Stop Overpaying For Travel: 6 Insider Tips To Dodge Hidden Travel Costs with Pauline Frommer
Ever experienced the frustration of booking a resort, only to be hit with an unexpected $50 fee at check-in? It’s frustrating — and far too common. Travelers are often nickel-and-dimed in ways we don’t expect. Hidden travel fees are costing us a significant amount of money — sometimes doubling advertised prices with unexpected fees for hotels, cruises, flights, and more. But equipped with the know-how, you can outsmart these sneak tactics and keep your budget intact.
Pauline Frommer, the host of The Frommer’s Travel Show and president of Frommer Media LLC, knows exactly how the travel industry works and ways it gets you to spend more than you should. She pulls back the curtain on pricing games — and shows you how to spot real value before you hit ‘book.’
Continue reading or listen to the podcast episode!
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We cover:
- Most common hidden travel fees and how to avoid them
- The Frommer’s Travel Philosophy
- How to avoid sneaky resort and cruise fees
- Using VPN to get cheaper flight prices
- Where to find unbiased travel advice, and more!
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The Truth: There Are No Set Prices in Travel
Pauline explains, travel pricing is dynamic and demand-driven.
How does dynamic pricing work?
Unlike groceries or gas, there’s no consistent baseline for a hotel room or plane ticket.
Airlines and hotels respond to supply and demand, with complex algorithms that factor in lots of data points. This is why airlines change prices constantly.
You and someone else could be paying wildly different rates for the exact same seat — simply because of when you booked, what device you used, or even where you’re located.
This means a $199 flight could become $350 tomorrow, even though the service remains the same.
Why does the industry do this?
The goal is to maximize revenue by charging each traveler the highest price they are willing to pay, while still filling seats or rooms. This pricing flexibility lets companies offer deals when demand is low and increase prices when demand surges.
The Frommer Travel Philosophy
The Frommer family has been in the travel industry since 1957, when Arthur Frommer — Pauline Frommer’s father — published his groundbreaking guidebook “Europe on 5 Dollars a Day.”
That book revolutionized how people thought about travel by showing that international trips didn’t have to be expensive or exclusive. This message still resonates today, nearly 70 years later.
Since then, Frommer’s has become synonymous with accessible, budget-conscious, and experience-driven travel, supporting generations of travelers to explore the world affordably.
The Frommer travel philosophy is grounded in a simple but powerful idea: spend where it matters, save where it doesn’t.
A good meal in a city market? Worth it.
A pricey cab from the airport when public transit works just fine? Probably not.
Let’s jump into the practical ways you can save money on travel.
1. Prioritize Your Values
“You have to think about what interests you and build your vacation around that rather than chasing after what looks like a deal.” – Pauline Frommer
From glossy Instagram shots to bucket list FOMO, travel marketers are betting you’ll be more influenced by what’s trending than what truly matches your interests or budget.
Instead of chasing the hottest travel destinations, build trips around what actually excites you.
Into jazz? Go where live music thrives.
Do you love wine? Maybe head to a smaller, lesser known wine region.
Are you into history? You don’t have to go to Paris — try a second city with just as rich a story.
Instead of feeling pressured to visit a “must-see” city that’s inflated in price, craft more meaningful, cost-effective itineraries based on your passions.
2. Resort Fees
Resort fees are add-ons designed to make your nightly rate seem lower. These fees are added onto your bill even if you never use the gym, spa, or Wi-Fi.
Pauline points out that it’s a way for hotels to appear less expensive than their competitors.
However, since May 2025, U.S. booking platforms are required to display the total cost upfront, including resort fees and taxes.
Still, it pays to double-check before you assume your nightly rate is all-inclusive.
How to avoid resort fees:
- Call the hotel directly to confirm if resort fees are mandatory
- Stay at properties that don’t charge them
3. Cruise ‘Extravagances’ That Stack Up
Cruises seem “all-inclusive,” but that’s far from the truth.
The cruise industry banks on extras.
Alcohol and drink packages usually require heavy consumption to justify the cost.
Plus, cruises mark up port excursions significantly.
Here’s a real life example:
In Alaska, one of the most popular shore excursions to Mendenhall Glacier costs $75 to $100.
There’s a public bus at the port you can take to the glacier for about $5 each way.
When you arrive at the national park, you will pay an entry fee, typically around $10.
The Ranger tour is free.
Going the DIY route, you paid $20 instead of $75.
