Martin Lewis shares crucial advice for anyone who has booked a summer holiday

Martin Lewis has shared the secret to not getting ripped off while you're sun-seeking this summer. Brits are looking forward to a summer getaway - but with a cost of living crisis, can't afford to lose a packet on their travels.

The MoneySavingExpert.com founder has compiled a list of "crucial" tips that could see holidaymakers keep hundreds of pounds in their pockets. Top of the list is not to do anything stupid with your passport.

Lewis, who is always on the lookout for ways to help people save money, shared insights on how to sidestep being overcharged by service providers. He's got your back when it comes to car rentals and hotel bookings.

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In his latest podcast episode, Martin urged his listeners to "act now" to "take away the risk and can make real savings" in time for the summer season. "Don't wait until the last minute or you'll end up paying through the nose," he cautioned.

Passport rules

Staying clued up on passport regulations is a must-do before jetting off. Being turned away at the airport because your passport is about to expire or is too old is a surefire way to ruin your holiday before it even begins.

Make sure your passport has at least six months left on it before you plan to travel. If your passport is nearing its expiry date or is more than ten years old, you might find yourself barred from entering some destinations.

This advice is particularly pertinent for those who have recently changed their names, such as women who have taken a different surname after marriage. Some countries might not recognise your passport if your name has changed.

Martin Lewis advised: "You want to go and get your passport and the passport of every member of your family now. You want to open it up and you want to go and have a look at the expiry date. This has been something new that has caught people out."

Rebooking

Martin Lewis has suggested that British holidaymakers should consider cancelling and rebooking their hotels or car hire if they notice a drop in prices since their initial booking.

The Money Saving Expert founder cautioned that this advice only applies to those with bookings that include free no-fee cancellations.

Mr Lewis stated: "Is your hotel or car hire cheaper than when you booked? If so and you've got free cancellation keep checking the prices and if you suddenly find it cheaper rebook and then cancel."

Car hire

Car hire firms may attempt to extract additional funds from holidaymakers by offering optional extras and high insurance cover.

Martin Lewis recommends purchasing standalone insurance before setting foot in the rental car, potentially saving up to £25 for each day of rental.

A significant portion of these companies' profits come from charging for expensive add ons and insurance cover, so taking advantage of standalone insurance could reduce costs from £25 a day to "just a couple of quid a day."

Health insurance

Having access to a European or Global Health Insurance Card (EHIC/GHIC) is crucial if you wish to avoid hefty medical bills while travelling overseas.

Regrettably, it's not uncommon for people to be scammed when trying to get these cards at the last minute. So, it's crucial to secure one well in advance to avoid hefty bills.

This year, over four million EHICs are set to expire, so it's essential to ensure yours is still valid before you rely on it during your travels.

Martin Lewis warned: "You need to check that your EHIC, or its replacement the GHIC... so if you're going to the EU, you want to make sure that your EHIC is still valid."

"WARNING - do not Google. There are shyster sites which talk about things like fast tracks for EHICs. It's just not true, it does not exist."

"It's just a lookalike website trying to make money out of a service that is free, it will not benefit you in any way."

Using debit or credit cards abroad

While it's generally easier and cheaper to get your holiday money while still in the UK, many Brits prefer to use their debit or credit cards while overseas.

For those who prefer using their cards, it might be best to open an account with a bank that doesn't charge for overseas card use, such as Monzo or the Chase MasterCard. These banks convert costs into local currency using the exchange rate.

Mr Lewis cautioned on his show: "If you are going to get money out of an overseas ATM, you need to make sure it's one that's got a low fee and you're doing it in as large a lump as you possibly can or feel secure with. So don't get four lots of 50 euros out, get one lot of 200 euros out, it's far better."