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If you're about to take a holiday or short break away, here are five quick tips to save money and help ensure your break is as stress-free as possible. 1. Holiday Money It's usually far cheaper to order your holiday money, online, before you head off than to either buy it at the airport or at your destination. Cheapest places include Marks & Spencer and the Post Office. Alternatively, if you have a Maestro card (formerly known as Switch), order online from Travelex.co.uk and you can pick it up at the airport/railway station before you depart. Other debit cards can be used but you may incur a 2% fee. And if you're a Nationwide BS current account holder, don't forget that you can withdraw cash abroad, for free. Open a Nationwide current account via our Banking Centre. 2. Travel Cover Don't skimp on the travel cover; you never know what could happen. But don't simply buy the cover on offer from your travel agent; not only are these policies extremely expensive, this type of insurance is not even regulated by the FSA. Shop around for some online quotes: a family of four can get two week's European cover for around £36 from Debenhams, or an annual policy for £69 from Travsure. Alternatively, check out our Fool partner The Idol for a great travel insurance quote. And remember, if you have an Alliance & Leicester Premier Plus account you will have automatically received a free annual, worldwide travel policy, to which you can add your family for £48. Additionally, UK citizens are entitled to free or reduced cost medical treatment in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland with the new, European Health Insurance Card, formerly known as the E111. And remember to check out the Foreign Office website for any possible travel restrictions before travelling. Switch to an Alliance & Leicester bank account in our Banking Centre. 3. Cards Debit cards are officially our favourite method of spending with many of us choosing to use our credit cards too. However, although they offer a convenient method of payment, be warned - their usage abroad usually comes at a price. Most card issuers charge a loading fee of up to 2.75% on each transaction - that's an extra £27.50 on every £1,000 you spend. Only two cards, Nationwide BS and Lombard Direct do not charge this fee for worldwide use. Cards that do not charge for use in Europe include CSMA, Caravan Club, SAGA and Liverpool Victoria. Additionally, there is currently a growing problem in Europe from retailers choosing to charge in Sterling rather than Euros, carrying out the conversion themselves at their own unfair exchange rate. Avoid this by stating you wish to pay in Euros only and if all else fails, pay in cash! 4. Important Documents Don't forget to photocopy all travel tickets, passports, travel insurance details etc and leave them with a trusted friend/family member, just in case you should lose anything. And if your passport is coming up for renewal, there are new photo regulations that came into force on Monday to help combat identity fraud. Photos must be taken within one month of submission and must be as neutral as possible. That means no smiling! Fight the fraudsters and check your credit report regularly with a free trial of Experian's Credit Expert. 5. Parking Finally, if you intend to park at the airport, find out if you'll save money by booking in advance by checking out the BAA website. Alternatively, if you have early flights staying at a hotel near the airport can save a very early start, and many hotels include parking for up to 14 nights in special packages too. So there you have it, five quick tips to help ensure a smoother ride if you're thinking of taking a holiday or short break. Have a great trip!