A price is price is a price? Not when it comes to travel. Today, a number of hidden gotchas are surprising travelers and busting their budgets. Pauline Frommer, Co-President, Frommer Guidbeooks and Frommers.com, shares some of the worst to look out for:

1) Basic Economy Airfares (Known as HBO fares for international flights)
In order to compete with such low cost carriers as Frontier and Spirit Airlines all of the major legacy carriers are now offering what are called “Basic Economy Fares”. They’re ugly, and, on average are only $25 less than regular tickets. Unlike on normal tickets, the bearers of Basic Economy Fares often don’t earn points, can’t choose seats, are the last to board the plane, and can’t bring luggage without paying extra. On the latter point: that often includes carry on bags! Which means that usually Basic Economy passengers have to check bags and that $25 they saved goes to baggage fees. It’s a shellgame. 

Some international carriers are also now selling these types of fares, though they’re called “HBO fares” for hand baggage only. That means no rollaboards, just small hand bags, and baggage checking fees.

The advice: Check to see what the “regular” fee will be before going for a Basic Economy Fare. It may be no more once additional fees for baggage and seat selection are added, and every once in a while, it’s less. 

2) Resort fees
More and more hotels are adding extra fees to the cost of a hotel night, fees that won’t be revealed on booking sites like Expedia, Booking.com or Travelocity. Instead, they’re an ugly surprise, buried deep in the fine print and averaging $21/night in 2017 (which is up 9% from 2016). In some places, like the Las Vegas Strip, it’s near impossible to avoid them, and there are nights in Vegas where that fee can be more than half what the cost of the room is. We’ve seen resort fees (also known as facility fees) go up to as much as $45/night.

The Advice: Patronize hotels without hidden fees. It may mean a bit more searching, but it will be worth it in the end. Or do a rental/Airbnb (taking into account cleaning fees and the like, of course).

3) Shore Excursions on Ocean-Going Cruises
These may well be the biggest rip off in travel. And customers are scared into using them because they’re told that if they miss the boat back by spending too much time touring on their own, they’ll be stranded. (When cruise-sponsored shore excursions are late the boat waits). How big a rip off are they? One example: many Alaskan cruiser pay about $55 for a tour of the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau. They get a bus ride to the glaciar and a tour by a National Park Service ranger. Those who do their research know that there is a public bus that stops at the port and goes to the Glaciar for just $2.50 each way. Those who use it get the same ranger-led tour when they arrive, but pay a fraction of what others pay.

The Advice: Wear a watch and tour on your own. Or book a tour with such outside companies as ShoreTrips.com and CruisingExcursions.com which often cost a third less than the cruiseline-sponsored outings and are near identical in itineraries but better in execution, because instead of cramming guests into a 40-person motorcoach they use small vans (so usually their guests get to see more, as there’s less “sheparding” to be done).

To learn more, visit www.frommers.com.