HOLIDAMAKERS have revealed some of the most expensive things they’ve bought by accident – in another country.
A poll of 2,000 travellers found one had mistakenly stumped up £30 for a single glass of in Rome, while another bought a t-shirt for £80 that they thought was £10.
Three in 10 felt they have often paid more for something on holiday because they were a tourist.
Other shocking expenses accidentally incurred by respondents included a single shot of whiskey ending up at £48.
While someone else forked out £25 for a taxi ride in – only to find themselves arriving at their destination after less than a mile.
The research, carried out by , showed travellers often suffer with currency confusion, as a fifth (21 per cent) admitted to getting confused about how much money is worth ‘in pounds’ when they go away.
Which leads to a quarter (26 per cent) paying more than expected for something.
Six in 10 correctly knew £5 sterling would get them between $6-$7 in the US, the remaining 40 per cent were clueless, with a quarter (24 per cent) of them guessing they’d get less than $6.
Probably the most common conversion for Brits – euros – also confused respondents, with almost a third (32 per cent) not knowing what £5 would get them.
Instead of the correct answer of €5-€6, 17 per cent thought it would be less than €5 and 13 per cent thought it would be as high as €8.
With nearly four in 10 (39 per cent) attempting to work out local currency rates in their own heads, it’s no wonder things can go wrong.
While just over one in 20 (six per cent) will ask somebody nearby and then take their word for it, according to theOnePoll.comfigures.
Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at Post Office, which commissioned the research to raise awareness of its Travel Money Card said: “Our research reveals many travellers overestimate their ability to mentally convert currencies on the go, and that can lead to overspending.
“We wanted to highlight how easily confusion around exchange rates can impact holiday budgets – no one wants to waste time abroad worrying about money.
“It’s surprising that only 19 per cent of travellers use a prepaid travel card for their spending abroad when it can allow travellers to lock in a good rate before travelling.”;
The study found respondents are taking measures to stop them accidentally spending a fortune on holiday keepsakes – with 17 per cent relying on currency conversion .
And when it comes to money safety, they are taking measures to keep their money more secure while travelling – with 49 per cent using a separate card which is not linked to their main bank account for spending abroad – keeping their ‘main funds’ safe from fraudsters or thieves.
Laura Plunkett for Post Office, which has a Travel App which allows holidaymakers to check exchange rates and track spending in real time, added: “Nothing disrupts a holiday like a financial mishap. Keeping your travel money separate from your main account is a smart move to give you greater control, clearer visibility of what you’re spending, and an extra layer of protection – and something 96 per cent of respondents agreed was important.
“Whether you’re budgeting carefully or just want to avoid mixing travel purchases with everyday costs, this small step can make a big difference to your trip.”;
