CASH OUT The bank card mistake Brits make abroad that is making your holiday more expensive

TRAVELLERS could be losing a collective £845million in fees from using their bank card abroad.

A study, of 2,000 holidaymakers, found 45 per cent incurred charges for using their bank card outside of the UK in the last 12 months, with the average annual bill coming in at £21.79 each.

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Your bank card could be making your holiday more expensiveCredit: SWNS

With ONS figures showing 86.2million visits abroad were made by UK residents last year, it means travellers collectively are throwing away hard earned cash for nothing.

The survey, commissioned by Post Office Travel to mark the launch of its Travel Money Card across all 11,500 branches nationwide, found 36 per cent of people have no idea what charges are associated with the debit or credit card they use when away.

And 47 per cent weren’t aware they could be charged while spending on a credit card in local currency, signalling a need for the nation to become savvier about how to pay abroad.

The research also revealed the top three holiday experiences travellers say they can’t usually afford.It found one in 10 can’t afford whale or dolphin watching, 11 per cent are unable to buy a sea-view room and 10 per cent wouldn’t be able to upgrade flights.

Avoiding unexpected card fees means travellers would have additional budget to put towards these experiences and enhance their holiday adventures.

Laura Plunkett, head of Post Office Travel, said: “Our research has not only shown a lack of awareness around bank card fees abroad, but that 21 per cent of people also go over their holiday budgets, which means it’s really important to be aware of any hidden charges that could be adding to that cost.

“While it is possible to pay with your bank card on holiday - lots of banks will charge a fee for every single transaction, which can really add up. Card fees can be avoided by using a pre-paid travel card.“But it’s not just card fees to consider, exchange rates can also vary daily and also between banks, so if you pay as you go on a bank card, you can never be sure you’re getting the best deal for your holiday money