You've already defined your destination and calculated the budget for your next adventure... But have you remembered all the expenses? Read this post and discover some “hidden” travel costs that many travelers tend to forget when putting the numbers on paper.
I've already mentioned in other posts that planning a trip is not the easiest task. In addition to making reservations, finding the best prices and deciding what to do at your destination, you also need to calculate as all this will cost, to know if really can pay for it.
In an ideal scenario, this calculation is made even before you to book any service. After all, there's no point being in the middle of your planning with a hotel booked, for example, and then discovering that you can't pay for the tickets.
Calculating a budget may seem impossible, but it really just requires a lot of research. To help you, I've already released here on the blog there's a post that explains the main expenses of a trip, with a free spreadsheet that you can download and fill in according to the values of your destination.
However, despite this spreadsheet, there are still some other travel costs that most people forget, or ignore because they think they won't be so much money. In the end, these expenses can make a dent in your budget, and you may go home thinking about , the will pay for all of this.
In this post, I showed some of these travel costs that are usually “hidden”, and I showed how you can include them in your budget and even save on most of them.
17 “hidden” Travel Costs that you can’t forget when calculating your budget!
1. Fees
1.1 Credit Card IOF
Starting with an expense that many do not understand or do not consider because it is “too low”. When using your credit card or travel money on a trip, in addition to paying for your purchase, you also pay a fee of 6,38% on top of that amount. In other words, if you spend US$100, you will see an additional charge of US$6,38 on your card bill.
It may seem like little, but if you intend to make a lot of purchases, the sum of these fees can be substantial. For an iPhone, for example, which costs an average of US$749, the extra charge is already around US$50, which at the current price is almost R$200!
To save, the solution is to use cash live, since the IOF is only 1,1% and is deducted when you buy the currency in cash.
Here on the blog there is a post talking about how to take money when traveling, showing the advantages and disadvantages of each method.
1.2 Taxes
Some countries, such as the United States and Canada, do not include taxes in the price of products. When paying, however, a tax is charged that varies depending on the state in which you are making the purchase.
In New York, for example, the sales tax is 8.875%, while in Orlando this value drops to 6,5%. This means that an iPhone – is the most practical example! – which costs US$749 actually costs US$815 in NYC and US$797 in Magic land.
2. Documentation
Another expense that many people disregard when calculating travel costs is documentation.
2.1 Passport
For international travel, you will need a valid passport. If you don't already have one, the current price is R$257,25, and you can make the request online on the Federal Police website.
2.2 Identity
If your destination is one of the Mercosur countries, you can travel only with an identity card. It is worth remembering, however, that even though this document does not have an expiration date, it is only accepted at borders if it is less than 10 years old. In other words, if your ID still has your baby photo, you can add the cost of a new one to your budget. The price varies according to the state, but is around R$65 for a duplicate.
2.3 Visas
Finally, you need to research whether your destination requires a visa for Brazilian tourists. For the United States, for example, you need a visa that costs US$160 per person (at current prices, more than R$600). Also research whether you need to obtain a visa in person, since if this is the case you may need travel to get a visa. Living in Florianópolis, I've been to both São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro just to get my visa for the USA, for example.
3. Airline Tickets
If your destination is far away, you will need to spend on air tickets. In addition to the advertised price, however, there are charges that are often ignored until check-in time. It is not uncommon to see travelers arguing at airline counters or in line to pay for “surprise” fees.
Some of them are:
3.1 Luggage
This is the easiest one to remember, especially after the change in rules on checked baggage for Brazilian companies. Currently, the most basic fares for domestic flights only include hand luggage, and you have to pay extra for each checked bag. Prices usually vary between R$30 and R$60 in advance and between R$60 and R$120 at the airport counter.
For international flights, checked baggage may or may not be included. Pay attention to what your fare includes and, if you need to pay to take more bags, purchase this service before check-in to pay less.
3.2 Low-cost flights
This topic is extremely relevant for those who are going to travel to different countries in Europe. Many travelers go backpacking and use “low-cost airlines”, that is, those that sell tickets at low cost. The problem is that these tickets, which can often cost as little as €1 or €2, don't include anything other than a seat on the plane.
You have to pay to choose seats, to carry hand luggage (usually only the bag that goes under the seat in front is part of the fare), for meals and even to print your ticket at the airport!
Even so, the cost is worth it. Just pay attention to all the fees and don't try to break the rules, as the cost of extra baggage or baggage over the permitted size is often even greater than the cost of the ticket!
3.3 Miles and boarding fees
One way to make traveling cheaper is to use miles. Here on the blog, I already made a post explaining how they work and gave 7 tips to earn more (without having to pay anything extra for it). I've used these tips several times and managed to go on several trips, I highly recommend them.
The only care is to assume that the passage will be "for free" if you are going to use miles. Even if you have accumulated enough to pay in full for your ticket, Boarding fees cannot be paid this way, and depending on your destination they can cost between R$200 or more per person.
When purchasing, pay attention to the value of these fees and remember to include them when calculating how much the trip will cost.
4. Hosting
I really like using booking platforms like Booking , because in addition to the best prices, he also usually details exactly what I'm paying. Even so, when you arrive at your accommodation, you may still face the following travel costs:
4.1 Resort fee
This fee has several names, and is most common in American hotels. It is an extra charge, made at the counter at check-in to cover some amenities such as the pool or gym. Payment is not optional, it must be made in dollars and has no fixed amount. Depending on the hotel, it can be as little as US$25 or as high as US$80 or US$100.
