Martin Lewis explains how to avoid being stung by hidden holiday fees
Martin Lewis is warning travellers to be aware of foreign transaction fees when using credit or debit cards abroad this summer.
Standard bank cards typically add a 2.75 per cent to 3 per cent non-sterling exchange rate fee on overseas purchases.
Specialist cards offer near-perfect exchange rates by waiving these additional fees.
The Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card currently offers 0.5 per cent cashback on spending abroad.
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Flight attendant shares the one drink you should never order on a plane
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The Independent
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What does a travel writer in his mid-thirties, habitually chained to his laptop, drowning in deadlines, have in common with a bass player from a 'new wave' powerhouse who's since forged a successful acting career? It turns out, it's a similar taste in holidays: a splash of neon Florida morphing into the carnival rhythm of the Caribbean – all of it unfolding while afloat. Earlier this year, I embarked with my curious and spirited little one – who was fast approaching his first birthday – on a voyage around the Caribbean with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). We joined Norwegian Encore – the 3,958-capacity moving playground – in Miami, swapping the city's steamy sidewalks and traffic for a seven-day itinerary that spanned beaches blazing under winter sun, storied old towns and lush hillsides across four ports. 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The vast choice of food (and its availability at all times) makes feeding him easy, and if your child isn't quite ready for a la carte, the buffet keeps things super simple. You get to see so many places without the faff of unpacking and then repacking again – plus the little one will be enthralled by the ocean as it rolls past the ship. And even when it's a sell-out holiday, as ours was, you can find space (and activities) that suit your needs. 'That's what I think those cruise ships are good for,' said Roman's 63-year-old dad, Martin. 'It breaks it up into different areas well. You can get what holiday you want from it, that's what I discovered. It doesn't have to be everyone doing the same thing.' There's plenty to keep you busy on Norwegian Encore, which has been sailing since 2019, its hull adorned with vibrant colours spilling backwards from the bow. Across 20 decks, there are as many restaurants (including an American-style steakhouse, Asian-Latin fusion menus and a Texas barbecue joint) and bars galore, from open-air haunts for fluorescent cocktails or a cigar lounge that suits having a smoke and a Scotch. From the very top, strap yourself in for Speedway, a daring go-kart track, or shoot down the Ocean Loops waterslide, which extends over the edge of the ship. And – since you are in the Caribbean, after all – there's a huge pool on deck 16, bordered by rows of sun loungers, plus a separate children's pool. Just as cruise ships have evolved over the years, so have family holidays. 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Without a child in my care, I certainly would have cracked open a beer by midday, so the answer to those questions is more likely yes. The on-board shenanigans are only half the fun – the rest comes from disembarking in a new destination. Considering my son's age restricted our options, it was still jam-packed. Heading out on foot, sans guide, around Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, spotting street art and watching the waves. A day split between a maritime park and munching tropical fruit on the beach in the US Virgin Islands. Another beach day in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) – he's now quite the waterbaby. The Kemps were able to be a little more high-octane, with one excursion combining a zipline, all-terrain vehicle tour and jungle hike to the cascading Damajagua Waterfalls in the Dominican Republic. Another took them across the BVI's Sir Francis Drake Channel to Norman Island for snorkelling. 'You tick off so many places you've always wanted to go to, and so quickly,' said Roman. 'Some of the stops that we made, the islands, were just incredible.' It's not just that, though, added Martin: 'You go to really different places. The destinations are often quite a few miles apart so it's like you're flying between them but you're doing it in luxury' 'You get to experience short bursts of a new place. They're really good samples of where you want to go next.' And doesn't my son know it – he doesn't even know how lucky he is, more stamps in his passport than teeth in his mouth. But the importance of travel is something to instil early, if you have the means. 'I always have this innate fear that when it comes to the end, I'll think back and go 'did I see as much as I could?'... I want to be able to see as much as I possibly can,' said Roman. 'Nothing is more valuable, I think, than travel.' And for Martin? The cruise reminded him how nice it was to travel with family – admitting he'd 'love' to do another cruise. I've already got my next trip planned with the mini swashbuckler – you never know, we might bump into the Kemps. Roman and Martin Kemp teamed up with Norwegian Cruise Line for a multigenerational voyage with NCL's 'More at Sea' package – an upgrade that gives guests speciality dining, wifi credits, discounts towards shore excursions and unlimited beverages (including on NCL's private island, Great Stirrup Cay).
