Insurance
The confessions of cost-conscious holidaymakers
The shocking lengths Brits will go in order to save money on their holidays have been revealed.
Stealing food from the breakfast bar, not tipping, lying about their child’s age and using the swimming pool at a better hotel without permission are just some of the top holiday money-saving tricks Brits have confessed to in a new survey.
The poll of 2000 people across the UK by prepaid card specialists ICE found that 38% of us have squirrelled away food from breakfast rather than pay for lunch.
More than a third (32%) save money by not leaving a tip at bars and restaurants and 29% have used the mini bar in their hotel as a fridge for shop bought drinks and snacks rather than pay to eat or drink in the hotel facilities.
More than 10% have lied about their child’s age to pay less for admission at a theme park and the same number said they had taken advantage of the facilities at a nearby resort, acting as one of the guests, without seeking permission.
Tom Johnson, head of ICE Online Business, said: “We can understand how holidaymakers often feel entitled to the food from the breakfast bar – we seem to be relaxing our British reserve as far as this cost saving trick is concerned but it was shocking to find out that tips are falling by the wayside in a bid to save money.”
The top ways Brits save money on a break:
|
What have you done on holiday to save money?
|
% |
| Taken food from the breakfast bar to have for lunch | 38.75% |
| Not left a tip at a bar or restaurant | 32.20% |
| Used the mini-bar for supermarket bought alcohol / food rather than use the hotel | 29.40% |
| Requested a free late check-out to keep the hotel room for longer | 15.40% |
| Asked reception to book taxis/restaurants rather than incur an in-room phone tab | 13.40% |
| Used facilities in a nearby resort, without their permission | 11.65% |
| Lied about my child’s age to pay less admission fee in a theme park | 11.20% |
| Used the swimming pool at a better hotel without their permission | 9.05% |
| Used the complimentary beach or town shuttle service for another hotel | 7.65% |
| Pretended you were on honeymoon or it was your anniversary/birthday to get a room upgrade | 5.55% |
| Left a bar or restaurant without paying | 1.35% |
| Other | 27.60% |
