Enjoy your time in the sun with our handy holiday tips

Bill Tyson picked up a few extra tips to help you avoid the pitfalls that’ll cost you a packet while abroad.

All set for your summer holiday?

Your bags are packed. And you’ve remembered the suncream, passports, money, sandals, swimming togs and that silly straw hat you only wear once a year.

But even if you think you’ve got all the essentials sorted - there are a few more pitfalls to watch out for.

Knowing  some of them might save you a packet – or just avoid annoying hassle and delay.

And one or two of our 10 holiday tips could even save your dream break from turning into a holiday from hell.

Liquid assets

How often have we bought bottled water only to have to throw it away when we get to airport security? Why not just bring an empty water container and fill it up as you like for free? “We have 27 Drinking Water Stations across both terminals, giving you free and clean water before and after security,” Dublin Airport tells us. 

Jabs Jeopardy

Not declaring illnesses or treatments that you are undergoing could invalidate your holiday insurance.

We’ve warned about this before. But a new peril has emerged that could invalidate your insurance – weight loss jabs.

The drugs are classified as treatment, even if you buy them online and are not prescribed them by your GP.

“If people are taking prescribed medication by a Doctor, then they may need to declare it to us depending on if they have a valid private health insurance policy or not,” says Jason Whelan, head of Ireland’s biggest travel insurance group  Cover-More Blue Insurance Services (formerly Blue Insurance). 

“The sales process includes all the relevant questions and notices,” he says. “Weight Loss medication, once prescribed by a doctor would be treated the same and the underlying condition and medication should be declared.” However, trh

How close are relatives

The need to declare serious conditions applies not only to yourself – but to everyone you’re travelling with and even close relatives.

If, for example,  you’ve a very sick auntie who could take a turn for the worse, leading you to cancel your holiday, the insurer will want to know about it.

Cover-More Blue Insurance policies define a close relative as follows:  mother, father, sister, brother, wife, husband, daughter, son, grandparent, grandchild, parent-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in- law, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, stepparent, stepchild, stepsister, stepbrother, foster child, legal guardian, next of kin, fiancé/fiancée, or partner (in a common law relationship or

who have co-habited for at least 6 months).

Priority can pay off

Paying extra for ‘priority booking’ means you can skip the queue at check in – but it also allows you to bring two cabin bags per person (a small personal bag and a 10kg bag).

And squeezing your holiday gear into two smallish bags could save money, time and hassle. You’ll have less to lug around and won’t have to wait for luggage to emerge from the hold – or even risk having it lost, damaged or delayed. According to Ryanair, priority booking “typically costs between €6 and €36 when purchased during the initial booking. The price can increase to €60 if added later.” 

I used this option on holidays last month and paid €35 for the priority privilege – presumably because it’s peak season. That’s per person per flight. A bag in the hold (albeit a bigger one up to 20kg) will set you back up to €50 per flight. One small cabin bag (40cm x 20cm x 25cm), can be brought for free.

Buffet breakfasts can go a long way

Hotels provide big breakfasts as part of your deal  - but not lunch.

So why not grab some grub from the buffet for use later in the day, when a packed lunch makes sense at the beach or on sightseeing trips?

One influencer caused a furore recently by advising hotel guests to arm themselves with a collapsible container and a washable sandwich bag to store in their room fridges.

But all you need is a small travel or laptop bag into which you can discreetly pop handy things like fruit, pastries and DIY sandwiches wrapped in a napkin.

Cancel summer gym membership

Gym members can be pricey. Mine at the Westwood group costs €67 a month, for example. But like many chains ,they allow me to take off two or three months off and only pay €10 as an admin fee. This can work well for me in the summer when I swim in the sea and am away on holidays – potentially saving €171.

Roamin’ holidays

Outside the EU, phone charges can really rack up as low roaming rates don’t apply. So “consider buying a local SIM card and using this instead. This may also improve coverage, which seems to get exceptionally poor when abroad.(I always wondered do local providers put tourists to the back of the data quality queue?)

“If you don ‘t get a new SIM, consider signing up to a roaming package with your Irish provider before you head off,” advises Daragh Cassidy of comparison site Bonkers.ie.  

“Try to call or send messages over WhatsApp using Wi-Fi to avoid racking up nasty charges. And remember, you’ll be charged for receiving calls as well as making them outside the EU. So don’t answer the phone unless it’s urgent.” 

“And download shows, movies, music and podcasts while you’re still in Ireland so you can enjoy entertainment even when offline.” 

Book as a group

Travel insurer Justcover.ie advises travellers to save money by sharing costs and booking everything they can as a group.

“Look for group discounts on booking platforms or go directly to the property owner. Just make sure to check location and transport links so you’re not saving money but stuck miles from where you want to be,” Justcover.ie advises.

“Hiring a car or minibus can be far more affordable than multiple taxis or train tickets, especially if you’re exploring off the beaten track.

“If you're staying local, splitting the cost of airport transfers, car hire, or even a minibus for day trips can work out much cheaper than everyone booking separately.”

Less salty savings

Airline food is not only pricey and tasteless – it’s also downright unhealthy.

Cabin pressure means we lose around 30 per cent of our ability to taste food. So catering firms pack in salt to give it some flavour at 40,000 feet.

So you can save yourself a packet and do your health a favour at the same time by packing your own snacks and sandwiches.

Avoid check in woes

Checking in has become so problematic that Aer Lingus is now advising customers by text to use its "Evening Before” bag-check service at Dublin and Cork, “to avoid queues, congestion and save time" at the airports.

The service allows customers booked on early flights (between 5.30am and 8.00am) to drop off their bags the day before between 5pm and 9.30pm. 

There is no fee. One passenger can drop all bags for a party, but if doing so they should bring travel documentation for all passengers.