A Which? travel expert has explained why you should always have your phone nearby when you’re booking a holiday
Most people have a checklist of items they’ll gather before booking a holiday, such as a calendar, a credit card, and a laptop. However, holidaymakers should also make sure they have a phone to hand when searching for deals.
A travel expert has revealed people should never book a holiday without a phone nearby or risk paying more than they need to. The tip was shared on TikTok by a Which? travel expert in a video on the consumer champion’s TikTok page.
In the Which? video, the expert said: “I would never book a hotel on a computer without checking the price on my mobile phone first.” She explained: “We slashed £270 off the price of an apartment in Amsterdam on Booking.com, and we saved almost £100 on a weekend in Florence with Expedia, just by booking a mobile exclusive.”
As such, it could pay off to check for deals using a phone before hitting checkout on a laptop. It wasn’t the only tip the expert shared to benefit holidaymakers. She also said she would never book a flight with an online travel agent without checking the cost with the airline first.
“Although online travel agents appear to be cheaper, they tend to whack up the prices of extras, such as bags and seats,” she reasoned. “If you need those, it might be cheaper just to go with the airline directly.”
Additionally, when making your booking, the expert said not to pay to sit with travel companions when flying with Jet2 or BA. She told viewers: “Jet2 and BA told us that they’ll always try to seat groups together where possible, but Wizz Air and Ryanair are more likely to split you up unless you pay to sit together.”
According to the pro, booking car hire excess insurance with the hire company is another common mistake. Instead, she recommended booking with a third party before you go, which should work out cheaper.
Similarly, she advises against changing money at the airport as the exchange rates are “notoriously terrible.” As such, it pays off to be prepared and change money before departure.
When changing money, Which? recommends shopping around. Advice on the Which? website says: “Not all bureaux de change will use the same money exchange rates or charging structures. Some impose a fee when you buy foreign currency, while others don’t – so you must consider the total cost of changing your cash before handing it over.
“This is simpler than it sounds; just ask exactly how much foreign currency you will get from each outlet in return for the pounds sterling you are seeking to exchange.
“It’s worth comparing the deals on offer from several companies before changing your money, and you may also want to steer clear of high street banks. Which? research shows banks typically fail to offer the best exchange rates and may only offer currency exchange services to existing customers.”