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If you're going abroad this year and think that checking your Facebook account on your smartphone will only set you back a few pence, think again.

Research released this week by mobile phone retailer The Carphone Warehouse shows that out of 2000 people questioned, 81% of holidaymakers had received a bill that was up to £100 more expensive than their standard monthly payment and that social networking sites were the main reasons for the rising roaming usage.

Although sales of smartphones have risen dramatically in the last year, the survey suggests that users are still not fully aware of the cost implications of using them outside the UK, with only 6% knowing the correct cost per megabyte.

Many service providers charge around £3 per megabyte for data roaming (the term given to overseas mobile internet use), so even though a quick peek at your emails may seem harmless enough, data charges soon add up when images are downloaded, music is streamed and apps are updated.

There are of course several ways to avoid such costs. Most networks offer bundles that allow the user a data allowance in exchange for a one-off payment. Alternatively, finding a café or hotel with free Wi-Fi may provide a cost-effective solution for staying up-to-date in cyber-world. But the best way to avoid a hefty phone bill is to not use mobile internet altogether by going into the phone's settings and switching off 'data roaming'. It is a holiday after all.

Read the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ News report on Ofcom's warning to mobile phone users abroad.

Read the WebWise news report on mobile phone bills.

Hajar is part of the WebWise production team and has also made award-winning programmes for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio. In her spare time she loves reading, writing and singing.