Budgeting for a holiday is always a smart idea; simply booking a trip without making the proper financial plans is a great way to end up paying through the nose for a lot of extras you don’t even use. Even the most careful budgeting, though, can go awry due to hidden travel fees. Sometimes, these fees are tacked on by companies that hope you won’t notice; other times, they are blatantly added and can increase your total bill by a considerable amount. Knowing about them – and how to avoid them – can help you remain true to your budget and avoid overspending while travelling.Luggage Fees Everyone knows that airlines are struggling to remain solvent in these increasing competitive times. With the cost of petrol ever on the rise, it’s not surprising that the major airlines are looking to recoup their losses wherever they can. One of the most aggravating phenomenons to occur lately are luggage fees. The way that many airlines squeeze these fees in is by banking on the fact that many travellers are simply unaware of these fees. Upon checking your luggage in, you are presented with the unpleasant fact that extra charges have been incurred and are now due. Avoid this altogether by packing as much as you can as a carry-on item; if possible, ship extra belongings via common carrier to your destination.Amenities Fees Another way in which many airlines are trying to make a bit of extra money is by charging for things that used to be completely free while in flight. While most airlines still offer a small snack for free, flight attendants also come around offering a smorgasbord of delectable looking snacks – for a price. Similarly, many airlines charge extra for the use of pillows and blankets. Finally, if you want to take advantage of Wi-Fi on a flight, you’re going to pay a lot extra for the privilege.Extra Fees For Premium Seats Although some airlines still allow you to request particular seats upon booking a flight, many now charge extra for seats that are considered “premium” – even within coach class. For example, many people prefer to sit in the exit row; nowadays, many airlines charge an extra fee for the opportunity to do so. The same goes for the bulkhead area, which many taller people prefer since there’s a lot more leg room there – you’re going to have to fork over extra money to sit there. You can avoid these fees, of course, by not partaking in premium seats on a flight – or sometimes by talking directly to the airline beforehand.Hidden Hotel Fees Everyone knows that in addition to the base room rate, hotels charge a bevy of taxes. It’s a part of the price of staying at a hotel, and it’s par for the course. However, more and more hotels are trying to make up for their slashed room rates by tacking on extra fees that their customers never agreed to in the first place. This sneaky practice happens in the form of things like a “hospitality fee,” a “bellman fee” or a “resort fee.” Even if these miscellaneous fees only add a dollar or two to your total bill, they are still unfair and should be disputed. Usually, if you dispute those charges with hotel staff they will be promptly removed.Foreign Transaction Fees Many travellers feel that they are being savvy by using their credit cards everywhere they go while travelling in a foreign country. After all, in doing so they can avoid changing a lot of currency and it does seem a great deal more convenient. The truth is, though, that most major credit cards charge a per-transaction fee for transactions made in foreign countries. The trickiest thing about these fees is that they normally don’t appear until some time later, taking people by surprise and completely ruining their travel budgets. You can avoid this problem by sticking with cash whenever possible, or by only doing business with credit card companies that don’t engage in this practice. Do your research ahead of time, either way, so that you can steer clear of these sometimes-exorbitant charges when your monthly bill rolls around.
