MILLIONS of holidaymakers could save some money as new rules on roaming charges have been announced.

Ofcom has confirmed that from October 1, 2024, network operators must provide clear information to users abroad, including roaming charges and spending limits.

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They will have to tell users when they start roaming, including any ‘fair use’ or time restrictions that may apply.

‘Fair use’ determines how much of your UK data allowance you can use while roaming in Europe.

The watchdog said users should be informed how to set a spending limit and where to get help if they are unsure about roaming charges.

Before Brexit, you could use your existing calling, data and texting rates for free in Europe.

But Ofcom found that one in five (19%) holidaymakers are still unaware that they could face extra charges if they use their phone abroad.

A similar percentage (18%) say they do not research roaming costs before traveling.

Sue Davies, head of consumer protection policy at Which?, says these changes could help prevent people from being hit with high mobile bills they didn’t expect.

She said: “The new rules fall short because they do not suggest that providers should provide compensation to UK residents who accidentally fall foul of roaming charges, and they do not outline what this would look like.

“When Britain negotiates future trade deals, it must seize the opportunity to reduce the cost of roaming for consumers traveling around the world.

“The UK and EU must also reach an agreement on roaming charges so that people do not have to deal with excessive bills from providers.”

Cristina Luna-Esteban, Ofcom’s director of telecoms consumer policy, said: “The last thing holidaymakers want when returning from a trip abroad is an unexpected mobile phone bill.

“Currently, some customers are not receiving clear information from their carrier to help them manage their mobile usage and plan their spending.

“Our new protections ensure that you are told what it will cost when you start roaming, so you can be confident that you will not be faced with any surprises when it comes to your mobile bill while on holiday.”

ROAMING IN EUROPE

Those traveling with EE, Three, Vodafone, Sky and Voxi face varying charges.

This is what you have to pay when you roam abroad:

• EE: £2.29 per day for contract customers, or if you have an Inclusive Extras plan you can buy a Roam Abroad Pass for £25 per month. £2.50 per day, or £10 for seven days, if you pay as you go. 50 GB “fair use” limit.

• Three: £2 per day for contract customers, no charge for pay-as-you-go. You can buy a Data Passport for £5 for unlimited data in 89 countries. 12 GB “fair use” limit.

• Vodafone: £2.25 per day, or buy a European roaming pass for £10 for 8 days or £15 for 15 days, if you are a contract customer. From £7 for eight days if you pay as you go. 25 GB “fair use” limit.

• Sky: £2 per day. No ‘fair use’ limit.

• Voxi: £2.25 per day for one day, £4 for two days, £10 for eight days or £15 for 15 days. 20 GB “fair use” limit.

O2 customers don’t have to worry about this as the company prides itself on being the only major mobile operator not to reintroduce roaming charges in Europe.

An O2 spokesperson said: “[We are] We save our customers money and offer them incredible value when they travel to the most popular vacation destinations.

“Our customers benefit from using their calls, texts and data as they would at home when they are in Europe, up to 25 GB, and wherever our customers go, we send them a text message when they arrive at their destination , where we explain any data limits and charges that may apply.”

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“That’s how the week went downhill.”

So begins a holidaymaker’s hilariously ‘honest’ video review of a family stay at Center Parcs, which has gone viral on his Instagram account (@alexdodman), with over 114,000 likes and over 7,700 comments.

In the clip, Alex Dodman dryly explains the cost of all the activities he paid for and what he thought of them in terms of value for money.

And it’s not good news for Center Parcs, as Alex adds before revealing everything: ‘Stupidly enough, we have a lot booked to do.’

Alex, from Saffron Walden, Essex, visited the Woburn Forest Resort in Bedfordshire last month with his partner and two children. He starts his review by showing the ‘fantastic date selection tool’ from the Center Parcs website.

He claims, “You can find out what it is school holidays for children when it [the price] jumps up with a grand. This way you know it’s time to book that magical family outing.’

He then checks into his “ridiculously expensive shed,” before listing the many activities the family has enjoyed.

First up was karting.

In the video, Alex reveals a “small concrete track” and go-karts that “use your own energy.”

He sarcastically notes: ‘For the four of us it was only £41 for 20 minutes.’

Next on the list was football pool.

Alex reveals a giant pool table on the floor with footballs on it and says, “Yeah, don’t bother with kids. [It was] €14.50 for half an hour.

Going through the next round of activities, Alex says: Cupcake Decorating for Kids, £27 for two children for 45 minutes. S***.

‘Kids mini jet skis, £25 for two for nine minutes at 9.30am. S***.”

Then just a ray of sunshine. He describes Center Parcs’ interactive squash, which costs £18 for 45 minutes, as ‘actually decent’ and says it ‘destroys the kids’.

Next in the montage is a game of badminton, for which he paid £18 for 45 minutes. Alex says it’s “not bad, just find a good partner.”

But then more disappointments. His images show a room full of interactive lighting and a giant toy owl, which turns out to be the resort’s ‘Winter Quest’ activity.

The verdict? ‘[I paid] €49 for 20 minutes. I repeat, €49. Absolutely damn it,” Alex says.

He was also let down by the resort’s mini-jeeps. If his two children drove the 4×4 for 20 minutes, he said it would cost £49. Reports, he says, “I don’t even know where to start.”

Alex then heads to Center Parcs’ Pottery Painting Studio, which he claims is ‘top notch’.

He says: ‘This has to be the biggest extortion racket in British history. At £18 to book for three, you’d think, ‘Yeah, not bad.’ But that’s just to get in.

‘Now they’ve got you, you’re in. Kids are buzzing. Time to buy some mass produced stuff to paint.

‘One mug, one train, one pot later, and I’ve lost 76 pounds.’

The total cost of the activities mentioned in Alex’s review is a whopping £335.50.

And “this isn’t even half of it,” he says.

