Holidays can be an expensive business, with accommodation, flights, and luggage all adding to the cost – so it’s vital to save money wherever you can
If you’re jetting off on holiday this year, the chances are you’ll want everything to go without a hitch. Foreign trips can be costly, with hotels, flights, and baggage all bumping up the price – so it’s crucial to cut costs wherever possible.
Travel experts say carrying out one quick task the moment you touch down could save you a lot of hassle. It takes just minutes and involves conducting a rapid Google search on your phone.
According to luxury transfer firm SCS Chauffeurs, there’s a straightforward trick to dodge being ripped off by searching for ‘Bank ATM’ on Google Maps once you arrive – and steering clear of standalone machines in airports, reports the Express.
For Brits, taking cash from overseas ATMs could be costing hundreds during a fortnight’s getaway.
Private cash machines can slap on charges of up to €10 for withdrawals, so taking money out twice daily for 14 days could set you back nearly €200 – and that’s before percentage conversion rate fees.
Hadleigh Diamond, Commercial Director at SCS Chauffeurs, said: “We see it all the time. People land, head straight to the first ATM they see, and get charged eye-watering fees without realising it.
“Searching ‘Bank ATM’ on Google Maps takes seconds – and it could save you £20 on your very first withdrawal.”
Why are bank ATMs cheaper?
Cash dispensers in airport and city-centre locations are more likely to be run by third-party operators, not actual banks, resulting in steeper charges and poorer rates.
Lots of machines provide “conversion to GBP” – known as Dynamic Currency Conversion – which frequently employs unfavourable exchange rates and incorporates concealed charges.
This straightforward search will usually find machines within or next to established banks such as Santander, ING, or HSBC.
These generally use more reasonable interbank rates, reduced charges, and don’t automatically convert your currency, whilst also frequently featuring CCTV and secure cash machines away from curious onlookers.
Hadleigh continued: “Travellers often overprepare for airport delays, baggage issues and flight changes but forget about something as simple as where they withdraw their money. This is an easy win – and one of the first things we recommend before a trip.”