Martin Lewis warns UK tourists of costly Europe trip mistakes

Millions of UK residents heading to Europe this summer are being urged by consumer champion Martin Lewis to carry out crucial checks on passports, travel rules and extra charges, as a series of post-Brexit changes and new systems across the EU risk turning long-awaited holidays into expensive ordeals.

Passport dates and EU 90‑day limits under scrutiny

Recent advice highlighted by Martin Lewis and his MoneySavingExpert team stresses that many UK travellers still misunderstand how long their passports remain valid for trips to the European Union. While a document may show several months left before expiry, it can still be rejected at the border if it is more than 10 years old on the day of entry or does not have at least three months’ validity remaining after the intended date of departure.

Lewis has pointed in particular to cases where passengers were denied boarding despite apparently healthy expiry dates, because older UK passports issued before 2018 sometimes carried extra months from previous renewals. Airlines and border staff now work to EU rules that focus on the issue date as well as the expiry date, which can catch out travellers who only glance at the latter.

Holidaymakers are also being reminded that time spent in most of continental Europe is now capped by the Schengen Area’s 90 days in any rolling 180 day period for visitors from visa‑exempt countries such as the UK. Travel commentators note that some Britons still assume this is 90 days per trip, a misunderstanding that could lead to overstays being automatically flagged under new EU border systems.

Publicly available guidance from European institutions encourages travellers who take frequent short breaks to keep their own record of days spent inside Schengen, and to request clear entry and exit stamps until electronic systems are fully established. Overstaying can lead to fines, formal entry bans and problems on future visits.

New EU border technology set to tighten checks

Alongside Martin Lewis’s warnings, official EU material shows that the bloc is preparing to tighten how it records movements at external borders. The Entry/Exit System, due to replace most manual passport stamping for non‑EU nationals, is being rolled out with the aim of creating a centralised record of who enters and leaves the Schengen zone, and for how long.

Travel industry analysis indicates that, once fully operational, the Entry/Exit System will automatically track the 90/180‑day rule and highlight potential overstays, reducing the current reliance on individual officers adding up passport stamps. While this is expected to speed up some checks in the long term, experts are warning that the initial introduction period could bring longer queues at busy ports and airports as staff adjust to the equipment.

A separate scheme, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, is scheduled to start in the last quarter of 2026, meaning it will not affect trips this summer but is already a focus of Lewis’s forward‑looking advice. ETIAS will require visa‑exempt travellers, including most UK passport holders, to obtain a low‑cost pre‑travel authorisation before heading to participating European countries, prompting calls for holidaymakers to follow only official channels and to be wary of copycat fee‑charging websites.

Consumer groups add that because ETIAS is not yet live, any website claiming to sell valid approvals for this summer should be treated with particular caution. Guidance from European agencies urges travellers to wait for confirmation of the official launch and to use only the designated application site or app once it opens.

Rising mobile roaming bills and data caps

Mobile phone use is another area where Martin Lewis has repeatedly urged travellers to check the small print before they go. Since the UK left the European Union, automatic “roam like at home” protections have fallen away, and network providers have steadily reintroduced or reshaped roaming charges for use on the continent.

Price comparisons compiled by consumer and telecoms analysts show a patchwork of policies across major UK networks, ranging from modest daily fees to inclusive roaming with strict fair‑use data caps. Some low‑cost brands impose relatively low data limits when abroad, while others restrict how long a customer can use their domestic allowance in Europe before surcharges apply.

Regulator research published in recent years indicates that around one in five UK holidaymakers are unaware they could face higher bills when using their phone overseas, and a similar share admit they rarely check roaming terms before travel. Lewis’s coverage has echoed these concerns, urging travellers to log into their account, read up‑to‑date roaming pages and consider switching off mobile data or buying local SIMs if charges look steep.

From autumn 2024, new rules introduced by the UK communications regulator require providers to send clearer alerts when customers start roaming, but these protections do not cap prices. Travel specialists suggest that careful preparation remains essential for summer 2026, especially for families relying on maps, social media and video streaming while abroad.

Health cards, insurance and payment pitfalls

MoneySavingExpert guidance has also revisited the role of the UK Global Health Insurance Card and its predecessor, the European Health Insurance Card, which provide access to state‑provided healthcare in EU countries on the same basis as local residents. While these cards can significantly reduce medical costs for treatment deemed medically necessary during a temporary stay, travel commentators underline that they are not a substitute for comprehensive travel insurance.

European Commission publications targeted at visitors to Europe continue to advise travellers to carry both a valid health card and separate insurance that covers medical repatriation, private treatment where necessary and non‑medical issues such as cancellation and baggage loss. Lewis’s wider travel advice frequently echoes this, encouraging holidaymakers to check policy wording carefully and to declare pre‑existing conditions.

There are also warnings around the use of debit and credit cards in the eurozone. Official EU consumer information notes that travellers paying in pounds at foreign card terminals or ATMs can face poor exchange rates due to dynamic currency conversion. Financial journalists recommend choosing to be charged in local currency instead, and checking whether home‑bank fees apply for foreign withdrawals and purchases.

For those relying heavily on cards, some of the cheapest specialist travel cards are now app‑based providers, but they too can impose weekend mark‑ups, ATM limits or fair‑use policies. Lewis’s team has repeatedly advised comparing providers and ensuring at least one backup card is available in case of technical problems while abroad.

Scam websites and misinformation targeting holidaymakers

As Europe prepares for new border and travel authorisation systems, European agencies have begun distributing information leaflets warning travellers to watch out for fraudulent websites that mimic official portals. These advisories highlight risks where unregulated intermediaries offer to “fast track” visa waivers or charge undisclosed extra fees, while collecting sensitive personal and payment data.

MoneySavingExpert’s coverage has drawn attention to similar problems in other areas, such as unofficial passport renewal services that charge hefty mark‑ups on top of the standard government fee. Travel writers warn that the same pattern is likely to appear around ETIAS and any future digital border schemes, particularly during early roll‑out phases when public awareness is low.

To avoid falling victim, consumer advocates suggest that travellers treat unsolicited emails and social media adverts about new travel rules with caution, and cross‑check any new requirement against information from recognised public bodies or well‑established news outlets. If a site is demanding immediate payment for an authorisation that official sources say has not yet launched, that is widely regarded as a red flag.

With the main European summer season approaching, Martin Lewis’s overarching message for UK holidaymakers is to prepare early, double‑check the rules for passports, roaming, healthcare and payment cards, and remain sceptical of anyone who appears to be selling a shortcut through the growing maze of post‑Brexit travel regulations.