YOU'RE relaxing on the beach in an exotic location, the sun's shining and the beer's cold. The only thing left to do is text all your friends back home and let them know you're on holiday and they're not. But before you hit the send button to all the people in your address book think again - the price of that modern day equivalent of the humble postcard could mean the joke is on you.

While the message about the high cost of calling from mobiles abroad is starting to filter through to people, many holiday makers do not realise sending texts from other countries also adds up to inflated prices. Mobile phone firms are starting to cut the cost of using phones abroad in the face of European Union pressure, but in many cases the cost of text messages remains much higher than at home.

So if you don't want a hefty mobile bill shock when you get home, then stick to the old snail mail postcard!