Credit cards

Travel expert Mark Wolters have visited over 100 countries, but he is now urging travellers not to make one mistake when swapping their holiday money

A travel expert has warned holidaymakers there is one thing they should “never, ever do” when they are exchanging their money. Mark Wolters, known as Wolter’s World online, has visited over 100 countries across the years.

And Mark says he increasingly finds himself travelling with very little cash. This he explains is because he knows he can “take cash out” from an ATM in a majority of destinations he visits.

However he urges travellers to “make sure you pay attention” if you are drawing out money at the airport. In a video, he explained: “They will often have a higher fee or they’ll say, ‘Oh, do you want to do the conversion in your home currency?’

“‘Yes, because then I know how many dollars I’m taking out in Euros’. No, no, no, never take that conversion, take it out in Euros so you have some cash. Honestly, I never fly with much cash with me, because I can get it wherever I go.”

Mark suggests that many travellers would be better off getting their cash exchanged in a local city. He says the rates at the airports are “not good”.

He explained: “You’re better off keeping your cash and going to exchange it in the city, you’ll get better rates there, but honestly, I would just take your debit card from home and get cash out from an ATM.”

Mark went on to explain that frequent travellers will be aware that prices at airports “suck”. Describing the prices as a “way of life,” he says there is simply “no point complaining about it”.

He added: “If you don’t want to pay $7 for water, bring your reusable water bottle and fill it up after you go through security, bring some snacks with you. If you hit that gas station on the way to the airport, you’re getting your Snickers for a buck instead of $2.50.”

Mark also warned that regular travellers will soon realise that access to the airport lounge “isn’t always worth it”. He says that while he gets in free of charge from his credit card, he often travels as a family, meaning he would have to pay for his wife and children.

Instead he urges travellers to spend some of the money they would spend accessing an airport lounge in one of the restaurants, opting for a meal instead of a sandwich or another snack option.

When considering “unwritten rules” of travel, Mark also turned his attention to hand luggage. He says many travellers often believe they can “beat the rules” when it comes to flying.

He added: “I’m not going to lie to you man, if you’re in an airline that charges for carry-ons, or they say, ‘Hey, we have a limit on size’, some of them actually give little bonuses to their employees that fine people who try to cheat to the system, so they’re looking at you.”

He urges travellers to always “accept” what airline staff say when it comes to hand luggage. And finally, Mark stresses that it is important to “keep your cool” with the staff.

The finance expert has said these could help make travelling much smoother

Martin Lewis has said that Brits going abroad should have up to five essential items in their dedicated ‘holiday wallet’. These important items could make travelling much easier, and in some cases, cheaper, through one simple money-saving technique.

According to the Money Saving Expert (MSE) website, founded by Martin Lewis, he has previously suggested that people set aside a separate wallet or purse for use only when abroad. He recommends keeping five items inside at all times, even when you get back to the UK, to make future holidays ‘easier’.

The financial broadcaster calls this his ‘overseas wallet or purse‘, and he has followed this advice for decades. In the 2013 blog post, the ITV regular said: “I genuinely have a second wallet I pick up when I go abroad. Not to better match my overseas shoes, but as a MoneySaving arsenal to ensure that when I am away, I get more bang for my buck.”

Starting with some of the most common and relevant to the average traveller. Martin suggested that this wallet should have a specific bank card for overseas use.

He said: “Everyone who regularly travels abroad should hold a specialist overseas credit card. This isn’t about borrowing, it’s simply an easy vehicle to get the best exchange rates in every country.

“Spending abroad on most plastic should be avoided. While banks and building societies themselves get the nigh-on perfect Visa/Mastercard wholesale rate, they then add a 3% load to what they charge us.” If you can’t get a credit card or don’t want one, prepay cards are effectively an electronic traveller’s cheque.

Martin wrote: “Load it up with cash in advance and use it while away. If you lose it, no problem, pay a replacement fee and the cash is re-credited.”

If you frequent the same country or region often, cash leftover from previous trips. Although it can be tempting to swap anything back into pounds straight away, it could be a welcome surprise for future trips – whether that be a few months, a year or more later.

If people are often travelling in European countries, such as Spain, France, Italy, and Greece, it might be worth keeping a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) in their travel wallet for emergency medical care . It is free on the official NHS site and lets UK travellers access state-run healthcare in EU countries and Switzerland for certain medical costs, often at the same price locals pay.

