5 Hidden Travel Expenses That Can Blow Your Summer Vacation Budget
Lana Del Rey may sing about “Summertime Sadness,” but summer is your happy time because it means traveling. You’re far from alone: According to U.S. News & World Report, which cited a consumer confidence survey, many Americans are planning a getaway even as they worry about how inflation could give their travel budget the summer blues.
Whether you take that international trip you’ve been planning forever or venture closer to home, being aware of hidden travel costs can reduce your stress. Addressing these often-overlooked expenses before they sneak up on you can mean you won’t have the “summertime sadness” feeling when reviewing your own bank statement.
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1. Amenities Pile Up Faster Than You Think
Once upon a time, amenities like hotel parking for guests, early check-in, poolside towels, lounge chairs and airline headphones on domestic flights were generally included in travel packages.
However, Lauren Gumport, vice president of communications and brand at Faye Travel Insurance, said that nowadays, consumers are being charged separately for these expenses — and the charges add up fast. She encouraged travelers to review travel packages with a fine-tooth comb to identify sneaky fees or enlist experts to help.
“My advice for consumers to avoid the headache is to utilize third parties (like travel coaches, advisors or travel insurance providers) to ask these questions on your behalf pre-trip,” Gumport said.
2. Good Meals Can Come at Great Costs
One of the biggest perks of travel is the opportunity to eat new and delicious meals. Unfortunately, all that good food can come with great costs if you eat out for every meal.
This frustration isn’t unfamiliar to Fiorella Yriberry, travel expert at RVshare. She said that dining out is the most common expense people overlook when planning their vacations.
“This overlooked category can lead travelers to make last-minute decisions that quickly double their budget, affecting travelers with picky eaters and/or dietary restrictions the most,” Yriberry said.
Instead, you might try booking accommodations that come with a kitchen or a fridge so you can do some light cooking or at least store snacks and leftovers.
3. Driving-Related Costs Can Take You for a Ride
If your travel plans involve a road trip, Yriberry emphasized being aware of the smaller costs that could eventually take your budget for a ride — and not the fun kind.
“Most travelers forget to consider expenses beyond the cost of the car rental, like parking, tolls, insurance and gas, which can significantly increase the budget,” she said. “In popular summer destinations like beaches, downtowns and main events, daily parking fees alone can add up to a major expense.”
Researching tolls and parking fees in advance can help you find alternative routes that don’t involve them. Or, if there’s no safe, time-efficient way to navigate around tolls or pricier parking, you can adjust your budget to accommodate the costs.
4. Be Aware of Tourist Taxes
If Sarah Pardi, travel advisor at Insurte, had her way, more Americans would be aware of the tourist taxes in many popular European cities.
“Cities like Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona and several others require tourists to pay a nightly rate per person,” Pardi said. “The charge is usually based on a percentage of your accommodation costs and usually isn't included in your hotel price.”
Pardi added that you should be proactive by looking up any potential tourist taxes in your destination ahead of time. Some cities don’t have these taxes, so you may also want to factor that into your travel planning.
5. Your Phone Can Cost You on International Trips
Roaming fees for your phone can get quite expensive if you’re traveling internationally. To reduce those costs, Pardi suggested finding the right international package or another cost-effective alternative.
“eSIMs are increasing in popularity and are generally less expensive than packages offered by private mobile service providers,” Pardi said. “It's worth looking into if you're really trying to keep costs low.”
The Bottom Line
Travel can still be the perfect way to stay happy this summer. Being aware of hidden expenses — and preparing for them in advance — can help you keep that smile on your face throughout your voyage.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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