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Restaurant sparks outrage for "ridiculous" fee

<p>As inflation rates continue to rise it is not surprising that restaurants are charging extra fees, but one disgruntled customer was particularly shocked to see this "ridiculous" fee on their bill. </p> <p>The customer, who dined at restaurant and cocktail bar in Georgia, USA shamed the restaurant for charging their customers a $20 fee for “live band entertainment”.</p> <p>They shared their complaints on Reddit with a copy of their receipt and an unexpected fee at the bottom which read: “Two Live Band Entertainment Fee — $20”.</p> <p>Most people in the comments were equally annoyed and called the fee "ridiculous". </p> <p>“This is one of those leave money on the table, hand the waiter a tip and leave, sorry but if I didn’t order it, I’m not paying for it,” one wrote. </p> <p>“Great way to not have repeat customers,” said another.</p> <p>“This will backfire for them, just be honest and upfront," a third added. </p> <p>Other commenters were less sympathetic and did not understand why the customer was complaining when it looked like they could afford it. </p> <p>“When you’re paying seven dollars for a bottle of water, you really don’t get to complain about ‘unexpected costs.’ You knew what you signed up for," one commenter wrote. </p> <p>“Imagine a live band getting paid, huh,” another added. </p> <p>“They’re buying $7 bottles of water, they can probably afford it,” added a third.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty/ Reddit</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Parents slapped with hefty fee over badly behaved children

<p dir="ltr">Two parents have been slapped with a hefty fine tacked onto their restaurant bill after their children caused a ruckus during dinner. </p> <p dir="ltr">Kyle and Lyndsey Landmann were dining at a restaurant in Georgia, USA, when they were given a $50 fine for their allegedly badly behaved kids. </p> <p dir="ltr">Two weeks after the incident, Kyle took to Google to leave a negative review for the eatery to say he was “disappointed by the experience”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The owner came out and told me he was adding $50 to my bill because of my children’s behaviour,” he wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">“My kids watched a tablet until the food arrived, ate their food and my wife took them outside while I waited and paid the bill.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Lyndsey went on to tell <em>Today</em> that her kids were well behaved, although they were joined by other families, with 11 children in total at the table. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The kids were sitting at one end of the table and they were being so good,” Landmann said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“'I even commented halfway through the meal, ‘I can’t believe how well-behaved they are’.”</p> <p dir="ltr">After dinner, restaurant owner Tim Richter approached the table and told the party about the additional charge on the menu, which reads, “Adult surcharge: For adults unable to parent.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Be Respectful to staff, property, and self. No Respect, No Service.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Landmann said she was expecting a compliment for the well behaved kids, but Richter said there would be $50 added to each bill at their table. </p> <p dir="ltr">When Landmann then asked for an explanation, she claimed Richter told her they were being “too loud”.</p> <p dir="ltr">He was angry that the kids were “running around outside” by the water after dinner, even though they were chaperoned by adults, she clarified.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was like, ‘They were quiet the whole time’. He got in our faces and told us that we belonged at Burger King and not at his restaurant. We asked to speak to the owner and he said he was the owner,” Landmann explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I looked around the restaurant and everybody was frozen watching this show he was putting on. He was yelling.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The 61-year-old restaurant owner said that he implemented the rule during the pandemic, but never actually charged the couple, saying, “We want parents to be parents.”</p> <p dir="ltr">However, several other Google reviews blasted the quality of the service and the owner's attitude, including one that warns diners with children to steer clear.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Money & Banking

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An entry fee may not be enough to save Venice from 20 million tourists

