Avoid making this 'costly mistake' while on holiday abroad this summer
However this could be a mistake that ends up causing a headache and costing holidaymakers money, a travel expert has said.
In a survey by Be Clever With Your Cash, 39% of respondents said they had been caught out without cash.
While prepaid cards and contactless payment methods cover many payments, some circumstances still require coins and notes, such as tipping in taxis or shopping at small retailers which may not accept foreign cards or mobile transactions.
Those who venture beyond large cities and into more rural areas can also run into trouble, as these areas are less likely to be equipped to accept digital payments.
But it's not just the trouble of being unable to pay for a meal or tip a waiter. Leaving the cash at home can actually rack up a sizable bill.
This is because ATMs abroad routinely charge fees for transactions involving overseas bank accounts and cards.
And for those looking to change money into the local currency, change bureaus can also leave you out of pocket.
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Holidaymakers who need to exchange money are advised to plan ahead, with airport exchange desks often offering worse rates than their high street counterparts.
Even where card payments are accepted, it's a good idea to check your card's policies on overseas payments and currency conversion before setting off.
Travellers should also check their insurance, with many policies offering cover for stolen or lost cash while abroad. More Trending
A total of 91% of annual and 86% of single trip policies included cash cover as standard, research by Defaqto found.
Money expert Amelia Murray from Be Clever With Your Cash said that many holidaymakers have a 'blind spot' on cash.
'Many people assume that having a fee-free card is enough, but that can be a false economy if you end up using an ATM abroad that charges or get stung by poor exchange rates', she said.
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'It's not about carrying wads of cash, it's about being prepared for those moments when a card simply won't cut it.'
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
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The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
The King and I, a tiger skin rug and a bottle of Bell's
I have travelled a lot and as global tourist infrastructure has improved, so has the 'Airbnbfication' of even the furthest flung places, hitting the road feels an ever more homogeneous experience. Côte d'Ivoire? This felt like an opportunity for real adventure, to discover somewhere no one else I knew had ever been. I'm ashamed to say I knew almost nothing about Côte d'Ivoire, the French speaking West African country of 31 million, neighboured by Ghana, Liberia, Guinea and Mali. Its troubled history of two civil wars in the noughties, was my main point of reference. Certainly, I couldn't have imagined its pristine beaches rivalling Thailand, an incredible culinary scene, the unforgettable nightlife of Abidgan or the thriving contemporary art movement. I did read in advance about how diverse this country is - Abidjan with so many skyscrapers it's known as the Manhattan of West Africa, the cocoa cooperatives producing more than 40% of the world's cacao, more than 60 ethnicities and 70 languages. 'I'm ashamed to say I knew almost nothing about Côte d'Ivoire, the French speaking West African country of 31 million' (Image: Kerry Hudson) But, how did I end up drunk in a King's compound, wearing traditional tribal dress? I wake up under a mosquito net in a stilted hut overlooking wildlife reservation N'zi Lodge. As we drive the minibus down the rocky road, we catch glimpses of antilope, warthogs and a rescued White Rhino - once given as a gift to the first President. On the journey to the political capital, Yamoussoukro, where we'll spend the next 24 hours, I watch as life spills out of roadside markets. It's two days before Eid al-Adha, also known as, The Feast of Sacrifice, and, with almost half the country Muslim, there are hundreds of goats - being led by ropes like stubborn dogs, lying on top of bright buses and crammed into red dust cattle markets - unaware of their fate. In the middle of traffic, men sell Space Hoppers, machetes and bags decorated with seashells. Beside us, a truck drives by with a row of hammocks strung across the flatbed where labourers sleep, a bus passes featuring a mural of Che Guevara looking uncannily like Robbie Williams. We pass something called a 'China Mall', mannequins by the side of the road with large round backsides that make me optimistic I might find clothes that fit me. A woman balances a huge basket of limes on her head, laundry is laid out flat on scrubby patches of grass to dry and stalls are piled high with sun-faded Manchester United tops. Read more Kerry Hudson It is said you cannot visit Yammousoko without also visiting The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, which holds the Guinness World Record as the biggest church in the world. To murder a Groucho Marx quote, 'I refuse to join any religion that would have me as its member' but, in the way I have felt in mosques, temples and cathedrals around the world, I feel a tearful sense of peace in this construct of hope over experience. Built in the 1960s by the first president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who wanted to honour what he believed was a time of 'God given' peace. Its 24 epic stained glass windows were designed and created by artisans in Burgundy, France and I'm told not a single pane broke in transit - an act of God