0:00:02 > 0:00:04We asked you who's left you feeling ripped-off
0:00:04 > 0:00:07when it comes to your holidays and you came back with a catalogue
0:00:07 > 0:00:09of travel disasters.
0:00:09 > 0:00:15I was absolutely mortified, I'm upset, I'm angry and I'm frustrated.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21It's the inconvenience. It's the stress. It's upsetting.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24So, whether it's a deliberate rip-off,
0:00:24 > 0:00:27a simple mistake or a catch in the small print,
0:00:27 > 0:00:31we'll find out why you're out of pocket and what you can do about it.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33Your stories, your money.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36This is Rip-Off Britain.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Hello and thanks so much, once again, for joining us
0:00:39 > 0:00:43here on Rip-Off Britain, where throughout this particular series,
0:00:43 > 0:00:45we're investigating one of the biggest single expenses
0:00:45 > 0:00:48that most of us will have in any particular year
0:00:48 > 0:00:50and that is, paying for our holidays.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53And we've based ourselves on the lovely sunny island of Lanzarote
0:00:53 > 0:00:54to do exactly that.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57Well, at the heart of all the stories today is how to make
0:00:57 > 0:01:00the money you spend - either before or during your break -
0:01:00 > 0:01:02go as far as it can.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05The last thing you want is to find that you've paid more than
0:01:05 > 0:01:07someone else for exactly the same holiday
0:01:07 > 0:01:11or, as we will hear, you've paid out more than you really needed to.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13Now, that would make you really, really mad,
0:01:13 > 0:01:16but you could very easily find yourself in exactly the same
0:01:16 > 0:01:19sort of situations as the ones we will be looking into.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23So, we'll have plenty of advice, to make sure that, if you do,
0:01:23 > 0:01:25you'll have a much clearer idea of how much you need to pay
0:01:25 > 0:01:27and exactly what you'll get for it,
0:01:27 > 0:01:30before you hand over your hard-earned money.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35Coming up - the holidaymaker up in arms about why it's so hard
0:01:35 > 0:01:39to bag your holiday at the bargain price you've seen advertised.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42I see a deal for £150
0:01:42 > 0:01:45and it's gone up to £300 as soon as I click on it.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47I just think it's a joke.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51And designer shades or bargain-basement sunnies?
0:01:51 > 0:01:55Could you guess which would be best to protect your peepers from the sun?
0:01:55 > 0:01:57I think these are the best.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59They're £195.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02They're really cool, really funky, quite light
0:02:02 > 0:02:04and they've got really good protection.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08I think these are best, cos they seem thicker and stronger lenses.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11Get ready for a surprise, when we reveal the truth.
0:02:13 > 0:02:18Over the years, a very common gripe that we continue to receive
0:02:18 > 0:02:20a steady stream of e-mails and letters about
0:02:20 > 0:02:24is the issue of single supplements, with many of you utterly dismayed
0:02:24 > 0:02:28at how travelling solo can sometimes cost you as much,
0:02:28 > 0:02:32or, occasionally, even more, than if you were going with another person.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36And I must say, it is a complaint that I have a lot of sympathy for.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39And with over seven million people living alone, plus, of course,
0:02:39 > 0:02:42those whose partners can't, or won't, travel with them,
0:02:42 > 0:02:46it is an enormous number of people that can be affected by this.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50So why is the industry still so keen on those additional charges?
0:02:53 > 0:02:56Some of the best holidays I've had have been those
0:02:56 > 0:02:58where I have travelled solo.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02I've been doing it long enough to know that, should I want to,
0:03:02 > 0:03:05I'll soon bump into like-minded people,
0:03:05 > 0:03:07with whom I'm going to enjoy spending time.
0:03:07 > 0:03:12And there really are an awful lot of people in the UK who, like me,
0:03:12 > 0:03:15may well be happy to go it alone.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18Which makes it all the more frustrating that we continue to hear
0:03:18 > 0:03:23from so many single travellers, who feel they've been treated unfairly
0:03:23 > 0:03:26when travelling by themselves and usually having to pay
0:03:26 > 0:03:30what they say is an unreasonably high single supplement to do so.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35That's certainly the case for Laurie Sorsby,
0:03:35 > 0:03:38whose recent trip to the Greek Islands
0:03:38 > 0:03:41was an important milestone for her. Whilst she was out there,
0:03:41 > 0:03:46she would mark the first anniversary of her husband Pete's death -
0:03:46 > 0:03:49an occasion she didn't want to face alone.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52She invited her sons and their partners along, as well.
0:03:52 > 0:03:57I thought, we'll book and we'll go, all of us, five of us,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00and it'll be lovely to have my sons with me,
0:04:00 > 0:04:04even though one day was going to be particularly poignant.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07But the rest of the holiday, I thought, would be good
0:04:07 > 0:04:09and make some new and happy family memories.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13So, Laurie searched online and soon came across
0:04:13 > 0:04:17what looked like a great package - two weeks, all-inclusive,
0:04:17 > 0:04:22at The Princess Golden Beach in Thassos, with Thomson Holidays.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26For the whole group, the holiday, which included flights, transfers
0:04:26 > 0:04:29and two weeks' all-inclusive board at the hotel,
0:04:29 > 0:04:32was going to cost a total of £5,657.
0:04:32 > 0:04:37The hotel only had twin rooms, so she booked three of them -
0:04:37 > 0:04:40one for her and two more for her sons and their partners.
0:04:40 > 0:04:45Satisfied that she'd got a good deal, Laurie paid a £794 deposit
0:04:45 > 0:04:47to secure the booking.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52I was really looking forward to it,
0:04:52 > 0:04:55ready to go, looking forward to a sunshine holiday.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59But when Laurie received the booking confirmation and breakdown of costs,
0:04:59 > 0:05:02she was shocked to see exactly how the price had been worked out.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06It showed that the cost of the holiday, including flights,
0:05:06 > 0:05:10accommodation and food was £940.50 per person,
0:05:10 > 0:05:13but Laurie had to pay a supplementary charge
0:05:13 > 0:05:16of £954.50 on top of this,
0:05:16 > 0:05:20which meant that HER holiday was going to cost her just over
0:05:20 > 0:05:23twice as much as the individual price for everyone else.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27In other words, about the same as a couple would have paid to travel.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31And while she could understand the justification for charging her more
0:05:31 > 0:05:33for having a twin room all to herself,
0:05:33 > 0:05:37quite how her total costs ended up more than double what the others
0:05:37 > 0:05:40were paying was a lot harder to get her head around.
