Top 10 Most Sneaky Hidden Travel Fees
Topics: travel, vacation, hotels, airfares
If you plan on traveling it is always important to ask about possible fees in advance. Asking can save you from the headache of paying extra for unnecessary services as well as help you plan and prepare for your trip. Below are ten sneaky hidden fees you may encounter while traveling.
Car Rental Fees
1. Drop-Off Fee
Charged for returning a vehicle to a spot other than the pick-up location, ‘drop-off’ fees are a catch most often associated with one-way rentals. These fees can be pretty costly with some places charging hundreds of dollars per drop-off.
2. Fill the Tank
Upon returning a rented vehicle make sure to refill the gas tank since companies can charge up to double the local price per used gallon of gasoline. Make sure that the tank is full before you leave and ask a rental attendant to fill it up if necessary.
Cruise Fees
3. Go Your Own Way
Your brochure may showcase ship-sponsored tours like scuba diving or swimming with dolphins but these can cost anywhere from $30 to $350 per person. Plus your guide will expect to be tipped 5% in addition to the tour price. To avoid these types of costs, find local tour operators or take the family to the closest beach.
4. Beverage Bummer
Drinks on cruise ships are not free. Despite what you shelled out for your trip you can expect to pay even more each time you take a sip. Everything from alcohol to bottled water will be added to your tab. Also, ordering drinks from a bar comes with an automatic gratuity charge.
Hotel Fees
5. Beware of Resort Fees
Hotels can charge you up to $50 per day for extra facilities. These include tennis courts, gyms and pools. You might also pay a ‘housekeeping fee’ to cover cleaning costs and ‘energy and fuel’ surcharges to cover electricity.
6. Beware of ‘Extra’ Fees
Daily ‘Telephone’ fees can be charged whether you use the phone or not. The same goes for ‘Internet access’ fees. ‘Mini-bar restocking’ fees usually run about $10. Getting a fax may land you a ‘fax’ fee of up to $5 a page. Aside from meals, ‘Bottled water’ fees of up to $5 per drink also apply.
Airline Fees
7. Live Person Convenience Fee
Airlines can charge anywhere from $5 to $20 to book flights in person or over the phone.
8. Recycling Frequent Flyer Miles
You can be charged from $50 to $100 if you trade in your miles then do not use your ticket. The fee covers the supposed cost of sticking the miles back into your account.
9. Not Enough Advance Fee
For frequent flyers, some airlines allow you to book a flight up to the day of departure for free. However airlines such as Continental, Delta and American charge fees up to $100 for insufficient advance notice.
10. Lap Children Fee
Did you know you may have to pay from $10 up to 10 percent of the adult fare (international flights) if you travel with a child on your lap? Also, if there is a fuel surcharge on your flight, you can wind up paying nearly $90 each way for your child.
Jim Warren is a consumer advocate, loves to travel and help consumers avoid costly travel mistakes. He reveals insider secrets hotels, airlines, car rental agencies and cruise lines will hide from you. For more info: www.costlytravelmistakes.com
Previous Articles Highlighter:
Simple Steps To Avoid Holidays From Hell (1)
Once you have planned your vacation very carefully, you'll be more than ready to take off to your destination and relax. You'll enjoy yourself much better, which will also help to remove a lot of the stress that can be involved with planning for a vacation - or going on your destination unprepared.
Your Caribbean Vacation Is Waiting (2)
Canouan Island is located in the Grenadines, which can also be found in the Caribbean. Canouan Island comes highly recommend from beach lovers. Beach activities include wind surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and sailing.
How To Find Airline Tickets At A Discount (3)
Often making a change in your departure date, for example from a Friday to a Tuesday, can save you up to 25% on your air tickets. Also, if you can take the first flight in the morning, or the last one out of the gate at night, then you can enjoy additional airfare savings.
Why To Holiday In Portugal (4)
Lisbon is internationally recognized as one of Western Europe's most unspoiled cities. Many tourists also succumb to the temptation of visiting the delightful Sinatra and Cassias which are both easily accessible from Lisbon.