indeed. There is also an altar carved with marble from Carrera, Italy, and a teak Virgin Mary statue carved by a prisoner of Muslim faith and it was designed by a Lebanese Ivoirian architect, Pierre Fakhoury. Quite the international affair. The next stop is to the village of Kondéyaokro via, sure, why not, a river of two-hundred crocodiles, in the centre of the city. They are apparently very popular and judging from the way they all swim to the edge and stare at us with unsettling gimlet eyes, I can only assume they're expecting dinner in one form or another. We are accompanied to the village, 40 minutes out of town, by a truck of armed guards with automatic rifles. I'm told reassuringly, this is normal for official delegations. After a Goli Dance, a traditional masked performance, we're invited into King Nana Yao Daniel's compound, a large, squat bungalow with five gold and velvet thrones accommodating the fully-robed king and with his most trusted advisors. The decor is gilded maximalism, there are swan vases stuffed with plastic flowers, carved teak elephants, a tiger skin rug, and, on the back wall, a big TV with the 'Action Channel' on mute showing a very young Dwayne Johnson. I don't know what I expected from a king - I turned down my last invite to Buckingham Palace - but I'll come here any time. We're given large measures of Bell's whisky (as the only Scot, I am given double). The men in our party are bestowed a tuft of tiger fur from the rug, the women a strand of horse tail, both for good fortune. Côte d'Ivoire is off the beaten track for tourists (Image: Kerry Hudson) Then there is more, so much more, whisky and photos before we're called outside for a dinner of carp, tomato and onion salad, boiled yams and the gifting of our tribal robes. Each of the armed guards is given a carton of local red wine, the visitors, a bordeaux as a sign of hospitality. A dog called Commander and a straggle of rangy ginger kittens roam about. It's a party. Even when the heavens open with thunder and lightning and we carry our tables to the porch, the night is full of laughter. At around 11pm, as is tradition, we ask the king, 'for the road' and drive through a man-made slalom of sandbags and plastic barrels, ingeniously designed to stop speeding. Was it all a show for us visitors? Perhaps. But it felt deeply genuine. Everyone in our group, most far better travelled than me, agreed, 'This is the sort of thing you get on a plane for!' The Côte d'Ivoire offers a perfect adventurous experience, to see things others don't, to connect with people you might never have met, to raise a glass of Scotch, maybe even a double, to an entirely different way of life. Kerry Hudson is an award-winning, bestselling novelist and memoirist. You can find her on Instagram and on Threads @ThatKerryHudson
Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
I stayed at one of the most luxurious apartments in Wales with the best sea view
I stayed at one of the most luxurious apartments in Wales with the best sea view A hidden gem in the heart of one of Wales' most wonderful coastal towns that's the best I've ever seen - pop inside and have a look Mesmerising - the sea view from the French doors, not me (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) There's a hidden gem in one of Wales' most popular places to stay that is so breathtaking not just in its location but with the luxury that it offers that when we turned up to stay we really did not want to leave. If you tell people you're going to spend a night away in Pembrokeshire they usually visualise a pretty little cottage, a character-packed hotel, or a historic property but our place to spend a night was none of these and, in my opinion, it was better. Think Tenby and you probably think of the painted predominantly Georgian houses that line the clifftop roads. But our place to call home was an apartment that has gone from dated and drab to the most luxurious apartment I have ever experienced with incredible views from all the main windows but also a range of tech to keep the teenagers happy and clever, inspiring, and beautiful interiors to keep me enthralled. For more property stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here. READ MORE: Incredible transformation of dated Tenby flat in a clifftop building into a luxury apartment with the best sea views YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Inside Martin Roberts' huge Welsh pub renovation project as he addresses lap dancing club rumours Gunfort Mansion above Tenby's South Beach that's hiding a gem of a property inside (Image: Item 2 Ltd ) Article continues below Well, of course, every frontline property in Tenby has a magnificent view but at Min Y Mor the owners who spent years creating this wonderful apartment have maximised its position above South Beach with window seats, a Juliet balcony, and a designer chair nestled within the bay of one of the two bedrooms that has a direct and uninterrupted view of St Catherine's Island and fort. The kitchen diner continues the contemporary design but with a coastal influence via the bespoke boardwalk-style units (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) But before we opened the apartment's front door and the air was filled with a chorus of excitement we had to find it. On the second floor of the Victorian Grade II-listed Gunfort Mansion the front door of the building was tucked away to the side of the property. Once inside a climb to the second floor was totally worth it as Min Y Mor is waiting to mesmerise you. Step inside and the apartment welcomed us with a whitewashed and contemporary interior design. The bay window