The Age of Hidden Fees – How To Save More Money When Traveling

Let’s face it; it’s the age of hidden fees. Airlines, hotels, banks, credit card companies — all have discovered the fine art of charging hidden fees. It has become a major trend. Everybody seems to be in on the act. They quote one price, but when you finally get that bill, there are all those “extra” charges on it, as well. Some of those charges are quite creative and one almost has to admire the imagination that went into coming up with them. But imaginative or not, one thing is certain and that is that they will all cost you more money! For the unprepared, these hidden fees are not only an unpleasant surprise, but definitely an unpleasant added expense, as well. And those expenses add up!

Travel Suitcase - Author, Producer, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

How do you avoid this growing problem? Well, one way, obviously, is not to travel unless you have to for some particular reason. As our last article stated, times are tough all over, and traveling is an expense many people are foregoing, for now, at least. However, some people just can’t do this, such as students, businesspersons, those with jobs that require travel, and those needing to visit friends or relatives. For these people, and for others who still want to travel, but need to do it as cheaply as possible, here are some more cost-cutting methods to use. Follow them, and they will save you money. These are designed for all cost-conscious travelers, and not just those going on vacation. If you combine these measures with those mentioned in our previous article, you can further, and considerably, defray the costs of travel.

FLYING: We’ve talked about researching airlines. However, no matter which one you end up with, as the saying goes, “it ain’t cheap” these days. Airlines are getting very good at tacking on hidden fees any which way they can. They do this by taking away free services, cutting employee staff, and generally charging more for existing services, as well as inventing new fees. These include fuel surcharge taxes, charges for reserving flights over the phone instead of the Internet, and added costs for checking baggage, among other things. Weight limits for luggage are being strictly observed by airlines these days. Why? Well, one reason is that if you slip up on this, “they” make more money. Go even slightly over that weight limit and it can really cost you! Checking extra bags will cost you. And for some airlines, even that first checked bag will have a charge coming with it.

Airline Travel Services - Take Off -Author MarekV, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Also, some are charging for the use of headphones, even onboard food, and standard, non-alcoholic beverages. One friend of mine flew from Jamaica home to Raleigh. When he found out that he had to pay seven dollars for a measly cheese and tomato sandwich, and extra besides that for a beverage to go with it, he was so furious that he refused. Result? He arrived home thirsty and very hungry, after not having eaten anything of consequence for an entire day.

Yes, I know that most people don’t think seven dollars is very much. But add on drinks, add it coming and going, and add the costs of any other family members you are paying for, and believe me, that then becomes a substantial cost. What’s that old saying; “watch your pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves?” The airlines, hotels, and everyone else are sure doing it, so you had better think about doing it, too, if only as a defensive measure. You don’t want to become the proverbial “plucked pigeon,” monetarily speaking, just because you want to travel abroad.

So Rule Number 1: Call or go online and find out what all air flight charges are going to be. I mean the TOTAL charges for that flight, including the return trip; from fuel surcharges, taxes, and costs for extra baggage,to prices for headphones, food, and anything else for which they may want extra money from you. That “low” advertised price for a ticket will have expenses added to it; believe me, and sometimes, a lot! To know the total price, you must take the time to inquire up front. Otherwise, you could be very unhappily surprised and only after you’ve purchased your ticket.

Author, Sfllaw, Hong Kong International Airport Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Check to make sure that things you assume are free are in fact, still without a charge. And, try to think BYOB, if you want to save costs and cut corners. That is, bring along with you whatever you can legally do so to defray costs. If they charge you for food, this can include some easy-to-eat food or prepackaged snacks. Beverages are a problem because of liquid prohibitions on planes, but you can supply your own headphones and such, at least. And remember to do this for both legs of the trip, coming and going. If they are charging for that little pack of peanuts, bring a package of your own for you, and for your family members. Again, these so-called “nickel and dime” costs can really add up, if you aren’t careful. The airlines know this, and so play this game. If it wasn’t worth their while to “nickel and dime” you, they wouldn’t bother – trust me!