0:05:42 > 0:05:43How can you justify it?
0:05:43 > 0:05:47I've got one backside. It might not be the smallest one in the world,
0:05:47 > 0:05:51but it only takes one seat on the plane, it only takes one seat
0:05:51 > 0:05:54on the transfers and I can only eat and drink for one person.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56Hoping it was all a mistake,
0:05:56 > 0:05:59Laurie immediately got on the phone to Thomson.
0:05:59 > 0:06:04I asked to speak to managers and double check that they'd got
0:06:04 > 0:06:06the figures right, that it was correct.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09"Yes, that's correct. You've paid your deposit,
0:06:09 > 0:06:13"you accepted the price at booking."
0:06:13 > 0:06:16What's more, as she had already paid the deposit
0:06:16 > 0:06:20and agreed to the terms and conditions, Laurie had no grounds
0:06:20 > 0:06:23for complaint. It was all there in the small print.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26When we put all of this to Thomson, the company told us that,
0:06:26 > 0:06:30with bookings like Laurie's, it's the hotel that makes up the most
0:06:30 > 0:06:33significant part of the total cost of the holiday.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36And in this particular case, the company's contract with
0:06:36 > 0:06:41the hotel operator required costs to be charged on a "per-room basis".
0:06:41 > 0:06:45So, with no single rooms available at Laurie's chosen hotel,
0:06:45 > 0:06:49Thomson had no choice but to pass on the full cost of a twin room.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53But the company insisted that its holidays are always
0:06:53 > 0:06:55competitively priced and it does offer
0:06:55 > 0:07:00"plenty of accommodation with single rooms" that ARE priced accordingly.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04So, is there any way to avoid the dreaded single supplement?
0:07:04 > 0:07:09Jacqui Wright, from Salford, runs a dating website for over-50s
0:07:09 > 0:07:13and, though she doesn't mind travelling alone,
0:07:13 > 0:07:16she does object to the price that she has to pay to do it.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19Because I'm a single traveller, I always have to pay at least
0:07:19 > 0:07:21a third more than couples.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24I do look for single rooms. If they've not been booked
0:07:24 > 0:07:27months in advance and I end up in one,
0:07:27 > 0:07:29they are always, always, in my experience,
0:07:29 > 0:07:32overlooking the bins or the car park. Not ideal, is it?
0:07:32 > 0:07:35Jacqui has come to the Rip-Off Britain office, to pick the brains
0:07:35 > 0:07:39of holiday expert and fellow solo traveller Bob Atkinson...
0:07:39 > 0:07:41Hi, good to meet you today!
0:07:41 > 0:07:45..to find the best ways to avoid those dreaded supplements.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49Is there actually a limit that a company can charge
0:07:49 > 0:07:51on a sole occupancy?
0:07:51 > 0:07:55At the end of the day, anyone who's offering you travel can charge
0:07:55 > 0:07:59- whatever they want to charge you... - Really?- ..cos there's no laws
0:07:59 > 0:08:04that stop them charging twice as much for one person using a room,
0:08:04 > 0:08:07rather than two. What I would say is, if it's a lot of money
0:08:07 > 0:08:09for something and you're not happy, don't pay it.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13Am I better off doing a package holiday with a tour operator
0:08:13 > 0:08:15or maybe doing it myself on the internet
0:08:15 > 0:08:17and doing my own flights and packages myself?
0:08:17 > 0:08:20What I would really recommend to do here is to compare it.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23If you go with a big package tour operator,
0:08:23 > 0:08:27to get the best price, you need to look for the single savers.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30There are certain dates through the year where the big companies
0:08:30 > 0:08:33will offer no single supplements. Now, those tend not to be
0:08:33 > 0:08:36in the school holidays. You need to book those earlier,
0:08:36 > 0:08:39rather than later, because they tend to get snapped up.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43However, it doesn't necessarily mean you're going to get the best price.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46So, if you look at doing a separate flight and also looking
0:08:46 > 0:08:49for rooms where, either you don't have to pay
0:08:49 > 0:08:52a single supplement, or you're just paying a double room
0:08:52 > 0:08:55at sole occupancy, you can put those together, and book and travel
0:08:55 > 0:08:59- and often make a great saving. - That's quite good advice, actually.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02On top of that, cruising holidays now is an option that a lot
0:09:02 > 0:09:05of people are considering, and some of the big shipping companies
0:09:05 > 0:09:09have started putting on their newer ships, single cabins.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12Now, this isn't a pokey cabin at the bottom of the ship,
0:09:12 > 0:09:16with no sea view and a little room. It's a decent-sized cabin,
0:09:16 > 0:09:19specifically sold for a single traveller and, therefore,
0:09:19 > 0:09:22- no single supplement. - I'll take that on board.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26And if the mainstream operators haven't always kept up with the pace
0:09:26 > 0:09:28of single travellers, there are some companies
0:09:28 > 0:09:30that can be a little more accommodating.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33If, for example, you fancy following Bob's advice of taking
0:09:33 > 0:09:38to the seas, then Norwegian Cruise Line ships now have single cabins,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41as do Fred Olsen. And back on dry land,
0:09:41 > 0:09:45Caribtours also offers single rooms with no single supplement,
0:09:45 > 0:09:46as do On The Go Tours.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50Meanwhile, although Laurie's Greek adventure did provide
0:09:50 > 0:09:54the perfect backdrop for that much-needed family holiday,
0:09:54 > 0:09:58she won't be happy until all single supplements are a thing of the past.
0:09:58 > 0:10:02There is no justification for doubling and adding to the cost
0:10:02 > 0:10:05of a holiday for a single person, regardless of whether they're
0:10:05 > 0:10:07widowed, divorced, single or whatever.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15Now, the whole point of a package holiday is that it brings together
0:10:15 > 0:10:19all of the elements that make up a holiday - that's flight, hotel,
0:10:19 > 0:10:23transfers and food - and gives you it all for a single price.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26But the eventual price may not always be the one that attracted you
0:10:26 > 0:10:28in the first place and you've been telling us that
0:10:28 > 0:10:31getting the holiday for the amount you've seen advertised
0:10:31 > 0:10:33can sometimes be very tricky indeed.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36And for one very musical Rip-Off viewer,
0:10:36 > 0:10:40it's become so annoying he's even written a song about it!
