Which? expert explains the cheapest way to spend while abroad as summer holidays approach

There, outlets promising ‘zero commission’ use terrible exchange rates, or ATMs with seemingly decent rates may charge steep fees. All of which can make your holiday even more expensive.

But do you really need a wallet stuffed full of foreign cash? In many European countries you can now use your card to pay for almost anything, including to board public transport.

You’ll get the Visa, Mastercard or American Express exchange rates, which though not perfect, are still better than those offered by exchange bureaus. What stops many of us is that our cards charge fees each time we use them for spending or withdrawing cash.

You could open a current account with a bank that doesn't charge for using your debit card abroad.

And you might want to keep using them when you’re home again.

Chase, First Direct, Monzo and Starling are all Which? Recommended Providers for current accounts. First Direct is offering £200 if you switch your banking to them; the others offer accounts that can be set up in minutes, with a virtual debit card instantly available on your phone.

Fee-free credit cards means you don’t face the admin of moving money between accounts or needing to check how much you’ve got left. Good options include the Lloyds Ultra card, which also pays 1 per cent cashback for the first year, Barclaycard Rewards (0.25 per cent cashback) or the Halifax Clarity card.

These credit cards are not a great way to spread the costs of a holiday over the long term, however, as you’ll incur interest. For cash withdrawals this interest is charged from day one (rather than if you don’t pay off your next statement in full), though this will only add up to a couple of pounds for a typical holiday.

Whether you’re using a debit or credit card abroad, follow a few golden rules. Always carry some cash for emergencies and ideally a backup card in case your main one is rejected.

Never hand your card over when paying, for instance in a restaurant, as this can lead to scams: as in the UK, they should bring the payment terminal to you, or go to the counter. Opt to pay in the local currency, not pounds, as the latter can lead to a double conversion with extra fees.

And if you need to withdraw cash, aim for fewer, larger withdrawals, because foreign ATMs tend to charge flat fees. If there are several ATMs from different providers in the same place, you could even try several to find the one with the lowest fees.

Not having to count cash from a bulging wallet, or worry about racking up charges, means you can forget about money, find a lounger, and work on that tan.