Rule Number 2: After you have purchased your ticket, pay particular attention to your baggage. Again, airlines now often charge for extra baggage, and many charge even for that first piece of checked luggage. Go over the weight limits (or even the size limits), and you could be paying a hefty extra fee.

So remember that old adage; “he who travels light, travels quickly.” And remember, in this case, “he,” or “she,” will also travel more cheaply. So take stock of what you are taking. Consider the items carefully. When traveling to Europe, I pack layered clothing. By this, I mean I pack undershirts, shirts, sweaters, and a light jacket. Combined, all these can come to less than the weight of a single full coat, and yet offer the same warmth, if necessary. Also, this method is flexible. It allows me more choice in what I choose to wear, how much I wear, and when.

Combination Suitcase And Chair Public Domain, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Think about what you really don’t need to take. Travel irons for pressing wrinkled clothes, hair dryers, even such sundry items as toothbrushes, razors, shampoo, soaps, and such, can usually be had at the destination hotel, most of the time for free. Almost all hotels I stay at (and these aren’t expensive ones, by any means), supply irons, hair dryers, shampoo, and soap. And if these aren’t to your liking, then local shops will supply them cheaply. Buy small quantities, enough to last your stay, so you aren’t wasting money in this respect. Better to do this than pay as much as $50.00 extra because you are just a pound or so over your weight limit. That would equal one very expensive bottle of shampoo! Even if there are two of you, airlines don’t average the weight of bags. If one is over a pound, and the other is still under by several pounds, it doesn’t matter. You will still pay extra!

Rule Number 3: Have a meal, if necessary, before going to the airport. Or, bring along a snack, even a beverage. You may not be able to take liquids on the flight, but if you haven’t passed through security yet, you usually can have beverages in the main terminal. Food and drink in airports can be enormously expensive, depending on the airport. And if you get hungry while waiting for your flight, or you are just in between flights, airline food can add on costs to your trip and in a hurry! For two adults, a simple meal with a beer, for instance, at some airports, can run you $60.00 or more. So try not to give in to temptation while at the air terminal. It can cost you. The simple expedience of bringing along a bag of trail mix, or a candy bar or two, could save you big bucks – coming and going!

GROUND TRANSPORTATION: When traveling to other countries, check ahead of time as to what ground transportation is available, where it is located (with regard to airports, points of interest, and hotels). Find out the different methods and ascertain which are the cheapest and most expedient.

Subways: Although subways are usually a great bargain just about anywhere, if you are lugging heavy baggage along, climbing and descending numerous flights of stairs, struggling to get suitcases onto trains, pushing through rush-hour crowds, then subways may not be a good idea. (This is another reason to travel light, baggage-wise.) However, subways are usually very cheap and I use them. If you are planning to stay in one city for a while, you can usually get multiple-day passes, which are a real bargain. Do it.

Buses: I also use bus lines. These, too, often have multiple-day passes. In London, I buy a pass that allows me to use either the “tube” or the bus service for several days. It’s absolutely the cheapest way to get to just about anywhere in that city, and even some points beyond it. Again, lots of luggage can be a problem for this method, struggling on and off buses with heavy bags, but it’s still a very good and cheap way to go.

Taxies: Taxies in Europe or the United Kingdom, as well as other places, are usually the most expensive way to travel, and sometimes the drivers can be a bit shady, although I’m sure most are not. However, as an example, I came out of the “tube” (subway) at Notting Hill Gate in London. I hailed a taxi to take me to my hotel, which was nearby (where exactly, I didn’t know). He didn’t recognize the name of the hotel and so couldn’t find it. I told him it had to be within a few streets of the station at most, according to the description the hotel manager had given me over the phone. Nine British Pounds Sterling later, we arrived at the hotel. It was around the corner from the subway station, not more than 75 feet away. Was the driver being honest in not knowing the location of the place? I just don’t know. But in American money at the time, that cost me $20.00 to find out my hotel was less than a hundred feet from where I had hailed the taxi. Why did I hail a taxi? Because I had lots of luggage on that trip, that’s why. See what I mean about traveling light? Yes…I learned the hard way.

eurostar european high speed train Author, Leon Brocard, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Trains: Trains in Europe are generally a good bargain, and although not so much in the United Kingdom, they still are much better than here in the United States. Also, both mainland Europe and the United Kingdom have very good train systems. Although the British system over the last ten years has worsened some, in my opinion, they still travel to many places. Trains are often, and the rides are comfortable. You can “get there from here,” on them in mainland Europe, and the United Kingdom. However, as mentioned in the prior article, you might want to consider renting a car if you plan many long-distance trips, because train fares can really add up over time, especially if more than one person is traveling.

