due to a lack of wisdom about passport changes.
If your EU passport is reaching the final year of its lifespan, it’s time to think about applying for your new UK passport – blue.
When Britain was in the EU, any time left on your existing passport was automatically added on to your new one. So if you had six months to go when you renewed, your new passport would show 10 years and six months on the expiry date.
Nowadays, you simply get a passport with a validity of 10 years and any additional validity of your old passport is lost.
Post-Brexit rules also apply to your existing passport. If you are travelling to the EU/Schengen area, your legal entry into the country is based on your passport’s issue date, not its expiry date.
For example, if you’re traveling on March 1, 2024, and your passport expiration date is April 1, 2014, you might think that’s fine. But if your passport factor date is February 1, 2014, you will be rejected because your passport is more than ten years old. years.
In addition, the passport issue date will also need to be at least 3 months old from the date you plan to leave the EU. So, if you booked a holiday in Spain between 24 and 31 March 2024, your passport will have to have a factor date after 1 July 2014.
Find out about all the UK passport renewal times and prices.
Note that these rules apply to the EU/Schengen area only. Other countries may require a six-month period of validity on your passport. Although not many of the main non-EU destinations which often allow you to travel right up to the expiry date.
If in doubt, check the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and you may also want a visa for some countries.
Read more: Nine things you need to know before booking your next holiday
According to a study by Currensea, the average family will pay £212 in fees and currency conversion for debit cards and £188 for prepaid money cards. That’s the equivalent of a night in a fancy hotel!
Many primary banks charge higher-than-maximum fees for each and every transaction you make while you’re away. So check before you go. You may need a card with a higher currency conversion rate.
Check out our most productive assortment of debit and credit cards for use abroad.
Please note: it is almost less expensive to pay in the local currency if you use your card abroad.
There are so many things to do when it comes to spending abroad, so here are my most sensible tips.
Check out our selection of the best debit and credit cards to use abroad.
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