in the lounge and principal bedroom both have window seats to enjoy the view over Tenby's South Beach (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) But this is not some cold and clinical interior design – there's texture and use of a range of natural materials to ensure the spaces are visually inviting yet keeping the décor neutral perfectly frames the multiple views out of the bay windows and French doors of the stunning blue ocean and nature's own artwork of wispy clouds dancing across the huge sky. Look in the other direction to admire St Catherine's Island (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) The day was a hot one so we opened the French doors and the sound of the waves became the backdrop of our stay and the window seats were all utilised for gazing out across this landmark coastal landscape. The apartment has a way of helping you to quickly relax as you're a five-minute walk from the centre of Tenby and the steps down to South Beach are literally opposite the front door. But being this high up from the throng of people below and so connected to the views at each window you feel like you are in the view, in the water, floating through the sky. Two rooms have been made one broken-plan space with the most of the dividing wall gone (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) There are many clever features to discover in this amazing apartment – the copper bath lit from below, the circular bookshelf embedded into the wall, the bunkbeds also hiding within a wall that includes a secret door up to a mezzanine. But it was the cinema screen and access to multiple streaming channels including Disney+ and Amazon Prime that mesmerised the younger generation (and yes okay, me too). There was good free wifi too which made everyone happy. The cinema screen TV and all the streaming services were a big hit (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) Cleverly hidden behind a piece of wall art that slowly slides open, the screen impressed everyone and Peaky Blinders and The Mandalorian looked even more incredible in this mini home cinema while relaxing on the oversized curved sofa. At some point I wandered off to the second bedroom with a glass of wine and sat in the designer 'saddle' chair with footstool in the bay window and watched the tide slowly meander up the beach and people strolling around St Catherine's Island. The welcome basket of local produce left by the owners came with me and was a delightful companion. The designer chair in the bay of bedroom two has an amazing view of Castle Beach and St Catherine's Island (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) When I surfaced from my surprise kip in the chair, the result of an afternoon glass of wine, the surround sound system had been discovered and Dua Lipa was serenading us from every angle while we made plans to go out to get a fish and chip takeaway dinner. The kitchen is well-equipped but with only 24 hours to enjoy our trip to Tenby it felt almost like the law that we had to try out the town's fish and chips, eating it at the dining table. The view from the open French doors in the kitchen diner was special too (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) The kitchen diner area is another thoughtful use of space and design. The kitchen is bespoke and handmade and not sleek and shiny but more in keeping with the apartment's location. It's made from wood that has been whitewashed to give it a slightly sun-kissed and weathered look it blends into the overall design and yet stands its ground as a point of interest. Fish and chips takeaway dinner with a duet of views as a welcome guest (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) Dining chairs can take up a lot of space so to combat this two seats out of the size were built into the end of the kitchen units and work surface – genius. It's hard to describe just how relaxing and memorable it was eating as a family with the French doors open and the sound of the waves and the view of the ocean a welcome extra guest at the table as the sunlight began to fade into night. Clever way to share light between two internal spaces and yet keep privacy (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) More genius ideas to make a smaller space work well was found in the shower room – with space tight in the room that used to be a corridor the shower was a Jack and Jill shower in the middle of the room, with extra light brought into the space by high-level slatted internal windows in the dividing wall with the principal bedroom. Maybe the feature, other than the magnificent dual-aspect views and the mega TV, that impressed the most was the copper bath, lit from below and the main statement piece in the principal bedroom en suite. For more property, renovation, and interior design stories join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here. The bath was a thing of beauty (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) Both bathroom facilities were fascinatingly-designed spaces – dark colours, a mix of functional and also mood lighting, and key tactile features such as exposed brick walls, which was such a visual contrast to the white and contemporary living and sleeping areas. Lighting is always key to a successful interior design and as the evening crept in it was obvious that the family had thought about the ambience of the apartment during the dark hours when renovating this property. Fluffy cloud statement light in the lounge became very atmospheric at night (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) Hidden LED lighting and spots highlighted artwork and sculptures and statement