Filming the resort’s supermarket revealing a jar of Dolmio’s Bolognese sauce worth £3.60, Alex says: ‘Food prices are high.’ He also claims there is a ‘dry robes pandemic’ as he films a stranger wearing a robe in a cafe at the resort.

Summarizing his week-long stay, he says, “Unless you can let your kids swim and cycle aimlessly all week. You’re f*****.’

His video sparked mixed reactions when posted on social media. Some Instagram users were quick to agree with Alex, with one describing Center Parcs as ‘daylight robbery’ and another wondering ‘why people pay so much attention to it’.

User ‘azizaramjane’ commented: ‘Finally someone said it! At this rate you might be able to add a few thousand more and go all-inclusive at a five-star resort with guaranteed sun.”

Others, however, jumped to defend Center Parcs. User ‘mikedinni’ wrote: ‘Tthanks for this review. The more people who think it’s too expensive, the better. Keeps it nice and quiet for me. It costs £420 for five days in March.’

User ‘raddygriffinwood’ added: ‘Or just cycle around and use the pool for free. Share a lodge with extended family and it’s a lot cheaper. Nobody forces you to book a bunch of activities.’

This year there will be a BIG change to hundreds of local shops and holidaymakers will be excited.

Shoppers planning a trip abroad can now collect their travel money at their local convenience store.

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It is the result of a collaboration between currency specialists Eurochange and PayPoint.

The change will be rolled out in 500 stores in the coming year.

Customers can click and collect more than 50 types of foreign currencies for next day collection.

It means jetsetters can simply head to the nearest corner shop to collect their holiday money, rather than having to go to a supermarket or post office.

This essentially saves them time and money from having to order the cash online and then potentially travel further to pick it up.

David Warwick, commercial director at Eurochange, said: “We are delighted to be working with PayPoint.

“Consumers traveling can now order and collect their foreign currency while picking up groceries or the morning newspaper.”

It’s also good news for retailers as they receive the cash pre-packaged and ready to use.

David added: “It will also be a very convenient service for shops. Retailers will receive pre-packed foreign currency instead of having to count it at the counter.”

Each store also offers competitive rates, potentially saving customers money.

“Fares will be competitive and the service will be supported by a special Eurochange customer competition, where people who order travel money from the store can ‘win their travel money back’ up to the value of £300,” David explained.

Although it is of course important to always shop around.

Compare travel money companies as they will show you how to get the best rates and any fees you may have to pay.

You can use comparison websites such as MoneySavingExpert Travel moneyMaxwhere you can compare pick-up and pre-order rates.

Anthony Sappor, director of retail propositions and partnerships at PayPoint, said: “Joining forces with Eurochange fits perfectly with our long-standing commitment to diversify our service offering and create new earning opportunities for our retail partners.

“There are now a growing number of essential community services offered through our platform and we look forward to expanding this further over the next twelve months.”

On the PayPoint website you can find the nearest PayPoint store that offers Eurochange.

Shoppers can collect from PayPoint seven days a week, early to late, although opening hours vary.

How else can I save money on vacation?

Buy ahead

Buying foreign currency before your trip gives you time to search for the best rates.

An important thing to avoid is buying cash at the airport on the day as exchange rates can be around 20% higher than normal.

So make sure you don’t have to run to the currency counter at your airport at the last minute.

Avoid using your credit card

If you use your credit card to purchase travel money, you will likely be charged cash withdrawal fees that increase costs even further.

If you don’t pay the bill monthly, you may also be charged higher interest.

And if possible, try not to use your credit card abroad, as you’re unlikely to get the best exchange rate unless you have one that offers good rates on foreign travel.

If you plan to use your credit card abroad, for example for a large purchase to get extra buyer protection under section 75, check the charges in the terms and conditions first to avoid any surprises later.

Maintain current rates

If you want to use a card instead of cash abroad because you are concerned about security, you can lock in the current rate by topping up a prepaid card.

If you would like to take advantage of the rates available when you travel, choose a debit card that offers good rates and no fees.

But make sure you read the T’s and C’s carefully as some come with high costs.

Do you have a money problem that needs to be solved? Get in touch by emailing money@the-sun.co.uk.

Moreover, you can join us Sun Money chats and tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories.

Holidaymakers booking popular all-inclusive holidays routinely spend hundreds of pounds extra on food and drink as tour operators fail to include the basics – including soft drinks and local alcoholic drinks – in the top price. Which? has found.

The Consumer Champion surveyed almost 2,000 holidaymakers about their experiences with all-inclusive holidays over the past two years, asking them to rate their provider on seven categories, including customer service, accommodation, how well the description matched reality, including benefits and where for your money.

At the top of the table was Which? Recommended provider Jet2holidays, with Lastminute.com at the bottom of the rankings.

Which? found that ‘many all-inclusive holidays are far from all-inclusive’, with survey respondents paying an average of £258 per week extra for extras both inside and outside the resort.

Which? said 13 percent of people in the survey reported having to pay extra for local soft drinks on their ‘all-inclusive’ holiday because they were not included in their package, while 18 percent said they had to pay extra for snacks.

Only 79 percent of respondents reported that local alcoholic beverages were included, and 43 percent of respondents reported that branded and premium alcohol was available at no extra cost. Two-thirds of holidaymakers (67 percent) felt cocktails were included in their package, and half (51 percent) could get a bottle of wine at no extra cost.

When the consumer champion looked at individual holiday companies, he found ‘even greater discrepancies between what was included and what was not’.

Those who booked through Expedia.com spent the most on extras on their all-inclusive, with an average reported spend of £165 per week in the hotel/resort and £228 outside. Which? revealed.

The consumer group said 44 percent of Expedia customers reported local alcoholic drinks were included, dropping to a quarter (25 percent) for branded alcohol.

Which? said even local soft drinks were missing, with 29 percent reporting paying extra for them.

