7 Surprising Travel Fees You Won’t See Coming

Returning Your Rental Car Early

You can't win with rental-car companies. Return your vehicle late and you'll get slammed with extra fees. But also be wary of dropping off your car too early. Some rental companies will actually charge you for "breaking your contract" by returning a car ahead of schedule. This is most likely to happen if you take advantage of a special rate that came with booking a car for a longer rental period. One clever solution to the problem: Park the rental nearby and then call for free roadside assistance to tow your car back to the company when it's actually due.

Carry-On Bag Fees

It's almost standard now for airlines to charge for checked bags on domestic flights. Now you have to watch out for sneaky carry-on bag fees, too. Some airlines are catching on to the fact that most travelers prefer not to check a bag. Spirit, for example, just jacked up its carry-on fee to $100. Nevada-based Allegiant also charges between $10 and $30 for carry-ons. Keep that in mind and remember that you'll have to pay that fee each way. Always consult our guide to airline fees when comparing prices.

Exorbitant Room-Service Charges

Hotels must figure that if you're too tired (or too lazy) to venture outside for food, you probably won't bother to check the bill, either, which can lead to some crazy extra costs. For example, one W Hotel guest recently told USA Today that he called room service to request six glasses and was informed that he would be charged $1.50—per glass. Other outrageous fees we've seen include charging for both the food and the tray, as well as extra charges for serving late at night.

Departure Taxes

The end of your trip means the end of spending money, right? Not in many countries, where you'll have to pay a departure tax in order to leave. Australia, for example, recently raised its departure tax to $55 AUD (approximately $56 USD). It's a good idea to make sure the fee is covered in your airline ticket (it often is, but not always) and to have local currency on hand; many such airports do not accept credit cards. Make sure that the money is in pristine condition, too, as some countries will refuse torn or dirty cash. The last thing you want to worry about when trying to catch a flight is making sure you have enough cash to leave!

Resort Fees

You may think that you're getting a great deal on a hotel, but the resort fee might not be factored into your total until you go to settle the bill. You can pay around $20 per night for facilities you might not even use (like the gym or the pool), and there's often no way to get them waived. Before you book, be sure to investigate what the fee will be and factor that into your decision when comparing properties. Also, when you bid on or book a "mystery property" through an online travel agent (OTA), those prices may not include the resort fee. Your accepted nonrefundable bid of $100 per night may actually cost $120 per night or more.

Cruise Gratuities

If you're not careful, on your next cruise, you could wind up owing hundreds of dollars in mandatory gratuity charges that you didn't plan for. For example, Carnival Cruise Lines automatically tacks on $11.50 per person per day to onboard accounts. So if you're taking a weeklong cruise with a family of four, you could owe more than $300 by the time you dock. Our sister site Cruise Critic has a great breakdown of cruise-line tipping policies, as well as whether or not the amount is negotiable by guests who wish to give less (or more).

Third-Party Ticket Change Fees

Travel agents (both the brick-and-mortar and online varieties) are great for researching flights, but they could cost you if you have to change your tickets. On top of the outrageous fees most airlines charge for changing a reservation, many will also charge you an extra fee for changing a ticket booked by a third party. You'll usually have the best luck (and flexibility) by booking directly through the airline's own website.

More From Smartertravel:

• Eight Perks That Are Still Free on Your Flight
• Airline Fees: The Ultimate Guide
• 10 Hidden Car Rental Fees and How to Avoid Them