Hol lot of saving
How to plan now for a cheaper summer break
YOUR summer fortnight in the sun may still seem a long way off but it’s never too early to start planning.
It’s easy to leave everything until the last minute, but a bit of preparation ahead of your break can save major travel headaches and bag you a little extra cash into the bargain. Here’s our top five tips to get you started:
1 Start putting spending money aside each payday
If you take out a prepaid currency card now (you’ll need to load it with a minimum £10 worth of your chosen currency), then by topping it up online each month you’ll have built up a tidy sum by the time your holiday comes.
It saves the panic and stress of having to find the cash from your last payday before you go, or reverting to expensive credit cards or 40% overdraft rates.
By saving your holiday spending money each month on a prepaid card you can take advantage of exchange rates which are favourable at the moment.
Compared with last August the pound is up around 10% against the euro, 11% against the Croatian Kuna and 16% for Turkey’s Lira.
It makes sense to lock in good exchange rates as you go along, rather than leaving your cash sitting in a rubbish savings account earning next to nothing.
Alana Parsons, travel money expert at foreign exchange firm Caxton, says: “When you weigh up the number of paydays left before you jet off, you’ll soon see why it makes sense to start putting money aside now.
“Not only that, when you come to use your prepaid card on holiday you won’t have to pay the rip-off ATM withdrawal rates charged by most bank credit cards and debit cards.”
2 Don’t leave buying travel insurance until the last minute
If you’ve booked your holiday but usually leave buying your travel insurance until a week or so before you go, think again.
As soon as you’ve booked your holiday that’s the time you should arrange cover, as it doesn’t just protect you while you’re away, it will also cover you for cancellation, illness or anything else that may crop up in the months before you go.
Travel insurance doesn’t have to be expensive – check out the cost of a one-off policy at the likes of gocompare.com or Confused.com. If you go away a couple of times a year it may be worth considering an annual travel policy – and Co-op Travel Insurance (0330 400 1626) is currently offering 10% off annual policies until February 29.
If you’re over 55 or have a preexisting medical condition that needs to be declared, insurance will cost you more.
But you can compare quotes to find the best prices with All Clear Travel using a special Mirror website at readerdeal.co.uk (0800 848 8688).
3 Check the expiry date on your passport
It’s easy to forget to do this until just before you jet off and some countries, such as Thailand, Egypt and Turkey, require a minimum of six months left on a passport or they may not let you in.
According to the Government’s website you should allow three weeks to get a new passport which costs £75.50 to renew or replace if you apply online, or £85 if you fill out a paper form.
For extra backup, leave a copy of your passport at home or with someone you trust.
Also consider taking a photo of the details page and storing it on your mobile phone just in case – it will make things much easier if yours is lost or stolen while travelling.
Andrew Hagger, personal finance expert from Moneycomms. co.uk, says: “Everybody wants that idyllic holiday where they can relax and have a good time, so spending a bit of time doing your preholiday admin gives you a much better chance of enjoying a totally stress-free break.”
4 Pack a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
It’s not a replacement for travel insurance – you must pack both when visiting EU countries. The EHIC gives access to medical treatment but only at the same level as what locals get. Many countries don’t have free medical care like our NHS, and it doesn’t cover repatriation back home, which could cost thousands.
The quickest way to apply is online at www.ehic.org.uk or call 0300 330 1350. There’s no charge but be aware there are unofficial websites that charge you to apply.
Despite the ongoing post-Brexit negotiations there will be no changes to healthcare access for UK nationals in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland before December 31, 2020. What happens after that is yet to be decided.
5 Book airport parking and cash in advance
Research from Caxton shows that a family of four could easily waste over £280 of their holiday budget before leaving the UK by not planning ahead.
■ Sorting a currency card in advance, and NOT exchanging cash at the airport – save £181
■ Booking car parking online in advance instead of on the day – save £85
■ Taking food and drink instead of buying at the airport or motorway services – save £20.77
Total saving £286.77 Alana adds: “Many of us are travel savvy when it comes to getting a good deal on holiday accommodation and flights. But our long working hours and family pressures make it easy to take your eye off the ball on the finer details nearer departure.”
The family holiday is a big deal. – so don’t put a dent in your kitty before you’ve even set off.
Busy lives mean it’s easy to take your eye off the ball nearer departure