According to Which? customers rated the company just two stars for the range and quality of extras included in the price, and were ‘far from impressed’ in other areas, with an overall customer score of 67 percent rating it ‘resolutely’ posted. in the bottom half of the table’.

Lastminute.com ranks lowest thanks to an overall customer score of 63 percent. Which? found customers spent an average of £128 in the resort and a further £238 away from it.

Only 39 percent of customers reported that local alcoholic drinks were included and 32 percent were able to access branded alcohol at no extra cost. Which? said this “may explain why its customers had some of the largest additional expenses.”

It scored three stars for value for money, and which ones? said it achieved ‘no higher than two stars in any of the remaining categories, including customer service, accommodation and included benefits’.

Which? said love holiday customers stayed close in average spend to those who booked with lastminute.com, spending a further £328 per week. Overall, the company took 14th place in the rankings with a ‘mediocre’ customer score of 69 percent.

The survey found that 24 percent paid extra for snacks and local alcoholic drinks at the resort, and 38 percent paid more for cocktails.

According to the consumer group, ‘some guests also faced unexpected hurdles when it came to food – one said ‘meals were served cold and you had to microwave them in the dining room”.

In the meantime, On the beach ‘did better’ with a customer score of 73 percent. Which? found customers “were more likely to report that basic necessities such as soft drinks and snacks were included.”

However, which one? said 29 percent of respondents had a problem during their holiday, with the company scoring just two stars for the overall organization of the holiday, and one customer described the food as ‘hit and miss’.

Which? Recommended provider Jet2holidays took first place thanks to an ‘impressive customer score of 82 percent’. It scored four stars for value for money, transport, organisation, how well the description matched reality and ‘crucial’ for customer service. Which? revealed.

Which? said respondents’ reviews were “glowing.” One customer told the provider ‘the package contained everything we needed and wanted’.

Most travelers found everything they expected. 86 percent reported that local alcoholic drinks were included and 78 percent found snacks available at no extra cost. Which? said.

In second place was ‘luxury operator’ Kuoni, with a customer score of 81 percent. Which? said it scored four stars in all but one category. The consumer group said: ‘Its three-star rating for value for money meant it was a coveted Which? Recommended Provider badge.

‘Nevertheless, customers were generally impressed with their holiday experiences, with several respondents praising the excellent customer service.’

Achieving the bronze medal was a tough task for the over-50s Saga, which scored four stars in every category – and was the only other company to win the Which? Recommended Provider badge.

Which? said: ‘One happy holidaymaker commented that the company ‘always delivers’, while another said the ‘attention to detail was excellent’.”

The consumer group found that 85 percent reported that local alcoholic drinks were included for free, while 72 percent reported that tours were included in their trip and 81 percent reported that entertainment was added.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: ‘As we approach peak booking season, this detailed research from Which?, the UK consumer champion, should act as a real guide for customers and independent travel agents wanting to know more about who they should confidence when it comes to booking those all-important holidays.

‘Across all our brands we are referred to as Which? Recommended supplier a whopping seven times, which is a truly fantastic reflection of the hard work we put into delivering industry-leading customer service.

“What makes this recognition special, besides our consistent success in every category, is the fact that it is based on the actual experiences of paying customers. Whatever type of holiday it is, this detailed and robust research from Which? shows that you are in the best hands when you book with Jet2.com and Jet2holidays.’

Lastminute.com said: ‘Customer satisfaction is our top priority, and we will follow up the findings of Which? to heart, but these should be taken with a grain of salt, given that it is comparing companies that offer different types of products. It is very important to realize that many of the questions in this survey are not relevant to the products and services that our company provides.’

Rory Boland, editor of what? Travel, said: ‘When budgets are tight, all-inclusive holidays are becoming increasingly popular, seemingly offering people a simple way to keep holiday costs under control, with food, accommodation and drinks all included in the price.

‘However, our latest research has revealed that some all-inclusive holidays are far from ‘all-in’, with some unhappy guests discovering that even basic items such as soft drinks are not included.

‘If you’re thinking of going all-inclusive for your next holiday, it’s worth taking the time to research what’s on offer. Check the terms and conditions carefully to see what’s included, and read reviews from other guests to make sure you won’t be left out of pocket.

For more from Which? and to view the survey in full, visit which.co.uk

Motorists have criticized a ‘terrible’ parking company near London Heathrow Airport – claiming they were never collected and subjected to a ‘nightmare’ service, thanks to ‘rude staff’ who returned their cars looking ‘dirty’.

Located just 650 meters from the airport’s northern runway, Deals4Parking.co.uk has a Trustpilot rating of just 1.3 stars from 179 reviews.

One customer claimed there was ‘mud all the way up to the doors’ of their vehicle; a second said she had to ‘listen to a bunch of liars’; and a third told how no one answered the phone for 45 minutes and they had to book with another company – with no refund.

The company works as a reservation agent for other parking operators and says on its website that it is not to blame if something goes wrong. ‘All liabilities relating to the parking of the vehicles lie with the parking service provider selected by the customer’.

On its website, Deals4Parking lists the names of seven parking operators it claims to work with: ‘Flyway ParkPro’, ‘Dolphine Meet & Greet’, ‘Premier Airport Parking’, ‘Smart Parking Heathrow’, ‘Air Parking’, ‘Parking Spot’ ‘ and ‘Aygo Park and Ride’.

** Have you had a bad experience with Deals4Parking.co.uk or another airport parking provider? Send your story and photos by email to tips@dailymail.com **

But none of these brands can be found independently from the Deals4Parking website, suggesting they could all be different names of a service run by the company.

Deals4Parking also gives each brand a customer rating of 4.8 to 4.9 out of 5 stars, but without any evidence of reviews – which is in stark contrast to the 1.3 on Trustpilot.

The website also lists eight days’ parking with each of these operators for between £70 and £82 – roughly the same as the one-day rate at Heathrow’s short-term car park, which is £83. And it claims to provide services for Terminal 1 – which closed in 2015.

