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Unexpected Costs of Travel You Need to Watch Out For

Unexpected Costs of Travel

Whether it’s a two-week vacation or a weekend break, traveling has a cost attached to it. Finding deals on flights, accommodation, and even scoping out how much local bars and restaurants are all come into play when you’re planning your trip to help you stick to your budget. However, while all of these things are important, you need to be mindful of the other costs associated with traveling that might not be as obvious. Below are a few examples of unexpected expenses that can appear when you’re going away.

Airport Parking

A lot of the time, people pre-book taxis or have a friend who is willing to give them a ride to the airport, but this isn’t always the case. If you are having to drive yourself to the airport, you will need to leave your car there until you return. This means booking a place in the long-stay parking lot, which can be costly. You can use websites like Parkon.com to find cheaper rates for airport parking, but make sure you do book in advance to secure your spot.

Travel Visas

Depending on where you’re traveling to, you might not need a visa. For example, if your home country is in the EU, you can travel to other EU countries without worrying about this. However, in many cases, you will need to get a travel visa to be allowed into your destination country, and these will come at an additional cost. They aren’t usually expensive but remember to get this organized at least four months before you travel in case there are delays in processing your visa or other complications.

Data Roaming Charges

A lot of networks have gotten better at letting customers use their data abroad, but many still have charges attached to this. It might not cost you a lot, but you should always double-check with your providers to see what their rates are. Otherwise, you might get a nasty surprise when you see your phone bill when you get home! You can even see if you can pay for extra roaming if you know you’re going to be using your phone abroad fairly regularly and won’t have access to WiFi all of the time.

Credit Card Charges

Another hidden cost to look out for when you’re traveling is if and when you’re using your debit or credit cards. It can be tempting to use these rather than carrying cash around with you, but often there are additional charges for every time you use it while you’re in a foreign country. Again, check with your bank or credit lender to see what their terms are regarding this so you can know what to expect. If you are going to get cash to take with you, shop around to find the currency exchange that is offering the best rates.

Traveling can be expensive if you’re not careful, especially when you’re hit with these unexpected expenses. Remember to keep them in mind if you’re trying to stick to a budget so you won’t get any nasty surprises with your bills on your return.