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Money advice: money-saving expert Martin Lewis tells you what to consider when going abroad on holiday.
By: Martin Lewis
Martin Lewis: avoid debit cards from hell
Martin Lewis: avoid debit cards from hell
Martin Lewis gives you money advice when abroad
The pound’s recovering against the euro or, more accurately, the euro is plummeting – making holidays to the continent a little cheaper for us Brits.
However, overseas holidays are still far from good value these days, which is why it’s never been more important than to follow these ten key travel MoneySaving rules.
1. Get free Holiday Medical Cover.
The free EHIC card is a government scheme that entitles you to healthcare in all state-run hospitals in thirty-one European countries, as if you were a local. So in Spain it means free healthcare and in Cyprus you pay what locals pay.
Everyone needs their own EHIC card, even children, so ensure you apply for them too. If you already have one, check it’s still valid, because many only last three to five years.
Most importantly, keep it with you. If you don’t present it when you need treatment, you’re not covered. While it’s by no means a substitute for travel insurance, it’s perfect for emergency treatment, quick trips to GPs and possibly meaning you needn’t pay travel insurance excess. To get one, go to www.ehic.org.uk or call 0845 606 2030.
The free EHIC card is a government scheme that entitles you to healthcare in all state-run hospitals in thirty-one European countries, as if you were a local. So in Spain it means free healthcare and in Cyprus you pay what locals pay.
Everyone needs their own EHIC card, even children, so ensure you apply for them too. If you already have one, check it’s still valid, because many only last three to five years.
Most importantly, keep it with you. If you don’t present it when you need treatment, you’re not covered. While it’s by no means a substitute for travel insurance, it’s perfect for emergency treatment, quick trips to GPs and possibly meaning you needn’t pay travel insurance excess. To get one, go to www.ehic.org.uk or call 0845 606 2030.
2. Avoid the debit cards from hell
Shockingly, the very worst cards for spending abroad are some debit cards rather than credit cards (unless you don’t pay off the credit card in full at the end of the month).
That’s because Lloyds, Halifax, RBS, Santander and NatWest cards don’t just give poor exchange rates and charge for cash withdrawals overseas, they also charge a fee of up to £1.50 every time you spend. Thus buy something for £3 worth of euros or dollars and you’ll pay £4.50 it.
If you’ve got one of these cards, at the very least withdraw cash in one lump when abroad and spend that. Better still, switch to a different card.
If you’ve got one of these cards, at the very least withdraw cash in one lump when abroad and spend that. Better still, switch to a different card.
3. Carry a specialist overseas card
Almost every credit or debit card adds a 3% ‘load’ to the exchange rate when you spend abroad, so spend £100 worth of Euros and it’ll cost you £103 (and this isn’t shown on your statement).
Almost every credit or debit card adds a 3% ‘load’ to the exchange rate when you spend abroad, so spend £100 worth of Euros and it’ll cost you £103 (and this isn’t shown on your statement).
Yet four specialist credit cards don’t add this `load’, giving you near perfect exchange rates, so get one just for spending abroad, but do ensure you repay it in full to reduce interest.
Vying for top place are Santander Zero and Saga (over-50s only) as they’re load-free worldwide and give cheaper cash withdrawals. Runners-up are the Post Office and Nationwide, though the latter charges 1% load outside Europe.
Vying for top place are Santander Zero and Saga (over-50s only) as they’re load-free worldwide and give cheaper cash withdrawals. Runners-up are the Post Office and Nationwide, though the latter charges 1% load outside Europe.
These cards can save you £100s a year on holiday costs – full pros on cons on each go to www.moneysavingexpert.com/travelcards
4. Complain while you’re there
If things go wrong on a package holiday; ask for a complaint form there and then. If not, you could lose compensation rights, because the rules say that you must give them a chance to get it sorted at the time.
Grab evidence too: photograph grotty rooms if they don’t live up to the brochure; note down the what, where, when, how and why of the problems; and keep receipts for any additional expenditure you incur.