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sameer-hosany-292658">Sameer Hosany</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/royal-holloway-university-of-london-795">Royal Holloway University of London</a></em></p> <p>Venice’s history, art and architecture attract an estimated <a href="https://www.responsibletravel.com/copy/overtourism-in-venice">20 million</a> visitors every year. The city, a <a href="https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&amp;type=pdf&amp;doi=ac36ced945412121372dc892cc31498fb268247c">Unesco World Heritage site</a>, is often crammed with tourists in search of special <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/mar.21665">memories</a>.</p> <p>But for the people who actually live there, this level of tourism has become unsustainable. So from 2024, day-trippers will be charged a €5 (£4.31) fee as part of an <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/12/world/europe/venice-tourist-fee-italy.html#:%7E:text=The%20City%20Council%20passed%20an,popular%20but%20equally%20fragile%20place.&amp;text=Starting%20next%20spring%2C%20day%2Dtrippers,5%20euros%20for%20the%20privilege.">attempt</a> to better manage the flow of visitors.</p> <p>The city’s mayor has <a href="https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tourism/controversial-e5-venice-tourist-tax-finally-approved">described the charge</a> – which will be implemented on 30 particularly busy days in the spring and summer – as an attempt to “protect the city from mass tourism”. It comes after cruise ships were banned from entering the fragile Venice lagoon in 2021.</p> <p>Both policies are designed to respond to the particular problem facing Venice, which is that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/02/venice-day-trippers-will-have-to-make-reservations-and-pay-fee">around 80%</a> of its tourists come just for the day. Research has shown that such a high proportion of day-trippers – who tend to spend little – <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0160738395000658">pushes</a> a tourist destination <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1541-0064.1980.tb00970.x">towards decline</a>.</p> <p>So from next year, all travellers to Venice will have to register their visit in advance and obtain a QR code online. Day trippers will then have to pay the fee; visitors staying overnight will not.</p> <p>Other exemptions include children under 14, as well as people who travel to the city for work and study, or to visit family members. To enforce the policy, the municipal police and authorised inspectors will carry out random checks. Anyone without the proper QR code will face a fine of up to €300 (£261).</p> <p>But some have expressed doubts about whether the €5 fee – the price of a coffee or an ice cream – will be enough to dissuade tourists from travelling to this iconic ancient city. One city politician <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/12/world/europe/venice-tourist-fee-italy.html">commented</a> that the charge means Venice has become “a theme park, a Disneyland,” where “you get in by paying an entrance fee.”</p> <p>Certainly the charge is a lot less than Bhutan’s (recently reduced) “sustainable development fee” of <a href="https://globetrender.com/2023/09/17/bhutan-woos-more-tourists-reduced-entry-tax/">US$100 (£82) per night</a>, which applies to all tourists, and was introduced to encourage “high value, low impact” tourism. Research also indicates that strategies aiming at persuading tourists to come at less crowded times <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780080436746/seasonality-in-tourism">do not reduce numbers</a> at peak periods, but actually end up increasing overall demand.</p> <h2>‘Veniceland’</h2> <p>But Venice has to try something. For <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/24/6937">researchers</a>, Venice is the embodiment of <a href="https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/book/10.1079/9781786399823.0000">overtourism</a>, and residents clearly suffer from the consequences – living with the congestion, environmental damage and affects on their lifestyle and culture that 20 million visitors can cause.</p> <p>This can then lead to a negative response, known as “<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348605007_Overtourism_and_Tourismphobia_A_Journey_Through_Five_Decades_of_Tourism_Development_Planning_and_Local_Concerns">tourismphobia</a>”.Another term, “<a href="https://dokufest.com/en/festival/2013/cities-beyond-borders/das-venedig-prinzip-the-venice-syndrome#:%7E:text=The%20film%20shows%20what%20remains,municipal%20council%20with%20scorn%3B%20a">Venice Syndrome</a>” has been used to describe the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264275123001816#:%7E:text=It%20explains%20the%20data%2Dgathering,between%20urban%20form%20conditions%20and">decline of the city’s</a> permanent population, as citizens feel forced to leave.</p> <p>Venice’s population is around 50,000 and has been consistently falling, from a peak of <a href="https://www.blueguides.com/venice-in-peril/">175,000</a>. If the population falls below 40,000, there is concern that Venice will cease to be a <a href="https://www.responsibletravel.com/copy/overtourism-in-venice">viable living city</a>.</p> <p>Those who remain have often expressed their discontent. Well publicised protests have included the “<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venice-funeral-idUKTRE5AD1DQ20091114">Funeral of Venice</a>” in 2009, a mock funeral to mourn the sharp drop in population, and “<a href="https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1065&amp;context=anthro_theses">Welcome to Veniceland</a>” in 2010, which claimed that Venice was becoming more of a theme park.</p> <p>And while “tourist taxes” <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14616688.2019.1669070">remain popular strategies</a> to address overtourism, their effectiveness remains debatable. Instead, research suggests that a <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14616688.2019.1669070">combination</a> of specific economic measures (like fees and variable pricing) and non-economic policies (such as educating visitors) is the best option.</p> <p>That combination needs to be specially designed for each destination. There can be no one-size-fits-all solution. A <a href="https://www.e-unwto.org/doi/pdf/10.18111/9789284420070">report</a> by the World Tourism Organisation on overtourism identifies 11 different strategies and 68 measures to manage visitors’ growth in urban destinations.</p> <p>Barcelona, often seen as a city which has done well in handling mass tourism, has successfully used a <a href="https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/216242/1/CESifo-Forum-2019-03-p20-24.pdf">well targeted approach</a>. This has included harnessing new technology to develop a data driven management system to control visitor flows and overcrowding. It also deliberately engaged with the public when deciding on policies, and came up with specific strategies like limiting the number of new souvenir shops.</p> <p>But it did not resort to charging an entrance fee. Venice will be the first city in the world to do so – and other locations struggling with mass tourism will be keeping a close eye on whether such a bold move turns out to be a success.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/213703/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sameer-hosany-292658"><em>Sameer Hosany</em></a><em>, Professor of Marketing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/royal-holloway-university-of-london-795">Royal Holloway University of London</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/an-entry-fee-may-not-be-enough-to-save-venice-from-20-million-tourists-213703">original article</a>.</em></p>

