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Some travel surprises are good: discovering a hidden gem of a
trattoria in Florence where you are greeted with hugs and an open
bottle of Chianti. Or finding out that the Louvre is free the one day
you are in Paris. But then there are the bad surprises: getting the
final bill on your cruise and seeing hundreds of dollars tacked on for
gratuities. Or showing up at the airport at the end of a blissful week
in the Caribbean and being informed you must pay a departure tax, or you
can't leave the island (on second thought, being stuck in paradise
doesn't sound that terrible). Here are seven fees you should factor into
the budget—including a few you can avoid altogether if you're smart.
VISA FEES
Visas are required for U.S. citizens traveling to some major
countries, and the fees can really escalate. Planning on taking that
once-in-a-lifetime trip to China? Budget another $140 per person for a
visa. A visa to visit India costs $76 (including a service fee), while a
visa for Russia costs $170. Countries like Brazil charge American
citizens the same amount that our government charges their citizens to
visit the U.S.—a hefty $160. Go to the consulate's website to find out
how much you are going to have to shell out. It can take a couple weeks
to process visas, so be sure to plan ahead or you'll end up paying even
more to expedite.
DEPARTURE TAXES
Have you ever looked at the breakdown of the cost of an airline
ticket? Mixed in with the Passenger Facility Charge and the Segment Tax
is usually a departure tax for international flights. Many countries
charge one, though its not always included in your airfare. If that is
the case, you'll be hit up with an exit fee at the airport on your way
back to the U.S. This is especially common in the Caribbean and Central
and South America. The departure tax for St. Kitts is $37 per person,
while the departure tax from St. Maarten is $30 per person. To leave
Costa Rica you will owe $28. The fee is usually payable in cash or by
credit card and must be paid before proceeding through immigration for
your exit stamp. Airport websites often have information about exit fees
and you can always call your airline to inquire about the departure
tax, too. In case you were wondering, these fees are sometimes levied to
cover things like airport construction, road work, and water and sewage
system maintenance.
RESORT FEES
This fee is probably the most hated among travelers, especially since
it covers things you probably assumed were free—pool towels, daily
newspaper, and even in-room coffee. Hawaiian resorts are notorious for
charging extra fees (though there are a few that do not, including the
Kona Beach Hotel).
The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa charges $25 per room, per night
to cover wireless Internet access, daily local newspaper, and an hour
on the tennis courts. The fee can also show up as a percentage added to
your room rate, not a flat fee. This is typical in Puerto Rico, where
resorts like the Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza add 16 percent to the
bill to cover WiFi, local calls, and access to the resort's casino. It's
not just beach resorts that tack on the fee: the Bellagio on the Las
Vegas strip adds $22.40 to the room rate per night for internet, gym
access, and local calls. And these charges are non-negotiable, even if
you aren't planning on logging on or working out. Be sure to read the
fine print, where resort fees are often tucked away, especially when
using a third-party booking site. If you're still not clear on the
matter, a simple call to the hotel can determine whether it's a good
deal or if considering a resort that's a few dollars more (but with no
resort fees) is a better option.
CRUISE GRATUITIES
Those amazing cruise deals are so tempting, especially for
all-inclusive boats where your meals are included in the price. Even if
you have prepaid, you will still get a bill before you reach the final
port detailing the incidental charges you racked up while you were
gliding through the Caribbean. You might be surprised to see just how
many piña coladas you ordered by the pool—and that you owe more than
$150 for gratuities. Most major cruise lines automatically bill cruisers
between $10 and $12 in gratuities for each day of the cruise. Carnival
charges $11.50 per day, per person (over the age of 2) for tips to be
distributed to the ship's staff. Disney Cruise Lines adds $12 per
person, per night for the stateroom host and the dining room wait staff.
And these set fees do not include the 15 percent automatically added to
your bar tab. Though the charge seems mandatory, if you feel the tip
doesn't reflect the service you've received, you can adjust the rate up
or down by making a trip to the purser's office to discuss the matter in
person.
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