0:10:40 > 0:10:44# Holidays are not stress free
0:10:44 > 0:10:48# Hidden extras They're killing me... #
0:10:48 > 0:10:50This is Paul Garrett.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54And as you've probably guessed, music is his passion.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00But in at number two on his list of hobbies is travel.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04Whether in Australia, America or Europe,
0:11:04 > 0:11:07he and his guitar have had some great times together.
0:11:07 > 0:11:08# Yeah. #
0:11:08 > 0:11:11But Paul's days of heading down the high street to book
0:11:11 > 0:11:14his trips are long gone. Instead, like most of us,
0:11:14 > 0:11:17he now prefers to see what deals are online.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22But this particular road well travelled has started to get bumpy.
0:11:22 > 0:11:27You have to pay extra for extras, like transfers,
0:11:27 > 0:11:33baggage. You know, all this should be free, or included in one price,
0:11:33 > 0:11:39and when I see package holidays that aren't, I'm not very happy.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43Paul's gripe is that the headline price for package deals,
0:11:43 > 0:11:46the one that tempts you to click through to the booking screen,
0:11:46 > 0:11:49is often very different from the amount you'll finally pay.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53The departure date, airport, the type of room and board,
0:11:53 > 0:11:57even where you'll be sitting on the plane, all help push the cost up.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01And it can be even more annoying if, as often happens,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04you click on a price to try and book and find it's simply increased,
0:12:04 > 0:12:06for no obvious reason.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12I see a deal for £150 and it has gone up to £300,
0:12:12 > 0:12:16as soon as I click on it. When I see those prices on the web now,
0:12:16 > 0:12:18I just think it's a joke.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20A lot of them are non-existent.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24I think that the companies just think we're a load of idiots.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28Paul's on the look-out for a good deal on his next trip abroad
0:12:28 > 0:12:32and, once again, he's come across what looks like promising prices.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37I'm fishing on the internet, trying to find a cheap package.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41I'm not too bothered about exactly where, as long as it's a good deal.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44But though the offers appear to be good, it is the old familiar story -
0:12:44 > 0:12:49getting his holiday at that tempting headline price proves very tricky.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54Front page says £249 and I've clicked on it
0:12:54 > 0:13:00and it's taken me to the first option, which is £276.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04It's not long before Paul discovers even bigger disparities
0:13:04 > 0:13:07between the price he's seen advertised
0:13:07 > 0:13:09and the one he'll actually get, if he tries to book.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13Here's one I've just found. Gran Canaria, from 179.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16This sounds good, this one, so we'll give this a try.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23Wow. I'm in shock now, cos it's just jumped up to now...
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Now, it's 379.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30Per person, that is. Not for two.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32Well, I'm staggered with that one.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34That's one of the worst ones I've seen!
0:13:34 > 0:13:38I'd say we were double the price. That's ridiculous, isn't it?!
0:13:38 > 0:13:42Determined to get his hands on that headline price of £179
0:13:42 > 0:13:45to Gran Canaria, Paul tries the old-fashioned way
0:13:45 > 0:13:47and makes a phone call.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52I'm calling about one of your holidays.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56Gran Canaria, two-star, from £179.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Yeah, I'd like to book that, at that price, please.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02It's on your website. I've just clicked on it.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04So, that price isn't there now?
0:14:04 > 0:14:07I'll leave it for now. Thanks a lot.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10Well, it's live pricing and it changes all the time,
0:14:10 > 0:14:14she says. Unfortunately, they can't control it at their end,
0:14:14 > 0:14:17because they're in a call centre, so...
0:14:17 > 0:14:20It doesn't make it right, does it?
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Back to the search, then.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26Bagging those headline holiday or flight prices is something
0:14:26 > 0:14:29that plenty of you say you find a challenge.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32Those fantastic deals slip through your fingers
0:14:32 > 0:14:35from the very moment you try and get hold of them.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38I remember it saying something like £200 for a week
0:14:38 > 0:14:40or something and when you went through to book it,
0:14:40 > 0:14:42it ended up being something like £350.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45After you've spent five minutes clicking through various pages,
0:14:45 > 0:14:48you find it's gone up by a third, there's additional charges.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51It can be very frustrating. It's a big time waster, to be honest.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54Once you're through the door, they can just say,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57"Oh, this adds on, that adds on." Before you know it,
0:14:57 > 0:15:00the holiday that you want is not there at the price you want.
0:15:00 > 0:15:05Holiday and travel advertising is governed by the same regulations
0:15:05 > 0:15:09as all other adverts and the body that implements these regulations,
0:15:09 > 0:15:13the Advertising Standards Authority, takes a dim view of any company
0:15:13 > 0:15:15deemed to be making promises they can't keep.
0:15:15 > 0:15:20However, these regulations also state that, as a general rule,
0:15:20 > 0:15:23only 10% of the offers have to be available at the headline price
0:15:23 > 0:15:28at any one time. So, for the other 90%, the prices don't have to be
0:15:28 > 0:15:31anywhere near those that lured you in.