International Travel

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Junk fees and drip pricing: the underhanded tactics we hate yet still fall for

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ralf-steinhauser-1459112">Ralf Steinhauser</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-national-university-877">Australian National University</a></em></p> <p>You see a fantastic offer, like a hotel room. You decide to book. Then it turns out there is a service fee. Then a cleaning fee. Then a few other extra costs. By the time you pay the final price, it is no longer the fantastic offer you thought.</p> <p>Welcome to the world of drip pricing – the practice of advertising something at an attractive headline price and then, once you’ve committed to the purchase process, hitting you with unavoidable extra fees that are incrementally disclosed, or “dripped”.</p> <p>Drip pricing – a type of “junk fee” – is notorious in event and travel ticketing, and is creeping into other areas, such as movie tickets. My daughter, for example, was surprised to find her ticket to the Barbie movie had a “booking fee”, increasing the cost of her ticket by 13%.</p> <p>It seems like such an annoying trick that you may wonder why sellers do it. The reason is because it works, due to two fundamental cognitive biases: the way we value the present over the future; and the way we hate losses more than we love gains.</p> <h2>Present bias preference: why starting over feels too costly</h2> <p>In the case of booking that hotel room, you could abandon the transaction and look for something cheaper once the extra charges become apparent. But there’s a good chance you won’t, due to the effort and time involved.</p> <p>This is where the trap lies.</p> <p>Resistance to the idea of starting the search all over again is not simply a matter of laziness or indecision. There’s a profound psychological mechanism at play here, called a present-bias preference – that we value things immediately in front of us more than things more distant in the future.</p> <p>In their seminal 1999 paper, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.89.1.103">Doing it now or later</a>, economists Mathew Rabin and Ted O'Donoghue define present-biased preference as “the human tendency to grab immediate rewards and to avoid immediate costs”.</p> <p>They give the example of choosing between doing seven hours of unpleasant activity on April 1 or eight hours two weeks later. If asked about this a few months beforehand, most people will choose the earlier option. “But come April 1, given the same choice, most of us are apt to put off work till April 15.”</p> <p>In simple terms, the inconvenience and effort of doing something “right now” often feels disproportionately large.</p> <p>Drip pricing exploits this cognitive bias by getting you to make a decision and commit to the transaction process. When you’re far into a complicated booking process and extra prices get added, starting all over again feels like a burden.</p> <p>Often enough, this means you’ll settle for the higher-priced hotel room.</p> <h2>Loss aversion: buying more expensive tickets</h2> <p>Beyond the challenge of starting over, there’s another subtle force at work when it comes to our spending decisions. Drip pricing doesn’t just capitalise on our desire for immediate rewards; it also plays on our innate fear of losing out.</p> <p>This second psychological phenomenon that drip pricing exploits is known as loss aversion – that we feel more pain from losing something than pleasure from gaining the same thing.</p> <p>The concept of loss aversion was first outlined by economists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky in <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1914185">a 1979 paper</a> that is the third most-cited article in economics.</p> <hr /> <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/543635/original/file-20230821-25-mca6ku.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/543635/original/file-20230821-25-mca6ku.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=497&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/543635/original/file-20230821-25-mca6ku.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=497&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/543635/original/file-20230821-25-mca6ku.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=497&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/543635/original/file-20230821-25-mca6ku.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=624&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/543635/original/file-20230821-25-mca6ku.