Martin Lewis, the self-styled Money Saving Expert, has issued his top tips for people heading off on family this summer. The holiday season is fast approaching, of course, but for many people money is tighter than ever.
The "need to dos" include checking the cheapest way of getting covid tests, travel insurance, and more. Others include making sure you've got your hotel at the cheapest possible rate.
Read on below for the full list of tips. And if you are heading off on holiday soon, enjoy it!
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Martin Lewis's top holiday tips
Check your passport expiry date
Since we've now properly left the EU, the rules on Brits travelling to Europe are stricter. Your passport must be less than 10 years old on the day you enter the EU, and it must be valid for at least three months on the day you leave to return to the UK.
With that in mind, it's worth checking your passport now, since passport renewals are currently taking up to 10 weeks to process, and paying for fast-track costs over £140.
Check your hotel isn't cheaper now than when you booked it
If your booking has dropped in price since you booked it - which is not unheard of - you might save money by cancelling your existing booking and then re-booking your room. You can also check the latest prices on websites including Skyscanner and TripAdvisor.
Check roaming won't cost you
Roaming charges in the EU are back for many. Since we've now left, there is nothing stopping telecommunications companies from charging us for using our phones in the EU.
Vodafone and EE have already introduced roaming charges in the EU, while Three is planning to do so at the end of May. O2 is the only major network yet to reintroduce roaming charges in the EU.
If you do get charged, and you need to use your phone, it may be cheaper to buy an add-on through your plan or to get a dedicated roaming sim.
Get a Ghic
You may already have a valid Ehic (European Health Insurance Card). If not, get yourself its post-Brexit replacement, the Ghic (Global Health Insurance Card).
They're free to order, and they give you access to state-run medical facilities when in the EU for the same price as a local. That also means if the country you're in has free healthcare, so will you with a Ghic or Ehic.
Get the best currency conversion rate
Money Saving Expert's comparison tool will find you the bureau de change with the best exchange rate for the currency you need. Neat.
Get the cheapest covid tests (if you need them)
Shop around for the cheapest covid tests - if you need them. Many countries are no longer requiring tests for those who are fully vaccinated against covid-19.
Book car hire early
It's generally much cheaper to book car hire far in advance, Lewis says. Skyscanner, Kayak, and TravelSupermarket have good comparison tools.
If the car hire company tries to flog you excess insurance, remember you can get this from elsewhere for as little as £2 per day. Again, the golden rule is to shop around to find the best deal.
And book your car parking space early, too
Car parking at the airport can be far more expensive if you don't book in advance. Even booking on the same day can be cheaper if you do it before you turn up.
Watch out for foreign transaction charges
Many debit cards whack you with a three per cent surcharge on top of the exchange rate. On top of that, some will charge you a flat fee every time you pay in a foreign currency.
Shop around for the best cards with no foreign transaction charges. And if you're feeling particularly smart, get yourself a credit card that pays cashback; just make sure to pay it off in full every month.
Learn the lingo
There's no need to pay to learn a language if you're just going for a holiday. Many phones now have free real-time translation tools, while apps like Duolingo teach you languages for free.