The company also offers parking deals at five other airports – Birmingham, Gatwick, Manchester, Luton and Stansted – again under a similar variety of brands.

It adds: ‘Customers can choose meet and greet parking at Heathrow, long-term parking at Heathrow or on-site parking for short stays. Valet parking is also available.’

The company also says it is offering all customers a ‘pick and drop option from Heathrow car park to the terminal via a secure vehicle’.

Fine print on the company’s website reveals that Deals4Parking is in fact a trading name for a company called Falcon Parking Ltd, which is registered with Companies House.

The documents show that the director is Nabila Yasmeen, a 37-year-old Pakistani woman who took over in August from a 34-year-old British man named Mohammad Adil Mughal.

The company was established in 2018 and was based at an address of a chartered accountancy firm above a hardware store on Bath Road in Hounslow.

However, she subsequently changed her registered address when Ms Yasmeen moved into new premises on Sipson Road in Sipson, next to the airport.

A First Gazette notice for a mandatory strike was issued for Falcon Parking in October 2021, but was halted later that month.

A couple who flew to Ireland for a long weekend today told MailOnline they had booked a parking space through Deals4Parking branded ‘Smart Parking Heathrow’.

They spent £46 parking their Land Rover Discovery between 7am today and 7pm on Sunday – and were due to be collected by the company at 7am this morning.

Ultimately, however, the couple had to abandon their car because the parking company was already 40 minutes late – and quickly rebooked to another company.

They asked for a refund, but were told on the phone by Deals4Parking that they ‘do everything through a third party’ and that they ‘don’t operate that way’.

When the customer pointed out that “everyone works this way because it’s the law,” the company then accused them of threatening them and hung up.

The most recent review posted by Abi Hopkins on Trustpilot on October 27 was one star. She criticized the ‘poor service, rude staff and dirty car at pick-up’.

She said: ‘At first the arrival service seemed fine but was a little concerned that the driver I handed my car keys to didn’t appear to have any ID on him, which is what I expected to see.’

Mrs Hopkins said she tried to call when they arrived back in London but couldn’t reach the number as it kept cutting off. She eventually got through, but was “rudely told the car would be on its way in 30 minutes.”

She continued: ‘Eventually the car arrived with a very surly delivery man – my car was absolutely filthy. There was mud all the way up to the doors and when we asked where it was parked we got an attitude.

‘It turned out that the car was parked near a building site, which was clearly visible from the clay mud on the tires and on the sides of my car. It was not even acknowledged that the car had become dirty; the delivery man was a rude idiot.’

She urged others to ‘avoid at all costs’, saying: ‘everyone I spoke to was incredibly rude and spoken to as if they were doing me a favour’, adding: ‘I I’d rather walk to Heathrow dragging my suitcases behind me!’

Another reviewer on September 6, Ewen Grange, also gave it one star. He said: ‘Terrible experience! Called the mobile number where our car was to be picked up, no one answered the phone for 45 minutes.

‘I had to use an alternative parking company because I couldn’t wait any longer. They refused to refund our money! Terrible company! Do not use this company.’

And a third, Husein Ahmed, who also gave it one star, said on August 28: ‘Their drivers had an accident while driving my car and never fixed me or provided me with company insurance, even the police couldn’t get their insurance details follow or obtain. . Stay out.’

And Carolyn Cullen wrote on September 30: “If I couldn’t give stars I would. Avoid at all costs. Unless you like waiting for your car for an hour and a half and listening to a bunch of liars.”

Another writing in February read: ‘Absolute nightmare on departure, numerous calls were made to the number provided, they said it would take 15 minutes to collect our car and it ended up taking over an hour. Just made our flight! It was a little better on the way back, but I definitely wouldn’t use it again or recommend it.’

MailOnline has contacted Deals4Parking for comment.

The ‘about us’ section states: ‘We at Deals4Parking act as a bridge between the quality parking operators and the passengers, by bringing to the fore all the best offers and tailor-made services available.’

The terms and conditions also state: ‘Deals4Parking provides the parking services as a booking agent, therefore all liabilities relating to the parking of the vehicles lie with the parking service provider selected by the customer at the time of booking.

‘Deals4Parking aims to provide passengers with a smooth and convenient airport parking experience. To avoid any misunderstandings, we have set out all the important things you should be aware of regarding our parking services and activities before booking.

‘In the event of a reservation at a specific parking facility, it is assumed that the customer has accepted and fully agreed to the general terms and conditions of both Deals4parking and the parking service provider.

‘The conditions have been carefully compiled to keep the rates as low as possible and within the predetermined limit. It is very important that our customers recognize our efforts to offer a number of high-quality and cost-effective services.’

It adds: ‘We highly respect your feedback as it helps us improve our services and serve you even better. We are committed to meeting all your parking needs and look forward to serving you in the best possible way.”

**Have you had a bad experience with Deals4Parking.co.uk or another airport parking provider? Send your story and photos by email to tips@dailymail.com **

Holidaymakers should be wary of tempting low deposit holidays sold by travel agents. Which? warns.

This is because in some cases travel companies are failing to make it clear enough that holidaymakers could be forced to pay up to thousands of pounds if they have to cancel after booking their trip, new research from the consumer champion has found.

Which? explains that these ‘low-deposit’ schemes involve paying an initial amount upfront and are often displayed alongside multiple payment options, potentially leading customers to believe that the initial deposit amount is the full deposit.

But in many cases this is just an initial installment for a larger deposit, and if not clearly stated, low deposits can leave customers unexpectedly short of money.

One customer claims she will ‘never book with Tui again’ after being blindsided by the company’s terms and conditions when she tried to cancel her family holiday to Bodrum, Turkey. She thought she would only lose the ‘low deposit’ of £150 she had paid to secure the trip, but in reality she had to pay an extra £650 as the full deposit was £800 – something that she had not realized when booking the trip. holidays.