0:15:31 > 0:15:36But getting those elusive headline prices, even 10% of the time,
0:15:36 > 0:15:40isn't always easy, as we found, when we took a quick look for ourselves.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44On one major holiday website, we saw deals to Majorca
0:15:44 > 0:15:47being advertised that, apparently, started
0:15:47 > 0:15:50at £173 per person, but when we clicked through,
0:15:50 > 0:15:54we couldn't find anything under £265. What's more, as soon as
0:15:54 > 0:15:59we added any luggage - still quite an essential for most trips! -
0:15:59 > 0:16:04it cost at least £78 extra for two people.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08Another website boasts of hotel rooms in holiday hotspot
0:16:08 > 0:16:11for just £1. But good luck finding them at that price,
0:16:11 > 0:16:15because the cheapest room option we found was around £50.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21Meanwhile, a £257 break to Barcelona that we spotted
0:16:21 > 0:16:24seemed, on the face of it, to be great value.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26But that rate only covered flights from Manchester.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30If you want to travel from Southampton Airport instead,
0:16:30 > 0:16:34you'd be looking at paying £554 -
0:16:34 > 0:16:37nearly £300 more than the advertised price.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41But holiday journalist Lisa Francesca Nand says that,
0:16:41 > 0:16:45just because those headlines prices aren't always available, it doesn't
0:16:45 > 0:16:48necessarily mean we're having the wool pulled over our eyes.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51I think, sometimes, we're a little bit suspicious
0:16:51 > 0:16:54that companies might put these offers out there
0:16:54 > 0:16:56and they're not actually existing, at all.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59However, legally, they really can't do that,
0:16:59 > 0:17:02so if you have any suspicions that is happening, then do complain.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05However, hopefully, the offers are there.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08You've just got to be really, really quick and try and get them
0:17:08 > 0:17:10and also be flexible about dates.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13That's probably the only way you'll get those very good deals.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17Of course, this way of marketing isn't confined to any one company
0:17:17 > 0:17:21or website. It's common throughout the whole industry.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25So, we asked the Association of British Travel Agents,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29which represents some of the biggest names in the business,
0:17:29 > 0:17:31whether it thinks we're being misled.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34It told us that travel pricing is "very fluid and dynamic"
0:17:34 > 0:17:38and that, sometimes, especially when there's a good deal on offer,
0:17:38 > 0:17:41a price is no longer available by the time a customer
0:17:41 > 0:17:43comes to book it.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47But it reiterated that, under the rules, this is "acceptable,"
0:17:47 > 0:17:49as long as a certain number of holiday or flights
0:17:49 > 0:17:53were initially available at the advertised price.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58But as far as Paul's concerned, the price you see
0:17:58 > 0:18:00should be the one you pay.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03My message to the industry is, give us more bargains
0:18:03 > 0:18:06and stop trying to rip us off, adding extras.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10Include them in one price, so that we know exactly what the price is.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13# For my holidays... #
0:18:21 > 0:18:25Still to come on Rip-Off Britain... What's the best way to get
0:18:25 > 0:18:27the cheapest price on a hotel room?
0:18:27 > 0:18:31An online booking site or calling up direct?
0:18:31 > 0:18:33We've done a test, to find out.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36So for the double room showing at 130, would you do that
0:18:36 > 0:18:38at a better price over the phone?
0:18:41 > 0:18:45Now, when we're in a lovely sunny spot like this, in Lanzarote,
0:18:45 > 0:18:47we may be getting a bit better at protecting our skin
0:18:47 > 0:18:51from all the rays. But what about our eyes?
0:18:51 > 0:18:54Well, of course, we rely on these, our trusty sunglasses.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56But it's not always easy to work out
0:18:56 > 0:18:58which ones will be the most effective.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02And while you might think that, when it comes to the safety of your eyes,
0:19:02 > 0:19:04it pays to shell out a little bit more,
0:19:04 > 0:19:06to get the best protection you can afford,
0:19:06 > 0:19:10in fact, as you'll see, that's not necessarily the case.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15Round frames, butterfly,
0:19:15 > 0:19:19ribless, aviator... You name it, there's a pair for you.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22And with looking good in the sun a real priority for some people,
0:19:22 > 0:19:25it's no wonder that the real job of sunglasses
0:19:25 > 0:19:27sometimes gets overlooked.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31What do you look for in a pair of sunglasses?
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Quality, really. You know they're not going to break.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36Reliability. Hopefully, they'll last a long time.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40I like them quite dark, because I suffer with migraines,
0:19:40 > 0:19:44so like to have them nice and dark, so the sun's not glaring in my eyes.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48Style. I like that type of style, so I do. Nice bulky lens.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52But however high the fashion stakes,
0:19:52 > 0:19:55President of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians,
0:19:55 > 0:19:59Peter Black, says the most crucial role of whatever shades you buy
0:19:59 > 0:20:04is protecting your eyes from harmful ultra-violet rays, even in the UK.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08So, UV protection's very important for the eye.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10We know that UV causes sunburn.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13We protect our skin and we also need to protect our eyes.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17Not wearing shades on sunny days can do serious damage to your eyes
0:20:17 > 0:20:21and speed up the development of conditions such as cataracts
0:20:21 > 0:20:23and macular degeneration.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26So, how much do you have to pay to find a pair of specs
0:20:26 > 0:20:28that properly protect your peepers?
0:20:28 > 0:20:31Well, we've brought five pairs of differently-priced sunglasses
0:20:31 > 0:20:35to Liverpool Airport, where Peter's on hand to ask holidaymakers
0:20:35 > 0:20:38which shades they reckon will provide the best protection
0:20:38 > 0:20:40from the sun's UV rays.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44These ones, they may look cool.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47They may make you look like you're from Top Gun,
0:20:47 > 0:20:50but then, they're not very good protection,
0:20:50 > 0:20:55because you can see through them easily and it's not very dark.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59The darker they are, the better it is, I reckon.
0:21:01 > 0:21:02These are awesome.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04They're really cool, really funky, quite light
0:21:04 > 0:21:07and they've got really good protection.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11I think, for the price, £20, that's pretty good.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14Because if you don't want to burn your eyes out,
0:21:14 > 0:21:17then these are perfect - and you look cool while doing it.
0:21:17 > 0:21:18So, win-win.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22Oh, £195!
0:21:24 > 0:21:28- They feel... They don't feel... - You look like Lara Croft!
0:21:28 > 0:21:30Now, these are very light, indeed.
0:21:30 > 0:21:35And also, looking at the lights, it really does block it out.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38So, which sunglasses do our travellers think are
0:21:38 > 0:21:41the top of the range for UV protection?
0:21:41 > 0:21:45I think these are the best. They're £195.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49They're super-lightweight, very comfortable and nice, dark lenses.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51So, I think it offers really good UV protection.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53195 is quite steep for them,
0:21:53 > 0:21:56but you get what you pay for, in my opinion.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58All right, which one's best, then?
0:21:58 > 0:22:01They're £60, so you'd expect them to be quite good.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04I would probably go for that one, maybe being the least,
0:22:04 > 0:22:06just because it's got blue, tinty stuff.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12We thought, as they were the most expensive, they must,
0:22:12 > 0:22:16in some way, protect your eyesight even more, because of the price.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19But not everyone thought the sunglasses with the designer
0:22:19 > 0:22:23price tags would better protect their eyes from UV.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26What do you think? What'll I go with?