ceiling pendants in the kitchen and bedrooms added pools of soft light. The statement overhead light in the living room was a thing of beauty – like a cloud floating below the ceiling in the day, concealing bulbs within its fluffy folds, and glowing like a dusky sunset in the night. Integrated into the wall, the bookcase was an inventive feature (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) One inventive design idea that I am definitely pinching and taking home with me is placing a mirrored coffee table under an expensive statement light – you get then two statement lights and don't have to look up to admire it. Principal bedroom had sliding doors to save space but frosted as the genius way to keep privacy but share light into the darker en suite behind it (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) So bedtime was upon us and the very comfortable beds, crisp white sheets, and soft pillows made drifting off to sleep an absolute dream. The apartment hasn't always looked like this slice of luxury – although much-loved when the owners inherited it the flat was a maze of smaller rooms with dated décor. The kitchen and living room have been connected via the open archway to create the broken-plan kitchen lounge diner which also means both spaces can enjoy a triple view of the sea, sky, and beach. All the beds were super-comfortable and the white cotton linen made them feel very luxurious (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) The bedrooms and bathrooms are unrecognisable and the clever use of space has added the extra shower room and an extra bedroom with bunkbeds – find out the renovation story and see the before and after renovation transformation photos here. The family had a vision of how they wanted to do a high-end, carefully considered full renovation of the flat, with the sea views at the core of the plan, to produce the designer apartment of their dreams and I would say they have definitely achieved that. Ship cabin-style bunkbeds built into the wall next to the kitchen would be a child's dream sleeping space (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) It is so obvious that this makeover into a luxury apartment has taken time, thought, and a significant budget but to create a contemporary space (and one that is mainly white which was a worry at the beginning of our stay because I am so clumsy) and make it welcoming too is a talent and Min Y Mor is a masterclass of remodelling and interior ideas that can inspire anyone who comes to stay – if they can ever take their eyes of the amazing sea views. To fit an extra shower room inside the space that used to be a corridor it was designed with a Jack and Jill shower in the middle and two entrances (Image: Alex Ridout, Media Wales ) Outside Gunfort Mansion looks drab next to its colourful neighbours having not been lavished with a standout shade that Tenby has become known for – it still wears its coat of grey rendering. However the owners of Min Y Mor say the building, of which the family's flat is leasehold, is soon to get an upgrade on its external and community areas such as stairs and corridors. Min Y Mor can be booked via Puffin Cottage Holidays so you can try it out yourself and one thing is for sure – I will be going back to stay again and will count the days until I do. Article continues below Find your own luxury apartment or renovation property here:
Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
I road-tripped on Route 66 — these are the 6 stops you don't want to miss
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Freedom, adventure and the pursuit of the American Dream —Route 66 is a symbol of it all. So strong is the lore, some even call it 'Mother Road'. The historic highway, which was one of the first roads in the US, spans2,448 miles and eight states, stretching from Chicago, Illinois, all the way to Santa Monica in California. Truckers kept the roadside diners in business for decades, but it wasn't until the birth of the road trip in the 1950s that the highway became the household name it is today. Progress replaced much of Route 66 with bypasses and interstates, but travellers remain drawn to its nostalgic appeal — nowhere more so than Arizona, home to the longest remaining drivable stretch. As it gears up to celebrate its centenary, I joined the highway in the heart of the southwestern Grand Canyon state, whizzing past historic trading towns, otherworldly national parks and lunar-like landscapes on a journey to the New Mexico border. These are the seven stops that deserve to be on every road-trip bucket list. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Lake Havasu has the original London Bridge. Yes, the actual one. In what was then the largest export in the world, London Bridge was moved from the English capital (it was sinking into the water due to its weight), to Arizona. Intrepid travellers make the journey to Lake Havasu City just to cross it, but there's more to this place than its ties to the UK — it's rich in tribal history and has world-class fishing. I didn't make it this far, but if you're willing to make the five-hour drive from Lake Havasu City, you'll find a remote oasis that's the stuff of legends. Hidden deep within Havasupai Tribal Lands, Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon is an ethereal pool of azure waters and cascading waterfalls. It gets its name from the indigenous word Havasu, a native word meaning blue green which symbolises the water. But be warned, you can only access the falls with a permit. Limited numbers go on sale each year on 1 February. On the last leg of Arizona's Route 66 is Oatman, a