Michelle Simons from Northampton tells Which? that she had not been abroad for 13 years and decided to go to a Tui store for specialist advice.

While she opted for a low deposit trip, she says the travel agent handed her a “laminated piece of card with terms and conditions,” but she says it was not verbally explained to her in the store that she would have to pay a larger amount if she chose to cancel later.

Which? reveals that an email confirmation was sent to Ms Simons describing later scheduled installments as ‘payments’ – which Ms Simons says she thought were for the remaining balance of the trip, rather than a non-refundable deposit .

After considering her holiday choice, Ms Simons decided to cancel the original holiday, believing she would only have to pay the low deposit of £150 and book an alternative trip.

‘Then they told me I had to pay this full £800 deposit – so another £650 on top of the £150 I paid to cancel… I had no reason to think the deposit I had paid was not the full deposit,” she says Which?

Ms Simons explains to Which? that the store manager warned that she could be taken to court if she did not pay the remainder of the deposit. Unwilling to lose the money, she went ahead with the original vacation, Which? say.

Which? Researchers discovered that Tui’s online booking system offers both a ‘low deposit’ and a ‘no deposit’ payment option.

The watchdog says the fine print shows customers will have to pay a ‘full deposit’ fee if they want to cancel their ‘low-deposit’ trip. Those who opted for a no-deposit payment would also have to pay a non-refundable deposit, as it turns out.

The consumer champion also raised concerns about low deposit schemes offered by other travel agents, such as Loveholidays.

When you view a week’s holiday package for £3,490 for two people with Loveholidays to the Oberoi Beach Resort in the UAE for August 2024, Which? found that a ‘low deposit’ of £29 per person was offered.

If travelers select the low deposit option, Loveholidays will outline the future costs and call them ‘installments’. Which? say. It continues: ‘It does not clearly indicate that the first two installments form the remainder of a larger deposit, meaning a customer could wrongly assume they would only lose £58 if they wanted to cancel. In fact, they would have to pay a further £1,439 to cancel this trip; the remaining deposit is due.”

Although Loveholidays contains a link to the terms and conditions under the heading ‘I understand and agree to them’, Which? says the company could be more explicit in highlighting the obligations in the main text.

Which? adds that the company could clearly emphasize that the two ‘low deposit’ payments contribute towards a non-refundable deposit, rather than describing them as ‘installments’.

Moreover: which one? says tour operator On The Beach charges £30 per person to secure a booking at HSM Canarios Hotel, Mallorca. And while it has stated cancellation fees and linked them to the terms and conditions, they believe their low deposit terms could be made clearer up front.

Jet2’s ‘low deposit’, on the other hand, refers to the full deposit payable. Which? reveals. At £60 per person this initial payment is higher than some other companies, but the initial payment of £60 per person is everything a holidaymaker would lose if they choose to cancel their trip, at no extra cost, the watchdog notes .

Meanwhile, holiday rental Cottages.com offers a low deposit in a similar way to Tui – with the initial low deposit only part of a larger deposit. However, this is made much clearer from the start, with a pop-up message that appears once you select the low deposit option, showing exactly what amount you will have to pay if you decide to cancel – and explaining that this figure is the difference between the ‘low’ and ‘standard’ deposit amounts, which one? reveals.

Commenting on the findings, Naomi Leach, deputy editor of Which? Travel says: ‘As the cost of living crisis continues to stretch household budgets to the limit, low or no deposit holiday schemes can be an attractive option, allowing consumers to spread the cost of their holiday over a longer payment term.

‘However, we have found that many of these schemes can be confusing for holidaymakers, with cancellation charges and deposits sometimes hidden within the terms and conditions. If you are considering a booking with a low deposit, always take the time to check the terms carefully so you understand exactly what you will be liable for if you decide to cancel.’

Although Tui did not comment on Michelle Simon’s customer experience, a spokesperson told the watchdog: ‘We welcome this feedback from our customers and aim to make booking a Tui holiday as easy as possible. We will look at how we communicate our low deposit offer during the online booking process, with our customers telling us they like our low or no deposit offers and the ability to spread the cost of their holiday via direct debit. ‘

Which? says On The Beach did not respond to a request for comment.

A spokesperson for Loveholidays said: ‘Our low deposit system helps our customers pay for their holiday in installments before departure, rather than paying all in one go when booking, which has become an increasingly popular choice amid the costs crisis of livelihood.

‘We provide customers with clear and accurate information about how all our leading payment options work, with this information readily available on our website and during the booking process.

‘We always have our customers’ best interests at heart, so we are committed to taking this feedback from Which? in the context of further improving the booking process.’

Jet2holidays says: ‘Customers who book with Jet2holidays can be assured that they will pay the full deposit when they book with us.

‘As which? Recommended provider, Jet2holidays will never introduce additional deposits, and we are happy with that. Which? has emphasized that our low deposit covers the full deposit payable. We make the terms of our low deposit program very clear and that is why it is extremely popular with customers. This customer-oriented approach is one of the many reasons why holidaymakers choose us time and time again.’

Three in ten European flights are at risk of being delayed or canceled this summer after air traffic controllers warned they would strike.

Employees at the European air traffic management agency Eurocontrol reportedly said they would take industrial action during peak summer periods after talks with bosses over pay, staffing and rosters fell through.

Families hoping for a trip abroad must now wait to find out if their flights will be affected, with strike dates to be revealed within days.

The strikes could lead to delays or cancellations of up to 12,600 flights a day across the continent, an industry source said. The times.

They warned: “In a full strike, 20 to 30 percent of flights would be delayed at the very least. They are large numbers.’

Eurocontrol expects to handle 33,000 daily flights over the next eight weeks, rising to more than 34,000 on Friday.

A senior source at an airline told the paper the impact could be “massive and extremely disruptive,” adding that not many contingency plans had been made in the event of a full strike.

According to newspaper sources, a first wave of strikes would be announced on Monday.

