The One Thing Budget Travelers Always Forget to Plan for (That Costs Them Big)

The One Thing Budget Travelers Always Forget to Plan for (That Costs Them Big) originally appeared on Parade.

Some people out there are true budget travel experts, and they try to save pennies in every single way possible. Whether they collect points through credit cards or rewards programs, are strategic about the time of year they travel or opt for longer transportation routes to save a dime, they know their way around the budget traveling world.

I lie somewhere in the middle, as an avid traveler who has been to over 40 countries. I’m a single person and am a freelancer for a living, so saving money is incredibly important to me as well. There's a lot of trial and error when it comes to traveling on a budget. For example, after trying to save money on flights by opting for red-eyes, I decided that the exhaustion I felt afterwards was not worth the money saved. On the other hand, I found that I actually enjoy hostels and can save a good amount of money by staying in them instead of in hotels.

However, it’s important to be very aware of the choices that you make when budget traveling. Many times, money-saving choices may seem obvious up front, but then there are hidden costs or fees that end up costing you extra money in the long run. I reached out to a true budget travel expert to find out the biggest mistake that travelers can make when trying to save a buck.

Related: 40 Best Family Vacations on a Budget—and Yep, They Include Europe and the Caribbean

Watch Out for Carry-on Fees on Basic Economy Fairs

I spoke to Sally French, a frugal travel expert and co-host of the "Smart Travel" podcast. Right off the bat, she shared with me that the one thing budget travelers always forget to plan for is carry-on bag fees. French shared, “If an airfare seems too good to be true, it may be. Many ultra-cheap tickets, including standard fares on discount carriers like Spirit and Frontier, as well as basic economy fares on United, only allow you to bring a personal item.”

Sometimes, people confuse the term personal item with carry-on. A personal item is something that fits underneath the seat, and a carry-on is a larger bag that goes in the overhead compartments. French continued, “Many travelers get seduced by these low fares, without realizing that often the fee for a carry-on bag can be higher than your own airfare!” Now, I admit, I’ve unfortunately fallen for this trap. When I was flying from country to country in Europe, I didn’t realize that the carry-on wasn't included in the fare for some of the budget airlines. Flights in Europe are notoriously cheap, and I ended up having to pay more for my carry-on than I did for the actual flights. Not only did I not save money like I planned, but I also ended up flying on budget airlines that didn’t have roomy seats or enjoyable service that other airlines tend to have.

French shared that buying these flights can still be a great choice if you’re only traveling for a night or two. That way, you can pack everything that you need in a personal item and don’t need to bring a carry-on. For longer trips where more luggage is needed, however, choosing to go with the budget airline ticket just might not be worth it.

Related: The One Destination Budget Travelers Should Visit At Least Once in Their Lives, According to Travel Guru Nomadic Matt

How To Work Around Extra Baggage Fees

While it’s important to double-check what is included in your budget airline plane ticket, there also may be ways that you can work around the extra fees, whether you want to bring just a carry-on or opt for a checked bag (those fees often are hidden as well). For example, French shared that one hack she’s aware of is using the United credit card. Depending on which one you have, there are certain United cards that cover the checked baggage fees, even on basic economy fares.

There are many other credit cards out there that offer the same perk as well. If you fly Delta, you could get the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express card, which will allows you to receive a free checked bag for yourself as well as up to eight travel companions. For American Airlines, the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard allows for free bags on domestic flights. Investing in one of these cards (and there are many more out there as well) may be worth it, especially if you travel often.

Related: Prices of European Trips Are Up 38%—Here's the Cheapest Country You Can Visit

Sources

https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/travel/baggage/free-bags-for-cardmembers.html

https://www.cnbc.com/select/airline-credit-cards-free-checked-bags

The One Thing Budget Travelers Always Forget to Plan for (That Costs Them Big) first appeared on Parade on Jul 11, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.