Holiday cost of credit cards: £258m

British holidaymakers could pay an extra £258 million in fees for using their credit cards abroad this year, new figures reveal.



According to the Post Office, the majority of credit cards levy a 2.75 per cent fee for each transaction made overseas, a charge that 47 per cent of travellers are not aware of.

Nearly half (49 per cent) of British holidaymakers plan to use their credit cards to shop abroad this year and are expected to spend around £9.4 billion.

The Post Office's Claire Oldstein commented: "We urge holidaymakers to check with their bank or credit card provider whether they will be paying a fee to shop overseas before they go.

"There are great value zero per cent deals available which can ensure you return home with only shopping bags and happy memories, and not a bigger credit card bill."

She added that debit cards sometimes carried a fee when used abroad too and urged travellers to check with their card provider.

The average British household is likely to spend £1,801 on holidays abroad in 2007, including money spent while away, figures from InsureandGo reveal.

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