Heading off on a new adventure is one of the most exciting things to do, and the chance to visit new destinations and discover amazing experiences is always a great idea. When you have a great trip on the horizon, even the organization can be exciting, but the best-laid plans in the world can’t always account for everything.

Travelling can be a pricey business, and unexpected travel expenses can have a huge impact on what you’re able to do on your trip. No one wants a nasty surprise halfway through their dream vacation, and ending up over-budget, or worse still running out of cash can really kill the holiday mood. 

The good thing is that with a little preparation you can avoid most of the common unexpected travel expenses that crop up. So before you book a last minute Florida cruise or fly across to Europe, take a look below at our guide to some of the things travellers often forget to budget for, as well as costs that can take you by surprise during your vacation, and how to avoid them.

Foreign exchange fees

We’ve all done it. Everything for your vacation is planned to the tee, then you realise the day before you are due to leave that you don’t have any foreign currency! Changing money at the airport usually comes with poor exchange rates and big fat fees. Taking money out from ATMs abroad with your day-to-day card can be even more expensive. 

While all foreign exchanges will charge fees of some sort, there are plenty that offer better rates and lower fees. Make sure you do a little research online in advance to find the best places near you to change money. Alternatively, take a look at debit cards that offer fee-free withdrawals abroad. This will give you more flexibility and means you don’t have to carry cash…although you will still be risking ATM charges.

Credit card fees

Although you’ll tend to pay for smaller things with cash – snacks, souvenirs and so on – you might not always be able or want to carry enough physical money to cover larger purchases. However, using credit cards abroad can come with a whole load of hidden fees, which can quickly add up if you aren’t careful. Bad exchange rates, foreign transaction fees and Dynamic Currency Conversion can all make using plastic on vacation a bad idea. 

Plenty of credit cards do offer fee-free use abroad. It is worth calling your card company before you travel anyway, to prevent your card being blocked for ‘suspicious activity’, so take a moment to ask about fees as well. If you are a frequent traveller it might be worth applying for a credit or debit card that lets you spend money abroad free of charge.

Another option is to get a prepaid card from a foreign exchange. Exchange rates with these cards are usually better, and you’ll be able to withdraw money from ATMs.

Roaming charges 

Using your cell phone overseas is often unavoidable, but it can come with some seriously hefty roaming charges. Data and minutes are usually extortionate, and when you are paying by the minute or the megabyte a quick scroll through social media, using the map app, or a check-in phone call will come with a large bill. 

It is well worth turning off roaming before travelling, so you don’t inadvertently get charged for anything. Use WiFi as much as possible for internet use, and if you are likely to need to make regular phone calls, think about getting a local sim card. 

Baggage Fees

We often get too excited about our vacation that we end up packing too many unnecessary items. We have to pack essentials and clothes that are only appropriate for our destination, so we don’t need to carry heavy luggage and pay for expensive airport baggage fees. One way to save on these types of expenses is by packing smartly using a lightweight carry-on-sized travel backpack. It makes your travel much easier and stress-free when you don’t have to worry about extra airport fees and lost checked-in luggage.

WiFi

Having mentioned WiFi, it is worth pointing out that even in today’s super-connected world, many hotels and airlines still charge for WiFi use.

When it comes to hotels, check out what their WiFi usage policy is, and how much they charge. It might even be worth upgrading to a slightly more expensive hotel, if they throw in free WiFi!

With airlines, just load up your tablets and devices with offline music, films and games, and enjoy the break from the email notifications!

Departure taxes

Often a nasty final surprise at the end of a vacation, many countries like Costa Rica and Argentina charge departure taxes at the airport when you are leaving.

These are not really costs you can avoid, but do a little research in advance so you aren’t taken aback when confronted with an added charge on your way home.  

Visa costs

While many countries require you to sort out your visa in advance of traveling, there are also plenty of places where you need to buy your visa on entry, at customs. 

As with departure taxes, this isn’t really something you can avoid. But with pre-planning, you can ensure you have the required money set aside for any and all visas and border crossings that you will need throughout your trip. Costs aside, when it comes to visas it is worth doing intensive research in advance anyway as if you are missing something you need to enter or exit the country you’ll have to spend a lot of time trekking back and forth to the embassy, which brings stress, hassle, and loss of vacation time!

We hope this guide helps you budget with peace of mind so that you can fully enjoy your trip without the worry of spending. It’s always a good idea to have a miscellaneous section of your budget for unexpected expenses as well. Whether business or pleasure, enjoy your next trip without the concern of unexpected expenses.