Ever felt you’ve been subjected to holiday rip-offs?
Back in the mists of time, 1987 to be exact, after a hair-raising bus journey through the streets of Macao, with a driver who thought he was taking part in the Monte Carlo rally, we were dumped at the border.
Walking through the checkpoints to mainland China, we found a local bus to the city and squeezed ourselves and our rucksacks onto the back seat.
As the bumpy journey began, we watched the conductor work his way slowly up the bus, taking the tiny notes and coins of the Renminbi currency – currency we as foreigners had yet to acquire.
When he reached us, I said in my best Cantonese, ‘Two for Guangzhou please’ and proffered a Yuan note. Taking it solemnly, the conductor dispensed two tickets, turned and actually danced down the aisle, showing the large paper note to all the passengers as he went.
I leant and murmured in Pork Belly’s ear, ‘I think we’ve just been ripped off.’
Pork Belly grinned and said, ‘Yes, but look how happy we’ve made him!’
It wasn’t the first time we’d been ripped off when travelling, and probably won’t be the last, but it was definitely the funniest.
When you’re in unfamiliar places, and sometimes even when travelling in your home territory, it’s almost certain that once in a while someone will try to take advantage of you.
Sometimes, when being overcharged by a few pennies or pounds means a family will eat well tonight, you can shrug, let it go and put it down to experience.
But then there are the occasions when you know you’re being taken for a ride by people or companies, and it’s simply not okay.
So here’s our guide to holiday rip-offs and how to avoid them.
High overseas transaction charges
Before you go abroad, check the small print on any credit or debit cards you plan to use. Some have exorbitant transaction fees or interest on purchases, and even more eye-watering penalties if you use an ATM to get cash.
It’s usually best to ensure all transactions you make are in the local currency, according to Martin Lewis.
And triple check for the destination too, some cards charge a lot more if they’re used in certain countries.
We have one card we keep exclusively for travel, with a low balance limit too, just in case it gets lost or stolen. MoneySavingExpert is excellent at separating the sheep from the goats for this!
Unnecessary visa fees
The world of travel is constantly changing, and you should always check what visa you need for any country, even if you’ve been there many times before.
But, unless you have very complex travel requirements or have an interesting personal travel history, you shouldn’t pay a third party to sort it out.
Always check before you buy that you are on the official, government approved websites to avoid a visa rip-off. You could end up being stung with an extra fee on top of the cost of your visa, for absolutely no reason at all.
See our ultimate travel checklist for more.
Airport parking fees
Don’t blow the holiday budget before you’ve even taken off!
We always try to pick flight departure times that mean we can get to the airport by public transport, but we know that’s not always possible.
So if you have to park ‘n’ fly, do your homework. Off site parking is cheaper, but you will need to allow extra travel time for the shuttle bus.
Meet and greet and valet parking can take the stress out of arrivals and departures, and may be worth splashing out on, but again shop around.
Luggage handling
Again, if you are flying, it can be costly if you don’t pack light.
Hand luggage only is fabulous, but check the actual size you’re allowed in the cabin, as it varies hugely between airlines. BA are generous, Ryanair measly!
So if you know you can’t be brutal, use hold luggage and check your bags in advance. Wait until the gate, and you’ll be charged a whopping fee. So don’t play luggage roulette!
Hand luggage only – our good packing guide
Hotel extras
We all know to avoid the mini-bar and room service if you’re on a budget but, unless you’ve taken an all-inclusive option, you might want to skip the hotel breakfast too.
See our tips for getting the best out of all-inclusive holidays.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good hotel breakfast. It’s actually my favourite meal of the day, especially if it can be taken late and long. But the sad truth is that many hotel breakfasts just aren’t up to much. A few pastries, fruit and coffee can set you back pounds.
Why not pop round the corner and find a café the locals use? In Thailand, we opted for noodles and green tea. In Antwerp there was a great little eatery, packed with students, that did an excellent coffee and bagel combo.
Taxi!
Actually, don’t.
Unless you’re arriving somewhere at a really unreasonable time, public transport is always best.
Across Europe, trains, trams and buses are pretty reliable. The local airport bus in Rhodes cost just a few Euros and, although busy, was pretty accommodating of us and our luggage.
If you do have to take a taxi, and don’t want to trust a ride-share app (which by the way are not allowed in some countries) the trick is always to book ahead. Then you know what the trip will cost in advance and any out-of-hours additions, wait time charges or tolls should be clearly described.
Food and drink
The tip here is always Eat Local.
Or be prepared to pay the price!
Resist the temptation to stop in a tourist hotspot just because everyone else has posted pictures on Instagram. Instead, seek out the backstreets, the just-out-of-the-centre restaurants and, best of all, ask for local recommendations.
And unless you have very specific dietary needs (like me!) you’ll get the best value if you take pot-luck with the day’s meal-deal.
Having said that, in Prague I did succumb to coffee and cake in a café with a view of the famous astronomical clock, and it was worth every penny.
Car hire costs
We’ve been caught out ourselves, so do read our cautionary tale here.
How to avoid car rental mistakes
But the biggest rip-off is when you don’t get collision damage waiver insurance in advance and purchase it at the desk when you pick the vehicle up.
Again, forward planning is the key and there are several comparison sites, so shop around and don’t accept the policy they offer without checking first. Some care-hire companies have huge excess charges, which means if you have an accident, you may still be presented with a big bill. Choose a standalone policy before you go.
So, have you ever been ripped off while travelling? And what did you do about it?
Would love to hear your stories in the comments below.
Where to next?
• The problem with passports
• How to take great travel photos
• Getting the best travel insurance