Variations of this rate exist in other countries, but it is not as common as in the US. Anyway, on platforms like Booking, even when fees are not included in the reservation price, the costs are always written in the comments about the property.
Remember to check this value before choosing your accommodation to avoid surprises when you arrive at your destination.
4.2 internet
Most travelers can ignore some separate charges made by hotels without any problems, such as use of the gym, spa or even items in the minibar. An essential service, however, which tends to be quite expensive when not included in the daily rate, is the Internet access. I've seen it cost more than US$10 per day of use, which I consider quite absurd.
If you've found the perfect hotel, at a great price but without internet, there's no need to despair. The solution I suggest is use a travel chip, which allows you to have internet both inside and outside the hotel, with a fast enough connection to do research, video calls and even watch movies.
If you're with a family, you can even just buy a chip and share the internet using personal access, available on most smartphones.
5 Transport
I think that of all the “hidden” travel costs, the majority are in the transportation category. Most travelers think that it’s “just renting a car” or “just ordering an Uber” and using these values when calculating a budget, but that’s not the case.
5.1 Tip on Uber
Many people don't even think about this type of expense, since in Brazil it's not common to tip.. The difference is that in some cultures, especially America, it is common to tip for all types of service, and many workers derive the majority of their salary from this contribution.
You are expected to tip for any type of private transportation, whether taxis, Uber or cars from other apps. I know that many travelers see this type of gesture as “optional”, but it really shouldn't be. I'll talk more about the food part, but the common rate is between 15 and 20% when the service is good.
Also remember that abroad there is no option to pay in cash for Uber, only by card. Remember to include the IOF from races in your expenses!
5.2 Parking
You can save a lot on car rental, especially if you book through companies like Rentcars, which has the best prices for the most popular rental companies in the world. The best thing is that you can still pay in installments and in reais, meaning you don't have to worry about IOF.
What you can't save on, unfortunately, is the cost of parking. Many hotels and attractions charge per day to use the garage.
At Disney parks, for example, the price per day to park is more than US$22. If your rent is US$50 per day, it is already 50% more expensive.
If you are renting a car, choose hotels that do not charge for parking, and look for alternative places to stop near the most famous attractions.. The parking meter is often much cheaper.
5.3 Toll
Abroad, most toll booths do not have a collector, payment is made automatically through devices equivalent to “non-stop”, or you just insert your card, notes or coins directly into the machine.
Therefore, you need to consider the toll fees and, depending on the destination, the rental of the automatic payment device.. These charges can end up being a considerable amount, especially if you are going to make a roadtrip passing through several cities.
(I didn't find a website to calculate the value of tolls around the world, so I suggest searching for websites that show the specific values for your destination.)
5.4 Petrol
This is an expense that I – who frequently drives and refuels my family's car – completely forgot to take into account on some of my trips.
Use Google Maps to calculate how many kilometers you should drive during your adventure and do some research on the price of gasoline to get an idea of how much you will spend.
6. Food
As not all restaurants show their menu online, and as you may not be able to choose where you are going to eat in advance, it is difficult to calculate exactly what your travel costs will be for food. Even so, when calculating your spending average, don’t forget the following items:
6.1 Tip
Again talking about tips, which are even more important when it comes to food. Most American restaurants, for example, leave space on the bill for you to include how much you will tip, with calculated amounts of 10%, 15% and 20% to make things easier. They do this because this is the country's custom, and most workers earn less than the minimum wage because they also receive this bonus.
Don’t forget to tip in a country where this is common just because “we don’t do that in Brazil”. You are not at home, and you need to follow the rules of your destination, as well as not being fair to those who served you and who accurate of that money.
6.2 Snacks
As anyone trying to save money on a daily basis knows, one snack a day can make a huge difference to your budget. And when traveling, where you will probably be walking a lot and using a lot of energy, it is normal to consume two or even three snacks a day between your main meals. Be sure to include this cost in your budget!
If you want to save money, you can go to the market and look for cereal bars, chocolates or fruit for these moments. I always go to Walmart when I'm in the United States and I rarely buy anything on the street, as it's much more expensive.
7. Accidents
Of course, you cannot include an exact amount for accidents in your budget. After all, you don't even know se something will happen, much less or that.
What you can do, however, is use some of your money to be prepared in case of any emergency.
In the United States, for example, any visit to an urgent care clinic can cost between US$300 and US$600, depending on the reason you are going there. If you need to be hospitalized, the costs are already in the thousands, and surgeries can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.
How can you avoid paying these exorbitant amounts in case of any unforeseen circumstances? Taking out travel insurance. This service, which is mandatory In many European countries, it costs cheap and gives you coverage in the case of medical emergencies or even other problems such as flight cancellation or lost luggage.
On this page I've already explained everything about travel insurance, why it's so important, how easy it is to get it and I've shown you which are the best cost-benefit options on the market. Be sure to check it out to save the most!
And there you have it, 17 travel costs that many travelers forget when calculating a budget!
Most of the examples I used throughout the text were about the United States, but it is worth remembering that these costs can occur on a trip to Qualquer place, even within Brazil!
And you, have you thought about all of them? Have you ever been surprised on your trip by one of these items? Tell me in the comments!
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I have never paid for parking at Disney parks.
If you stay at Disney hotels, you don’t need to pay for park parking 🙂