I don’t know what it is, but it seems like more and more companies are charging fees these days. Perhaps it’s because of the economy and companies are trying to find ways to generate more revenue to make up for lost sales.
If you’ve traveled lately you know what I’m talking about. There are even fees when trying to use frequent flier miles.If you don’t watch out for the fees or learn to say no to additional services you could increase the cost of your trip by hundreds of dollars.
I was thumbing through a recent Consumer Reports magazine and came across an article which I thought provided some helpful tips to avoid travel related fees. You need to watch out for extra fees and additional service offerings for your flight, hotel and rental car if you don’t want to increase the total cost of your trip.
Here are some of the tips I found most useful:
Airlines:
Book online (you may pay up to $35 more to book by phone and $45 to buy a ticket at the counter)
- Limit luggage fees by taking only carry-ons
- Check in your luggage online or at the terminal. Some airlines now charge $2 or $3 for a bag checked in at the counter
Before flying I spent some time reviewing our airline’s luggage policy online. Just by reviewing the fees you can decide how many bags may be appropriate to pack. You’ll also want to watch out for weight restrictions as I paid a hefty fee for an over weight bag one time.
Hotels:
- Avoid checking your email at the hotel since some charge each day you use their web connection
Paying for an internet connection is silly in my opinion. I suspect the amount of money hotels must be making from such fees is outrageous! If you can’t stand to completely unplug from the web consider paying for one day, or finding a local coffee shop which might provide free service.
Make sure you have a good understanding of phone charges too. Most people use their cell phones these days, but for those still dialing from the room, pay attention to fees for even the local calls.
Rental Cars:
- When you rent a car try and return it to where you picked it up
- Opt out of rental car extras you may pay for even if unused (like a toll pass)
- Use your own gear (bike rack, child safety seat)
- Top off the gas before you return
- Cancel if you’re not going to show up to avoid non-cancellation fees
Rental car fees frustrate me the most. Of course, you’re offered a wide variety of gadgets and features these days. Some people opt to get GPS, which is fine. Just be aware of what you’re paying.
Also, never bring back the car empty of gasoline. Should you pre-pay? I say no. Find a place near the airport and save some money versus paying the convenience charge.
Foreign Travel:
Aside from these tips, Craig at Money Help for Christians has a helpful post on the cheapest way to exchange foreign currency. I haven’t done much foreign travel, but this summer my wife and I took a vacation to Mexico and I quickly learned how expensive fees are when conducting a foreign currency exchange at the airport. You definitely pay a price for convenience. I recommend reading these tips before traveling abroad.
What do you think about these tips to avoid travel fees? Do you have some tips to share?
