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Daily Record
4 days ago
- Daily Record
The Scottish town known for sporting history named cheapest UK day trip destination
The stunning town offers walkable access to beaches, historic sites, and attractions, with hidden costs as low as £25 British families looking to make the most of the summer holidays may be in for a surprise, as new research reveals how hidden costs are quietly driving up the price of day trips across the UK. The analysis, published by financial firm Dot Dot Loans, highlights how families can unknowingly spend an extra £50 to £70 on top of their planned budgets. This comes from add-on fees, inflated food prices, and travel extras. While cities like London, Bath, and Windsor topped the list as the most expensive day trip destinations, a historic and picturesque Scottish town emerged as the best value for money. St Andrews in Fife came out best placed on the list, with total hidden costs estimated at just £25 for a full day out. Compact, walkable and steeped in history, the seaside town was singled out for offering both stunning scenery and family-friendly activities without the big-city price tag. Known as the Home of Golf and famous for its medieval streets and world-class university, St Andrews sits on Scotland's east coast, just under two hours from Edinburgh and less than half an hour from Dundee. Visitors can explore its biggest attractions, including the Old Course, the Cathedral ruins, and West Sands Beach, for free or minimal cost. Dot Dot Loans noted that the town's layout means there's little need for costly transport, and many top sites are within easy walking distance of each other. St Andrews is also surrounded by some of Scotland's most scenic landscapes, with the West Sands Beach offering miles of golden sand and clear waters for walks, picnics or even a quick dip. The Fife Coastal Path adds to the appeal, giving walkers and cyclists access to rugged coastline, quaint seaside villages and local wildlife. Its culinary scene, too, was praised for offering variety without high mark-ups. From traditional Scottish dishes served in cosy pubs to fresh seafood and local produce from artisan shops, the town provides options for all tastes and budgets. Paul Gillooly, Finance Expert and Director at Dot Dot Loans, said: 'There's a misconception that domestic day trips are cheap, especially compared to holidays abroad. But what our research shows is that the true cost creeps up fast, especially when families fall into common budget traps. 'You plan for train fares or petrol, maybe a ticket or two, but forget about parking, local shuttles, snack costs, and entry upgrades. What's surprising is that even a single museum visit or cathedral stop can quietly become a £30–£40 spend when you account for 'optional extras' that feel mandatory.' The analysis also identified the most common hidden fees tourists fall into. These include expensive city-centre parking, charges for premium attraction access or guided tours, pricey food options in tourist zones, and extra transport costs from train stations to local sites. London ranked as the most expensive overall, with hidden costs adding £64.35 to a typical attractions, costly public transport, and food mark-ups in tourist hotspots were cited as key culprits. In some areas, even basic services such as public toilets come at a cost. Other surprisingly pricey spots included Oxford and the Cotswolds, where limited public transport and paid parking across multiple villages led to soaring day trip totals. A typical family outing could climb to £65 before factoring in meals or souvenirs. In contrast, Liverpool and Bristol stood out among larger cities for offering low hidden costs, at £32 and £30, respectively. Gillooly added: 'This summer, we're urging families to plan smarter. Map out every leg of your journey, research all on-the-ground costs, and use online vouchers or discount passes wherever possible. The bottom line is that spontaneity is fun, but budgeting is power.'
Wales Online
09-07-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Major flight disruption for next two days may cost each passenger £660
Major flight disruption for next two days may cost each passenger £660 Experts have explained why you may not get compensation as staff walk out on strikes at major airports Pilots and cabin crews at easyJet are set to strike as are baggage handlers at Milan and Venice as well as at other airports across Italy With airport strikes hitting Italy and Spain on July 10 and 11, UK travellers are facing last-minute cancellations, reroutes, and out-of-pocket losses. Finance experts at Dot Dot Loans have analysed the true cost of the back-to-back aviation strikes and found that UK passengers could lose up to £660 per person due to unrecoverable expenses like missed bookings, emergency rebookings, and limited compensation eligibility. This week's action affects ground-handling staff at all major Spanish and Italian airports, while easyJet's Italy-based cabin crew will also walk out on 10 July, causing extra disruption on key summer routes. While many passengers assume their travel insurance or EU261 will protect them, the reality is far more limited. Airlines have only a 'basic duty-of-care support' if you flight os cancelled or delayed because of strikes, meaning you may have to pay: Flight rebooking (when not covered): £180-£400 per person (based on average UK-Spain & Italy summer fares) Accommodation (extra night if stranded): £120-£180 per night Meals and incidentals: £25-£60 per day Missed prepaid activities/transfers: £50-£100 per person Total: £225-£660 Dot Dot Loans estimates passengers will bear 30–40% of the total direct impact in these strikes, a higher share than seen in pilot or airline staff strikes, where compensation is due. There experts say there will be no EU 261 compensation as the strikes are classified as 'extraordinary circumstances' outside airline control. Airlines must provide: meals, refreshments, hotel accommodation (if overnight), and two free communications during the delay. Article continues below If a flight is cancelled or delayed over five hours, passengers can claim a full refund or be rerouted at the earliest opportunity. Paul Gillooly, Finance Expert & Director at Dot Dot Loans said: 'Most people think the cost of travel is