Common travel scams and hidden fees travellers face globally
Consensus Summary
Both articles from THEAGE and SMH highlight 13 common travel scams and hidden fees that travellers frequently encounter. These include excessive hotel laundry charges, overpriced airline seat selection, dynamic currency conversion fees at ATMs, early check-in penalties, and inflated prices for mini-bar items, airport lounges, and buffet breakfasts. Specific examples include Turkish Airlines charging $100 for seat selection, a Seoul hotel charging $20 per hour for early check-in, and Sydney’s airport train fare jumping from $3.03 to $20.95 for a single extra stop. The articles also note that Airbnb has reduced cleaning fees due to traveller dissatisfaction, and that some foreign ATMs charge up to $15 per withdrawal. Both sources agree that these practices are widespread across hotels, airlines, airports, and rental car companies, with travellers often having no choice but to pay the extra costs.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Hotels charge $5 for washing a pair of underwear, $15 per shirt, and $30 for a dress
- Australian phone providers charge up to $1000 per gigabyte for global data roaming
- Turkish Airlines charged $100 for seat selection during online check-in
- A hotel in Seoul charged $20 per hour for early check-in
- Sydney airport train fare from Central Station to Mascot is $3.03, but to Domestic Terminal is $20.95
- Airbnb now discourages cleaning fees due to traveller backlash, with its algorithm prioritising total price
- A flat white coffee in Istanbul airport cost $13.90
- Some foreign ATMs charge up to $15 per withdrawal without dynamic conversion
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Hotel mini bars charge $5 for a can of Coke, $20 for a beer, and $15 for a bag of nuts
- Sydney airport parking charges $8 for 15 minutes, skyrocketing with longer stays
- Airport duty-free shops are not cheaper than regular shops
- Rental car upsells include zero-excess insurance, windscreen/tyre coverage, and vehicle upgrades
- Airbnb’s cleaning fee was previously hidden but now discouraged by the platform’s algorithm
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The articles are identical in content, with no conflicting information or source-specific details.
Source Articles
The 13 travel rip-offs we keep paying for
Want to choose your airline seat? Check in to your hotel early? Park your car at the airport? Prepare to be gouged.
The 13 travel rip-offs we keep paying for
Want to choose your airline seat? Check in to your hotel early? Park your car at the airport? Prepare to be gouged.