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5 Hidden Vacation Costs You Need to Know About

Travel has never been more expensive, thanks to the surging cost of fuel and the plunging value of the dollar. You don’t have to look any further than the airport to see it. Overpacking doesn’t come cheap these days, with most major airlines charging upwards of $25 per piece of extra luggage you check in. (That fee more than doubles if the luggage weighs in excess of 50 pounds.) Airlines, looking to nickel and dime passengers to offset rising costs, also now charge for everything from on-board snacks to in-flight movies. Worst of all, the surcharge surprises don’t end once you’ve exited the airport. On your next getaway you’ll likely get socked by hidden fees tucked away in the fine print. Bring plenty of patience and lots of extra cash for these common charges.

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Beach Passes

vacation, travel, trip, airlines, hotels, rental cars, fees, cost, money beach passes Choosing a cheaper hotel off the beach may not be as penny-wise as you’d think. Private beaches often charge for entry, and non-guests can also incur hefty fees just to use another hotel’s pool. Find out if the beaches near your hotel are public or private before booking a room.

Baggage Holding

vacation, travel, trip, airlines, hotels, rental cars, fees, cost, money baggage holding Not long ago, if you arrived at your hotel before check-in or wanted to extend your vacation past checkout most hotels held your bags as a courtesy. Those days are over. Hotels are cashing in on the luggage you leave behind for a few extra hours. Expect to shell out as much as $5 per bag to get the hotel to hold it for you.

Hotel Fees

vacation, travel, trip, airlines, hotels, rental cars, fees, cost, money hotel fees Hotels are notorious for tacking on fees for everything from bottled water to an extra pool towel. Hotels made $1.75 billion in fees alone last year, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers. Didn\'t use the hotel gym or business center? Carefully review your itemized bill, then ask if they\'ll remove charges for unused perks.

All-Inclusive Deals

vacation, travel, trip, airlines, hotels, rental cars, fees, cost, money all inclusive deals Booking an all-inclusive package means you can relax and stuff yourself silly without worrying about the cost of every meal. But all-inclusive rarely delivers on the promise. It may say drinks included, but omit alcohol from the bargain. Some packages limit you to one dining facility only. If you want to sample the hotel’s other cuisine, you’ll have to pay for it. Be sure to ask what the all-inclusive deal doesn’t include.

Rental Car Insurance

vacation, travel, trip, airlines, hotels, rental cars, fees, cost, money rental car insurance If you’re planning on being your own tour guide, you’ll probably need a rental car to do it. Most renters agree to the optional car insurance thinking it’s better to be safe than sorry. True, but you may be just as safe without it. In most cases, your personal car insurance extends to rental cars as well—check your policy first. No car back home? Then it’s a good idea to buy what they’re selling.

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