Martin Lewis shares 'crucial' holiday tips for travellers heading abroad this summer

Personal finance expert Martin Lewis has issued an urgent call to action for all those jetting off abroad this summer, advising them to "act now" to avoid hefty additional expenses and the distress of being denied entry at the airport or falling prey to service provider scams.

The Money Saving Expert founder imparted a series of "crucial" tips that promise substantial savings for holidaymakers venturing to sun-drenched destinations this season. From car hire overseas to a routine passport check that's long overdue, Martin Lewis' guidance could spare some holiday-goers from shelling out unnecessary extra charges or succumbing to inflated costs.

With the Euros 2024 broadcasts occupying his regular BBC Radio 5 Live segment, Mr Lewis opted to focus the majority of this week's podcast on strategies to dodge supplementary fees and economise on vacation expenses. In promoting the episode on social media platforms, he emphasised: "Act now and you take away the risk and can make real savings".

• Read more: UK holidaymakers advised to avoid booking Spain trips on these specific dates

• Get all the latest money news and budgeting tips from Chronicle Live with our free newsletter

He underscored the importance of early preparation in his crucial tips to "slash" holiday spending, cautioning listeners that procrastination often leads to higher prices: "If you leave it to the last minute, you will usually pay more."

Passport

In light of recent changes to passport regulations affecting numerous countries, many travellers have faced the frustration of being turned away due to passports deemed outdated, despite having months left before expiration, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Women who have changed their names post-marriage and subsequently applied for a new passport are among those most likely to be impacted. This is because such name changes can often result in your passport being more than 10 years old.

While it may still be valid, some countries might not accept it.

It's crucial that your passport has at least six months remaining before you travel. If your passport is nearing its expiry date within a year, or if you've had it for a decade, it's advisable to check the passport requirements of the country you're visiting.

Failure to do so could result in an unexpected flight back home.

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.The questions to ask yourself are: Will there be over six months left on my passport on the day I enter the country? If you're going to the European Union, there is only three months left."

If that's a tick, good. Yet even if that is fine, you also need to check that your passport is less than 10 years old.

Car hire

This has been something new that has caught people out. Beware of optional extras and insurance cover when hiring a car. These can be a sneaky way for the car hire company to extract more money from you, with many pressuring you at the hire desk to pay more for additional cover.

As Martin Lewis suggests, purchasing standalone insurance in advance can save you up to £25 per day of vehicle rental. Many car hire companies make a significant portion of their profits from upselling various insurances, but you can secure comprehensive cover before you even set off.

In the wake of increased charges post-pandemic, this strategy could halve the daily cost of your rental. The Money Saving Expert labelled this his "big tip", stating: "Instead of £25 a day, it can just be a couple of quid a day.

Rebooking Tip

If your car hire or hotel booking has a no or low cancellation fee policy, Martin Lewis advises regularly checking for lower prices leading up to your holiday. If you find a better deal, simply cancel and rebook. This could result in securing a last-minute offer on something you booked months in advance.

Health Insurance

Possessing a European or Global Health Insurance Card (EHIC/GHIC) can prevent a hefty hospital bill if you require healthcare while abroad. However, many people leave it until the last minute to obtain these cards and end up being scammed, or are forced to pay out-of-pocket when informed their insurance is outdated.

This year, 4.3 million EHICs will expire, so if you have one, ensure you check its expiry date before travelling. Everyone in your party will need one, and it could save you a considerable amount of money should someone fall ill during the holiday.

Martin Lewis has issued a crucial tip for travellers: "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. " He also warned against using Google to find these services due to deceptive sites: "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. " The same caution applies to ESTA and passport fast-track services."

Using debit or credit cards abroad

When it comes to spending abroad, Martin Lewis advises getting holiday money in the UK to secure the best exchange rates. However, he notes that many travellers now prefer using their debit or credit cards.

While this can incur additional bank fees, Lewis points out that some banks, such as Monzo and the Chase MasterCard, offer fee-free transactions abroad, converting expenses into local currency at the current exchange rate. This can be particularly beneficial depending on whether you plan to withdraw cash or pay directly with your card.

Martin Lewis highlighted that holidaymakers could bag themselves a £175 boost for their travels by simply switching bank accounts. He suggested considering banks like Santander Edge or First Direct, which offer not only a switching bonus but also the perk of zero fees on foreign spending.

However, he warned that withdrawing cash from ATMs abroad can still incur charges, typically ranging from two to seven euros per transaction. Lewis's tip for savvy travellers is to minimise these fees by making fewer, larger withdrawals rather than multiple small ones. He advised: "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."