As we slowly go back to normal and can freely travel, our fees may differ from the way they used to. As fuel soars, so do the travel prices, and customers can be easily tempted by the cheapest base option they find. But beware, because you might become a victim of drip pricing.

Drip pricing occurs when you end up paying or spending more than you thought you would due to the unavoidable charges that are incrementally disclosed. From airline seat selection fees, boarding-pass printing fees, to hotel fees and more. Avoiding them requires knowledge and persistent effort, so here are the circumstances you are likely to encounter with hidden travel fees and how to avoid paying more because of drip pricing.

1. Airline Hidden Fees

Airlines have been gathering more of their revenue from add-on fees while lowering the base of airfare. First are the credit and debit charges. When you are ready to purchase your ticket and are redirected to the final payment page, you might notice that the price increases slightly depending on the payment method you choose. To avoid these kinds of charges, you’d better pay your ticket in cash or make sure you are not paying unnecessary charges that will lead you to paying a much higher flight fare.

Second are the boarding-pass printing fees. It will set you back an extra hundred per boarding pass, so to avoid it, you could just print it at home or opt for an e-boarding pass at online check in.

And last are the seat selection fees. Skipping a seat selection doesn’t increase your chances of getting bumped from a flight, so letting the airline assign a seat later is the wisest choice, and you don’t have to worry about paying another extra buck.

2. Hotel Resort Hidden Fees

Fees are usually charged to cover amenities like Wi-Fi, gym, and pool access, but they are not optional, so you have no choice but to pay them even if you choose not to use the amenities they cover.

The best way to handle resort fees is to have a plan from the start of your trip. You could also advance shop through hotels before traveling to check reviews and other details. Look for a search option on a hotel website or app to show rates with taxes and fees. This will help compare real prices directly and avoid the hassle of clicking through to the final checkout windows. You could also book in advance, but take note that this may have an additional transaction fee. Whatever you do, just don’t let hotels trick you into paying fees you never planned for.

3. Car Rental Hidden Fees

If you plan to rent a car for your trip, it is also important to know that there are some fees that rental companies suggest which are not mandatory. One of the fees that rental car companies seem adamant about is adding insurance.

So, to avoid this, you should call two companies prior to setting up a rental car agreement. The first is your insurance company, as they may offer all of the coverage necessary for any possible contingency. And your credit company you will be using for the car rental, since some of the credit cards are specifically designed to benefit travelers and offer rental car insurance. You should also watch for unnecessary add-ons like satellite radio services that you most probably won’t use.

We usually get lured in by the low sticker price and then grudgingly accept the extra costs. Ignore sticker prices and take all fees into account. Avoid as many optional fees as possible to avoid getting dropped. Have a happy and wise trip!