Experts publish guide to holiday payments

A new guide to making payments while on an overseas holiday has been published by two major organisations.

UK payments association Apacs and the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) have published the guide, entitled Payments Abroad, in a bid to help travellers make financial transactions as easily and safely as possible.

The guide offers tips on the safe use of credit and debit cards, advice on possible bank charges and how to prevent a number of types of fraud.

"There are a range of payment options available for UK consumers going abroad, from debit and credit cards to cash and traveller's cheques," commented David Marshall, head of communications for Abta.

He added: "The advice in this guide provides holidaymakers with a variety of useful information and can help ensure that they have a safe and stress-free holiday."

According to figures from Apacs, Britons spent £23 billion on their credit and debit cards while abroad last year, including spending made with cash taken from foreign ATMs.

The guide comes shortly after insurance provider InsureandGo launched a pre-paid debit card aimed at holidaymakers. It claimed that the card is safer than using credit or debit cards and that it can help travellers to minimise costs.

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