Over 80% of Irish Holidaymakers Hit by Unexpected Costs on Trips

New figures show 86% of Irish holidaymakers have been caught out by at least one of a long list of unexpected costs on their trip.

The survey of 1,000 people from travel insurance provider Multitrip.com, which was carried out by Opinium shows that when it comes to unexpected costs:

• 31% noted tourist taxes / extra hotel fees

• 25% faced unexpected airport parking / transfer costs

• 24% cited unexpected costs around baggage booking fees for flights

• 24% said they’d been caught out by costs associated with currency exchange rates

• 24% also mentioned they’d faced unexpected costs around Wifi or data roaming

• 22% said tipping or local service charges 

• 20% were caught out by overseas card fees

• 15% faced additional costs due to flight / transport delays

• 13% cost of medical treatment or prescriptions abroad

• 12% replacing lost items or clothing 

Most people plan their holiday budget around big-ticket items such as flights, accommodation, and spending money. But it’s often the smaller, easy-to-miss costs that can catch travellers out.  

City Taxes: Tourist taxes can vary significantly between countries, regions and individual cities. Check local requirements before you travel and build it into your budget. For example, about 95% of the municipalities in Germany use a fixed rate per person per night and runs at a cost of 7.5% in Berlin.²

Tipping can also add up:  Expectations vary widely between destinations - across much of Europe, rounding up the bill, or leaving 5-10% for good service is considered fine, and far less than the standard expected in the US (20-25%).³ Always check if a service charge has already been added before tipping.

Airport car parking costs: Charges for parking at the airport will vary depending on the length of your stay but can easily be forgotten when factoring in holiday costs. Pre-booking online is typically cheaper at Dublin airport and online rates may vary depending on dates, times, and how far out you’re booking. Without pre-booking, the flat rates are €4.00 for the first hour, €6.00 for each additional hour (or part thereof) and €50.00 maximum daily rate in the Short-Term Car Parks while the Express Red Long-Term Car Park is €25.00 per day and the Holiday Blue is €20.00 per day.⁴

Jason Whelan, MD of Multitrip.com, said: “Many of the smaller, unexpected costs of travelling, from tips to hotel charges, can be planned for in advance and added to your budget, helping you avoid unpleasant surprises. Yet there’s always the chance of accidents and unforeseen events that are simply outside your control. That’s where travel insurance plays a key role. 

"The cost of travel insurance doesn’t get any cheaper if you leave it to the last minute, so there’s really no benefit to delaying, in fact you are missing out on essential protection. Travel insurance is too important to be an afterthought. At Multitrip.com annual travel insurance policies start at just €19.95⁵. It really is a small price to pay for year-round peace of mind.’’