0:22:26 > 0:22:31- I want them ones.- As the best? We'll go with that one for the best,
0:22:31 > 0:22:33that one for second.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37I think these are the best, cos they seem thicker and stronger lenses.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41Flimsier ones, sort of, to the end. See if that's any good.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45Although we heard lots of theories about which sunglasses
0:22:45 > 0:22:47would best protect our eyes from UV rays,
0:22:47 > 0:22:50there was total agreement on one pair.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53No-one thought that this £1 pair would cut the mustard.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56But, in fact, they were all wrong. Whatever the price,
0:22:56 > 0:23:00every pair was as the good as the others.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04- Are you joking?- No way.- How is this?
0:23:04 > 0:23:08- These.- I'm pleased, because I always buy cheap sunglasses,
0:23:08 > 0:23:11because they either break in my handbag, get scratched or get lost.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14# Go get yourself some cheap sunglasses. #
0:23:14 > 0:23:18And it's not just these five pairs that will protect your eyes from
0:23:18 > 0:23:23the UV rays hitting them, because every pair of sunglasses
0:23:23 > 0:23:26on sale in the UK has to do that, whether they cost £1, £100
0:23:26 > 0:23:27or even more.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33- Right!- So, you're just paying more money for the design.
0:23:33 > 0:23:34It goes to show, doesn't it?
0:23:34 > 0:23:37You think, "Oh, £1 - they wouldn't be up to much."
0:23:38 > 0:23:40Of course, that's not quite the whole story.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45While, in theory, you should be confident you'd get great
0:23:45 > 0:23:48UV protection from any pair of sunglasses you buy in the UK,
0:23:48 > 0:23:51that doesn't mean that any old pair will do.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53Can I have a look at the fit of them?
0:23:54 > 0:23:56Some sunnies really should still be left in the shade,
0:23:56 > 0:24:00- because they simply don't fit properly.- They're a great fit.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03They wrap all the way round, so you're not going to get sunlight
0:24:03 > 0:24:05round the side, either. So, that's really good.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07If sunglasses are too small or don't fit well,
0:24:07 > 0:24:10UV light can get to your eyes around the edges.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12- They're a nice fit.- Yeah.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14Nice round the bridge and they give good coverage.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17I've got an ear that's lower this side, as well.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19So, they do fit and feel quite nice.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21And just like their skin,
0:24:21 > 0:24:24children's eyes are more sensitive than adults',
0:24:24 > 0:24:28so making sure kids have sunglasses that fit well is really important.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30Can I just check the fit of your sunglasses?
0:24:30 > 0:24:33The sunlight can come in over the top of those.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36So, it is always advisable to wear a hat, as well,
0:24:36 > 0:24:40if your sunglasses fit that way. Let's have a look at yours on.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43They're slipping a little bit, so they could be better.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46- An optician may be able to adjust those for you...- OK.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48..so that they sit a little bit higher.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52- Yours fit pretty well, actually. So, they're very good.- Excellent.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57Just about everyone who's been through Peter's sunglasses clinic
0:24:57 > 0:25:00so far has owned a pair of shades that they bought from
0:25:00 > 0:25:03a high street shop in the UK, which means they should comply with
0:25:03 > 0:25:07the rules and provide proper protection against UV rays.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10But next, he meets a holidaymaker with somewhat-suspect sunnies.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14Can I ask you where you got them from?
0:25:14 > 0:25:16- Some beachfront, somewhere. - On a beach, OK.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20- And how much did you pay for them? - Three euros, at best.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22About three euros, OK.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26Frames manufactured and sold outside Europe don't have to comply
0:25:26 > 0:25:30with EU rules. And whilst you might think they're doing their job,
0:25:30 > 0:25:34they could offer dangerously low levels of UV protection.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39What we're going to do now is test them for UV protection, OK?
0:25:41 > 0:25:44To check out these fake designer shades out properly,
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Peter shone an ultraviolet torch through the lenses
0:25:47 > 0:25:51and onto a UV reader, so he could measure how much UV passed through.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55If they were doing the right job, the reading should show zero,
0:25:55 > 0:25:58with no UV getting through the lenses.
0:25:59 > 0:26:04This meter shows we've got about 234 units of UV coming out the torch.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08With your lenses, we've still got 150. We should have zero.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12If they were to British standards, they would give 100% protection.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15Uh-oh. And worse still, wearing ineffective sunglasses
0:26:15 > 0:26:20like these could be more dangerous than not wearing them at all.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24If you have dark glasses and they don't give you UV protection,
0:26:24 > 0:26:27what happens is, your pupils dilate and it lets through more UV
0:26:27 > 0:26:30to the back of the eye. So, although they may make things
0:26:30 > 0:26:34a little more comfortable, because they're dark, actually you'd
0:26:34 > 0:26:37be well advised not to wear them and to treat yourself to some others.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42So, when it comes to sunglasses, it seems that a good pair
0:26:42 > 0:26:45needn't be an expensive pair. And as our holidaymakers depart,
0:26:45 > 0:26:48with all the knowledge they need to protect their eyes,
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Peter's pleased that his tests have had such positive results.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56It's been a really successful day here at Liverpool Airport.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59I think the overriding message is that all of the sunglasses
0:26:59 > 0:27:02we have tested from reputable dealers - from shops,
0:27:02 > 0:27:06from opticians, from chemists - have all been really good
0:27:06 > 0:27:07and have given 100% protection.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11The ones that have failed the test have all been fake, you know,
0:27:11 > 0:27:14and I think there's a lesson there that we need to buy
0:27:14 > 0:27:17our sunglasses from a shop that we can trust.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29Our travel expert Simon Calder is sharing his top tips
0:27:29 > 0:27:31on favourite destinations across the globe.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33This time...
0:27:33 > 0:27:34India.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38India's attracting more Brits than ever before
0:27:38 > 0:27:42and most will start their trip with a stopover in the country's capital.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46But watch out. The squeeze on your wallet could start straight away.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52Arriving at Delhi Airport can be completely bewildering.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56There seem to be 10,000 taxi drivers and you can't really work out
0:27:56 > 0:27:59who is trustworthy and who isn't.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Instead, though, take the new metro system,
0:28:02 > 0:28:05which will whisk you into the heart of the city.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09It's swift, it's safe, it's clean, it's comfortable
0:28:09 > 0:28:11and it's cheaper than a taxi.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17If you're short of time, it may not be the obvious sights
0:28:17 > 0:28:19you should try and squeeze in.
