Latest news with #IonianIslandHolidays
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Brit tourists urged to ditch Euros for two travel cards with £0 withdrawal fees
Sick of being stung by sneaky ATM charges while on holiday? Travel experts have urged Brits to check out two specific bank cards that might save you a small fortune thanks to their £0 withdrawal fees UK holidaymakers have been warned over steep ATM fees in Europe which can wreak havoc on your finances. Gone are the days when Brits would head over to their local travel agent to buy a whole week's worth of Euros for their holiday. Nowadays, most go away with their bank card - and a pocket full of loose change. However, many high-street banks still charge customers for using their debit cards abroad on non-sterling transaction fees. This can either be as a one-off charge per transaction, or a percentage of the amount you're withdrawing. While a £2 fee, for example, might not sound like a lot - it can soon add up, especially if you're only comfortably withdrawing small amounts of cash each time. Travel experts over at Ionian Island Holidays have therefore urged Brits to dodge the cost with two specific bank cards. The pros spoke with Laura Bennet, a 34-year-old from Bristol who spent two weeks travelling across the Greek hotspot of Crete and the Cyclades islands. "I used to accept those small £2–£3 ATM fees as normal, but when they started happening regularly, I realised how much I was losing," she said, in a statement sent to the Mirror. "This year, I came prepared with the right cards and some basic know-how. I kept my Starling card for cash withdrawals and used Monzo for purchases — both worked really well and showed transactions instantly in the app." Ionian Island Holidays branded cards like Starling and Monzo as 'game-changers' for travellers, adding: "They're widely accepted in Greece and don't penalise you for accessing your money. [It's] something many visitors still don't realise." While Monzo and Starling both offer free withdrawals on overseas ATMs, both still come with restrictions. For example, Starling only allows customers to withdraw a maximum of £300 a day, with a cap of six withdrawals per day. If Monzo is your main account, you can make unlimited fee-free cash withdrawals within the European Economic Area (EEA). Outside of the EEA, customers will be limited to withdrawing £200 every 30 days. After these limits, a three per cent fee applies. Even if your bank card isn't charging you for overseas activity, many ATMs in popular tourist areas will charge for withdrawals. Laura sought out machines operated by local banks such as Alpha Bank, Piraeus Bank, and Eurobank in Greece, which she says have clearer fee structures and better security. "I avoided the flashy machines near tourist shops and instead used ATMs located at actual bank branches," she added. "They felt more trustworthy and usually displayed fees upfront." Remember, if you're using your card abroad - you should always withdraw in the local currency - and not in GBP. As previously reported, this applies even if an ATM is advertising '0 per cent commission'.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'I'm a travel expert and making one simple change saved me £90 in flights'
Travel enthusiast Laura Bennett, 34, has shared her little-known tip to bag bargain flights, after slashing her air fare on a recent trip to the picturesque Greek islands Bag the lowest airfares with this genius tip that saved one traveller a whopping £90 on her recent holiday to Greece. Knowing exactly when to book your flights can sometimes feel like you're shooting in the dark. Many pay for their travel and hotel well in-advance, while others risk waiting until the last minute to see if any sudden sales come available. Luckily, experts over at Ionian Island Holidays have finally set the record straight after reviewing new travel data that found booking two to three months in advance will get you the best price. This is particularly true for hotspots like Greece, which Laura Bennett, from Bristol, recently visited. The 34-year-old spent a fortnight exploring the Greek hotspot of Crete and the Cyclades islands - and managed to get a great deal on her flights. "I've made the mistake of booking too late in the past and paid over £300 for a return flight," she said in a statement sent to the Mirror. "But this year, I booked early and saved more than half that amount." "I started checking prices in January for a May trip, and flights were around £120 return. Just a few weeks later, those same seats had jumped to over £200." Experts over at Ionian Island Holidays recommend booking your flights 'as early as possible' if you're travelling in key seasons such as between April and June or in September. "These shoulder seasons offer great weather — and fewer crowds — but prices do rise quickly the closer you get to departure," they added. Flights in July and August will often be the most expensive, so Laura recommends dodging these dates altogether. Even flying mid-week rather than at a weekend could save you money, if you have no choice but to holiday in the peak summer months. "I once changed my outbound flight by just two days and saved nearly £90," she said. Many travel enthusiasts now use price alerts on comparison sites such as Google Flights and Skyscanner. This notify customers when the fare they've spotted has decreased in price - and gives a good indication as to whether you're overpaying or not. But sometimes, waiting for a bargain can actually work out more expensive. "In-demand routes like London to Athens or Manchester to Corfu often sell out of their cheapest seats quickly," the travel pros warn. "If you see a fare that fits your budget, it's better to lock it in... Regional airports often have seasonal routes that offer direct access to the islands. It's worth checking multiple departure points if you're not tied to one city."
