One in ten travellers saw their bill rise by as much as £50 and almost a third
of those surveyed said the increase was up to £200 more, according to new
figures released by Thomson and First Choice.
The survey was based on the experiences of 1,000 adults who went on holiday in
2013. In total, three quarters of holidaymakers saw bill increases due to
roaming charges.
The poll also showed that 69 per cent of those questioned thought they would
spend more time on their mobile phone or other mobile devices (e.g. a
tablet) while abroad if there were no additional charges.
The European Union introduced caps on roaming charges this year but research
by uSwitch showed the majority of smartphones users thought the charges were
still too high.
Plans by the European Commission to lower roaming charges will be implemented
in 2016. Until then, Three,
a mobile service provider, has scrapped roaming charges for British
travellers visiting the US, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Macau, Australia, Italy,
Austria, Sweden, Denmark, the Republic of Ireland and Hong Kong.
A survey of around 30 hotel groups and more than 40 individual properties, carried out by Telegraph Travel in 2012, found that around two thirds of hotels still charge for Wi-Fi access, with luxury hotels - particularly those in London - often the worst offenders.
Thomson and First Choice have just announced the introduction of free Wi-Fi into 135 of its concept hotels.
They already offer free Wi-Fi in 446 hotels, so now more than half will allow guests to surf the net without charge. The Wi-Fi will be rolled out to Thomson Sensatori, Couples, Family Resorts, Scene and Gold hotels, as well as First Choice Holiday Village, SplashWorld, Club Magic Life and SuneoClub resorts.
When getting connected is free in public places from a McDonald's to a coffee shop, Wi-Fi charges in hotels are one of a traveller's biggest annoyances.
It appears that hotels are finally getting the message however. Several high-profile luxury hotels (often the worst offenders) have scrapped their charges since 2012, while Accor, which owns the Ibis, Mercure, Sofitel and Novotel chains, introduced free Wi-Fi at about 700 properties. The high cost of other services and extortionate minibar prices, however, remain the norm.
A survey of around 30 hotel groups and more than 40 individual properties, carried out by Telegraph Travel in 2012, found that around two thirds of hotels still charge for Wi-Fi access, with luxury hotels - particularly those in London - often the worst offenders.
Thomson and First Choice have just announced the introduction of free Wi-Fi into 135 of its concept hotels.
They already offer free Wi-Fi in 446 hotels, so now more than half will allow guests to surf the net without charge. The Wi-Fi will be rolled out to Thomson Sensatori, Couples, Family Resorts, Scene and Gold hotels, as well as First Choice Holiday Village, SplashWorld, Club Magic Life and SuneoClub resorts.
When getting connected is free in public places from a McDonald's to a coffee shop, Wi-Fi charges in hotels are one of a traveller's biggest annoyances.
It appears that hotels are finally getting the message however. Several high-profile luxury hotels (often the worst offenders) have scrapped their charges since 2012, while Accor, which owns the Ibis, Mercure, Sofitel and Novotel chains, introduced free Wi-Fi at about 700 properties. The high cost of other services and extortionate minibar prices, however, remain the norm.
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