Organization officials believe action is now inevitable and will focus on the start of the main school holiday period in England and Europe.

Stewart Wingate, head of Gatwick airport, said European air traffic control strikes were his biggest challenge this summer.

Eurocontrol processes more than 96,000 messages from pilots and airlines every day, all of which require manual checking and inconsistencies to be dealt with.

Every pilot flying in or over Europe must submit a flight plan to Eurocontrol’s operations centre. The center validates the plan and ensures multiple planes in the region don’t have the same “call sign,” a way of identifying planes.

The organization acts as an ‘area network manager’ so that flights can easily cross borders and between air traffic control centres. It is also responsible for landing and departure slots at several European airports.

Union Syndicale Bruxelles (USB), representing EU officials, wrote a letter to managers demanding an immediate hiring of 20 additional controllers – citing a 25 percent staff shortage of about 40 controllers.

The letter stated that the union saw no other option than to continue strikes. But an industry insider said last-minute talks are still underway in the coming weeks with a focus on headcount.

Air traffic control centers across Europe have struggled with recruitment since the pandemic, leading many workers to take early retirement.

Finding new staff for the stressful job, where you are responsible for the lives of thousands of people at once, was a challenge.

This comes after Eurocontrol’s director-general, Raúl Medina, urged airports and air traffic control centers to increase recruitment and asked airlines to stick to their allocated schedules.

He added that airspace in Europe could experience “major overload” of traffic on most days this summer in many busy European areas such as Reims and Marseille in France, Athens in Greece and Budapest in Hungary.

Similar warnings have also been issued for London, Brussels, Nicosia, Warsaw and Zagreb for peak days such as Fridays and weekends in the summer.

This overload can lead to flight delays, as aircraft may be forced to fly longer routes to avoid areas of traffic.

And a Eurocontrol spokesman said they were aware of the strike intentions, but no date had been set yet. They insisted that the body “made every effort to keep negotiations open.”

The cheapest places for holidaymakers to buy petrol and diesel in Europe have been revealed – and it’s Andorra that has the best value across the board.

Travelers renting a car in Andorra will pay £1.23 per liter for unleaded petrol – equivalent to £187 for 1,000 miles of driving – and £1.10 per liter for diesel (£167 per 1,000 miles).

That is according to the latter Post office Travel money Driving on the mainland report, which examined fuel prices in 17 European countries and produced two cost-based rankings: one for unleaded petrol and one for diesel. As part of the investigation, the Post Office has also revealed some traffic regulations abroad that the British may not be aware of.

Ireland is second cheapest for unleaded petrol (£1.38 per litre/£209 per 1,000 miles), followed by Austria in third place (£1.39 per litre/£210 per 1,000 miles). Moving down the rankings, Spain (£1.40 per litre/£211 per 1,000 miles) is fourth cheapest for unleaded petrol, while Luxembourg (£1.41 per litre/£213 per 1,000 miles) slips into fifth place.

Looking at diesel, it’s Spain – where diesel costs 21p less per liter than the UK at £1.25 per liter (£190 per 1,000 miles) – which is the second cheapest for drivers, followed by Luxembourg (£1.26 per litre/£191 per litre). 1,000 miles) in third place. Ireland ranks fourth in the diesel ranking (£1.28 per litre/£194 per 1,000 miles), while Portugal ranks fifth (£1.29 per litre/£196 per 1,000 miles).

The UK is 6th in the unleaded petrol table at £1.44 per liter (£217 per 1,000 miles), and it is 11th in the diesel table at £1.46 (£221 per 1,000 miles).

Where is it expensive for motorists? More than one in five (21 per cent) holidaymakers surveyed say they will drive in France, but high prices at the pump make it one of the most expensive countries for fuel – it ranks 12th for unleaded petrol at £1 .62 (£245 per 1,000 miles) and 13th for diesel at £1.47 (£223 per 1,000 miles).

The same goes for Italy, where unleaded petrol costs £1.62 per liter (£245 per 1,000 miles) and £1.49 for diesel (£223 per 1,000 miles). As a result, it ranks 13th for unleaded petrol and 14th for diesel in the tables.

Of all the countries surveyed, Switzerland is the most expensive for diesel fuel at £1.76 per liter (£266 per 1,000 miles) and similarly expensive (15th overall) for unleaded petrol at £1.66 (£251 per 1,000 miles).

Denmark, meanwhile, is the most expensive destination for unleaded petrol, priced at £1.76 a litre, or £266 for 1,000 miles. However, it is 10th in the diesel ranking, with a diesel price of £1.46 per liter (£218 per 1,000 miles).

Overall, drivers in 14 of the countries surveyed will pay significantly less to drive a diesel car than for unleaded petrol.

While fuel costs across Europe have fallen from the record levels they reached over the past year and sterling is at its highest level against the euro in 2023, pump prices are above average in almost 90 percent of the countries surveyed. in 2019, when the Post Office Travel Money last conducted the price comparison.

Elsewhere, the report also found that more than two in five motorists on holiday are unaware of new European road rules and risk hefty fines.

Post Office research found that 43 per cent of Britons planning travel are unaware of the restrictions of the low emission zones in top destinations such as France and Spain, where they are most likely to drive.

More than half (52 percent) were unaware of the daily entry fees and permits required in many cities, and 58 percent were unaware of the requirement to display windshield stickers indicating their vehicle’s emission levels.

In France, ‘Crit Air’ emissions stickers must be displayed or fines of £58 (€68) to £116 (€135) can be imposed.

Forty-two percent of those planning to drive in Europe did not realize that speeding could result in a fine. Yet nearly one in five (19 percent) admit to having been fined for speeding or breaking other travel rules on previous trips to Europe, Post Office Travel Money reveals.

Similar numbers (18 percent) said they had received “Ultra Low Emission Zone”-style fines for violating low-emission zone rules and 47 percent were unaware that people with a paper driver’s license issued before March 31, 2000 issued, a international driver’s license.