Car Rentals: First, please understand this; car rentals always cost more than the advertised price, almost without exception! This is true whether we’re talking about here in the United States, or abroad. Fees always are tacked on. These can include insurance fees, road use fees, surcharges of various sorts, extra charges for that “extra” driver, taxes, and fees for any type of navigational devices, among others.

So, here’s that BYOB rule again; if you have a navigational device, pay for a map of your destination before leaving home. Download it, and use it when you get there. Even though maps for such devices aren’t cheap, as I’ve found out, they are far cheaper than renting that navigational device from a car rental agency. On my trip last year, I was charged the equivalent of almost $32.00 USD a day for the device! And you know, it was still worth it. I saved countless hours of time in not getting lost and in gas savings. Europeans just are not great on posting street signs, or at least not where one can see them in time to be of any use. All that extra saved time went to see more things. But do check out car rental costs carefully. Know the total amount. It can be high. Still, for a family, as mentioned in the prior article, a car rental could very well be the way for you to go.

KNOW THE CURRENCIES: This is essential. Whether you are flying to locations that use different currencies, or your trip just involves one different one – know the currency! You need to know it by sight, so you don’t use the wrong bills for tips and such (as I did in Austria), and you need to know its current rate of exchange. If you don’t know that, then you don’t know what those meals, tourist sites, gasoline prices, hotel fees, souvenirs, and all are really costing you. And if you are using a credit card, well, upon your arrival home, and when that bill arrives, it can be an awful surprise. So again, know the currency, know its current rate of exchange, and be able to calculate costs so that you can translate them into your own money. This will save you money!

Currate.com: To be able to do all of this, I recommend Currate.com. It has images of almost all the world’s currencies; you can familiarize yourself with your destination ones. It has regularly updated conversion rates, so you will have timely information on what the exchange rate is. It has a Google Earth style map where you can point and click to your destination. Also, it has a currency converter calculator. Want to know what that souvenir is really costing you? Just use the currency converter calculator to find out. And with regard to that, if you are traveling and have a mobile phone with Internet browser capability, just go to http://currate.com/mbasic.php. For phones with more advanced features, use http://currate.com/menhanced.php. This way, you will have instant access to everything you need with regard to matters of currency conversion. Believe me, knowing this will save you money! And in the current worldwide economic situation, this is always a good idea.

We live in an age where corporate greed has turned craftier than ever. Again, it is the age of hidden fees, of having airlines, banks, credit card companies, hotels, and others  trying to “nickel and dime you to death.” So take my advice and fight back. And one of the best ways to do this is to know what all the costs are going to be up front. Then, you can at least try to defray them in some way. Otherwise, you are just a helpless victim. And really consider this approach, because these fees not only aren’t going away in the near future, they are going to get worse! Trust me. It will happen. And you don’t have to look into a crystal ball to know this. The future, in this regard, is sadly all too obvious.

Rob Shelsky, Currate.com Contributing Editor
Robert Rademacher, Currate.com Editor-in-Chief

References:

Ten Money-Saving Travel And Vacation Tips
http://goflorida.about.com/od/couponsdiscounts/a/moneysavingtips.htm

CNN 9 Money-Saving Travel Tips
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/traveltips/01/20/money.saving.tips/index.html

Money-Saving Travel Tips
http://www.parents.com/fun/vacation/planning/money-saving-travel-tips/

Money Saving Tips the Travel Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know
http://www.deliciousbaby.com/journal/2008/jun/19/money-saving-tips-travel-industry-doesnt-want-you-/

The Wend Perrin Report
http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/traveltips/11316

Amazing Money-Saving Tips
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/feb/07/budget-travel-guide-credit-crunch

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