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
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