- 86pc of Irish holidaymakers have been caught out by unexpected costs
- 31pc noted tourist taxes and extra hotel fees
- 25pc faced unexpected airport parking and transfer costs
- 24pc cited baggage booking fees and currency exchange rates
- Annual travel insurance policies start at just €19.95
New figures show 86pc of Irish holidaymakers have been caught out by at least one of a long list of unexpected costs on their trip. The survey of 1,000 people from travel insurance provider Multitrip.com, which was carried out by Opinium, shows that 31pc noted tourist taxes and extra hotel fees, 25pc faced unexpected airport parking and transfer costs, and 24pc cited unexpected costs around baggage booking fees for flights.
Other unexpected costs include 24pc caught out by costs associated with currency exchange rates, 24pc faced unexpected costs around WiFi or data roaming, 22pc said tipping or local service charges, 20pc were caught out by overseas card fees, 15pc faced additional costs due to flight and transport delays, 13pc cited the cost of medical treatment or prescriptions abroad and 12pc mentioned replacing lost items or clothing. Most people plan their holiday budget around big-ticket items such as flights, accommodation and spending money, but it is often the smaller, easy-to-miss costs that can catch travellers out.
Tourist taxes can vary between countries, regions and individual cities. Tipping expectations vary widely between destinations. Charges for parking at the airport will vary depending on the length of stay but can easily be forgotten when factoring in holiday costs. Annual travel insurance policies start at just €19.95.
Jason Whelan shared “Many of the smaller, unexpected costs of travelling, from tips to hotel charges, can be planned for in advance and added to your budget, helping you avoid unpleasant surprises. Yet there’s always the chance of accidents and unforeseen events that are simply outside your control. That’s where travel insurance plays a key role.”
