One thing Brits should never buy at the airport or risk 'spending £30 more'

Daily Mirror

20-07-2025

Leaving things until the last minute can often end up costing you more, especially when it comes to going on holiday, and there's one purchase costing Brits more than they might expect.
It's best not to leave things too late when booking a holiday. Not only can it be stressful, but you'll often find yourself having to pay more for flights and hotels than you might have if you'd booked weeks in advance.
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While heading to less well-known destinations, or booking your flights on the cheapest day of the week can help you save a few pennies here and there, there's one costly mistake many Brits are still making while travelling.
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Realising you've forgotten to pack a toothbrush or a pair of flip flops at the airport can be annoying, and making a list of what to pack can easily prevent this, but forgetting sun cream is likely setting you back more than you might think.
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A recent study from Travel Republic revealed that Brits splurge an eye-watering £683million annually buying the easily avoidable last-minute purchase at the airport.
The online travel agents found that that over one in three Brits confess to forgetting to buy sun cream before going on holiday, but this minor oversight can be pricier than anticipated.
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A standard bottle of SPF 30 at the airport can set you back as much as £30 more than if you'd picked it up on the high street, and Travel Republic has warned travellers that they could end up shelling out up to £35 for a last-minute bottle of sun cream, reports the Express.
Even if you're only taking hand luggage with you, decanting your sun cream prior to travel could save you a pretty penny and prevent you from having to fork out on a bottle you might not even get through.
Sun cream isn't the only expense hitting travellers wallets. Travel Republic also found that over half a million UK adults opted for express passports for their summer holiday, adding a whopping £111 million to the national last-minute holiday bill.
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Even if you've bagged yourself a bargain flight, the dream of a budget-friendly break can quickly turn sour if you overlook an impending passport expiry, an oversight that's all too common.
While forgetting sun cream is an easy mistake to make, shelling out for an emergency passport is easily avoided with a bit of forward planning, and it's as simple as checking your passport before booking a spontaneous getaway.
Data from the HM Passport Office reveals that in 2023, over 500,000 people chose fast-track services for a new passport, which on average costs a hefty £194.25 for one-week or same-day services.
To dodge such steep costs, Travel Republic advises checking passports annually and at least a month before you jet off to ensure you have ample time to renew it if necessary.
The digital travel experts also recommend creating a checklist a week prior to your flight, particularly if you're planning on checking in luggage. This ensures that you don't overlook essentials like sun cream and adapters, which can be quite costly if purchased last minute.