Holiday cash runs out with two days to go

The average British holidaymaker runs out of cash five days into their seven-day break, according to research.

A study of 2,750 people showed 70 per cent blow the £621.91 they have spent five months saving two days before they are due to fly home. And one third rack up a further £218.70 on credit cards as they struggle to afford the final two days. Meals out, excessive drinking and day trips are usually to blame.

A fifth of Britons have even returned from a holiday earlier than planned because they ran out of cash.

Victoria Sanders, of Teletext Holidays, which conducted the study, said: “Caution with money often goes out the window the minute people step foot on foreign soil. The attitude seems to be that they will worry about paying the bill when they get back into the UK. It’s important that people look at the total cost of their holiday at the time of booking and consider what’s included and what’s not if they want to avoid a big credit card bill to welcome them home.”

The survey shows while many people prefer to put everything on the credit card for the last two days of the holiday, a further 36 per cent withdraw cash to the tune of £227.83. One in ten people will even borrow money from family members or friends they are travelling with.

Other reasons people overspend on holiday include wanting to splash out on duty free products such as perfume, cigarettes and make-up, as well as the cost of getting around on public transport abroad. Holiday memorabilia also costs more than people expect as they spend on gifts for themselves and loved ones back home.

The average Briton always spends more than anticipated on clothing, sports activities and cheap designer accessories.

The poll shows 25 per cent of Britons always ends up spending more money than planned on souvenirs. And 47 per cent of people claim their holidays are always more expensive that they expect them to be.