Whilst holidays are exciting, the costs can quickly add up. With flights, accommodation, meals, and car hire, it can be easy for your budget to stretch further than planned. The good news is that a few smart choices ahead of time as well as during your trip can allow you to save a bit more money without sacrificing comfort or convenience. Let’s take a look at what these are:
1. Pay in the Local Currency Wherever You Can
When you are paying by card abroad, you’ll often be asked whether you want to pay in your home currency or the local one. It’s usually cheaper to choose the local currency. Paying in your own currency allows the retailer or your card provider to apply their own exchange rate, which tends to be inflated.
To combat this, you can use a multi-currency account or card that coverts money at real exchange rates so you avoid these hidden costs. This is exactly what Wise is designed to do. Wise allows travellers to send, spend and transfer money abroad without any hidden fees. With multi-currency accounts that let you hold and spend in over 40 currencies, a Wise account can be a convenient option for spending money abroad – particularly if you’re frequent traveller. Read more about Wise here.
2. Save on Car Hire Excess Insurance
Hiring a car can be of good value but it usually comes with a high excess amount you’ll be financially liable for if the hire car sustains any damage or is stolen.
The car rental companies do often sell their own excess waivers but these tend to be expensive and limited in cover. A standalone car hire excess insurance policy from Cover4Rentals is a more cost-effective option that will reimburse the cost of excess charges back to you so you’re not left out of pocket.
3. Avoid Unnecessary Roaming Charges
Mobile phone usage abroad can be costly if your plan doesn’t include roaming. Calls, texts and data usage can quickly lead to high charges.
Check your mobile contract before you travel. If roaming isn’t included then you should use Wi-Fi where possible or consider purchasing a local SIM or an Esim for your destination.
4. Carry Your Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
If you’re travelling within the EU, make sure you bring a valid Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This will allow you to access state-provided healthcare at a reduced cost, and sometimes for free.
Without a GHIC you might need to pay for medical treatment upfront which can be expensive. It’s a simple step that can protect you from unexpected healthcare bills, or at least reduce their cost, whilst you’re away.
5. Pack Smart
Airlines are strict about baggage limits and exceeding them can result in expensive fees. If you can, weigh your luggage at home and check your airline’s allowance before you travel.
Packing light or even just sticking to hand luggage only can save money. It can also make getting around easier, particularly if you’re hiring a car and only have so much room for all your things.
6. Understand Local Driving Rules
Driving abroad is a really good way to explore the country, but unfamiliar road rules can lead to fines if you’re not prepared. Speed limits, parking rules, and road signs all vary between countries so taking the time to learn the basics before you travel can help you avoid costly mistakes. At Cover4Rentals, we provide useful guides to driving laws in popular destinations so you can feel more confident behind the wheel.
7. Skip the Airport Currency Exchange
Changing money at the airport might be convenient but it’s rarely good value. Airport exchange desks tend to offer poor rates as they rely on last-minute travellers.
Planning ahead gives you more control. Whether you exchange currency before you travel or rely on a travel-friendly card abroad, like the ones offered by Wise, you can avoid airport’s unfavourable exchange rates and save money straight away.
Travel Without Overspending is Possible
Saving money on holiday doesn’t require complicated planning. Paying attention to exchange rates, avoiding unnecessary fees and protecting yourself when hiring a car can make a real difference.
Comments are closed