With the summer coming up, relaxing getaways on sun-kissed beaches and seeing the sights of faraway climes will probably be far more prominent in people's minds than how to manage their finances while abroad. If you don't plan ahead, however, you could find yourself with hefty credit card fees on your bank statement the next month. Below are a few tips to help you save money while abroad, enabling you to forget about the fees and focus on the fiesta.

Firstly, the golden rule you should keep in mind as you approach any cash point abroad is that withdrawing cash abroad will open you up to not one, but three different fees. Not only is there the bank's exchange rate to think about, but also the foreign exchange fee and an ATM charge of between two and three pounds. And that is just with a debit card; if you use a credit card to withdraw money abroad, you will get hit with all of the above plus the amount you withdraw will start accruing interest from the minute you take the money out.

The most obvious solution to the problem is to exchange money into the relevant currency in advance before you travel. This can be done at the bank, post office, or a bureau de change. It is wise to shop around, however, as some places will charge commission while others don't. It is wise to avoid leaving the exchange until the airport though, as they will probably charge you far more.

When taking a card abroad, first check how much your bank will charge you for using your card in a foreign country. It is possible to find a card provider that will not charge a foreign exchange fee or an ATM fee and also charge you no interest on purchases for a limited time after your trip. If you don't particularly want to take a card abroad in order to avoid the fees, then using a foreign exchange card might be more appealing to you. Foreign exchange cards allow you to top the card up with money before you leave and give you a more attractive exchange rate than a bank or bureau de change. These cards can be used in the USA or in Europe and can act as a debit card while you are abroad. And if you run out of money you can still top the card up while you are abroad, either by phone or over the internet, making it a convenient way to manage your finances while you are on holiday.

If you do decide to use a card abroad, it is a good idea to make fewer but larger withdrawals. This way, you will probably incur less fees as banks usually charge 1.5% of the amount withdrawn, with a minimum charge of £1.50 and a maximum fee of £5. Again, it is wise to make sure you know the full terms and conditions that come with your card, as some banks do not put a ceiling on the fee.

Although there are negatives to using a credit card abroad, there are definite pros to this method of payment too. When you use a credit card to make purchases abroad, they will be covered by the Consumer Credit Act, meaning any purchase you make between the value of £100 and £30,000 is covered. If it is not "as described" or faulty, it is possible to get the money back from the retailer or the card provider, whereas with debit cards banks might consider making a complaint but there will be no guarantees.

When you take your card abroad, it is a good idea to remember to take details of your card provider and let the card company know you are going abroad, otherwise they might think your card has been stolen. It is always better to be safe than sorry so take more than one card with you in case the first stops working and always check your statement when you get back to make sure there are no unauthorised charges or fraud.

Taking a credit card on holiday doesn’t have to be a hassle if you remember the pointers above. Making sure your finances are sorted shouldn't blight your summer, so as long as you remember a few simple rules it will be easy to sit back, relax and have some fun.