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Overlooked and Hidden Travel Fees That Can Bust Your Budget

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When creating a budget for any trip, whether it is domestic or international, you cover the basics like accommodations, airfare, rental cars, theme park tickets, food, and shopping allowance. However, there are many overlooked and hidden travel fees that can bust your budget.

The government is taking steps on consumers’ behalf to prevent sticker shock. Most recently, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) proposed a new rule in which airlines and ticket agents would be “required to disclose fees for certain basic, additional services associated with airline tickets at all points of sale.” It’s helpful from a full disclosure standpoint, but it doesn’t eliminate them.

Then there are some fees you simply forget to include in your travel budget. Make sure you add these hidden fees into your total trip estimate…

1. Resort Fees – It sounds absurd, but this is a usually a daily fee that covers things like use of the pool to access to an exercise room…whether you use these offerings or not. These charges are more commonplace, but it is rare that they are included in the daily rate. Make sure you add fees and taxes with the combined daily room rate.

2. Parking – Currently, it’s $17 a day to park in the Magic Kingdom. That adds up to $51 after spending 3 days exploring Disney. Don’t forget hotel parking. It might not be included in your room rate or resort fees. For larger cities, like Chicago, expect to pay around $30 per day for public parking garages and $60-$70 (per day) for onsite valet. Then, if you decide to drive through city, don’t forget to feed the meters.

3. Housekeeping Fees – It’s a growing trend in the hotel industry. This “fee” formerly hovered in the “resort” fee category, but some bad apples discovered you could make this a separate charge. After staying at Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa in Orlando, Florida, I was offered several different packages on the “Housekeeping Services Menu”. It ranged from a $30 “Full Cleaning” (sheet change, towel refresh, trash removal and replacement of toiletry products, full dish wash, full vacuum, and full clean of all surfaces) to a charge for $5 fresh towels and emptying the trash. Note those charges were per day, so if you wanted clean towels after your shower every day, be prepared to pay $35 for a week’s stay. Of course, you could wash your own towels after every use or reuse them.

4. Insurance – There is an option to insure everything from your rental car to your entire trip. Weigh these elective charges very carefully and do some research! Your current automotive insurance may already cover your rental car. Bring a copy of your insurance car to prevent rental companies from trying to lure you into buying their option. Your credit card company might also provide coverage! Check it out and ask for proof to show the rental company.

5. Tips – Waiters, hotel staff, the valet and a slew of other helping hands will expect a couple bucks. Some places now make tips mandatory by adding gratuities into your bill as a “favor” to you. Most recently, my cruise with Celebrity included tips upfront…whether I liked it or not.

6. Restaurant-Employee Health Care – Also known as an “Obamacare” fee, this charge began popping up in select restaurants. The bulk of the locations are in Florida and California and add a 1%-4% Affordable Care Act fee to your bill to cover the cost of providing insurance for their workers.

7. Booking Fees – Oh, that price on discount travel websites may seem super-attractive. However, the final price usually ends up being inflated. Why? Booking fees. Third-party companies will slip this charge in with the label “taxes and fees.” It’s just one more reason my number one tip for booking a hotel is to call the location directly. (Don’t bother with the generic 1-800 line.)

8. Credit Card – This is a fee you typically see when booking a la carte flights. Airlines, like Allegiant, will offer you a “discount” if you use your debit card. Otherwise, you pay a higher price for using a credit card.

9. Rescheduling – If you find you have to make adjustments from previously arranged travel, make sure you ask about any fees you will incur for making those changes.

10. Miles – If you are using your accumulated “miles” to book flights, cars or other travel arrangements, watch out for hidden fees that will punish you for using them “last-minute.” Each company and airline has a different policy.

11. Baggage – This fee is growing more absurd, but there are different standards for what exactly and “overweight” bag is. With Allegiant, anything over 40 pounds is considered “over-sized” and incurs a heftier fee. Research the individual airline’s baggage policy before you fly.

12. Exit/Tourist Fee – When traveling internationally or booking with international flights, check to see if an “exit fee” is included in the final ticket price.

13. Fuel – Fill up that rental car before you return it. If you don’t, you could see insanely-inflated prices hovering around $8 per gallon of gas used to refill the car you used on top of a penalty.

14. ATMs – Bank fees will slap you around, especially internationally. You will see transaction fees from the ATM and then foreign transaction fees from your bank. Try to avoid these by using credit cards that feature great benefits that don’t charge you for using an ATM abroad.

15. Wi-Fi – From hotels to cruise ships, this must-have for some can equal a big bill in the end. Wait for a free hot-spot if you can.

16. Laundry – I love to pack lighter and wash clothes during trips to avoid baggage fees. Check with your hotel for onsite facilities and associated fees.

TIPS

  • “Fees” may have different names. Look for different verbiage; for example – “ancillary charges” is just another way of saying fees that are mandatory but aren’t presented in the initial price.
  • Make sure you ask for the final total. When you get that quote, make sure you ask for the final and complete total including any and all fees. That “unbeatable” deal might not be a deal when the final bill comes.
  • Try to pick up your rental car at a non-airport location. Some off-site companies will pick you up or offer a shuttle. It will avoid the airport location fee and you might be able to score a better deal.
  • Review all final charges and bills while you are still at the hotel, rental car location, etc. It’s far easier to go address an issue right there versus calling customer service to try and explain a situation or challenge a charge.
  • Be nice. If you are pleasant and understanding, you are more likely to get the same treatment in return. If you come across a situation you feel you were unfairly charged and the company was unwilling to work with you, contact the appropriate contact the appropriate government outlet – The Department of Transportation for airline issues and The Federal Trade Commission for hotels.
  • Even those “All-Inclusive” hotels and vacations can still add on “resort fees,” so watch out for those. You can’t fight them, but you can pick another package or location that won’t scam for them.
  • If the hotel refuses to budge on any fees, ask them to shave off the room rate to compensate for the added charges.