How to keep cruise costs low:
- Skip drink packages
- Never buy shore excursions on board
- Assemble your own DIY tour or use local transportation guides
Read Next: How To Save Money On Cruises (Without Skimping Out)
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4. Hide Your Location
These days, airlines and travel companies are using cutting-edge technology and sophisticated profiling to tailor airfare prices based on your location and other personal information.
These companies create profiles of travelers based on where they live, what kind of car they drive, their rent level, and more.
As a result, this data allows airlines to adjust prices dynamically—charging you more or less depending on what they think you’ll pay.
Tired of reading? Listen to this podcast episode on Spotify.
How Using a VPN Saves Money
By using a VPN (Virtual Private Network), you mask your actual location, so airlines and booking sites don’t know where you’re browsing from.
This allows you to compare prices from multiple “locations” and spot better deals.
For example, Pauline mentions that the same New York to Paris ticket could be priced differently if you appear to be browsing from New York vs. Paris vs. Houma, Louisiana.
Believe it or not, you will see three different prices.
5. Use Guidebooks Instead of Relying on Influencers
Influencer posts can be biased, however, guidebooks are fact-checked, anonymous, and focused on helping you save.
Travelers today often turn to Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok for inspiration, but Pauline Frommer makes a strong case for why guidebooks are still the better choice for planning smart, affordable trips.
Pauline’s biggest concern is that most travel influencers are being paid by hotels, tour operators, and destinations—which means what they recommend may not be what’s best.
She warns that many creators are part of marketing campaigns that promote experiences in exchange for free stays or payment.
Travel guidebooks are deeply researched, fact-checked, and written by experienced journalists who aren’t incentivized by commissions or free perks.
Unlike influencers, guidebook writers often:
- Visit anonymously so they get the real experience.
- Test multiple restaurants, tours, and attractions.
- Compare prices across neighborhoods and seasons.
- Provide budget insights.
Instead of relying solely on influencers:
- Start with a guidebook for vetted recommendations.
- Cross-reference with reviews on independent platforms like Frommers, Lonely Planet, or look at the travel sections of newspapers.
- Use influencers for inspiration, but fact-check their recommendations before you book.
“Look to the sources that are journalistic so you know you’re getting impartial, usable information rather than just being sold to.” — Pauline Frommer
6. Skip Airline Travel Insurance
Is travel insurance from airlines worth it?
When booking flights, airlines often push travel insurance as an add-on.
Pauline Frommer warns against purchasing insurance directly through airlines, as it creates a conflict of interest — the airline profits from selling the insurance, which can lead to higher markups and policies that may not always be in your best interest.
Airlines make money not just from your ticket but also from selling travel insurance that you might not need or that duplicates coverage you already have. They’re incentivized to sell you insurance, which can sometimes mean you’re paying more for less protection.
Why skip airline travel insurance?
- You might already have trip protection through your credit card or other insurance policies.
- Airline insurance may not cover what you think they do
Quick Tips to Avoid Hidden Travel Expenses
- Always check for resort fees upfront.
- Use a VPN to compare flight prices by location.
- Avoid cruise drink packages and expensive shore excursions.
- Use guidebooks for unbiased travel planning.
- Shop around: third-party insurance providers may offer better coverage for less.
Final Takeaway: Stay Informed
At the end of the day, the travel industry is throwing every trick in the book to make us part ways with our money.
Pauline Frommer reminds us that with a bit of planning and awareness, we can outsmart the travel industry’s shiny marketing tricks and make every dollar go further.
Whether it’s avoiding hidden fees, ditching upsells, or leaning into what you actually care about instead of what’s trending, travel can be meaningful and affordable.
Want even more travel tips? Subscribe to our newsletter, we share smart ways to travel on any budget.
What hidden travel fees have caught you off guard? Share your story below in the comments.
Other Episodes You’ll Love:
- Airline Stopovers: How To Visit Two Cities for the Price of One – Episode 196
- Thrifty Traveler Premium: Get Flight Deals Sent To Your Inbox – Episode 70
- Money-Saving Tips For Budget Travel with Matthew Kepnes – Episode 195
Danielle Desir Corbett is an award-winning and 6x grant-funded travel writer and podcast host who went from financial struggle to visiting 27+ countries all without waiting until retirement. Her story is proof that budget doesn’t limit adventure. Tune into The Thought Card Podcast for practical strategies to travel smarter and live on your terms. Say hello: thethoughtcard (at) gmail (dot) com.
