Tourists going on ‘bargain’ all-inclusive holidays this half term will actually spend more than £700 on hidden extras, new research revealed.
Thousands of holidaymakers have snapped up all all-you-can-eat and drink breaks as they look to escape the chilly British weather.
But while many think they have bagged a bargain they will spend spend £717 on hidden extras, a survey carried out by Cruise118.com has revealed.
Holidaymakers are failing to take into account the amount of money spent on luggage costs, food, drink, sunbeds, excursions, car hire and entertainment.
It means that the apparently cut-price deal could actually lead to cash-strapped families spending more than the average month’s rent or mortgage payment.
Figures have revealed that, despite meals being included in bargain all-inclusive deals, 67 per cent of our expenditure still goes on food and drinks.
The figures come after the Post Office revealed last week that more than three-quarters of travellers ended up paying for things that they assumed were covered in their bargain package holiday.
Now James Cole, from travel company Cruise118, has said that Brits should do their research before booking a holiday.
Mr Cole said: “Package holidays often come at a discount price because they are sold in high volumes, but holidaymakers don’t realise that their budget could rocket in order to cover the cost of their time on holiday.
“These costs can soon add up, and it’s easy to feel out of pocket by the time you come home, which can easily then set you back for the rest of the year.
“If you want a great holiday without paying over the odds, spend some time researching a range of options to suit you and your family’s needs and carefully check out the terms and conditions to ensure that you know exactly what’s being paid for up front.”
But one form of package holiday that has seen a peak in popularity over the last year is cruise holidays.
In 2012 more than 1.5 million Brits booked a cruise holiday to visit multiple destinations in one trip and enjoy all inclusive packages including food, drinks and entertainment.
Mr Cole added: “A cruise holiday is much more affordable than people think and you tend to pay one price up front for most expenses which means it’s a lot easier to manage your budget.
“Many ships also have great features such as swimming pools, rock-climbing walls, ice-skating rinks and even surf simulators.
“It’s a relaxing environment where you can enjoy an all-inclusive break with no unexpected costs.”