0:28:19 > 0:28:23It's tempting to think, "Oh, I'll go across to the city of Agra
0:28:23 > 0:28:27"and visit the Taj Mahal". But that's a journey that can take
0:28:27 > 0:28:31up to six hours. Instead, I recommend you visit the wonderful
0:28:31 > 0:28:35Lotus Temple, just a few miles from Delhi Airport
0:28:35 > 0:28:41and on the city's metro system. It gives the Taj a run for its money.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44It's a great place to escape the hustle and bustle
0:28:44 > 0:28:48of the Indian capital and, unlike the Taj, it's completely free.
0:28:50 > 0:28:52After the chaos of the capital,
0:28:52 > 0:28:55you may be planning to see what else India has to offer.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58But make sure you're on your guard, as you set off.
0:28:58 > 0:29:02India, in my experience, has about one billion friendly,
0:29:02 > 0:29:04helpful people...
0:29:06 > 0:29:09..and a few hundred rascals,
0:29:09 > 0:29:12who tend to congregate around New Delhi railway station.
0:29:12 > 0:29:17They're trying to trick new arrivals into thinking that their train
0:29:17 > 0:29:21is fully booked or cancelled. They want to sell you, instead,
0:29:21 > 0:29:25an overpriced, slow and less-safe car transfer.
0:29:25 > 0:29:30Sometimes, they'll even try it on on the platform.
0:29:30 > 0:29:32It's a scam. Don't fall for it!
0:29:34 > 0:29:37And if you're off to the country's breathtaking beach resorts,
0:29:37 > 0:29:40there's another scam to keep in mind.
0:29:40 > 0:29:45Thieves on motorbikes have been known to ride the coast road,
0:29:45 > 0:29:48dazzling tourists with full-beam headlights,
0:29:48 > 0:29:50before snatching their bags.
0:29:50 > 0:29:54So, stick to well-lit areas and keep your wits about you!
0:29:58 > 0:30:01These days, when it comes to booking a hotel,
0:30:01 > 0:30:03it's very easy to find yourself spoilt for choice.
0:30:03 > 0:30:07The internet is awash with deals, offers and discounts.
0:30:07 > 0:30:11But does that really mean we're getting the best possible price?
0:30:11 > 0:30:13Or could it be that the old-fashioned way of actually
0:30:13 > 0:30:18ringing up a hotel direct may still be the best way to bag a bargain?
0:30:18 > 0:30:22Well, on your behalf, we've put that to the test.
0:30:24 > 0:30:28If there's one thing that the Welsh seaside towns know how to do
0:30:28 > 0:30:32- it's bed and breakfast accommodation. - Good morning, Langland Road.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36And Giles and David are a good example of how to get it right,
0:30:36 > 0:30:39as their B&B is ticking over nicely.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42- Some tea...- A good chunk of their bookings used to come
0:30:42 > 0:30:46via referrals from the local tourist information centre,
0:30:46 > 0:30:50but when they heard that was due to close in December 2014,
0:30:50 > 0:30:53they started to wonder if they were missing a trick.
0:30:53 > 0:30:57We chatted to the ladies in the tourist information centre
0:30:57 > 0:30:59and they told us that everyone books online now,
0:30:59 > 0:31:02so people don't book through them. But when we looked into it,
0:31:02 > 0:31:05we realised that a lot of people will book through booking agents.
0:31:05 > 0:31:10The booking agents in question are the sort of accommodation websites
0:31:10 > 0:31:13that many of us immediately turn to, when looking for somewhere to stay.
0:31:13 > 0:31:17So, to make sure they were attracting the highest possible number
0:31:17 > 0:31:21of bookings, Giles and David decided it might be worth their while
0:31:21 > 0:31:23signing up to some of these sites, as well.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25But that came at a price.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29The booking agents took 15%, plus VAT, of the total cost
0:31:29 > 0:31:32of the stay in the bed and breakfast, yes?
0:31:32 > 0:31:36Which meant that, for five rooms let,
0:31:36 > 0:31:39one room was given over in commission,
0:31:39 > 0:31:41paying to the booking agents.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45As they thought about it further, they realised that,
0:31:45 > 0:31:49in addition to them paying out for being on these sites,
0:31:49 > 0:31:52the customers using them to make a booking might not always
0:31:52 > 0:31:54be getting the best deal, either.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56We always knew that, if someone phoned us direct,
0:31:56 > 0:31:59asked us a direct question, "How much can you do a room for?"
0:31:59 > 0:32:02we knew that the booking agents would be charging us money
0:32:02 > 0:32:05to get that booking, so we could offer the customers directly
0:32:05 > 0:32:10a discount, thus saving the customer money and, thus, saving us money.
0:32:10 > 0:32:12Their worries didn't end there.
0:32:12 > 0:32:16They became concerned at the way people booking a room through these
0:32:16 > 0:32:19sites might be encouraged to believe they were getting a special rate.
0:32:19 > 0:32:23When we were working with the booking agents, we noticed that
0:32:23 > 0:32:26our guests would arrive in the B&B and they'd show us
0:32:26 > 0:32:29their booking confirmation and, often, that booking confirmation
0:32:29 > 0:32:32would show the word "deal" and we could never understand
0:32:32 > 0:32:35why it would mention the word deal, because there was no deal.
0:32:35 > 0:32:39They were paying the same price that everyone else was paying.
0:32:39 > 0:32:43Unclear as to what these "deals" were, the owners went online,
0:32:43 > 0:32:45to check out their own listing.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49But when they did, as well as finding so-called deals that,
0:32:49 > 0:32:53as far as they were concerned, were just the standard tariff,
0:32:53 > 0:32:56they were also baffled by references to apparent bookings
0:32:56 > 0:32:58they knew nothing about.
0:32:58 > 0:33:01Often, we'd click on our listing with the booking agent
0:33:01 > 0:33:07and a little message would come up and it would say, last booking was
0:33:07 > 0:33:11- for example, three or four hours ago.- And we'd look at our e-mails
0:33:11 > 0:33:15and we hadn't had an booking. It was just some kind of marketing spin,
0:33:15 > 0:33:18- to encourage the customer to book it.- And many times, guests would
0:33:18 > 0:33:22turn up and say, "I booked your last room. I'm so pleased I booked it."