locked in once the flight is booked, but the reality is that airport strikes like these can unravel even the most carefully planned holiday budgets. What's particularly challenging this week is that UK passengers are facing two simultaneous strike events at the height of the summer season, when prices are already inflated. "The financial exposure here isn't just about missed flights; it's about the ripple effect: last-minute hotel bookings, inflated rebooking fares, lost deposits, and the extra costs of meals and ground transport. These expenses add up fast, and most aren't protected unless you've paid for premium insurance or your airline voluntarily covers the loss. "From a financial standpoint, travellers need to treat strike risk as part of the cost of flying in summer. That means building contingency funds into your holiday budget, knowing your refund rights, and avoiding non-refundable add-ons where possible. Planning isn't just about where you're going, it's about making sure you're financially protected if things go off course.' Italy-based pilots and cabin crews at budget airline easyJet are set to strike for 24 hours on Thursday, with baggage handlers at Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa and Venice Marco Polo, as well as at other airports across Italy, planning to stage a 24-hour strike on the same day. Action by ground airport workers is also expected at Cagliari Elmas and Naples Capodichino. The strikes are likely to cause flight delays or cancellations, as well as delays in ground operations including passenger check-in and baggage drop-off or collection services. Under Italian air transport laws, flights scheduled to depart between 6am and 9am and between 6pm and 9pm are protected from strike action and should run as planned on Thursday. However, on Friday a 24-hour staff strike has also been called at Palermo airport. Passengers flying to or from the Sicilian capital may experience delays or cancellations oas staff at Gesap, which manages aviation services at the city's Falcone Borsellino Airport, plan to hold a 24-hour walkout. The Flai Transport and Services union has also called a strike that will affect the staff of the Assohandlers member handling companies, which includes airport handling staff operating at Linate, Malpensa, Turin, Verona, Bologna, Ciampino, Fiumicino, Palermo, Catania, Reggio Calabria, Lamezia Terme, Crotone, Cuneo, Naples, Salerno, Venice, Bergamo, Sagat, and Cagliari. Ivaylo Danailov, CEO of airline compensation specialists SkyRefund, said: 'While compensation may not be payable for delays caused by strikes involving airport staff or air traffic control — as these are generally considered 'extraordinary circumstances' — passengers flying with easyJet or other EU carriers may still have rights to re-routing, meals, accommodation, and transport while they wait. It's also worth noting that flights scheduled during protected hours in Italy (6am–9am and 6pm–9pm) should operate as planned, and any disruption outside of these time frames should still be monitored closely. Travellers should check with their airline and retain receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses they incur due to disruption. Article continues below "With regard to the strike by easyJet's pilots and cabin crew, passengers may be entitled to compensation of €250–€600, depending on flight distance, unless easyJet can prove that it took all reasonable measures to avoid the disruption. The European Court of Justice has previously ruled that strikes by airline staff are not automatically considered extraordinary, so each case must be assessed individually.'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2 Key Signs Trump's Tariffs Will Cost You Less Than Biden's Inflation
Following the rather stiff tariffs President Donald Trump implemented against America's trade partners in his escalating trade war, the broader question is — was Biden-era inflation more costly to the American people than Trump's tariffs? For You: Read Next: It's a difficult question to answer, particularly because the era of Trump's tariffs has only just begun and given the mercurial nature of the president and his tariff policy, it's almost impossible to be sure of how it will end. That said, GOBanking Rates recently spoke to Paul Gillooly, financial specialist and director of Dot Dot Loans, who provided two reasons for why Trump's tariffs, in the long run, might be less damaging than Biden-era inflation. 'If tariffs are removed, or people change what they buy and how they buy it, prices can level off,' Gillooly said. 'Inflation doesn't. It erodes your buying power slowly and bit by bit and it doesn't disappear overnight.' Trump's tariffs are designed to safeguard American businesses by making foreign goods more expensive and driving American consumers to buy America products. However, if that doesn't work, the tariffs can be ended almost immediately — unlike inflation. Check Out: While this is by no means a good thing, Gillooly also noted how tariffs impact the lowest income brackets the hardest, while inflation targets everyone. 'Tariffs hit the poor families worst because a higher percentage of their earnings goes towards things like appliances or repairing things around the house — things most likely to be affected by tariffs,' he said. Meanwhile, inflation does not discriminate and 'the higher prices for food, gasoline and rent are going to be felt' by all. Gillooly went on to state that the issue really isn't so much which is worse — Trump's tariffs or Biden's inflation — but instead, it's all a question of how long they last. 'Tariffs, if they recede or people adjust, bite only in the short term,' he told GOBanking Rates. 'Inflation, if not in check, bites longer and further.' In the end, only time — and President Trump — will tell how long the tariffs last. Editor's note on political coverage: GOBankingRates is nonpartisan and strives to cover all aspects of the economy objectively and present balanced reports on politically focused finance stories. You can find more coverage of this topic on More From GOBankingRates These Cars May Seem Expensive, but They Rarely Need Repairs Sources Paul Gillooly, Dot Dot Loans This article originally appeared on 2 Key Signs Trump's Tariffs Will Cost You Less Than Biden's Inflation Sign in to access your portfolio
