Roaming charges: Top tips to keep your mobile bill down on holiday

EU mobile roaming charges will be capped as of Saturday Credit: PA

There is good news for EU holidaymakers as mobile roaming charges will be capped as of today.

And by June 2017, charges to telephone, send text messages or use data whilst within the EU will be banned completely.

From tomorrow, mobile users will be able to make outgoing calls in EU countries from 5p per minute, send texts for 2p, and use 1MB of data for 5p.

Whilst there is a year to go until the blanket bans are introduced, research found that a quarter of Britons don't realise that roaming charges still apply when travelling.

Journalist and technology expert Kate Bevan has given her five top tips to minimise your holiday roaming bill:

  • Look closely at the data you already use

"Look at the data you already use because everything uses data - even if you are just looking at Facebook", Kate says.

"If you're big at uploading pictures to Instagram or Snapchatting your friends when you're away, that can use a lot of data too".

  • Ask your provider if there is an "add-on" if you use lots of data

"The first thing to do is ask your mobile provider whether you have an add-on package for roaming abroad that might work better for you", Kate says.

This could be helpful for those who like to keep in touch with Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat whilst abroad.

In this case, it may be cheaper to ask your mobile provider if you have an add-on a day which could keep your data "under control".

Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram can easily eat up your data Credit: PA

  • Think "free WI-FI hotspots"

When away, think about using free WI-FI instead. There are a lot of free WI-FI hotspots, especially in hotels and restaurants.

Remember there is always a security code. Make sure you go and ask for the password because that shows you are logging in to the right hotspot.

  • Look out for "evil twin hotspots"

By ensuring you ask for the WI-FI security code, you will avoid logging into potential "twin hotspots" with the same name - designed to "sniff your data" and steal your passwords.

  • Avoid online shopping and banking when abroad

For that very reason, avoid online shopping and banking when abroad - which require the use of passwords - as you could inadvertently log in to a twin hotspot.