Saving for a vacation takes some discipline and planning, but it's not all about flights, hotels, and dinners out. Seeing the world can also involve unexpected travel costs. From passport fees to TSA PreCheck®, the little extras that help your trip go smoothly can really add up!
But the fees continue even after you book your trip. In fact, if not careful, these additional expenses may derail a budget and leave you with less to spend on food, souvenirs, and special memories.
Here are the most common hidden travel fees to consider, including internet access, cell phone roaming charges, drinking water fees, restroom access fees, and baggage and seat selection fees.
Internet access
While many developed countries offer wireless and 5G to the public for free, it's not a standard perk in other places. To get data on the go in these places, you'll need to sign up for a local wireless plan or purchase extra data for your cell plan. (Also, be sure to check for cell roaming charges. More on that below.)
Wi-Fi on cruises can be especially costly since a satellite serves the connection. Examples of fees per day per device may include:
- $15: Social messaging access like Facebook Messenger and chat apps
- $20: Value package that includes social messaging, chat apps, and browsing without access to streaming services
- $22: Premium package that includes all the above plus access to streaming sites like Netflix, Amazon Music, or YouTube
These fees are just an example, and each cruise line will have its own pricing plan. Some premium cruises may include Wi-Fi in the cost of the trip. Others may offer bulk pricing for extra megabytes when purchased in advance.
Cell phone roaming charges
Mobile service providers consider you to be "roaming" when traveling outside the service area covered by your carrier's cell or data equipment. Any data used to make a call or browse the internet is serviced by other carriers that have an agreement with your home carrier.
It's usually not a problem when traveling domestically. People drive from one state to another and often roam without knowing, and they usually don't see extra charges show up on their bills.
However, when leaving the country, expect to pay up. Your home carrier can and will pass along the cost of this roaming agreement to you via international roaming fees for voice and data service.
What does it cost to roam overseas? The data agreement with your cell provider will have all the details, but generally, it costs around $1.79 per minute for voice calls and $2.05 per megabyte (MB) of data in Spain from Verizon. For reference, very low-quality video streaming uses around 300MB per hour — a cost of over $600!
However, each carrier has its own bundled plans for different travel scenarios. Verizon has a $5 per day Travel Pass plan for U.S. customers who travel within Canada and Mexico and a $10 per day plan for other countries. AT&T offers a $12 per day plan for over 210 countries.
You can save by signing up for these plans ahead of time and following these additional tips:
- Purchase an eSIM card that works in multiple countries
- Use free public Wi-Fi when available
- Get a local SIM card for longer trips
- Buy satellite internet before you leave for additional savings in remote areas
When you're not intentionally using data for something important, turn off data roaming so you don't rack up an expensive bill by mistake.
Drinking water fees
Experts say that it's not safe to drink tap water and water from fountains in most developing countries. You should even avoid using this water to brush your teeth.
Instead, you'll want to buy bottled water, which can vary in cost from location to location. The most expensive places to buy bottled water include the U.S., Norway, and Sweden. India, Nigeria, Ghana, and Turkey have the most affordable bottled water. The cost of water can also vary by brand, with some brands not available in all countries.
Not everyone will be able to buy bottled water abroad, and some won't want to due to the potential environmental impact. National Geographic claims that up to 80% of bottles end up in landfills, and some companies use public water to resell in bottles — affecting the availability of public water for the communities for which it is intended.
Two alternatives to the bottled water option are purification tablets, which clean water but may not affect particulates, and portable filters. Both are readily available at sporting goods stores and online, and you can purchase them before traveling to have them handy wherever you go.
Restroom access fees
In many countries, especially those in Europe, public toilets cost money to use. The fees charged help ensure they stay clean and repaired and can be made available to everyone. The fee can also be used to pay for attendants or security guards to ensure the toilets don't get vandalized and remain safe places free of crime. In fact, because they're only accessible after paying, some people report that the pay toilets are much nicer than the public toilets we see here in the U.S.
The cost of a pay toilet varies, but it's generally no more than $1 in USD to access one.
While some toilet fees can be paid to an automated machine (like vending), others require payment to a human attendant. These attendants may expect a tip, too, so be sure to keep a pocket full of local currency in case you want to use the toilet.
Other countries let tourists buy a daily or weekly pass that can be used again and again during your trip. Not only is this economical, but it can help take some of the guesswork out of how to budget for toilet use.
While you may not be able to avoid this fee completely, you can be strategic to reduce the cost. Using the facilities in the hotel where you stay, as well as the restaurants you dine in, can keep costs lower over time.
Baggage and seat selection fees on airlines
Even before you leave on your trip, fees can start to add up. Airline fees are the most common and vary greatly between airlines. In addition to paying for wireless connections, food, and drinks, you may also be charged for:
- Premium seats — including those in the exit row, those closer to the front of the plane, and seats with more legroom (including first class and the area behind it)
- Baggage fees — generally to check bags, but also for some carry-ons with select airlines
Managing travel expenses can be difficult when flying because many airline tickets involve fees. If you ever need to change your flight, there may be additional fees for this, too.
How to avoid airline surcharges
Some budget airlines may charge for seat selection, while others include it in the price of the ticket and let you choose when you buy your ticket. If you don't buy a premium seat, there's no additional charge unless you upgrade to a better seat selection later.
Baggage costs can be reduced by choosing airlines with more generous baggage and seat selection policies. You can also pack lighter to take along fewer things in fewer bags.
If you're a credit card holder for branded airline cards, you may have access to free perks, such as seat selection, one free checked bag, and discounts on Wi-Fi or inflight food and drinks. Check the terms of your card agreement for details.
You may also find discounts on premium seats as you get closer to your flight date. By logging into your airline account and checking your seat selection, it's possible to see an offer for an upgrade, especially if there's plenty of room on a flight.
How to pay fewer fees for more fun
Planning a trip involves a lot of price comparison, especially when deciding between hotels, flights, and places to dine. But don't forget about those extra trip expenses that can really add up, such as cell phone roaming charges, drinking water fees, restroom access fees, and baggage and seat selection fees.
While it may be difficult to avoid them completely, simply knowing about them can help you set expectations and make better choices when you arrive at your destination. It can also help keep you safe as you travel in areas that may be new to you.
Remember, you can't go without water, restrooms, or a cell phone for emergencies. By adding these costs to the budget now, you can have a great time abroad and not worry so much about the costs. You'll also be less tempted to skip essentials that really are necessary for a more enjoyable getaway.
Consider talking to someone who has visited the area you'll be traveling to. They can often offer advice on the safest places to go, the cheapest places to dine, and how to handle the unknowns of pay-toilet etiquette. They could even have suggestions for a cell phone plan that's ideal for where you're going.
