While going on holiday is one of the more exciting weeks of the year, the costs that come with it can put a dampener on the trip. Brits are now discovering certain tips and tricks to cut costs, starting at the airport. New research from money-saving travel debit card Currensea reveals that 74% of travellers have already changed their travel habits to save money.
One area where people continue to be caught out is managing their spending money abroad. A staggering 66% of travellers report facing hidden costs when using a debit card overseas. Currensea has shared its top travel money-saving tips, including to avoid airport currency exchange. While convenient, airport exchange counters often offer the worst rates.
Despite this, previous research shows 27% of travellers still exchange the bulk of their cash at the airport.
Another way to cut costs is to always pay in local currency as opting to pay in sterling while abroad can result in worse rates and hidden fees.
The travel debit card company also warns Brits to watch out for ATM withdrawal fees, with 57% of travellers admitting they don’t know how much they’re charged when withdrawing cash abroad.
Some providers add up to £5 per transaction, meaning getting cash out before travelling is key.
Other travel hacks Brits are using to cut costs during their holiday is by flying at earlier times in the day to access cheaper fares. Flights at less popular times are often cheaper, with 17% of respondents saying they use this method.
According to travel agency Opodo, early morning is the cheapest time to book flights within Europe, particularly between 2am and 5am, with fares averaging £170–£194. In contrast, booking at 1pm can push prices up to £227.
Another way that travellers are cutting costs is by bringing their own snacks to avoid expensive airport and in-flight food costs. A whopping 28% of people admitted to bringing food from home to avoid splurging on overpriced meals.
Setting a strict daily budget while on holiday and travelling with hand luggage only to avoid checked baggage fees are two other popular money-saving tricks used by Brits.