Scams, car hire, airport parking, travel money: 8 holiday rip-offs to avoid

That relaxing break overseas can end up being far more costly than expected if you are caught by one of these rip-offs.

Getting value for money from your holiday has always been crucial, but it’s even more important when things are tight, as they are at the moment courtesy of stubborn inflation.

If you want to get the best possible return from the money spent, be sure to avoid these big rip-offs.

Avoiding the UK ‘premium’

When booking a holiday online, the location you book from can have an impact on the price you pay.

Some holiday firms have different pricing for their services or accommodation if you are booking from the UK, rather than somewhere else. 

These aren’t small differences either ‒ it could mean you spend hundreds extra on your trip courtesy of the ‘UK premium’.

One way around this is to make use of a virtual private network (VPN), which can mean it appears to the holiday firm that you are located elsewhere, potentially delivering a lower price. 

Falling for holiday scams

Huge sums are lost every year by holidaymakers falling victim to scammers.

For example, according to Action Fraud, Brits were duped into handing over a painful £15 million last year when booking flights and accommodation that simply don’t exist.

The fraud reporting centre suggested it was tied to the cost of living crisis ‒ as people look to save a few quid on their break, they may be more likely to book with firms they are unfamiliar with.

The trouble is that the hunt for a cheap deal means that people are failing to check everything is truly above board, resulting in losing some serious money. Action Fraud reckons the average sum lost to these scams is £2,372.

Doing your research is essential when buying anything online, particularly when it’s as costly as a holiday.

Airport parking

There will be times when you have no option but to drive to the airport yourself, and leave your car there for the duration of your holiday.

Unfortunately, airport parking charges can be enormous, adding considerably to the overall cost of your trip.

What’s more, those costs are on the rise ‒ a recent study by Creditfix found that in some cases the cost of a simple two-week stay in busy airports is up by an eye-watering 260% on just a year ago.

There are ways to dodge this ripoff thankfully, such as by booking early or making use of a comparison site, since they may have exclusive discounts.

It is also worth investigating whether it would be cheaper to rent a nearby driveway for your stay.

Buying holiday money at the airport

If you are looking to change up some cash to spend on your holiday, then leaving it to the last minute is a bad move.

The rates you will pay for holiday money at the currency bureau at the airport will be terrible compared with picking up that money a week or two in advance.

You could get 10% less for your sterling, which will obviously have a big impact on the money at your disposal for your trip.

Only using high street currency firms

OK, so you know that you need to sort your holiday spending money in advance, but it’s not just timing that is important. You also need to think about where you are going to be changing up that cash. 

Going to a high street option, like a bank or M&S is certainly convenient, but it may not offer you the maximum bang for your buck.

Instead, it is worth checking what you can get from online bureau ‒ the fact that they don’t have the expensive overheads of running a high street store may mean you get a better deal.

Article continues below...

Credit and debit card fees

Unfortunately, using your regular credit or debit card on your holiday can be a seriously expensive option.

Whether you are looking to make a withdrawal from an ATM, or pay for dinner in a restaurant, with many cards you’ll end up having to cough up on additional fees and charges.

This can make an already expensive trip unaffordable.

However, there are some smart ways around this. There are now a host of specialist travel debit and credit cards that you can utilise, and allow you to spend and withdraw money as usual without costing you any extra.

Check out our guide to the best credit cards and debit cards for using overseas.

Hidden flight fees

Hopping onto a plane is a big part of many trips overseas, but it can come with a sting in the tail.

Unfortunately, airlines have a well-earned reputation for attracting holidaymakers with what look like low prices, only to whack them with a bunch of additional fees when the time eventually comes to pay.

These can include extra fees for checking in luggage, being able to pick your seat, even checking in at the airport.

As a result, it’s really important to include all of those fees when working out what the trip is really going to cost you, and whether you can really afford it.

Paying too much for car hire

With some holidays, it’s essential to have use of a car so that you can get about, and that may mean booking a hire car.

This can be seriously costly though; analysis by Which? recently found that on average a week’s car hire in August this year will cost around 77% more than it would have back in 2019. 

Of course, that’s just the average ‒ there will be plenty of firms who are charging even more inflated prices if you want to hire a car for a week or two on your break.

Shopping around using a price comparison site is obviously a smart move, but it may also be worth investigating using a broker.

Brokers negotiate their own deals with local firms and may be able to deliver a more significant saving.