Reason why you should never book a hotel or holiday on you laptop revealed

The Sun

3 days ago

EXPERTS have revealed the reason why you should never book a hotel or holiday on your laptop.
With summer upon us, many will be scouring the likes of Booking.com and Expedia for a last-minute getaway.
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But if you are thinking of booking a holiday on your laptop, you might want to think twice.
That is because you could end up paying more than customers who booked the same deal via their smart phone.
Hotel and holiday groups often have special deals for mobile and app users to help drive traffic to their websites.
Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, said it is the firms' business to "persuade you to download the app."
"They can collect more of your data and target you more effectively to persuade you to book again."
Mobile only pricing is also used as a marketing tool to help drive more sales.
Tom Church, co-founder of discount code platform LatestDeals.co.uk, found a £16 price difference for the same hotel found on Booking.com.
He said: "A hotel in Granada, the Pension Venecia Gomerez, was £163 per night on the computer, but on the Booking.com mobile app it was £147 per night, £16 cheaper."
Research by The Sun also found the booking website was offering mobile customers a £112 discount on a hotel in Benidorm if they booked via the app.
The Hotel Flats Friends Mar Blau costs £412 on the website but £300 if you secure the deal on your phone.
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The same goes for Expedia, with mobile users getting a £150 discount on a stay at the Hotel Ronda House in Barcelona.
It is worth noting that prices may vary depending on what time of year you booking your holiday.
Martyn James, consumer expert, said: "It might seem illogical and strange, but booking using a phone app can get you a big discount.
"Regardless, always check the app before you book - but make sure you look at the hotel's website or app direct too, in case they have even better rates."
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If you are planning a trip abroad this summer, it is important to be clued up so you don't risk loosing cash.
For example, customers should avoid exchanging money at the airport as you face paying higher fees.
Money exchange hubs at the airport tend to a captive market, so firms can charge a higher premium for using the service.
Kara Gammell, personal finance expert at MoneySuperMarket, previously told The Sun: "Don't wait to buy your travel money at the airport as you will pay a premium.
"And never pay for your currency with a credit card as paying on plastic means you'll be charged a 'cash advance fee."
This fee is charged on ATM withdrawals but also on transactions such as online gambling and buying foreign currency.
You should also be aware that banks tend to charge customers a fee for using their debit or credit card abroad.
NatWest charges customers a 2.75% fee for spending your debit card abroad.
But plenty of banks, such as Monzo, do not charge for this service.
Are there other options to for spending abroad?
There are several specialist cards that can give you a great exchange rate.
These cards include travel credit cards and pre-paid cards which can let you pay abroad without fees or at a set exchange rate.
Senior Consumer Reporter Olivia Marshall explains all the options.
Travel credit cards: Travel credit cards allow you to spend money abroad without being hit by any fees or hidden charges.
But, they may still charge you for taking cash out.
We recommend the Halifax's Clarity Card as it won't charge you for using it abroad, nor are there any fees for withdrawing cash.
But you will be charged interest if you don't repay your balance in full at a rate of 19.9 per cent.
And you will be charged interest on cash withdrawals until your balance is paid off too, at a rate of between 19.9 and 27.95 per cent depending on your credit score.
In other words, just because you are using plastic abroad doesn't mean you don't have to pay these credit cards off like you normally would.
Always pay off your balance before the end of the month with these cards to make sure that any money you saved isn't wiped away by paying interest.
For more on travel credit cards you can read our guide here.
Pre-paid cards: An alternative to carrying cash around is to get a pre-paid card.
These cards allow you to put a set amount of cash on the card at a fixed exchange rate.
So if the rate is good at the moment, you can put money on your card and it will stay that rate when you are on holiday.
Just keep in mind that these cards can sometimes have hidden costs and charges so be sure to read the small print.