This isn’t truly a scam, but it is a place where folks can be tricked into paying extra for their summer vacations.
Even when you carefully plan and budget for a vacation, additional travel expenses often crop up, thanks to a sneaky technique called drip pricing. BBB recommends the following tips to predict, prepare for, and even avoid the hidden travel fees buried in the fine print.
Watch out for resort fees.
These fees – sometimes called “destination fees” or “urban fees” – are often not listed on hotel aggregator websites, which means you need to click through several pages to find the hotel’s final price. If you want to avoid these fees, you have a couple of options: book hotels that don’t charge resort fees; get elite status at a large hotel chain if you travel often; or use loyalty points for your stay. The last option only works with certain hotel chains, so make sure you double-check before booking.
Look for hospitality tax.
Some cities charge hotel or hospitality taxes, which aren’t included in the hotel’s nightly rate. Check the total amount you’ll be charged before paying to see if you are charged any extra taxes.
Not all airport shuttle services are free. Just because a hotel says it offers an airport shuttle service doesn’t mean it is complementary. If you have to pay for this service, compare prices with other transportation services to get the best deal. You might pay less and have a shorter wait by booking an Uber or Lyft.
Find…