gold rush town surrounded by desert. It's sort of like a timewarp to the Wild West. Nestled in the Black Mountains, this former mining town turned tourist attraction is like a timewarp to the Wild West, with wooden sidewalks and wild burros roaming the main street. These friendly donkeys are descendants of the burros used to transport mining supplies – they're cute, but watch out, they will come for your bags if they think you have food. On the side of the road in Oatman, you can watch a gunfight: the Oatman Ghost Rider Gun Fighters group performs Wild West shootouts on at 1:30pm and 3:30pm daily. While you're here, stop by the historic Oatman Hotel and stick a dollar bill on the ceiling, in keeping with local tradition. Other activities include tours of the Mohave Desert area, shopping and browsing art galleries, specialty shops, gift shops, horse riding, escape rooms, and bars and clubs in the area. Located in Mohave County, Kingman hosts the annual I ♥ 66 Fest – a whole festival dedicated to Route 66. The event highlights the history and culture of America's Main Street, featuring live bands – including a renowned Japanese trio – beer garden, food and craft vendors, a motorcycle show, classic car show, a vintage trailer show, pin up contest and Kingman's first and only zipline. One of my favourite stops here was the Giganticus Headicus, a 14-foot tall Tiki head created by local artist Gregg Arnold. This is located along the longest continuous curve on a US highway, found at Antares Point Visitor Center (it's hard to miss). As well as the sculpture, you'll be treated to stunning views of the Arizona desert and, if you're lucky, the biker gangs that often pass through. A short drive is the Hackberry General Store & Visitor's Center, which is full of souvenirs and kitsch memorabilia. No visit is complete without an hour at the Powerhouse Museum, where you'll learn the history of the dust bowl refugees who migrated there. Route 66 is replete with gift shops but if there's one worth your time, it's Angel's Barber Shop. This isn't a place to get a haircut. It's named after Angel Delgadillo, the barber dubbed the 'guardian angel' of Route 66 for his efforts to save the town from destitution when the Interstate 40 opened in the 80s. If it hadn't been for Angel and the townspeople that rallied to make Route 66 a 'historic' highway, Seligman would have dwindled into the dust. You might remember seeing him on Blue Peter when he was awarded the coveted Blue Peter badge. Beside the barber shop, you'll find an ice cream parlour that claims to have the Guinness World Record for the most milkshake flavours. Seligman even has a Hollywood connection: it was the inspiration for the animated movie Cars, which tells the story of a champion racing car forced to spend time in one of the Route's bypassed towns. Winslow, immortalised in the Eagles hit Take It Easy , is worth checking out in its own right. You know the one: I was standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona… Here you'll find the rather uncreatively named Standin' on the Corner Park, where you can snap up pictures as you envision the band writing the song on the spot. The Old Trails Museum and Affeldt Minion Museum are also on hand to teach you the history of the town. Not far from Winslow is the town of Holbrook, where the quirky Wigwam Hotel offers concrete tepees for guests to stay in. The star of the show, though, is Meteor Crater. Some 25 miles west of Winslow, it measures 550 feet deep and almost a mile wide, making it one of the largest craters in North America. It was created 50,000 years ago when a massive meteorite crashed into Earth with a force more powerful than an atomic bomb. It was used as NASA as a training ground for the Apollo missions, and today you can look back to the past from one of the observation decks dotted around the rim. Don't let the name scare you, this is a stunning place embroidered with unusual rock formations. More Trending Where Route 66 passes through the national park, nature has taken over the road, but an old car and a small plaque on the side still marks the crossing. Here you'll find something called petrified wood – these prehistoric trees have been around for so long that they have started to crystallise as a result of minerals deposited within the crevices. They still look like trees, but they've literally turned to stone. The easiest way to get to Arizona is to fly into Phoenix, which you can do from London via British Airways non-stop £625 (these are December dates so prices are likely to be inflated – they're cheaper other times in the year). Given that Phoenix is one of the hottest U.S states, it is best to avoid in the summer due to its intense heat. JetBlue offers flights from London to Phoenix for £473 with some stops meanwhile United has £599 flights and American, £604, both with transits in between. Meanwhile West Jet offers the same journey, with two stops, for £365. Once you land in Phoenix, your best bet of joining Route 66 is hiring a car from the airport and joining the I-40 freeway to access some of the best stretches of the road. You can also take the American railway Amtrak which will take you to stops on Route 66 including Flagstaff and Winslow (from Flagstaff to Winslow, for example, you can expect to pay $35 (£27.56)). If you're in Williams, Arizona, you can also take the train straight to the Grand Canyon in 70 minutes. If you don't feel like taking the train or hiring a car, there are also tour operators such as Get Your Guide who offer a 15-hour Route 66 and Grand Canyon tour with lunch for £148.97. 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