These cards don’t replace travel insurance, which you’ll need for things such as cancellations, private hospitals or repatriation. Check the expiry date at the bottom right of your card now, as many could be travelling with expired cards.

For anyone who drives abroad, keep your original driving license handy (and remember to swap it out of any physical travel wallets before packing them away). Martin said: “As well as the obvious car hire advantages, it’s also useful as ID, which is often demanded when paying by card.”

For those planning to drive outside the European Union, it’s either recommended or compulsory in 140 countries to have an International Driving Permit as well as your UK licence. The AA has a country-by-country guide to what’s needed here.

When travelling further afield, and over to the United States, a copy of your ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) number will be handy to keep close. An ESTA lasts for two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Once it runs out, you’ll need to apply for a new one.

Although you don’t need to present the reference number at Border Protection when you land in the US, print or screenshot it and bring it to the airport. That’s because some airlines may require it at check-in, so check with yours.

Martin also said: “My wallet’s also packed with unspent small euro and dollar notes. After all, why pay to change back £30 or £40 of foreign currency? Leave it sitting for next time.” Martin also recommends keeping a photocopy of your passport. He said: “Just in case my passport goes missing, the key details can be very useful.”

Standard adult passport costs are increasing from April 8, but there is one way to do it cheaper

Brits in need of a new passport are being reminded that applying via a specific method will save them £13.50 as fees are set to increase this week. Using the Government website to obtain your essential travel document is less expensive than submitting a postal application.

A passport is necessary for travelling overseas. In the UK, they remain valid for 10 years for adults, or five years for those aged under 16. When your passport is approaching its expiry date, it is crucial to apply for a replacement well in advance, to avoid the risk of having to cancel a holiday. However, you may be unaware that the method by which you apply for a new passport can have an impact on the cost.

At present, applying for a standard adult passport online costs £94.50. However, obtaining the same passport via a postal application is priced at £107 – a difference of £12.50.

This gap is set to widen further with the introduction of revised fees from April 8. The update means that a standard adult passport will cost £102 to order online and £115.50 through the post – a difference of £13.50.

New passport fees

The full list of passport fee changes:

• Adult: takes up to three weeks to arrive – online cost now – £94.50, online cost from April 8 – £102, postal cost now – £107, postal cost from April 8 – £115.50
• Adult fast-track – arrives one week after appointment – online cost now – £178, online cost after April 8 – £178
• Adult ‘Premium’ – given at the appointment – online cost now – £222, online cost after April 8 – £239.50
• Child – takes up to three weeks to arrive – online cost now – £61.50, online cost after April 8 – £66.50, postal cost now – £74, postal cost after April 8 – £80
• Child fast-track – arrives one week after appointment – online cost now – £145, online cost after April 8 – £145

READ MORE: Five key passport checks for Easter holidaymakers to avoid missing flightREAD MORE: UK travel company shuts down as all booked holidays are cancelled

Applying online

To apply online, visit GOV.UK. You will need a digital photo, a credit or debit card for payment, and your old passport if renewing. You’ll also need to provide information about your identity and citizenship.

You can also get help with your online application at a Post Office. Staff can:

• Take your digital photo
• Help you fill in the application online

However, this service costs extra.

To apply via post

You can pick up a paper passport application form from your local Post Office and apply by post. It takes longer to apply by post than online.

You’ll need to send off a fully completed application form, supporting documents, two photos, and your fee. If you need help, Post Office staff can check you’ve filled in the form correctly.

However you will need to provide your own photos – and this service costs extra. You can pay by cash, or debit or credit card.

Fast-track applications

According to GOV.UK, it typically takes three weeks for a new passport to be processed and delivered. However, it can take longer if the passport office needs more information. If this is cutting it too close with your holiday, there are two ways to apply for an urgent passport.

GOV.UK says: “You can pay to get a passport urgently if you think the standard service will take too long.” For both of these options you will need to go to a passport office for an appointment:

• One day premium
• One week fast track

If your passport is lost, stolen or damaged

If your passport has been lost or stolen, you must cancel it before applying for a replacement. And if your passport is damaged, you must replace it.

GOV.UK says: “You may not be able to travel with it.” HM Passport Office will consider your passport damaged if:

• You cannot read any of your details
• Any of the pages are ripped, cut or missing
• There are holes, cuts or rips in the cover
• The cover is coming away
• There are stains on the pages (for example, ink or water damage)