Holidaymakers should prepare themselves for additional costs when they go on an all-inclusive break, research has suggested. 

Up to 80% of package holiday tourists admitted they ended up paying up extra cash for items they thought were included in the price of their booking.

Many travellers said they expected free soft drinks, internet access and mini bars as part of their all-inclusive packages.

In fact, some travellers had to pay extra for these items, making it even more important for them to save money on other costs such as airport transfers. 

According to the Post Office Travel Money survey, 94% of respondents thought all their hotel meals would be included as part of their holiday deal.

But 65% of the 54 establishments questioned as part of the survey said they restricted the use of a-la-carte restaurants or charged holidaymakers extra to use them. 

A fifth of holidaymakers said they had paid extra for meals in their hotel restaurant. 

At an average cost of £21 per person, the findings suggest that UK tourists spend in total an additional £20.8 million on food. 

Meanwhile, the survey also revealed that almost half of holidaymakers put themselves at risk of further expense by using their credit or debit card abroad instead of taking foreign currency. 

Copyright © Press Association 2011

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