The report shows that a third of Britons visiting Europe this year plan to drive during their holiday – either in their own car or hire car – with France, Spain and Italy being the top choices for holiday cars.

Commenting on the report, Laura Plunkett, head of travel money at the Post Office, said: ‘With air costs reportedly skyrocketing, it is understandable that so many Britons have decided to drive to Europe this summer. Worryingly, however, many people don’t realize that driving laws have changed since their last trip and that they could risk hefty fines if they don’t learn the rules of the road. Popular destinations such as France and Spain have had spot fines for some time now, so it’s critical for motorists on holiday to carry foreign currency with them in case they’re pulled over for speeding or breaking new rules.

‘Our pump price study has found that the cost of refueling in Europe can vary by as much as £100, so we recommend planning driving routes carefully before you set off to keep costs down. Save money by diverting from the highway and main roads to local towns. Supermarket prices will be cheaper than roadside, just like here in the UK. Don’t forget to have some foreign currency with you, because not all petrol stations in rural areas accept plastic.’

This is the satisfying moment Mallorcan ‘sunbed police’ get revenge on hotel guests who have reserved loungers.

A staff member appears fed up as he swiftly removes towels and inflatables used to hog beds by the pool at the Viva resort on the Spanish island.

Dubbed the ‘towel police’ by TikToker John McGowan, the worker can be seen shoving holidaymakers’ belongings into plastic bags.

He even walks around the pool area with a stop watch and clipboard to time how long each sunbed has been reserved for, Mr McGowan explained. 

If the hogger has not returned within 30 minutes, their items are removed from the beds.

One commenter quipped: ‘Well done to this resort. Hope others take note. It might make people’s hols less stressful if the towel dash doesn’t happen anymore.’

Sunbed wars have long been a common start to the mornings of British holidaymakers’ trips abroad. 

It is generally accepted in Spanish resorts that a towel left on a sunbed is claimed by its owner for the entire day. The origin of this rule is not known, though it is thought to be a German invention.

Although not all hotels allow this rule, when in place it can create heated competition between holidaymakers desperate to enjoy themselves more than their neighbours.

Hilarious footage of guests at the four-star Spring Hotel Bitacora, Playa de las Américas in Tenerife, shows crowds of desperate tourists waiting next to their resort’s swimming pools and descending en masse to grab the best spots at the earliest possible time.

Brits armed with swimming togs and sun cream raced past rival holidaymakers with a grim determination to secure their place in the sun for a day.

Some were reported to queue for 90 minutes first thing in the morning – waiting for some unknown signal before stampeding past opposing tourists towards the sun loungers.

Meanwhile at the Camp de Mar in Majorca a holidaymaker was shocked to see next-level towel reservation after sunbed hogs puts their towels down on the floor at the entrance to the pool area.

Photos show beach bags and towels placed in an orderly queue leading to the closed-off pool area so hotel guests can secure their sun bed the moment that it opens.

Holidaymaker Geoff said: ‘In an effort to control the sunbed madness, the door from the hotel to the pool area was kept locked until 8am.

‘So people were lining their towels up on the floor in a queue order by the door before it opened. I must add this wasn’t youngsters, but mostly elderly and middle-aged people,’ he told the Mirror.

Discussing the behaviour of the other guests at a four star hotel in Camp de Mar, he said: ‘The towel line actually went back much further (than the picture shows) and the owners were seated on the sofas just out of sight, ready to fly outside when the door was unlocked.

‘I don’t know what time they started, but we were up at 6.30am one morning to grab breakfast before an excursion, and there was already an established towel queue forming at the door. Crazy behaviour!’

Meanwhile, a holiday hero spoke out earlier this year against some ‘entitled’ tourists who reserved sun loungers for nine hours while he and his wife were on holiday in Bali.

Newlyweds Thom Aspland and Lisa were honeymooning at Bali’s Grand Barong Resort where they were met by unfurled towels on sun loungers at 6.30am.

After returning at 1pm and seeing the chairs untouched, the couple waited for a further hour of no movement, before finally ditching the reserving towels and taking the spot themselves.

They were met at 3.30pm by the shocked pair of ‘entitled’ tourists ‘iPads and books in hand’. 

The couple were even sure to teach their competitors a lesson by ushering other tourists in their place as they left.

Speaking to Yahoo News, Thom said: ‘We definitely thought they were entitled, but were surprised they didn’t confront us.’

He assumed that the lack of confrontation was down to the fact that ‘they knew what they had done’. 

Thom also noted the hilarious extent of the couple’s pettiness in getting on the beds in the first place.

‘We didn’t even want the beds,’ he said, but the compulsion to prove a point was too strong.

‘Many places here have an hour rule, so we just made sure we gave them an hour once we got in the pool,’ he added.

He revealed that he and Lisa had been looking on from the bar for two hours before making their move.

He also gave comical detail about the approach of the pair who thought they would get away with the nine-hour reservation, saying that ‘they quickly walked towards the chairs, then stopped and looked at each other to pause’. 

‘They then frantically looked for their two personal towels’ before departing to their hotel room never to be seen again, he said.

The happy couple made absolutely certain that they proved their point when they left by passing the beds on to a mother and daughter after telling them the whole story.

Thom shared the ‘petty’ revenge story online with droves of followers agreeing that leaving towels on seats all day was ‘sun hogging’ and disrespectful.

‘Am I the only one hoping there’s a day two to this situation,’ one person said.

Another wrote: ‘Proof that not all heroes wear a cape.

‘Would shout you both a Bintang if I were there.’

‘I would’ve done the same except I wouldn’t have waited – if they weren’t there using them its free for all,’ a third added.

Some also commended the couple for waiting the hour that they did.

Thom then posted an update of the empty poolside chairs on the following morning as a sign of victory.

‘Free all morning,’ he declared.

