Going on holidays abroad this summer?
May 25, 2015
If you’re lucky enough to be going away on holidays this summer we have some useful tips in our travel guide to help you avoid any nasty surprises while you’re away, and when you get back. The guide includes tips on what to watch out for when:
Using your mobile abroad: always check to make sure that your phone works abroad or find out what charges apply, in particular any data roaming charges.
Hiring a car: read the terms and conditions of the agreement carefully, especially the small print and read up on what checks to make if renting a car, such as making sure that the lights are working, checking the type of fuel it needs and the insurance which is included .
Using your bank cards/foreign currency abroad: be aware of what to look out for when using your debit or credit card while abroad, for instance any charges that apply. For example, if you use your debit card to withdraw money from an ATM in the Eurozone, you would pay the same charges as you would if you bought something in Ireland. However, if you are heading to somewhere outside of the Eurozone, you will be charged a non-euro cash withdrawal or card purchase fee. Take a look at our current account Money Tool for more details of charges that apply when using your card abroad. If you are buying something on your credit card you will pay a transaction fee and a charge for converting the transaction into euro. Check the transaction fee for your credit card by using our credit card Money Tool.
Buying travel insurance: travel insurance can be a good way to help protect you as it covers against theft of money, belongings or passport, cancelled flights, damaged or delayed luggage and illness or injury. It’s important to always check the terms and conditions attached to the policy before you buy. Factor in how long you are going for, where you are going and what you will be doing on holidays. For instance, for non-standard holidays that involve risk, such as diving, you will need specialist cover. Look out for any exclusions attached to your policy. For instance, you may find that some don’t cover damages to mobile phones or lost luggage and check what excess you have to pay if you end up having to make a claim. If you have home insurance with ‘all risks’ cover you may find that you are covered for loss of belongings when away from home. You should also know that if you are an Irish resident you are entitled to get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Making a complaint: our travel guide will provide you with information on what rights you have if you find yourself in difficulty during your holiday and need to make a complaint such as, if your flight is cancelled or delayed or what your rights are if something goes wrong while on a package holiday.
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