UK tourists have been warned they could face an extra £100 bill for a holiday this May due to recent changes in mobile roaming charges. Travel experts say that thanks to Brexit, people now pay between £2 and £2.60 per day or £6 per gigabyte for roaming charges when they go on holiday.
For a whole family with mobile phones or devices, these charges could stack up to £100 by the time a two-week holiday abroad ends. Simrat Sharma, mobiles expert at Uswitch, warned: "It's important to be aware of potential roaming charges when using your phone on holiday, even if you have free EU roaming included."
"While it's great that many providers do offer free roaming in certain countries, there are usually exclusions, so it's always worth double-checking."
Six million Brits do not realise their mobile plan may not cover every European country, with Switzerland, Turkey and Albania frequently excluded from standard EU roaming packages. This catches families off guard when they arrive at popular ski resorts or Mediterranean beaches.
Research shows 22 per cent of Brits have been caught out by unexpected roaming charges in the last two years, with 8 per cent receiving additional charges of £20 or more on top of their usual bill. These surprise costs often appear weeks after returning home, making it difficult to dispute them.
A spokesperson for travel experts at Noble Life said: "Many holidaymakers don't realise that post-Brexit roaming charges have become a permanent fixture, and providers are quietly increasing their fees."
"What used to be included in your monthly contract now adds a significant cost to your holiday budget, and with peak travel season just weeks away, it's crucial to understand exactly what you'll be charged."
Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at Uswitch, advises: "Many networks will apply additional charges if you go over your allowance or if you don't have roaming included, so setting up a spending cap ahead of your trip is a great way to avoid these."
"If in doubt, contact your provider to talk about roaming caps and what your current deal will allow you to use."
