International vacations to exotic locales are exciting, but they come with extra costs that may sneak up on you. While airfare and accommodations usually make up the bulk of any travel budget, there are lots of other costs that even seasoned travelers sometimes forget. Figuring these into your budget ahead of time (or avoiding them altogether) can help smooth out financial bumps in your vacation abroad.
[See: 12 Frugal Ways to Save on Vacation.]
Passport, visa and vaccination fees. If you’ve never had a passport before, you’ll need to pay $135 in fees to get one, according to the U.S. State Department. Even if you do own a passport, check the expiration date. Many countries require you to have three or six months left on your passport from the date of arrival, so if yours is expiring soon, you’ll need to renew it at $110.
Add to that any visa fees you’ll need to pay to enter your destination country. You can find more information on visa requirements in the State Department’s searchable database. For information on visa fees, check with the embassy or consulate of the country you’re visiting.
You’ll need to budget for the cost of any vaccinations or medications, such as malaria tablets, which are recommended for your trip as well. Private health insurance may cover some immunizations, but not all. If you need several shots, you could end up paying hundreds of dollars, so this is not an expense to ignore.
[See: 12 Habits of Phenomenally Frugal Families.]
Cellphone service. For some people, vacation is a time to unplug. Given the high cost of international roaming charges, that’s often the best option for your budget, too. But there are times you may really miss that connection — for instance, if you want to use a map app or simply keep up with loved ones back home. Check with your service provider about international voice and data plans. Or, if your phone is unlocked, you may also be able to buy a prepaid SIM card once you reach your destination, which enables you to get cellular service from a local provider. Often these plans are the cheapest way to go.
Gratuities. Tipping customs vary greatly from country to country. While tipping is not as common or generous in many countries as it is in the U.S., that doesn’t mean it’s not done. Airport and hotel porters, restaurant wait staff, concierges, maids, guides, drivers and even parking lot attendants all may expect gratuities. Do some research before you leave to find out what’s customary in your destination country.
Foreign transaction fees. Many credit card issuers tack on a fee of up to 3 percent when you use your card to make a foreign purchase. This can be a shock when you get home and see your credit card bill littered with fees. Fortunately, a growing number of credit card issuers either waive foreign transaction fees altogether or have at least one card that doesn’t charge them. Before you go, apply for a card that charges no foreign transaction fees and use that card for all your purchases abroad.
Another credit card tip: If a merchant gives you an option to convert your payment to U.S. dollars before running your credit card, decline the offer. This is called dynamic currency conversion, and the exchange rate offered is usually worse than the rate you’ll get if you pay in the local currency and let your credit card company convert the currency to U.S. dollars. Don’t be fooled into thinking dynamic currency conversion is a way to avoid foreign transaction fees. Those fees still apply since the purchase you’re making is abroad.
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ATM fees. Getting cash overseas can be costly. You may be charged a flat fee by your bank for using an out-of-network ATM and another flat fee by the ATM owner. You may also be subject to foreign currency conversion fees of around 3 percent.
Sometimes you can’t avoid these fees. But you can minimize them by making purchases with a no-fee credit card whenever possible and exchanging money at your bank before you leave home, so you need fewer ATM withdrawals on the road. When you do make withdrawals at an out-of-network ATM, it pays to get as much money as you think you’ll need since you’ll be paying flat fees for each withdrawal. Just make sure you keep spare cash in a safe place, ideally both on yourself and in your hotel’s safe, so if you are robbed, you don’t lose all your cash.
Departure taxes. Many countries charge a departure tax. Often, it’s included in your airfare, but other times you’ll need to pay the fee separately before you can go through immigration and exit the country. The airport’s website may have information about departure tax, and you can ask your airline, too. Some countries require cash for the tax. Others accept credit cards.
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Traveling Abroad: Remember to Budget for These Sneaky Vacation Expenses originally appeared on usnews.com
