You arranged your flights, planned your itinerary and decided on your budget for your international vacation – so you are all set to go, right? Not so fast. International trips often include hidden costs that can empty your budget unexpectedly – without you even realizing it. But don’t worry—we’ve got you covered! This list reveals 9 hidden travel expenses that could surprise you during your journey along with expert tips to avoid them.
Featured Image Credit: HayDmitriy /Depositphotos.com.
Foreign Transaction Fees
Every time you use your credit card to pay for food, taxis, or souvenirs, you have to pay an extra 1-3% fee to your bank (on each transaction). Ouch. Some banks even have a fixed fee for card use in foreign countries, which quickly adds up.
How to avoid it: Make sure to review your card’s foreign transaction fees before traveling. If your credit card charges foreign transaction fees, switch to a travel-friendly credit card that doesn’t have these fees. Debit card? Some banks like Charles Schwab offer full reimbursement for ATM fees worldwide!
ATM Withdrawal Fees
Need cash? You visit an ATM to withdraw cash but discover your bank imposes a $5+ fee on each transaction plus an additional charge from the local bank. If you withdraw multiple times, you will end up paying a lot of money.
How to avoid it: To minimize your fees, pull out bigger sums of money at one time. Find out whether your bank maintains partnerships with banks abroad since major banks allow fee-free ATM withdrawals at their partner locations.
Currency Exchange Scams
Exchange counters and kiosks at airports or tourist spots? Travelers should avoid them because they give bad rates and charge extra hidden fees. Choosing the wrong place to exchange currency may result in a loss of 10-20% of your money.
How to avoid it: Do not use airport currency exchanges because ATMs provide much better rates. Only exchange your money at a trustworthy bank or request foreign currency from your bank before your trip.
Transportation Surprises
When you arrive in a new country and get into an airport taxi, you will find yourself paying multiple times more than local passengers. Drivers either charge them unreasonable rates or opt for the longest driving routes. Although public transportation options appear budget-friendly, they can come with hidden costs because many urban areas require non-refundable deposits for transit cards.
How to avoid it: Choose rideshare services including Uber, Bolt, and Grab whenever possible. When using public transport, check if multi-day passes offer savings. If you’re getting into a taxi with no meter, make sure you and the driver agree on the fare before starting the ride.
Hotel & Airbnb Extra Fees
You book a hotel believing you’ve secured a fantastic deal but discover unexpected resort fees, city taxes, and service fees after checking out. Hotels often charge guests for Wi-Fi access and gym usage. Airbnb? The cleaning fee can equal the cost of the entire accommodation stay.
How to avoid it: Always review the fine print and consider all fees before making your booking. If an Airbnb listing has an unreasonable cleaning fee, then compare the total cost with nearby hotels. You can even get hotels to remove resort fees with a simple request
Roaming Charges & WiFi Costs
Switching off data roaming is an easy oversight that beginners make which often results in phone bills exceeding $100. Some hotels continue to charge customers for WiFi access – and public WiFi isn’t always reliable.
How to avoid it: Opt for a local SIM card or eSIM to access affordable data rates. Make sure to compare international plan costs when your carrier provides one. Google Fi and a number of T-Mobile plans provide free data roaming services throughout many countries.
Tipping Culture Confusion
In some places like the U.S., customers are expected to leave a 15-20% tip for service employees. Other countries like Japan consider tipping to be rude. Meanwhile, tourists who don’t realize that a service charge has been added to their restaurant bill often tip additionally, which leads to unnecessary expenses.
How to avoid it: Make sure to check tipping guidelines before you travel. When a service charge appears on the bill no additional tip is required. When in doubt, ask a local!
Tourist Taxes & Entry/Exit Fees
Some destinations require tourists to pay a hotel tax for each night they stay whereas destinations like Bali and Thailand impose entry or exit fees that travelers may discover only when they arrive at the airport.
How to avoid it: Always check entry and exit fees for your destination in advance to prevent surprises. There are countries where travelers can complete their online payments ahead of time to avoid inconvenience.
Luggage Fees & Overweight Charges
Although budget airlines market cheap flights, they make money from checked bag fees, carry-on charges, and even charge passengers for printing boarding passes. Overweight baggage? Passengers may be charged up to $50 per additional kilogram of luggage weight by certain airlines.
How to avoid it: Measure your luggage’s weight before leaving for the airport and confirm the airline’s carry-on restrictions – they may only permit small backpacks. Prepay for additional baggage through the airline’s website because it costs less than purchasing it at the check-in counter.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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