Travel Tips from M&S

Book in advance

You can sometimes get a last minute deal, but they’re not always the cheapest option. If it’s an important holiday, start looking 9 to 12 months in advance. And if you’re booking a flight with a low cost airline, you’ll often get a better deal if you book early.

Looking for a holiday? Visit M&S Travel Club

Do some research

If you don’t know much about the place you’re going to, visit travel websites and read other travellers’ reviews. They give a candid account of the area’s good and bad points, and can help you find great hotels.

You could also save money by finding out how much you should tip on holiday, by reading our helpful Summer Tipping Guide before you go.

Cards, cash and travellers cheques

Credit and debit cards are convenient, but many banks charge a fee when you use your cards abroad – and these charges can mount up. To keep bank charges down, only use your cards for big purchases. And take some foreign currency and travellers cheques to pay for everything else.

Using your cards abroad

Before you go away, check the expiry date on your debit and credit cards. If they’re about to expire, organise replacement cards before you leave.

You should also make a note of your card details and the phone numbers of your card providers, in case you need to contact them while you’re away. Leave a copy of these details at home, along with your travellers cheque numbers and insurance policy details. And take another copy with you on your trip.

Protect your cards with M&S Card Safe

Exclusive to M&S Credit Card and Chargecard holders, M&S Card Safe gives you peace of mind if your credit, debit and store cards are lost or stolen. It also covers personal documents like your passport and driving licence – and other important items like tickets, keys and cash.

If you’re an M&S cardholder, let us know if you're going abroad – as we automatically monitor foreign transactions to protect you against card fraud. Before you go away, contact us on 0845 9000 900.

Don’t leave it to chance – get insurance

You can get free or subsidised treatment in most European countries by applying for an EHIC card – a medical card that replaced the old E111 form. But this won’t cover everything.

If you’re travelling outside Europe, or if you want comprehensive medical cover, you’ll need travel insurance. You’ll also need it if you want to protect your luggage or insure against cancellations – and if you book your trip independently, rather than through a tour operator.

With M&S Premium Club you could take advantage of worldwide multi-trip family Travel Insurance, triple points at M&S as well as exclusive treats and delights.

Pay less for parking

If you’re driving to the airport, book your parking space in advance. As well as saving money, you’ll also guarantee yourself a space. There are lots of airport parking sites on the internet – check how close the car park is to the airport, as some of the cheaper ones are a long bus ride away.

Car hire

Book in advance to get the best car hire deals. The internet is a good place to start your search. Some car hire companies add extras that don’t appear on their online quote. So always double check that the price quoted is the actual price you’ll pay.

Foreign currency buy back

Take advantage of our commission free buy back service when returning from you trip. We’ll buy back any unused notes or travellers cheques across all denominations of currency that we sell, from Euros and Dollars right the way through our extensive selection. Simply visit your nearest Bureau de Change on your return and we’ll buy back any surplus notes at the prevailing buy back rate on that day. If you’re a tourist visiting the UK you can also use this facility to exchange your foreign currency for Pounds Sterling.