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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Lifestyle
Aimee Robinson & Marita Moloney

Spain holidays: Three 'hidden costs' Irish tourists should be aware of to avoid getting caught out abroad

Spain is one of the top destinations for Irish holidaymakers with Lanzarote, the Costa del Sol and Alicante among the most popular tourist hotspots.

People will be jetting abroad in their thousands within weeks as they look forward to a break over Easter, while others will be waiting until the summer months for a trip.

Ahead of this, one expert is warning tourists of "hidden costs" that may catch them out while abroad.

READ MORE: Dublin Airport passengers report 'mobbed' scenes and 'crazy' queues

With travel set to return to normality, and airports getting increasingly busy, independent financial broker Norton Finance is warning people of some fees which could "trip them up" on their next overseas jaunt.

"While it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of finding a cheap flight somewhere warm, consumers can sometimes forget the smaller associated costs of getting away – which can quickly add up and have a significant impact on the price of a holiday," they told the Express.

Here are three "hidden costs" Irish holidaymakers should be aware of:

Travel Insurance

While shelling out for insurance might feel like a waste, especially if things go off without a hitch, it is an invaluable purchase.

Norton Finance said: "Hopefully you’ll arrive home after your holiday thinking, ‘I didn’t really need that’.

"But if something does go wrong while you’re away then things can get very expensive, very quickly.

"For this reason, always make sure to take the cost of travel insurance into consideration when budgeting for your holiday."

Tourist taxes

Tourist taxes are in place in certain parts of Spain, including the Balearic Islands and Catalonia.

Tourist tax or sustainable tourism tax is an amount that is charged by regional governments on the tourists visiting the area

Norton Finance explained: "These are charged per person for each night you’re there.

"While the per night cost varies depending on when you visit and how long you stay, this is another cost that can take you by surprise if you’ve not budgeted for it."

Vendrell Beach in Catalonia on on a sunny day. (SIPA USA/PA Images)

Car rental fees

Renting a car is a great way to get around and explore your holiday destination, but there can be some secondary costs that holidaymakers don't always think of straight away.

Norton Finance explained: "If you’re going to be renting a car during your stay, chances are you’ve factored in the cost. However, if you’ve only budgeted for the base rental rate you may be hit by some hidden costs on arrival.

"If you’re renting from the airport, there will be an additional airport tax to cover the concession fee the car hire company pays to the airport.

"While this fee is always charged, some companies won’t add it to your total until just before you pay. This means the original quoted price may not be what you end up paying."

Much like travel insurance, rental car insurance is another cost that is essential, though often forgotten.

Norton Finance added: "Before paying this it’s worth doing some additional research to decide if you need more cover than the basic policy offers. If you’re paying with a credit card, consider whether it offers additional rental car cover."

READ MORE: Irish tourists could face major disruption as fears grow over 'serious' shortages in Costa del Sol

READ MORE: Spain holidays: Positive update for Irish holidaymakers as major Covid rule lifted before Easter

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