New guidance on using debit and credit cards overseas has been released by payments associaton APACS.
Around 50 per cent of all purchases made by Britons abroad are made on plastic cards, APACS has revealed.
The payments association, which released a guide for travellers planning to spend money abroad this summer yesterday, said that UK residents' overseas expenditure on cards totalled £25.2 billion in 2007; just over £18 billion of this figure was found to be going on credit cards.
APACS consumer guide includes advice for card-holding tourists on avoiding fraud while on holiday, as well as on the extra charges on overseas use levied on cards by some providers.
Keeping 24-hour contact phone numbers for cards in easy reach, in case of emergency or theft came highly recommended from the association.
Sandra Quinn, director of communications at APACS, said: "As a nation we are all using our cards more frequently abroad so it pays to be aware of any extra costs that may be incurred for using them overseas, as well as taking steps to protect them from fraud."
She added: "Card thieves are hoping to catch us relaxed and off-guard when we are overseas, so we need to take the same sensible precautions with our cards abroad as we would in the UK."
The consumer guide is available for download from choosingandusing.com and cardwatch.org.uk.
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