Why Irish Travelers Are Secretly Bleeding €33 Each Trip—and What It Means for Your Wallet
Ever noticed how sneaky those airport expenses can be? You think you’re just grabbing a quick bite or parking your car for the weekend, and before you know it, you’ve dropped a hefty chunk of change—average of €33 for Irish holidaymakers, according to Monzo’s latest deep dive. Now, if you’re the type who can’t resist a last-minute snack, a splash on toiletries, or the occasional magazine, that number skyrockets to €71! It’s crazy, right? I mean, who knew your wallet starts taking hits before you even board the plane? This Irish spending spree at airports shines a bright light on just how much those little extras add up, often slipping under the radar when we tally up our holiday costs. And trust me, Elaine Deehan from Monzo knows this all too well—she’s felt the sting of what she calls the “take-off-tax,” especially with kids and their own cards in the mix. Lucky for us, Monzo’s rolling out Trip Reports and other savvy budgeting tools to help us get ahead of this spending fog so that we’re not left piecing it together post-vacation. If you want to keep your travel budget tighter than ever and understand where all those euros disappear before takeoff, this is worth a look. LEARN MORE
Irish holidaymakers spend an average of €33 at the airport before even boarding their flight, with that figure rising to €71 among those who make purchases such as food, parking and chemist items.
The figures come from digital bank Monzo, which analysed customer spending data to examine the costs Irish travellers incur at airports.
Toiletries, medicines and snacks were the biggest airport expense, with customers spending an average of €27 on these items before boarding.
Food was the next largest expense, with travellers spending an average of €18 on a meal, or €17 specifically on fast food.
Newsstand purchases, including magazines, books and snacks, cost customers an average of €15, while airport parking added a further €11 on average.
The findings come as Monzo launches Trip Reports, a new in-app feature designed to help customers track and understand their spending while abroad.
The tool provides customers with information on exchange rates and ATM withdrawals when they arrive at their destination, while allowing them to categorise purchases as “holiday” spending and review a summary of their expenditure when they return home.
Elaine Deehan, Country Manager for Monzo Ireland, said holidays were a “significant expense” and that budgeting tools could help travellers manage their money.
“Between Trip Reports, which gives customers a clear picture of what they’ve spent, Monzo’s budgeting tools, which help them plan ahead, and our low Mastercard exchange rate with no added fees or charges, we’re giving Irish customers more ways to stay on top of their money and enjoy their holiday with peace of mind,” she said.
However, she warned travellers not to overlook spending at the airport.
“I’ve experienced getting stung by the take-off-tax myself when travelling with my family,” Ms Deehan said.
“All those little airport purchases really add up, and even then I didn’t factor in what my kids were spending on their under-16s cards.”
Monzo said customers can also use features including Pots to set money aside, Trends to monitor spending and Roundups to gradually build savings.
The bank said the tools are intended to help holidaymakers plan for travel costs and avoid unexpected spending before and during their trips.
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