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=624&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/543635/original/file-20230821-25-mca6ku.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=624&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="A graphic representation of loss aversion. The pain from losing a good or service will be greater than the pleasure from gaining the same good or service." /><figcaption><span class="caption">How economists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky graphically represented loss aversion. The pain from losing a good or service is greater than the pleasure from gaining the same good or service.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky, Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision under Risk, Econometrica, Vol. 47, No. 2</span></span></figcaption></figure> <hr /> <p>Drip pricing exploits this tendency, by dragging us away from more “rational” choices.</p> <p>Imagine you’re booking tickets for a show. Initially attracted by the observed headline price, you are now presented with different seating categories. Seeing the “VIP” are within your budget, you decide to splurge.</p> <p>But then, during the checkout process, the drip of extra costs begins. You realise you could have opted for lower-category seats and stayed within your budget. But by this stage you’ve already changed your expectation and imagined yourself enjoying the show from those nice seats.</p> <p>Going back and booking cheaper seats will feel like a loss.</p> <h2>Do consumers need protection?</h2> <p>Empirical evidence supports the above theoretical predictions about the impact of drop pricing on consumers.</p> <p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.21426">A 2020 study</a> quantified how much consumers dislike the lack of transparency in drip pricing (based on tracking the reactions of 225 undergraduates using fictional airline and hotel-booking websites). The authors liken the practice to the “taximeter effect” – the discomfort consumers feel watching costs accumulate.</p> <p>But drip pricing’s effectiveness from a seller’s perspective is undeniable. A <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2020.04.007">experimental study</a> published in 2020 found drip pricing generates higher profits while lowering the “consumer surplus” (the benefit derived from buying a product or service). A <a href="https://doi.org/10.1287/mksc.2020.1261">2021 analysis</a> of data from StubHub, a US website for reselling tickets, calculated drip pricing increased revenue by 20%.</p> <p>Which is why the tactic remains attractive to businesses despite customers disliking it.</p> <p>Buyers would benefit from a ban of drip pricing. Many countries are taking steps to protect consumers from drip pricing.</p> <p>The UK government, for example, announced a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/aug/21/growth-of-airlines-add-on-fees-sparks-calls-for-price-reforms">review of drip pricing</a> in June, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak flagging the possibility of measures to curb the practice. The US government is also considering <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/06/15/president-biden-recognizes-actions-by-private-sector-ticketing-and-travel-companies-to-eliminate-hidden-junk-fees-and-provide-millions-of-customers-with-transparent-pricing/">new regulations</a>, with President Joe Biden denouncing “junk fees” in his <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/02/07/remarks-of-president-joe-biden-state-of-the-union-address-as-prepared-for-delivery/">2023 State of the Union address</a>. Proposed changes include requiring airlines and online booking services to disclose the full ticket price upfront, inclusive of baggage and other fees.</p> <p>The effectiveness of measures, however, is <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4430453">still being debated</a>.</p> <p>In the meantime, your principal protection is making a more informed decision, by understanding why the tactic works. Bargains may attract you, but you can learn to not fall for hidden costs and align your choices with your budget and values.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/211117/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ralf-steinhauser-1459112">Ralf Steinhauser</a>, Senior Research Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-national-university-877">Australian National University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty </em><em>Images </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/junk-fees-and-drip-pricing-the-underhanded-tactics-we-hate-yet-still-fall-for-211117">original article</a>.</em></p>

