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Hidden Travel Expenses That Can Cost You Some Extra Money

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Traveling is exciting as it allows you to discover new places, interact with different people and enjoy different cuisines. It offers a perfect escape from the hustle-bustle of your daily lives. However, traveling can be a daunting experience if things are not well planned. Imagine after enjoying your holidays and coming back home with high credit card bills, which is certainly not what you expected. It can ruin all your rejuvenating experiences.

Therefore, it is vital to plan the cost of your trip to avoid post-holiday stress. While people budget for huge expenses like accommodation, airfare, transport services, and sightseeing, they tend to ignore hidden expenditures. These expenses can drain your pockets and leave you anxious. 

Here we’ll delve deeper into these hidden travel expenditures. By considering these expenses, you can plan a budget-friendly trip by avoiding unexpected costs. Don’t forget to make a checklist of these expenses before planning your next trip. You’ll thank us later for it.

• Hidden hotel fee

You might consider yourself lucky by booking a hotel room at cheaper rates. Maybe you were under the impression that the deal you found on an online booking website had a huge discount. However, this is too good to be true. You are likely to be deceived by the hidden hotel fee that comes as a surprise at the time of check out. It includes a fee for WI FI, mini bar purchases, and a resort fee. 

Thus, it is better to avoid staying at expensive hotels with hidden charges that can cause a dent in your wallet. Instead, you can opt for budget-friendly options. For instance, if you plan to visit the Pigeon Forge in Tennessee, it’s best to book your stay at budget-friendly cabins that can make your stay worth remembering. 

However, we would suggest you to research well before choosing one. You can directly visit your preferred hotel’s website or search it on Google by typing ‘Cabins in Pigeon Forge TN‘ to get all the details right away. These cabins are cost-effective and offer a luxurious stay with various amenities. Here you can enjoy countless family attractions and scenic beauty, which can make your trip a memorable one.

A foreign currency exchange fee

When you travel abroad, you need foreign currency for spending money. Banks provide your foreign currency in lieu of your local currency. However, they tend to overcharge. Similarly, airports might sound convenient for currency exchange, but they charge high exchange fees with much lower exchange rates. 

Thus, it is best to exchange currency in your home country before you travel. You have ample time to research if you buy currency before traveling. It will help you to get an exchange at your desired rates. Also, try to avoid exchanging currency at hotels and airports as it can cost you a lot of money.

Car rental fees

Renting a car might seem convenient for exploring different tourist destinations. However, it may add hidden costs to your budget. There are more affordable options available with no hidden fees. For example, you can use local transportation like subways, buses, or trains to commute. You can also opt for ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft that can save your high rental fee. 

International mobile roaming charges

You probably can’t think of traveling abroad without a smartphone. After all, you need to communicate with your loved ones back home and capture some beautiful memories of your travel journey through your phone. However, you can incur significant mobile roaming charges. Thus, it is vital to take certain precautions while carrying your mobile phones abroad. In this regard, taking a global sim card with cheap calls and data plans is the best choice, allowing you to use your phone free of any hidden fees and extra charges. Also, make sure to carry a spare phone charger.

Extra baggage fees

While booking a flight, you must ensure to check baggage allowances. Once aware of the number of suitcases you can carry, you can pack your bags accordingly. Additional baggage can be quite costly. Therefore don’t forget to invest in a luggage scale to check the required weight of the luggage you can carry. Also, try to avoid overpacking your bags with extra stuff in excitement.

Tips and service charges

The practice of tipping differs from country to country across the globe. In many countries, tipping is part of the culture to show gratitude to people for providing valuable services. In contrast, other countries consider it compulsory or discretionary service charges. There are few countries where tipping is voluntary. When traveling, it is always good to check out the tipping traditions in the country you are planning to visit beforehand.

In general, the tipping charges vary from one region to another based on the services offered. Some regions might charge a tip of 10% on your overall food bill, while in other places, you might have to pay additional charges (tip) of 20% to stay at a hotel. In various cases, the tipping cost is added to your bill. Therefore, it is vital to include these charges in your travel budget. 

Tax expenses

An additional tax or tourist tax is a huge hidden expense, which many tourists fail to budget. Some countries impose high taxes on tourism. For example, in European countries like Belgium and Italy, there are high taxes on tourist destinations. Tourists in South Asian countries like Bhutan pay $250 as a tourist tax. 

Besides tourism tax, there are other additional taxes. In the USA, for example, almost everything is taxed. Whether it’s your hotel stay purchases, you cannot escape from it. Therefore, it is best to budget your tax expense during your travel.

Medical expenses

There is a likelihood of falling sick when traveling abroad. However, medical treatment is expensive in many countries. Therefore, it is vital to carry medicines for common illnesses such as flu, cold, and cough before traveling abroad. Moreover, if you are asthmatic or suffer from lung or heart problems, it is wiser to carry extra medicines. Also, while planning your trip, you can set aside a specific amount as an emergency expense. It helps you in an unforeseen closure. Moreover, you can also consider a travel insurance plan which covers health expenses abroad.

Final Thoughts

If properly planned, a trip abroad can be thrilling and relaxing. The typical traveler maintains a budget for accommodation and airline fees but often overlooks deceptively hidden expenses. These expenses can ruin your trip and leave a dent in your pockets. Therefore, it is best to plan a budget for these hidden expenses and avoid them wherever possible. 

You can always choose an alternative to staying at hotels. Additionally, it is beneficial to carry some local currency to avoid high currency exchange costs. Also, if possible, avoid renting a car abroad. Instead, use local transport or a car-hailing service. Don’t forget to overpack your bags as an extra baggage fee can make you helpless. Make sure to add some costs for tax and medical expenses. By planning for these hidden expenses, you can travel with ease and comfort. Also, you can avoid high credit card bills upon your arrival back home.

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