Most people plan their holiday budget around big-ticket items such as flights, accommodation and spending money. But new research1 suggests it is the smaller, easy-to-miss costs that can catch travellers out.
Two-thirds (66%)1 of UK adults who holiday abroad at least once a year say they have been hit by unexpected expenses while travelling, according to research by Opinium for travel insurance provider Multitrip.com.
The most common unexpected costs were paying for Wi-Fi or data roaming, tourist taxes and additional hotel fees, and currency exchange rate fluctuations or charges, with each catching out one in five (20%) holidaymakers.
Other frequently cited expenses included airline seat reservation fees (17%), tipping and local service charges (15%), local transport costs such as buses, trains and taxis (15%), overseas card transaction fees (15%), airport parking or transfers (14%) and airline baggage fees (14%).
Christian Bennett at Multitrip.com said: "Holiday costs don't stop at flights and accommodation. A few minutes of research before you travel such as checking local taxes, baggage fees, card charges and parking costs can make budgeting easier and avoid unwanted surprises."
Six costs worth factoring in before you go on holiday
Tourist taxes are becoming more common across Europe - tourist taxes2 can vary significantly between countries, regions and individual cities. Check local requirements before you travel and build it into your budget.
A new EU travel charge is coming - From late 2026, UK travellers will need an ETIAS travel authorisation3 to visit most of Europe. This is not a visa, but a mandatory online permit costing €20 (around £17). It covers multiple trips over three years and is free for under‑18s and over‑70s. No firm launch date has been confirmed, but it's expected in the final quarter of 2026. Only buy it through the official EU site.
Know local tipping customs - Tipping expectations4 can 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%). Always check if a service charge has already been added before tipping.
Watch out for card charges which are easy to overlook but can add up quickly. Many UK banks charge foreign transaction fees when you use a debit or credit card abroad. Where possible, pay in the local currency rather than a sterling conversion. A fee‑free travel card or specialist debit card can help avoid these charges altogether.
Don't forget airport costs - parking, transfers and early-morning transport are often forgotten when budgeting but can vary considerably depending on the airport and length of trip. Similarly, if you’re hiring a car, factor in rental charges, car hire excess insurance, fuel and any drop‑off fees, as these can significantly increase the overall cost of your journey.
Budget beyond the headline fare – Baggage and seat fees can quickly increase the cost of a flight beyond the headline price. Factor in seat selection and any checked baggage costs before comparing prices, rather than booking on the lead‑in price alone.
Christian Bennett added: "Some of these travel costs can be planned for, but others occur unexpectedly when things go wrong. Medical treatment abroad can be expensive, particularly outside Europe, but even in Europe medical claims can regularly exceed £1,000.
"Travel insurance provides a financial safety net for medical emergencies, cancellation, lost baggage and travel disruption, and it’s always worth arranging cover as soon as a trip is booked so cancellation protection is in place from day one."
Multitrip.com offers a range of policies to suit different needs and budgets. To get an instant quote, visit www.multitrip.com
Have a read of our recent articles to find out more about travel trends, and tips on saving money whilst travelling.
Sources
1 Opinium online survey conducted with 2,000 nationally representative UK adults from 24-27 Feb 2026, of which over 1,016 holiday abroad at least once a year.
2 Tourist taxes in 2026: Spain, Greece, Portugal fees - Which?
3 European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) - ETIAS
4 Tipping in Europe by Rick Steves
