Holidaybreak

Shoppers are praising the ‘gorgeous’ holiday dress

Shoppers looking to freshen up their summer wardrobe need look no further than a “beautiful” dress that promises to be “perfect for holidays“.

Next is offering this seasonal staple with fans singing its praises. The popular high street retailer is currently stocking the Blue Ecru Polka Dot Mini Dress for just £28, giving shoppers a stylish option for the summer ahead. It is available in sizes 6 through to 26. It also has selected taller fit options.

Whether you’re trying to stay cool at the office during a summer heatwave or dressing up for a holiday or city break across Europe, this versatile piece could be just the ticket. Its lightweight look and adaptable design mean it could easily take you from one occasion to the next throughout the sunny season.

The dress boasts a pretty light blue colour scheme with white polka dot detailing, lending it a timeless summery charm. Thin shoulder straps and a square neckline sit above a fitted bodice that flows effortlessly into a loose skirt falling above the knee.

The fabric looks lightweight and breathable, potentially making it ideal for soaring temperatures and trips abroad. Its unfussy design also means it could work just as well for a casual daytime look, a beach outing, or a relaxed evening out on the town.

Shoppers have shared glowing reviews on the products on the Next website. One customer wrote: “Beautiful colours, really good fit and so comfortable. It was perfect for an upcoming holiday.

“Can be dressed up with a pair of heels and a clutch or pair of flats or trainers for daytime. Will keep a look out for similar styles in Next as I would like another dress in other colour ways.”

Another added: “This dress is absolutely gorgeous – lovely quality material and has cute pockets. Knee-length on me (5 foot 3), it flows beautifully from the hips,” while a third continued: “Gorgeous little summer dress definitely recommend and can’t wait to wear it in the summer.”

Those keen to get their hands on the dress can opt for home delivery and find further details on the Next website. Click-and-collect is also on offer, with shoppers able to check whether their local branch has it in stock via the retailer’s online store finder.

Martin Lewis set out some of his top picks

Consumer expert Martin Lewis has shared some tips for your holiday spending while you are abroad. He shared the key advice during his BBC podcast.

During a question and answer edition of the podcast, a query came in from a mum whose 18-year-old son is heading off on a lads’ holiday. She asked what the best spending card would be for him to take along, or whether she should simply give him cash instead. She explained that she was reluctant to give him a credit card as she wasn’t confident he would use it responsibly. However, the accommodation where he was staying required a £300 credit card deposit.

Top recommendation

In response, Mr Lewis said his top recommendation for cards she could consider was Chase. He explained: “Technically you have to open a bank account to get it, but you don’t need to switch bank account.

“The Chase bank account is available for anyone aged 18 or older. It’s openable via an app. So effectively you can open this up, you put money in it that you want to spend and it gives you the same near-perfect rate that the bank gets when you spend, because it doesn’t add a non-sterling exchange rate fee.

“So I think that’s a really simple option. It’s a debit card, it doesn’t have an overdraft facility. It doesn’t do a hard credit check, it just does an ID check and it doesn’t affect his credit-worthiness.”

Another card he recommended was the Revolut pre-payment card, where you load the card with the amount you wish to spend. Regarding the credit card deposit for accommodation, Mr Lewis said this is a common requirement, frequently being necessary when hiring a car abroad too.

He explained that if a deposit needs to be paid on a credit card, this could prove tricky for an 18 year old as they may not pass the credit check. Mr Lewis suggested that perhaps the mum could contact the company and pay the deposit on her son’s behalf.

Big danger

Mr Lewis issued an additional warning for young holidaymakers. He said: “One of the biggest dangers for finances and young people is drinking. The problem when we drink is we lose all our sense of control.

“So it’s very difficult what you advise young people. Do you tell them take cash out so you’ve only got the amount you can spend on that day. That keeps you to a budget.

“But then it does wrong, they haven’t got any money left and they can’t get back to where they need to go, which can be dangerous.

“Or do you have a card that has an unlimited spending facility on it. It’s quite a difficult one at that age. The best thing is to be sensible and not drink too much.”