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Hidden Extras When You Travel and How to Avoid Them
Traveling is one thing in life that usually offer several rewards with each trip. You get an adventure, experience, souvenirs, bragging rights and the chance to see things you have never seen before. Couple all of those with memories that will last a lifetime and you have the perfect recipe.
To make your trip enjoyable, it is important to budget carefully to cover the cost of everything you need to purchase during your travel and that is what most people do. But, thanks to so many hidden fees that are imposed on travelers it can be difficult sometime to stay within you budget.
Here are some important ones to avoid.
Photo from: anadea.info
Booking Your Flight
Booking your reservations over the phone can be costly if you are not aware of what is and what is not included in the price you are quoted. You can also run into the same problems when you book your reservations online and ignore the fine print.
This information will tell you about the price of extras, cancellations and changes. Be sure the website you use is valid and is not one of the fake websites whose main purpose is to steal from you.
On these dubious websites, if you have to make a change in your reservations, they will often charge fees so high they are not much different from the airfare itself. Look for reputable websites or airlines that offer you at least a 24-hour flexible booking period.
Trip insurance might seem like an extra fee that you think is best to avoid, but if something happens to ruin your flight, it can save you a lot of money in the long run.
Frequent Flyer Miles
It seems that everyone is after those free miles they get when they fly regularly. But of course, you have to be careful when it comes to using frequent flyer programs, sometimes the airline will impose unanticipated fees on your supposed free flights. These can include - but are not limited to - fuel charges, airport fees, specific date fees, and redemption charges when you cash in the miles. Check the fine print and ask questions if you do not understand something.
Fuel Surcharges
These extra charges are often tacked onto your frequent flyer miles and because some small children don’t sit in a purchased seat. International flights will usually cost more after they have added all of the charges to your bill. Compare costs carefully and read and ask questions. The cheap fare you see will be a lot more than you are expected to pay after all of the airline fuel surcharges are added on.
Checked Baggage Charges
Paying checked baggage fees is another way to raise the price of your plane ticket. If you travel with more a carry-on bag, most airlines now charge you extra for your handled luggage. To keep luggage add-on prices low to non-existent, pack comfortable clothes that you can wear for more than one day and choose what is necessary. Plan for at least one occasion when you may need to dress up and if you must bring toiletries check the rules of the airline about how much you can bring onboard. You can always buy more once you arrive at your destination or don't forget about the freebies hotels and motels usually provide.
Overweight Baggage Fees
Weigh your luggage before you leave home to avoid any surprise, exorbitant overweight baggage fees. If you were not able to pack light and the amount of luggage means you do have to check a bag or two, don't pack heavy items and especially don't pace unnecessary items. Don’t go crazy with the tacky souvenirs. One or two small, lightweight items should be enough.
Another little-known airline fee is the Visa, departure tax. This and other tourist fees are another little surprise we often forget to budget for it can be like a punch in the stomach if you are not able to afford them. Some of the fees will often be included in the airfare, some are not. Check online for visa application fees.
Car Rental Fees and Extras
Sometimes it is not a good idea to drive your own vehicle during your vacation and that mean you will need to find another way to get around while you are there. For most people, the most obvious choice is to rent a car.
When you do rent your vehicle, check to make sure the fee you are charged includes everything, with no added extras and surprises when you return it. Most credit cards will offer travel protection for collisions, so you might not need the insurance from the car rental company.
Before you return the vehicle, make sure the gas tank is full or you will be charged their fill-up price, which can be amazingly high. Clean the auto thoroughly and do not smoke inside the vehicle.
More extra charges are key replacement, alternate drop-off locations and fuel surcharges. All or even a part of these can drastically change the bottom line and everything can all end up costing you more than you can imagine.
Your Accommodations
Room prices are different for singles or for more than two people in a room, and during the course of your stay can really add up. Be aware of resort fees, which can increase the price as much as 10% more per night.
We all know to steer clear of the minibar, phone, WiFi, and free snacks and bottled water in the room because sometimes they turn out not to be.
Valet parking can add up too, but might be cheaper than trying to park in a local lot in the center of a big city.
Other fees to watch out for are luggage storage if you want to store your bags before check-in or after you check-out so you can see more sights, towel used at the pool or beach, using the hotel safe to store valuables, newspaper fees and sometimes there is a charge for using the fitness center.
If you use the hotel ATM, watch out for the extra convienence fees and ATM fees that are well above normal fees.
Taking a Cruise
Port fees and taxes are quite common. The more places the ship stops, the more fees there will be. They should be included in the price, but do check.
Service charges for drinks is also common, up to around 15%. WiFi can also cost a good deal per day.
Be careful with shore excursions. They are not usually included in the price of the cruise, so renting equipment can be costly.
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