A new survey of 2,000 British holidaymakers has found that 50% admit to going over budget on their travels. The research, commissioned by Riviera Travel with survey company OnePoll, has highlighted common pain points that often cause extra costs abroad.
One major issue is a lack of understanding of foreign currencies. Asked to correctly convert six major world currencies into pound sterling, just 3% of people were able to do so*. Even with more commonly used currencies, British holidaymakers demonstrated a lack of knowledge. Just one-third (33%) correctly identified the value of Euros, and one in five (20%) know the value of the US Dollar.
British travellers regularly find themselves overcharged on holiday with over half (51%) saying they have paid over the odds for something on a trip. The most common things respondents said they have been overcharged for are:
- Taxis: 26%
- Food: 22%
- Drinks: 21%
- Souvenirs: 14%
- Visitor attractions: 12%
- Tour guides: 9%
Many Brits feel uncomfortable challenging high prices abroad, with just 44% of people saying they are happy to haggle overseas.
Unexpected charges also play a part in using up holiday spending budgets. 52% of British holidaymakers admit to being caught out by costs and fees they hadn’t anticipated. The most common unexpected holiday charges are:
- Credit card charges: 19%
- Calls and texts: 17%
- Mobile roaming: 16%
- City tax: 14%
- Baggage allowance: 13%
The research revealed that older travellers are savvier to these costs. Just 42% of over-55s have been hit by unexpected costs, compared to 77% of 18-to-24-year-olds.
Rachel Pillsbury, Head of Insight at Riviera Travel says about the research:
“Riviera Travel undertook this research to highlight what holidaymakers need to be aware of to stay within their budget. Trips abroad should be about fun and relaxation, so preparing beforehand, researching costs and polishing up on haggling skills can all help make your trip worry-free.
“Check city taxes, bank charges and phone contract terms before you travel. Also, make sure you understand the value of the currency you’re spending, so you know if you’re being charged unreasonable prices.”
*We asked respondents to convert amounts of major world currencies into GBP (£). Respondents were asked to select the correct £25 window based on currency values on 1st June 2019. The amounts of currency people were asked to convert, and the percentage of respondents who select the correct answers are below:
- 57 Euros: 33%
- 190 US dollars: 20%
- 9000 Hungarian Forints: 4%
- 660 Chinese Yuan: 8%
- 13,300 Indian Rupees: 3%
- 128 Swiss Francs: 6%