When you return, contact the holiday company and clearly state what you want, whether it’s a refund, compensation or just an apology.
If things go wrong on a package holiday; ask for a complaint form there and then. If not, you could lose compensation rights, because the rules say that you must give them a chance to get it sorted at the time.
Grab evidence too: photograph grotty rooms if they don’t live up to the brochure; note down the what, where, when, how and why of the problems; and keep receipts for any additional expenditure you incur.
When you return, contact the holiday company and clearly state what you want, whether it’s a refund, compensation or just an apology.
5. Never pay in pounds
If a retailer overseas offers to let you pay in pounds, reject it. It’s called dynamic currency exchange, and is common in Spain. It means that the shop will be doing the currency conversion; and if you don’t know the rate it’s usually worse than your card. That’s especially true if you have one of the travel specialist cards.
If a retailer overseas offers to let you pay in pounds, reject it. It’s called dynamic currency exchange, and is common in Spain. It means that the shop will be doing the currency conversion; and if you don’t know the rate it’s usually worse than your card. That’s especially true if you have one of the travel specialist cards.
6. Should you get annual or single trip travel insurance?
Trip away three times or more in a year and an annual policy that covers the whole year’s trips is usually cheapest, though if one of the trips is to the USA, it can be worth it if you do just one other trip.
Bear in mind though, if you get an annual family policy, it may only cover you if all the family travel together and not if one goes independently. However, usually if you call and notify them of this, they do then allow it.
Annual policies are available for as little as £15 for a year’s travel in Europe for an individual or £25 for a family – full info on the latest at www.moneysavingexpert.com/travelinsurance
Bear in mind though, if you get an annual family policy, it may only cover you if all the family travel together and not if one goes independently. However, usually if you call and notify them of this, they do then allow it.
Annual policies are available for as little as £15 for a year’s travel in Europe for an individual or £25 for a family – full info on the latest at www.moneysavingexpert.com/travelinsurance
7. Car hire can be cheaper than a cab
Booking ahead can often get you car hire at a fraction of the price, perhaps £10 a day rather than £50 OR £60 once you are there. This can work out well. For example, between Malaga airport and Marbella in Spain a taxi will cost you 50 euros each way, yet cars can often be hired for less. So you could get a week’s worth of trips for the cost of one taxi journey. To find the cheapest use comparison sites like sites like www.kayak.co.uk or www.carrentals.co.uk
8. Boost travel cash rates by £70
The worst place to get your travel money is at the airport or ferry port, because rates are inflated for captive customers. Bizarrely, even if you order cash online to be picked up at the airport, you would get a better rate.
Yet the best way to do it is do an online comparison on my www.travelmoneymax.com tool, which lists every currency. For example, as I write at the best place €500 euros costs £420 all-in, at the worst £477, so the differences are huge.
Yet the best way to do it is do an online comparison on my www.travelmoneymax.com tool, which lists every currency. For example, as I write at the best place €500 euros costs £420 all-in, at the worst £477, so the differences are huge.
9. Halve the cost of airport parking
Airport parking is never cheap, so, if possible, avoid. Yet, if you need it, slash the cost by reserving as early as possible for the cheapest rates. Many providers will let you cancel with no charge if your plans change. To find the cheapest both on and offsite parking try comparison sites like www.aph.com and www.holidayextras.co.uk.
Airport parking is never cheap, so, if possible, avoid. Yet, if you need it, slash the cost by reserving as early as possible for the cheapest rates. Many providers will let you cancel with no charge if your plans change. To find the cheapest both on and offsite parking try comparison sites like www.aph.com and www.holidayextras.co.uk.
Also consider booking a night in an airport hotel, as they often offer a week's parking with a night's stay, which is occasionally cheaper than parking alone elsewhere.
10. Haggle to cut up to 15% off late package deals
if you’ve not booked yet, while DIY holidays are all the vogue, don’t discount old-fashioned packages. Know what you’re doing and they can be super cheap.
