Money concerns worry travellers

 

Expatriates travelling in the eurozone this summer should be on the look-out for financial 'rip-offs' in the form of mobile phone roaming fees and poor exchange rates at commercial outlets, Post Office Travel Money has advised.

The organisation's research revealed that expatriates and other foreign visitors abroad are concerned about frittering away their hard-earned cash through a series of holiday stings, with over half (56 per cent) of respondents surveyed admitting that high phone roaming charges are a major worry.

New legislation brought in by the EU this year put a cap on the amount service providers can charge mobile phone users for data roaming.

Some 52 per cent of holidaymakers were also concerned about the charges they may rack up by using a debit or credit card overseas, while for some travellers the concerns started at the airport with the thought of baggage charges (47 per cent) and poor exchange rates (41 per cent).

Many worried about the prospect of getting hurt, which may result in them having to make a claim on their expat medical insurance. Some 34 per cent were concerned about having to seek medical help for bites and stings.