Travel can be expensive between hotels, transportation, and entertainment. But even worse, are the hidden travel fees you encounter along the way. It’s frustrating to save for your long awaited vacation, make a trip budget, then get overwhelmed with unexpected costs and fees. Here are 10 travel fees from airlines, hotels, and rental cars that you can avoid on your next trip.
Airlines
1. Getting a better seat
When you’re booking your plane tickets, you may come across the option to choose your seats. A lot of times, certain seats cost more and add up to $15 on your bill. To save, opt for regular seats.
2. Checked Baggage
Majority of airlines charge you for checking your luggage. If possible, try to just bring a carry on. Reduce the amount of luggage you have by packing outfits you can mix and match and shoes that you can wear with everything.
3. Overweight luggage
If you need more then what you can carry on, you’ll have to check it. Before you head to the airport, check to see what the weight limit on baggage is. Be sure your luggage is less than that to avoid extra fees.
4. In-flight fees
Besides high priced drinks, airlines charge for the little extras you may not have anticipated. They can charge for a pillow, blanket, snacks, and air phones. Bring your own to save.
Rental Car
5. Rental insurance
When I was renting a car a few months back, not only was there an option to buy renter’s insurance per day, but there were several additional options for insurance coverage that sounded like something I should get to be safe. Luckily, before I signed, I called my insurance company and realized I was already covered. Besides your own car insurance, a lot of times the credit card you put your rental car on covers certain things as well.
6. Toll way assistance
When I got in the car, I noticed there was a E-Pass similar to my tollway assistance box. At first I thought, “Great, I don’t have to worry about searching for change with the tolls.” But, when I double checked online, I found there is a convenience fee for using it per day.
Hotel
More Traveling Tips
7. Parking
I was thrilled to get a deal on my hotel in New York City, but the joy quickly faded when I found I had to pay $30 for parking each day. Be sure you’re aware of any parking fees. Check to see if there’s a cheaper lot nearby you can park in.
8. Wi-fi
Some hotels charge for the Wi-fi usage. Before you purchase it, see if there is somewhere else you can use it for free. Even in the lobby or a nearby coffee shop can get you out of the fee.
9. Fridge
You may be tempted to grab a water or cocktail from the fridge, but don’t. The markup prices are outrageous on in-room items.
10. Safe
Hotels may charge you for using your room safe. Simply ask their policy. Always know what you’re paying for before you pay, and be sure to look at your bill.
I’m a big fan of packing my own water bottle (empty) for flights. Then you call fill it up once you get through security and don’t have to worry about getting charged.
Parking can definitely be costly and add up quick. I like to look for hotels that offer allowing you to leave your car if you stay a night on either end of the trip. I also use shuttles quite a bit in order to not have to leave my car in some random lot.
I agree, when it comes to travelling, we must be ready to pay even for the most simple or basic privileges. Many cases that I have regretted on paying more after knowing that I could have paid lesser. This taught me that there is less or no harm from asking.
Wi fi advice is naive. Better to pay hotel for wired connection that is secure than going to Starbucks for “free” wi fi and having all your data, email passwords, credit info and all other secure info sniffed out.
Here are another couple of tips which are related to the ones mentioned above.
Regarding rental cars, companies charge you a daily rate to rent a GPS unit. Either bring your own if traveling in the US or Canada or buy one. If it costs $10 per day to rent a GPS or $120 to buy one and your trip is 14 days, buying your own GPS is a much better option!
Another rental car fee you can avoid is to return the car with the tank full. If you return the car with 75% of a tank, they’ll charge you a rediculous fee to have their own staff go out and fill it.
Another tip–don’t assume what works at one destination works at another (things differ all around the world) so do your research for each county.
And listen when you rent a car. Just because they appear to be upselling you, doesn’t mean it isn’t the right thing. When we rented a car in Newfoundland, I’d rented a mid-sized sedan. None of the cars I looked at renting (various agencies) had unlimited mileage, but when we got to the car rental desk, the sales agent pointed out that their SUVs had unlimited mileage (and we were going to be driving all over the island so I’d figured out how much extra I was expecting to pay for that). Renting the SUV ended up way cheaper (and was much more comfortable) than the sedan, even factoring in the extra cost of gas, too. So be flexible and listen.
Great post! I almost gave into the temptation of the hotel fridge once. BE VERY CAREFUL WITH HOTELS! They will try to charge for the least likely things. Always ask first!