Top tips for holidaymakers to avoid pricey pitfalls this summer

Last year, Brits made 86 million trips abroad – a rise of over 15 million from the year before, according to Finder.com.

So with many travellers set to chase some sun and culture this year, The Travel Association (ABTA) has issued a set of guidelines to avoid your travel wallet getting stung.

The advice ranges from guidelines on EU travel – which has changed since the UK left the EU – to selecting adequate travel insurance.

This follows a quarter of holidaymakers in the UK picking the cheapest option, which can often leave you hung out to dry for instances like loss or damaged luggage.

Further, fewer than a fifth make sure they will be covered for natural disasters, IT failures, or strike action, according to a separate study by https://www.multitrip.com/

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Graeme Buck, ABTA’s director of communications, said: “Getting the final preparations in place for your holiday can be part of the excitement of going away, but it might also start that nagging feeling that you’ve forgotten to do something really important.”

Buck added: “If you haven’t booked a summer holiday yet but would like to, an ABTA travel agent or tour operator is best placed to help you.

“They’re experts at helping you snap up a late deal, as they can have access to better prices and a wider choice of trips compared to booking independently.”

Here are eight tips for holidaymakers courtesy of the organisation to make sure your travels are not tainted by surprise costs this summer.

Eight tips for your travels abroad

1. Read the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice – this is where you’ll find the latest advice for the destination you’re visiting.
2. Check your passport will be valid for your travel dates and allow time to renew if needed – if you’re travelling to any country in the EU (except Ireland), your passport must have been issued fewer than 10 years before the date you enter the EU and be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave.
3. Take out comprehensive travel insurance – make sure your policy covers your specific needs, including any activities you plan to do or existing medical conditions.
4. Make sure you have a valid Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) – if not, apply for one for free at NHS.uk. Having a GHIC means you can access medically necessary state healthcare in all 27 EU countries, Switzerland, Montenegro, the Channel Islands and Australia, if needed while you’re away.
5. Check the rules if you’re travelling to the EU – make sure you are aware of restrictions on items that can be taken into the EU, the documentation required when driving or taking your pet abroad, and potential charges for using your mobile phone depending on your network.
6. Stick to the current rules for liquids and laptops – many airports haven’t fully implemented the next-generation security scanners yet, so make sure to follow the existing hand luggage rules around liquids and electronic devices when going through security to avoid delays.
7. Get your travel money sorted – the use of cash and card varies overseas, so take enough travel money with you for the country you’re visiting. Remember you may need cash on arrival for bus or taxi fares, as well as for tips or for cash-only transactions while on holiday.
8. Have a fun and safe trip – we want everyone to have a holiday to remember, for all of the right reasons, so make sure you take steps to keep yourself safe, such as following the rules at the pool when swimming, looking out for warning flags and signs at the beach and closely supervising children in the water.