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Learn About the Hidden Costs of Travel and How to Prepare

You know that traveling expenses consist of more than flight/train/bus tickets and your accommodation or meals. However, when checking into a hotel, you might be asked to pay the resort fees or to have Wi-Fi in your suite. In other cases, you might not account for the souvenirs you will buy, or for those coffee cups you take for a relaxing stroll in the park. 

In this article, we suggest some of the frequently forgotten expenses to add to your budget and how to prepare for them.

Not packing the essentials 

When packing your luggage, people might assume that even if they forget something, they can just buy it once they get to their destination. While the availability of goods is likely not the issue, the price is. Popular vacation spots will definitely feature higher prices, leaving you to pay double or even triple the price. One example might be outdoor slippers that you forget to pack. If you’re going on a seaside vacation and need it quickly, prepare to overpay.

Hotel resort fees

These might be mentioned in small letters in your holiday contract. However, it’s easy to miss this bill, and it can be quite hefty depending on the number of people traveling. The additional expense could be for using specific amenities and could be an internal hotel policy that you have no option to waive. 

Tourist tax

The tourist tax might relate to the fee you pay at the hotel. It is usually described as the payment made to support the future development and maintenance of the area. The exact charge may vary depending on the region and hotel quality. Typically, the better the hotel, the higher the tourist tax.

Quicker security check or plane seat selection

These relatively small expenses could be taken out of necessity: if the security line is exceptionally long, and your flight is already boarding. Then, you will have to consider paying for the quick check and also spending money on your seat selection to be close to your friend or loved one.

Travel insurance

Despite being essential for nearly all traveling, insurance is an expense that people tend to forget to add to their budget. In some cases, check if your credit card provides travel insurance. However, even if it does, read the conditions and what exactly is covered.

Careful when using your payment card

Tapping cards on payment terminals is like second nature to travelers. However, always consider whether fees may be applied. So, if you’re using your card in a foreign country, your bank might charge you for the transaction. In some cases, banks have a particular free spending limit, but double-check it before your trip.

Restaurants and their service charge 

Tipping is not compulsory, but some travelers appreciate showing their gratitude for the services they have received. However, some restaurants do take the liberty of charging you the service fee automatically. So, your bill will automatically feature this amount, typically between 10% and 20% of your general bill.

How to prepare for these hidden expenses

The first step in preparing for these expenses is checking if they will apply to you. For example, not all hotels might have a resort tax, and not every restaurant will automatically add the service charge to your bill. Once you have calculated the approximate sum to cover these hidden expenses, consider the options for funding them. That could relate to temporarily taking on additional gigs, such as offering ride-sharing services on a brief basis. 

In other cases, you can earn money online through multiple means. That could mean freelancing through Upwork or selling crafts on Etsy. Additionally, consider less demanding earning options, such as joining services like JumpTask. This get-paid-to platform pays you for various online tasks, such as completing surveys or testing apps.

Conclusion

Most hidden travel expenses could appear small, but they do add up to hefty sums. Thus, don’t forget to account for them in your budget, and if needed, take action to prepare some additional funds to cover them.