In August, the hilarious moment a holidaymaker bagged five sun loungers by sprinting towards them before throwing his towels on the best pool-side spots was posted on TikTok by a guest who filmed the chaotic scene from her balcony at the Paradise Park Hotel in Los Cristianos, Tenerife.

The video shows a large pool surrounded by a decked terrace, moments before several people emerge and start running towards the sunbeds.

One man dressed in yellow can be seen sprinting towards the loungers with several towels on his arm. He skipped past rows of other chairs until he reached the ones in the prime pool-side spot.

While the other guests made their way towards the loungers, he took a shortcut to arrive there first and threw his towels down to claim the seats at an impressive speed.

This wasn’t the first time the man was on the hunt, as another video showed him in a black T-shirt securing the best spot.

Jess Clarke, who filmed the crowd, captioned her video: ‘Day Three Sunbed Wars’.

It quickly gained more than 11,000 likes and hundreds of comments were left by viewers saying, ‘Love it, so funny’ or remarking, ‘I’ve never seen sunbed wars that bad.’

Another commented: ‘Guy in yellow put in a proper shift.’

A fourth said: ‘9am sunbed wars paradise park Tenerife what a sight.’

One user recognised the man from Ms Clarke’s previous video titled ‘Day 1’.

The hotel is known for sunbed reservation races and similar scenes were captured on camera last year.

A viral TikTok video from July shows tourists at the Tenerife hotel making a shameless dash for the best poolside spot.

Footage shows a crowd of holidaymakers show up at a pool at Paradise Park just as it opens.

They then drop their towels on the hotspot’s best loungers – with some even glancing around guiltily as they do it.

TikTok user Sarah, whose clip has already garnered more than five million views in just one day, simply captioned it: ‘The Sunbed Race’.

Paradise Park spokesman Rafael Ruiz-Benitez de Lugo told MailOnline last year: ‘We were amused to see it considering that our hotel has five swimming pools and areas with space and sunbeds for everyone.

‘Although we see quite a bit of talent among our guests for obstacle races.’

Weeks before, in June last year, sunbed-blockers had their towels taken away by hotel staff at another resort in Tenerife.

Holidaymaker Amanda Proctor filmed the moment the workers picked up dozens of towels that guests had laid out on empty sun loungers in a bid to reserve the best seats next to the pool at the five star Gran Costa Adeje Hotel in southern Tenerife.

Ms Proctor said that the staff at the hotel, which features four pools, took the guests’ bags and towels and left a note on the chairs telling them where to collect their belongings.

The holidaymaker said there was a sign at the hotel saying guests were not allowed to reserve sunbeds before 10am.

A spokesman at the hotel told MailOnline: ‘At GF Gran Costa Adeje, we defend the right of all our guests to enjoy our pools and we ask everyone to respect our policy.

‘All guests will have their space in our solarium. In this situation, our colleague, like the entire GF Gran Costa Adeje team, is a hero without a cape. We are very happy with the reaction to the video and from our customers.’

The 10 countries where British holidaymakers are most likely to be victims of theft or robbery have been revealed – and Spain tops the list.

These findings come from insurance company True Traveler, which analyzed theft and robbery claims from Britons in 2022.

Spain is number 1 for theft or robbery, accounting for one in ten claims (12.7 percent). In second place is Mexico (10.3 percent) and Colombia comes in third (8.8 percent).

Peru ranks fourth, where 8.5 percent of the world’s thefts are against British holidaymakers, followed by Indonesia in fifth (7 percent), Argentina in sixth (5.7 percent) and the US in second place. seventh place (5.3 percent). ).

Eighth is Brazil, where 4.5 percent of the claimed thefts occurred, followed by Canada (ninth, 3.7 percent) and Costa Rica (10th, 3.5 percent).

True Traveler says its clients often travel ‘to faraway places than other insurers’, suggesting the stats paint a broader picture of the risks faced by UK holidaymakers globally.

Theft and robbery were the most common crime-related claims from British holidaymakers, accounting for almost a third (32 per cent) of lost luggage claims, with the remainder being lost or broken items.

British tourists are most likely to be targeted at transport hubs, while thefts from hotel rooms are rare, the data shows.

Tim Riley, general manager of Real travellersaid: ‘By far the highest places where the thefts take place are bus stations, train stations or airports.

‘Thefts from hotel rooms, on the other hand, are rare. Thefts from restaurants are even higher from hotels. However, it should be noted that hotel thefts can be reported by customers as losses, not thefts.

“For bus stations, airports, and so on, it’s just the fact that people put their daypacks on the ground, and someone comes along and steals it from behind or causes a commotion elsewhere in the airport, so people look away from their belongings.

“While I see so many of these claims cases coming in, I’m convinced someone is going to steal my stuff when I’m at an airport or waiting for a bus outside an airport to go to the car rental company. I’m very alert.’

The company has several tips to avoid becoming a victim of theft and robbery while on holiday, such as ‘stocking up’ to spread the risk.

It says: ‘KKeep a credit card and a £50 note hidden and separate from your main stash.

‘Putting a credit card between two pages in a travel guide is an idea. Local thieves never steal travel guides.’

Keeping cash and cards in a money belt can also help prevent theft because ‘no one’ will be able to steal them without you knowing,” says True Traveler.

Other ways to reduce the risk are to carry no more than £200 at a time and use the hotel safe to store extra cash, cards and other valuables.If there’s no safe in your room, there’s one at reception.’

To prevent your bag from being snatched from under your nose in a restaurant or café, according to True Traveler, “put a bag strap around your foot.”

Another technique is to avoid looking “lost or too flashy” on vacation.

“If you’re standing on the street corner looking at your shiny iPhone 13, with your new camera around your neck, looking lost, you’re being looked at,” the insurance company said.

“Do some research before you head out, and be careful if you get lost, and act appropriately.

“Try to make this a habit, whichever country you travel in.”