More ways to save ...

1 Insurance: It’s usually best to have some cover against unexpected events, such as missing a flight and any health problems. Some premium credit cards provide free insurance.

2 Communications: Use your smartphone overseas and you could be up for a huge bill, unless you buy a global roaming pack from your telco. Alas, many are difficult to understand, but the winner of Money’s Travel Awards (November 2016), Vodafone Roaming, which costs from $5 a day, is relatively simple, says finder.com.au. Remember WiFi is often available for free overseas at hotels, cafes and shopping centres.