SUN, SEA... AND SAVING MONEY

How to get the best deal on holiday money and currency deals

Holidaymakers who leave getting their cash until the last minute at the airport are paying over the odds

HOLIDAYMAKERS who leave sorting out travel money until the last minute are often ripped off.

Getting your cash at the airport means you could be offered as little as  €0.88 for £1.

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If you're heading abroad then it's pays to sort out your money in advanceCredit: Alamy

This is because airport bureaus often offer lower rates than if you order online or arrange to pick it up.

The pound has also suffered in the last year against most of the world's major currencies.

After the referendum to leave the EU, sterling fell by around 15 per cent against the dollar and 12 per cent against the euro.

It means that holidaymakers will get significantly less for their money than previous years.

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But with a bit of forward plannning it is possible to make your cash go further.

From getting the best deal on your cash, to making sure you're prepared with the right credit or debit card, we explain how to get more bang for your buck:

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How to get the best rate on currency

When buying currency, the best rates won’t necessarily come from your bank or even the or .

Use comparison tools like to compare pick-up and pre-order rates.

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or , for example.

To make this work you must ALWAYS pass off the balance in full, otherwise you’ll pay interest on your spending.

To find out which cards you’re most likely to get accepted for, use a soft search on your credit file, like , so that it doesn’t leave a mark.

Why is pays to pay in the local currency

HOLIDAYMAKERS are often given the choice between paying in pounds or euros when using a debit or credit card in Europe, either for withdrawing cash or in shops and restaurants.

That’s because when you choose to pay in euros your bank or credit card company work out the currency conversion for you.

If you opt to pay in the pound then this calculation, known as the dynamic currency exchange, is left up to the foreign bank, shop or restaurants bank.

Earlier this year, we reported on how Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, was reminding readers to always pay in the local currency if they are given the option.

If you’re heading off on holiday soon then double-check the fees on your current debit or credit card to avoid getting stung.

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