Is Learning A Foreign Language Abroad For You? (5)
Yet, when I tell this to a student, they only look at the others in the class and compare. When they see others progressing faster, they get discouraged. Now you can become the person that decides how things are going.
Yellowstone National Park World's First National Park (6)
Welcome to the incredible land, welcome to the Yellowstone National Park. This National Park has a unique history. It is the world's first national park which was given the status in the year 1872.
Resorts Vs. Snowboarding: A Conflict Of Interest? (7)
Time will tell what the result will be for these three remaining resorts. They may not totally rule out a change of perspective. Ski holiday information can be found at www.yourandorra.com
Is Car Hire A Black Hole In Your Holiday Budget? (8)
If you went to Spain and picked up a car at Madrid airport, you could end up paying twice as much as for car hire in Malaga, Alicante or Mallorca.
The Exceptional Value Of Discount Cruises Travelling (9)
If you have a lot of flexibility and can have your bags packed and ready to go, then this strategy can get you exceptional discounts. If you have taken a cruise vacation before, then one to get discount cruises for future trips is by watching for special announcements, either by email or regular mail.
Wild Rangers Of The East (10)
Some of the famous Hotels include, "Sundar Chital Tourist Lodge", "Sunderban Tiger Camp" and "Vivada Cruises". Each of these Hotels is very well maintained with fully air conditioned rooms and attached bathrooms.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
Who Else Want To Visit Florence Italy? (1)
Walking through its narrow, windy streets, it is hard to identify this city with just one symbol. It may be the sculpture of David by Michelangelo, or perhaps the romantic Ponte Vecchio, or Giotto's bell tower.
Some Highlights About Visiting Hawaii (2)
Let's not forget all the women as well if you cannot find something to do in Hawaii then you just need to stay where you are. You will see that all the resorts are isolated from the North shore that is because they are trying to keep the North shore as secret as possible and not to let any resorts take over the beaches that they surf everyday.
City Of Gold (3)
The event is marked by heavy discounts on merchandise and fireworks which make the skyline sparkle like gold making it literally seem like a "city of gold". Well, for all those who prefer to sit back and experience the luxury of this city, Dubai has some of the best hotels to offer.
Motor Home Vacations: The Black Hills And Badlands (4)
These are the legendary Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming, and they are full of great scenery and things to do. The Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota are some of the most popular motor home destinations in the country.
Cheap Hostels And Luxury Hotels (5)
Topics: Luxury hotel Honeymooners, holidaymakers and family holidays are often very difficult to organise in advance due to people changing their minds at the last minute or circumstances changing beyond your control.
How To Choose An African Safari And Save Money (6)
Staying at some of the lodges at the various national parks in Africa can set you back a good deal so know what your costs are well beforehand so you don't receive any unexpected surprises.
Taking A Tour Of Busan, South Korea (7)
Hence, in order to cater to the growing number of tourists, Busan boasts of a number of accommodation options. Many of the top notch hotels and resorts in the area allow tourists to choose from a variety of rooms such as standard, deluxe, apartment style, and suits.
Travel Asia - A Popular Choice For Travelers (8)
Another much sought after tourist destination in Asia is Japan, which is acknowledged as the Land of the Rising Sun. It features attractions such as Nara Park, Kyoto's Higashiyama area, Kin Osaki, Himeji Castle, and Takayama in Gifu.
The Golden Sands Of Tanjung Benoa Beach, Bali (9)
Apart from these, a plethora of shops operate here in order to make you available all types of rental equipments for enjoying several water sport activities. But, attractions as well as activities that can be enjoyed in Tanjung Benoa are not just beach and its area, but beyond that.
A Guide To Ski Holidays (10)
This gives some indication of what to expect and it makes the instructors/guides work easier for when you turn up to the holiday. Once you have booked up and organised your trip, including buying the ever vital holiday insurance, you will need to make a list of things to take in terms of ski goggle, ski outfits, gloves, hats, warm clothing, skis etc.