Avoid these six holiday rip offs!

Going on holiday this summer? Don't be duped by these six terrible tricks!

Holidays should be a time to get away from the stresses of everyday life, and jet off to fresher pastures.

But with so many things to remember, essential tasks can quickly be put on the back burner, and if you're not careful, you could get short-changed.

Here's six of the most common holiday rip-offs, and what you can do to ensure you don't get caught out by them.

1. Airport parking charges

A trip to the airport by car can quickly become an expensive affair, with parking fees costing more than the flight, in some cases.

Express train services aren't much better, and if you're using an airline like Ryanair or easyJet, can put a dent in what was meant to be a budget holiday.

The solution

If you're determined to take your car to the airport, there is really only one rule: Book as early as you can.

Use a search engine such as Holidayextras.co.uk, which will find you the best deal on your chosen dates. It also guarantees if you find a cheaper price within 24 hours of booking, it will give you the parking spot free of charge.

For rail travellers, instead of using express services, why not take a slower train which stops at a few extra stations? Ok, it may not get you to the airport in record time, but it will save you a packet on your train fare.

And, here's one for the books. If you're flying from Stansted with Ryanair, you can ride the Standard Express for £21.50 instead of the usual £26.80, saving over £5 on the normal fare.

Plus, rival easyBus offers single fares to Luton, Gatwick and Stansted from just £2.

You'll have to book your seat well in advance to get the lowest fare, but return fares are capped at £12.99, making it a good alternative to pricey rail fares.

2. Buying food at the airport

This year in Morocco, I made the classic mistake of going to the airport on an empty stomach.

The result? I was starving when I got there. And, with a four hour flight staring me in the face, I had no choice but to go to the one café in the airport and buy a sandwich that was so dry it looked like one of those plastic food models you see outside Japanese restaurants.

And the worst part of it all? It cost £5.

The solution

Airports bump up their food prices because they know you'll have no choice but to buy from them. So, bring your own.

The 100ml rule may mean you can't bring bottled drinks, but that doesn't mean you can't bring food. So, bring as many snacks and sandwiches as you can, you'll save a small fortune.

3. Exchanging money

Two of the worst places you can change your money are at the airport, and your hotel.

Though they may be convenient, the rates you'll get are a real rip-off.

The solution?

Plan ahead! If you're determined to leave your travel money until the last minute, Travelex lets you to order your currency online and pick it up at selected airports.

That way, you'll get a better rate, and have the convenience of being able to pick up your currency at the airport. You can even order it on the day of departure (just leave at least four hours for collection).

4. Extortionate debit card charges

Banking in Britain might be free, but when we venture abroad it's a very different story. When on holiday, there are charges for taking money out of an ATM, paying in shops, and even to convert it back to sterling.

For example, if you bank with Halifax, not only will it charge you £1.50 every time you use your debit card to pay for something abroad, but you'll also have to pay a 'conversion fee' of 2.75%.

Abbey, Halifax, Lloyds TSB and RBS/NatWest also impose flat fee charges as well as conversion fees, and I would be wary about using these debit cards abroad.

The solution?

While some plastic may not be fantastic, there are some which prove very useful when abroad.

The best credit cards to use abroad are the Abbey Zero and the Post Office credit card, as they both charge 0% commission on all overseas transactions. Nationwide also has no commission charges on all debit card transactions within Europe.

You may also want to consider a pre-paid currency card. Jane Baker recently reviewed the Caxton FX card, which she thought was the best card to take on holiday. With this card, you can make fee-free withdrawals from ATMs and you won't be charges a fee if you use it to pay for stuff in shops and restaurants abroad.

For more on the plastic you should pack with you while away, read The best way to withdraw cash abroad.

5. Dynamic currency conversion

Dynamic currency conversion is a practice I'm seeing more commonly in Europe, especially in smaller stores, and at ATMs.

When paying for something in a shop, or withdraw cash at an ATM, some stores will give you the option to pay in pounds.

If you've never seen this before, it may seem logical to do this, as it shows you how much you'll be paying straight away.

One word: don't. The retailer earns a commission from the transaction, therefore the rate you'll be offered will be much less competitive than the one you'll get from your bank.

The solution

Simple: always opt to pay in the local currency.

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