Always remember holidays are created by tour operators and flogged by travel agents, so identical vacation packages are on offer at many agents. This means once you know where you want to go, the challenge is find who’ll sell it toyou cheapest. The best way is tosimply telephone rival travel agents, including those who advertise in paper travel sections and see if they’ll beat the price. Keep going until no one will - this can smash down the cost by a further 15%.
Free 'No Cold Callers' Sign: New rules mean they must obey
This month the big six energy companies agreed their sales people would respect 'no cold callers' signs - a hard-won victory by Consumer Focus & Trading Standards. To help you take advantage asap we've designed a Trading Standard's approved 'no cold callers' sign you can speedily print and put on your door or window. Get one at www.moneysavingexpert.com/coldcalls
New iPhone surveys app
Top online survey site OnePoll's launched a free iPhone app, so you can earn on the go. It pays 50p-£1.50 per survey. To join, just grab the free app from the iTunes Store. More details and online options at moneysavingexpert.com/surveys
if you’ve not booked yet, while DIY holidays are all the vogue, don’t discount old-fashioned packages. Know what you’re doing and they can be super cheap.
Always remember holidays are created by tour operators and flogged by travel agents, so identical vacation packages are on offer at many agents. This means once you know where you want to go, the challenge is find who’ll sell it toyou cheapest. The best way is tosimply telephone rival travel agents, including those who advertise in paper travel sections and see if they’ll beat the price. Keep going until no one will - this can smash down the cost by a further 15%.
Free 'No Cold Callers' Sign: New rules mean they must obey
This month the big six energy companies agreed their sales people would respect 'no cold callers' signs - a hard-won victory by Consumer Focus & Trading Standards. To help you take advantage asap we've designed a Trading Standard's approved 'no cold callers' sign you can speedily print and put on your door or window. Get one at www.moneysavingexpert.com/coldcalls
New iPhone surveys app
Top online survey site OnePoll's launched a free iPhone app, so you can earn on the go. It pays 50p-£1.50 per survey. To join, just grab the free app from the iTunes Store. More details and online options at moneysavingexpert.com/surveys
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TV money guru Martin Lewis runs the consumer revenge website MoneySavingExpert.com ; ensure you get his weekly e-mail so you’re constantly saving money.
Martin Lewis, TV's money man and founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, has launched a useful and completely free tool to help Brits protect their wallets this summer.
Called Cardsgone ( www.cardsgone.com), his is a free to use card guard and tool for people to protect themselves in the advent of loosing their wallet or having it stolen either here or overseas this summer holiday period.
Lose a bag, wallet or purse and the gut-wrenching is compounded by remembering what's in it and having to find the numbers to cancel everything. GMTV's Martin's new www.cardsgone.com is a free site, that does this for you, without storing any personal info or data.
Simply plug in what's in your wallet and you can print out and store the right numbers to call. Plus you get a unique link to click anytime, which'll update any future number changes.
Martin commented: "Fraud is no longer the preserve of dodgy fellas in macs trying to persuade you to part with your cash. These days it’s high tech, often internet based and done at great speed.
“So if you lose your cards you need to act quickly, as your protection relies on speedy notification.
"It’s this that drove us to build www.cardsgone.com and keep it free and ad-free, as this is too important. Quite simply it tells you all the updated phone numbers needed to cancel any card in an instant. More importantly, as we now tend to carry a factory load of plastic around with us, credit, debit, store, loyalty, driving licence, EHIC and more - remembering exactly what you had isn't always easy, so it enables you to come in and store a list of cards, so there's no need to remember exactly what was in your purse or wallet if it's gone.
Over 46 million Brits leave home everyday carrying enough information to allow a crafty criminal to steal their identity. Credit cards, driving licence, store cards are just a few of the personal information banks that many are carrying around in their wallets and can leave us vulnerable to identity theft.
With Identity theft on rise, Martin is calling for Brits planning their summer holidays to reconsider what they carry around and make sure they have a simple way of stopping their cards if they have their wallet stolen or lose it on holiday.
www.cardgone.com is a common sense approach to protection this summer.
