UK tourists in Spain, Italy, Greece warned to stop travelling in 'families of four'

New research reveals a family of four could pay up to £278 on flight-related extras ONLY, including four meal deals (£35), overweight bags (£196) and infant charges (£47). And in a warning for UK tourists heading abroad to Europe this year, including a GPS and two children’s car seats could see an extra £265 added to car hire costs for a family with kids under five, with costs totalling £651.

UK holidaymakers heading to Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal have been warned by Admiral’s holiday budget influencer, Ricky Willis - aka Skint Dad. He said:“It may feel easier to park in the airport's short-stay car park, but you can save by leaving your car at off-site parking and travelling by shuttle bus or taxi to the terminal.”

He added: "Some airlines allow you to take a car seat and store it in the hold at no additional cost, which saves you hiring a seat abroad. You can save money by packing a car phone holder and downloading a map app before you arrive. Consider how much space you need and whether you need to splash out on the extra costs of adding luggage to the hold.

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"Also, pick up a luggage scale from a pound shop to ensure you're within the carry-on limits with the airline you're flying with.” Hewent on: “Buy some food slightly cheaper after you go through security or consider packing a sandwich, fruit and cakes in your hand luggage before you set off.

"While solid foods are allowed on flights, it's best to declare what you're taking to security staff, so it won't slow down checks. Check with the airport before you travel for any restrictions.” He continued: “Keep your passports in a safe place, away from potential hazards of toddlers ripping them or dogs chewing them in the days before you travel.”

Skint Dad advised: “Convert any currency you want to take well in advance and use an online service to find the best deals. Also, you could open up a new bank account to only use when travelling. A handful of good debit cards offer 0% fees and allow you to pay in the local currency (anywhere Visa or Mastercard are accepted) without adding a non-sterling purchase fee.”

Cosmin Sarbu, Head of Travel at Admiral Insurance commented: “It’s easy to forget just how much those hidden extras add to the overall cost of your holiday. Going on holiday has a substantial cost for families, and the cost of things like car hire, fees when you’re abroad and airport parking really bump up the price of going away so it’s useful to make sure you check any potential charges well in advance. It’s important to make sure you have the right level of travel insurance before you go, so you’re fully covered if, for example, you lose your bags.”