0:33:22 > 0:33:26- And there'd be a vacancy sign in the window.- Yeah, because they
0:33:26 > 0:33:30- hadn't booked the last room.- You may have seen such messages yourself
0:33:30 > 0:33:33and perhaps been spurred on to book, because of them.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36So concerned the world of the online booking sites
0:33:36 > 0:33:39wasn't doing their business the favours they'd hoped for,
0:33:39 > 0:33:43- the B&B boys made a decision. - We decided to take ourselves off
0:33:43 > 0:33:45the booking websites and take only direct bookings
0:33:45 > 0:33:47for this summer, 2015.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50And it's worked out very, very well.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53We've had the best summer we've ever had.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56David and Giles say they've been able to offer their best price to
0:33:56 > 0:34:00more customers, because their guests haven't had to pay the middleman -
0:34:00 > 0:34:02these internet booking agents.
0:34:02 > 0:34:06And they're so evangelical that booking direct with the hotel
0:34:06 > 0:34:10is the best way to go, that we asked them to test it out.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12They're checking out the prices of several UK hotels
0:34:12 > 0:34:17on some of the big booking sites. But will they be able to book a room
0:34:17 > 0:34:20at a better rate by calling those hotels directly?
0:34:22 > 0:34:26I've got one here now. Chain hotel in Central London,
0:34:26 > 0:34:29advertises a three-star deal, with the last booking one hour ago,
0:34:29 > 0:34:33for £77, for two people, However, I've just looked
0:34:33 > 0:34:35direct on their website and, for the same date,
0:34:35 > 0:34:39they've got a room available for £59.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42A saving of...£18.
0:34:42 > 0:34:46And on the phone, it's not long before they're ringing up
0:34:46 > 0:34:49more savings at the other hotels they've been looking into.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52So, for the double room showing at 130, would you do that
0:34:52 > 0:34:54for a better price over the phone?
0:34:54 > 0:34:58So, you'd take £10 off, for a double room, for two nights?
0:34:58 > 0:35:01Aw, there we are. Thank you very much for that. I'll think about that
0:35:01 > 0:35:04and phone you back. She'd take £10 off for a two-night stay.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07Excellent. That's a couple of pints!
0:35:07 > 0:35:10It seems our B&B owners' theory is proved right,
0:35:10 > 0:35:14as they very quickly discover there are savings to be made
0:35:14 > 0:35:18by the direct approach or, indeed, other benefits, too.
0:35:18 > 0:35:22So, I've got one night here, at a chain hotel in lovely Swansea.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24On the booking agent's site, it's £95.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28However, if I go direct to the hotelier's own website...
0:35:30 > 0:35:34..it, yet again, is £95, but they're offering a direct £10 credit
0:35:34 > 0:35:36to spend on extras, per room.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39- Oh, some free wine. - Excellent. Let's go.
0:35:39 > 0:35:43Oh, hi, I'm just looking online at coming to stay with you.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46If I book over the phone, can you do a better rate?
0:35:46 > 0:35:48So, for 58.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50So, what's that? That's 116.
0:35:51 > 0:35:53Well, that's a £2 saving.
0:35:53 > 0:35:55Oh, I'll have half a lager!
0:35:55 > 0:35:59- OK, where shall we go next, then? - Shall we go north?
0:35:59 > 0:36:01- Yeah, let's try Llandudno. - Oh, Llandudno.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04Right, I'm looking on a booking agent's website
0:36:04 > 0:36:06and a price has come up for £140.
0:36:06 > 0:36:09Would you be able to give me a better price over the phone?
0:36:11 > 0:36:15- He'd take £10 off, for a two-night stay.- Excellent. Another result.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21Back at Rip-Off Britain HQ, we decided to test this out
0:36:21 > 0:36:23a little bit further.
0:36:23 > 0:36:26Using several of the best-known accommodation booking sites,
0:36:26 > 0:36:30we checked the price of a two-night stay in a double room for two people
0:36:30 > 0:36:34at 39 randomly-chosen hotels and B&Bs. We then compared that cost
0:36:34 > 0:36:37with what we'd pay contacting the hotel directly.
0:36:37 > 0:36:40And there were some significant differences.
0:36:40 > 0:36:44A B&B in Kent quoted a price of £30 cheaper,
0:36:44 > 0:36:46when we called them up ourselves.
0:36:47 > 0:36:52A guesthouse in Edinburgh was £20 cheaper, if you booked direct.
0:36:52 > 0:36:56And our biggest saving was on a central London hotel,
0:36:56 > 0:37:00where the price on its own website was a massive £309 cheaper
0:37:00 > 0:37:05for a two-night stay than it would cost with the online booking agent.
0:37:05 > 0:37:08But not every place we looked at offered a better price direct.
0:37:08 > 0:37:12The online booking sites did also have some genuine deals.
0:37:12 > 0:37:17One central Manchester hotel was £60 cheaper if you booked
0:37:17 > 0:37:20with the online agency. And the cost of booking
0:37:20 > 0:37:24a hotel in York was almost £36 lower with the third-party booking agency
0:37:24 > 0:37:27than on its own website.
0:37:27 > 0:37:31But overall, while the results of our little test were rather mixed,
0:37:31 > 0:37:34booking direct with the hotel did work out cheaper
0:37:34 > 0:37:38in the majority of cases. 12 of the places we tried offered
0:37:38 > 0:37:41the same price, no matter which way you booked.
0:37:41 > 0:37:45Ten of the 39 were cheaper through the booking sites,
0:37:45 > 0:37:49but 17 of our 39 rooms proved better value
0:37:49 > 0:37:51if we contacted the hotel direct.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57We put our test results to some of the best-known online booking sites.
0:37:57 > 0:38:01Not all of them wanted to comment, but those that did, told us that
0:38:01 > 0:38:05it is the hotels themselves that set the prices on their sites and agree
0:38:05 > 0:38:08whether or not a rate is advertised as a "deal".
0:38:08 > 0:38:11The booking sites pointed out that, in return for their commission,
0:38:11 > 0:38:15they provide invaluable marketing services to accommodation providers,
0:38:15 > 0:38:19targeting "a wide-ranging consumer base" that the individual hotels
0:38:19 > 0:38:21"wouldn't otherwise reach".
