Brits face ‘hidden’ holiday costs meaning families spend £1k MORE than they need

BRIT travellers face forking out £1k MORE than they need to on ‘hidden’ holiday fees, research claims.

Unforeseen holiday extras – such as luggage costs and seat reservation fees – can cost a family of four £1,083.

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A couple could fork out an extra £670, while someone travelling alone could end up paying £360 more, research from Admiral Travel Insurance found.

News of hidden costs comes amid weeks of airport chaos as easyJet airline reportedly plans to cut almost 10,000 flights.

The cancellations – which are likely to include flights to holiday hotspots like Greece and Spain – will take place during July, August and September.

Research found that before a flight even takes off, a family spends an average of £252 on extras.

These include a £67 fee for putting luggage in the hold, £78 for seat reservation, £63 on in-flight snacks and £46 for short-stay airport parking.

While these costs can be budgeted for, Admiral Travel Insurance found three-quarters of Brits don’t do their research.

More than half of those polled said they have resigned themselves to paying up for hidden costs when travelling.

Some 32 per cent of holidaymakers admitted that they were worried about the price of going on holiday.

Ways to cut costs include buying cheaper snacks and drinks in the airport and not on the plane, checking carry-on luggage dimensions and parking away from the airport.

Admiral Insurance Head of Travel Cosmin Sarbu told Wales Online: “For many of us, this is the first summer that a week in the sun feels within reach for a couple of years, so it’s easy to forget just how much those hidden extras add to the overall cost of your holiday.”

He added: “The cost of things like seat upgrades and airport parking really bump up the price of going away, so that’s why it’s important to make sure you have travel cover before you go.”

Research earlier revealed that sky-high cashpoint fees and hidden data roaming charges are the top ways Brits get stung financially on holiday.

A poll of 2,000 adults who have been abroad found more than half (53 per cent) were surprised with money matters overseas.

Another 28 per cent have had an unexpected holiday fee hit them in the pocket while they were staycationing in the UK.

And in total, 45 per cent of respondents are “dreading” the reintroduction of roaming charges for holidaymakers in EU countries.

If you’re planning to unwind in your hot tub instead of going abroad, watch out for the four hidden costs that could add hundreds to your bills.