Confessions of cost conscious holidaymakers

Brits are resorting to an armoury of money-saving tricks Sneaking food from the breakfast bar to have for lunch, not tipping, fibbing about their child’s age and using the swimming pool at a better hotel without their permission are some of the top holiday money-saving tricks Brits have confessed to in a new survey.
The survey was commissioned by foreign exchange and prepaid currency card provider ICE International Currency Exchange to mark the launch of the ICE Travellers Cashcard (ITC), a fee free prepaid currency card in Euros and US Dollars with 1 percent cashback on all purchases and a free emergency card if the first is lost or stolen.
The survey of 2000 people across the UK found that 38 percent of us have squirrelled away food from breakfast rather than pay for lunch. But more shockingly, 32 percent save money by not leaving a tip at bars and restaurants. Furthermore, 11 percent have lied about their child’s age to pay less for admission at a theme park and the same number said they had taken advantage of the facilities at a nearby resort, acting as one of the guests, without seeking permission.
With 63 percent saying they felt put off going on holiday because of the cost and £617 as the average amount of spending money people would allocate for a week’s family holiday, Brits are resorting to an armoury of money-saving tricks to make their money go further.
In addition to revealing the top cost saving confessions on holiday, ICE asked how people save before going away. The top money saving tactic used by 62 percent of respondents was to buy their currency in advance, 42 percent fly no frills and 36 percent avoid parking at the airport. And rather than book car hire as part of the holiday, 32 percent rely on local transport to save costs.
Tom Johnson, Head of ICE Plc Online Business said: “We can understand how holidaymakers often feel entitled to the food from the breakfast bar – we seem to be relaxing our British reserve as far as this cost saving trick is concerned but it was shocking to find out that tips are falling by the wayside in a bid to save money.\"
\"However, it’s encouraging to see that buying currency in advance is voted as the top money-saving trick before you leave home. This can be done online, in branch or via a prepaid card such as the new fee free ICE Travellers Cashcard. This allows travellers to lock in the rate to offer some budgeting certainty with the benefit of greater security than carrying cash.\"