0:38:21 > 0:38:25And one major site was keen to emphasise that it doesn't take
0:38:25 > 0:38:29any money from its hotel partners until a booking is actually made.
0:38:29 > 0:38:32So, the hotels, essentially, benefit from free marketing.
0:38:32 > 0:38:36And as for those times when customers are told that rooms are running out,
0:38:36 > 0:38:40the booking sites explained that this refers to the limited number of rooms
0:38:40 > 0:38:43they have been allocated, rather than what might be available
0:38:43 > 0:38:45in the entire hotel.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50But perhaps the best advice is to not take what you see on these sites
0:38:50 > 0:38:54at face value or assume it's the best available price.
0:38:54 > 0:38:57Always compare the cost they show with what you'd get from
0:38:57 > 0:39:01the hotel direct, which is certainly what David and Giles will be doing.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04My golden rule would be to use the booking agent,
0:39:04 > 0:39:06look for availability and then go direct.
0:39:06 > 0:39:11Whenever you've got a middleman, the middleman needs paying, doesn't he?
0:39:16 > 0:39:18Earlier in the programme, we revealed that,
0:39:18 > 0:39:23when it comes to sunglasses, it really doesn't matter what you pay.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26Provided they fit properly, any pair bought in the UK
0:39:26 > 0:39:30should properly protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33But it's not just sunglasses where paying more makes very
0:39:33 > 0:39:36little difference to what you end up with.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39There are a whole host of holiday health essentials
0:39:39 > 0:39:43you don't need to blow the budget on, as Dr Jane Wilson explains.
0:39:45 > 0:39:47Paracetamol. It's a brilliant drug.
0:39:47 > 0:39:50It's very good as a basic pain reliever.
0:39:50 > 0:39:55It gets fever down and it's an absolute travel essential.
0:39:55 > 0:39:59Not only that, paracetamol is a particularly cheap drug
0:39:59 > 0:40:04and it's particularly good value if you don't buy into big brands.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06For example, the smallest packet
0:40:06 > 0:40:12can cost you anything from 19p to £1.29, with the same
0:40:12 > 0:40:15active ingredients and the same number of tablets.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20Traveller's tummy - it's very common.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23As much as one-third of people travelling to southern Europe
0:40:23 > 0:40:26in the summer can be struck, so it's important to know how to treat it.
0:40:26 > 0:40:29A lot of people use oral rehydration salts.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32These work really well, but you can save a packet, by learning
0:40:32 > 0:40:35to make your own solution. So, here's how...
0:40:35 > 0:40:39You take a spoonful of sugar, level it with a knife,
0:40:39 > 0:40:41Another one. And then a third one.
0:40:41 > 0:40:44Then, next, a little bit of salt -
0:40:44 > 0:40:47about a quarter of a teaspoonful. You put that in.
0:40:47 > 0:40:51Then, if you can, you go to the bar and get some lime to squeeze in.
0:40:51 > 0:40:53So, stir it up...
0:40:56 > 0:40:58..and drink it down. Cheers.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04Hand sanitizers. People have them in their handbags.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07We see them in hospitals and quite a lot of people pack them
0:41:07 > 0:41:10when they go on holiday.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12This little bottle costs £1.49,
0:41:12 > 0:41:17but if you want good cleaning power, travel with a humble bar of soap.
0:41:17 > 0:41:21You can pick them up for free in hotels. You get better
0:41:21 > 0:41:23cleaning power for less money than an alcohol gel.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31Antihistamines. They're very good to pack when you're going on holiday.
0:41:31 > 0:41:35They're not only good for hay fever, they're really good if you get stung
0:41:35 > 0:41:38or bitten or have a reaction to something weird you've eaten.
0:41:38 > 0:41:42Astonishingly, if you buy the top brands, it can cost you
0:41:42 > 0:41:46as much as 49p for one antihistamine tablet,
0:41:46 > 0:41:51whereas other brands can be as cheap as 5p a tablet.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54There are two very effective antihistamines -
0:41:54 > 0:41:56one is loratadine, the other, cetirizine.
0:41:56 > 0:42:00If either of those are in the packet, they will work
0:42:00 > 0:42:03extremely well and you don't need to buy the top brands.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07And now you have saved all that money, you will be able
0:42:07 > 0:42:10to treat yourself to another ice cream on the beach!
0:42:14 > 0:42:16Well, I hope you'll agree that we really have packed
0:42:16 > 0:42:19a tremendous amount of advice into the programme today.
0:42:19 > 0:42:23We certainly very much hope some of it can save you money in the future.
0:42:23 > 0:42:27I'm going to be keeping in mind that tip about calling up hotels
0:42:27 > 0:42:29in person, to see if you can get a better price,
0:42:29 > 0:42:33because it is all too easy to be swayed by all those websites
0:42:33 > 0:42:36that claim to offer "a very special rate, just for you".
0:42:36 > 0:42:40And while I'm absolutely with you, Angela, on the business of those
0:42:40 > 0:42:42single supplements, what really stuck out for me today
0:42:42 > 0:42:46was the bombshell that spending more on sunglasses doesn't mean you're
0:42:46 > 0:42:48getting any better protection.
0:42:48 > 0:42:50That should really give you something to think about
0:42:50 > 0:42:52and save you some cash, leaving you more to spend
0:42:52 > 0:42:55- when you get to your destination. - We're all for that. And we certainly
0:42:55 > 0:42:58hope that, wherever you are going on holiday this year,
0:42:58 > 0:43:01whether it's as sunny as here in Lanzarote or closer to home,
0:43:01 > 0:43:04that you'll be able to get the best holiday you can
0:43:04 > 0:43:05for the best price you can.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08And can find a reminder of some of today's money-saving tips
0:43:08 > 0:43:10on our website, at...
0:43:13 > 0:43:14Or, of course you can always share
0:43:14 > 0:43:18your own holiday advice on our Facebook page, as well.
0:43:18 > 0:43:20But that's where we have to leave it for this time.
0:43:20 > 0:43:24We'll see you very soon, with more of your stories. In the meantime,
0:43:24 > 0:43:25- from all of us, bye-bye.- Bye.- Bye.