Ignored Travel Expenses That Can Break The Bank During Your Vacation

We have seen this scenario played out a thousand times. A traveler plans the perfect vacation, they budget for months to afford the trip, and they book their airfare, resort stay, and other foreseeable expenses. After departing for their trip the vacations budget quickly balloons out of control. By the time the vacationer returns home they are more stressed out then when they left.

So what causes a vacation to turn into a stress factory of its very own? Many travelers do not take into consideration these 6 useful tips.

Resort Fees. During my last seven day trip to Las Vegas I paid $2200 for my hotel room (including taxes), only to be met with a $30 per night resort fee. Added up that meant $210 in additional resort fees for my stay. Many resorts will allow you to pay this fee with your original payment, others insist that you pay upon arrival.

Flight Fees. Many airlines are now charging up wards of $50 to $75 for a first or second checked back. Others will charge lower fees to book a flight and then charge upwards of $50 for a simple carry-on. Many airlines are also charging a premium for food and drinks, all of which add up to higher costs overall for a traveler. In some cases sitting with a traveling partner can rack up another $20+ dollars in seat selection fees. You can also be dinged in some cases for simply printing your boarding pass at the airport instead of from the comfort of your own home.

Parking Fees. My last airport departure at Midway in Chicago, Illinois, cost $20 per day (indoor parking at the airport). Even off-site parking typically costs $10 to $15 per day in my area. A one week vacation can easily cost $70 to $140. If you rent a car on vacation you might find yourself with valet fees, parking fees, and other unexpected expenses.

Phone and Internet Fees. While you might have free internet at your hotel, or receive it as part of your resort fees, other hotels simply charge a daily internet fee if needed. Those fees can quickly add up to $5 to $15 per day on average. Your mobile phone carrier might also charge mobile data, talk, and text roaming fees. If you travel abroad you might want to try purchasing an international SIM card or travel package to avoid monstrous fees that have been known to climb into the thousands of dollars.

Currency Exchange And Money Fees. A buddy of mine recently traveled overseas only to learn that the exchange rate was not favoring the US Dollar as it had just weeks earlier. All of a sudden his budget was cut by nearly 5% for the entirety of his trip. You can’t control the currency exchange so over budgeting for your trip is a smart move. Also be careful of such expenses as ATM Fees which can get out of control when taking money out from another country. Even credit card fees can skyrocket if your provider charges an international exchange fee or large cash advance fees. Credit card currency exchange fees can easily approach up to 3% if charged by your provider.

Departure Fees. Did you know that some countries will CHARGE YOU to leave? A departure fee is nothing more than last minute extortion but unfortunately you need to pay the fee if you want to leave some countries. Always learn about these fees and be prepared to pay with local currency.

When I plan a vacation I look at departure fees, snacks I’ll eat along the way, resort fees, phone and internet charges, and every other foreseeable expense. Even with incredible planning I often find that I go slightly over budget in the excitement of being on the road and taking time off work. The goal isn’t to eliminate every single unexpected expense, but rather to keep within a reasonable budget.

[Photo Credit: caribb]

Ignored Travel Expenses That Can Break The Bank During Your Vacation