Press & PR

With Easter less than a week away, many people will be heading to the continent in a bid to get away from the UK for a few days - but they could return with a larger hole in their pocket than anticipated.

According to Nationwide, vacation budgeting should not stop with choosing the right holiday provider - it is equally important to consider what payment methods to adopt overseas.

This is because many credit card providers levy costly fees for purchases outside the UK. The building society believes that UK holidaymakers were subject to £650 million in foreign currency loading fees last year as lenders cash in on the holiday season.

Jeremy Wood, divisional director at Nationwide, said: "Returning from your Easter break to find charges for using your card abroad is enough to drive anyone hopping mad.

"People who are planning to go abroad this Easter should be aware of the hidden charges that most card providers impose, which are both costly and unnecessary."

Price comparison site moneysupermarket.com has also urged consumers to seek out the best deals to avoid "hefty transaction charges".

Consumers concerned that they are not getting a good deal from their expensive service providers might like to consider reviewing their telecoms firm and investigate the advantages of voice over internet protocol (VoIP) communications.

Vonage is committed to providing customers with a hassle-free service, with the V-Plan 1 package available for just £5.99 a month.