Money & Banking

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"Unbelievable but true": Tourist outraged over shocking restaurant fee

<p>A tourist in Italy has been hit with a shocking fee from an upscale eatery after he asked for his sandwich to be cut in half. </p> <p>The anonymous man was travelling in Italy's picturesque Lake Como region, and stopped in at Bar Pace in Gera Lario, at the lake’s northern end, for a vegetarian sandwich and fries for lunch. </p> <p>Travelling with a friend, the man asked for the meal to be cut in half so they could share.</p> <p>After polishing off their lunch, the traveller was shocked when he was given the bill, noticing a charge he had never seen before. </p> <p>The man paid without arguing, but later took to TripAdvisor to leave a negative review. </p> <p>“Unbelievable but true,” the man captioned a photo of the receipt on TripAdvisor.</p> <p>The receipt lists the sandwich for €7.50 ($12.60), Coca Cola for €3.50 ($5.90), water for €1.50 ($2.50) and espresso for €1.20 ($2), along with the debated “diviso da meta”, or “cutting in half” fee, amounting to 2 euros, or $3.40.</p> <p>The confused customer gave the restaurant one star on TripAdvisor, far below the average of four and a half stars, based on over 100 reviews.</p> <p>After the review garnered a lot of unexpected attention, the restaurant's owner defended the fee to a local news outlet. </p> <p>“Additional requests have a cost,” owner Cristina Biacchi told <em>La Repubblica</em>.</p> <p>“We had to use two plates instead of one and the time to wash them is doubled, and then two placemats. It wasn’t a simple toasted sandwich, there were also French fries inside. It took us time to cut it in two.”</p> <p>She also noted that the customer did not complain or question the charge and clarified that she would have removed the charge from the bill, if someone had raised an issue. </p> <p>The extra charge is not unheard of in expensive cities and popular tourist destinations, with some cities in the United States are sometimes hitting diners with a share charge, or a split plate charge, to make up for the lower check average at a table, while some New York City eateries even ban the practice of sharing all together.</p> <p><em>Image credit: TripAdvisor</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Man’s desperate attempt to avoid baggage fees goes viral

<p dir="ltr">One man’s plight to avoid excess baggage fees has been caught on camera and gone viral. </p> <p dir="ltr">In the video, the male passenger can be seen kicking and shoving his bag into the luggage size checker as an airline staffer looked on.</p> <p dir="ltr">The man’s desperate efforts amused those around him, with giggling being heard in the background from fellow travellers, including the person filming.</p> <p dir="ltr">The video, which has now been viewed over 26 million times, was captioned, “Don’t die for EasyJet.”</p> <p>Eventually, the man was able to convince the staff member that his bag was the right size to count as carry-on luggage, only for it to then be stuck inside the metal frame.</p> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; caret-color: #323338; color: #323338; font-family: Roboto, Rubik, 'Noto Kufi Arabic', 'Noto Sans JP', sans-serif; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 610px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7135000263911329029&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40hotasfo_o%2Fvideo%2F7135000263911329029&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-va.tiktokcdn.com%2Ftos-maliva-p-0068%2Fb9ac55874a8840a382735f0dbbb4f95d_1661246711%7Etplv-tiktok-play.jpeg%3Fx-expires%3D1662991200%26x-signature%3DlT8PTmNwIg0BVzmFm2u%252F1Vfwtc0%253D&amp;key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p>"He's going to miss his flight trying to get that out," one person quipped in the comments.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Rumour has it he is still trying to get it back out," another joined in.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, some thought the staff member was clearly also just having a laugh.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The staff guy was just having a laugh, knowing well what was about to unfold," one person said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Others empathised with the traveller for trying to avoid the extra fees, with one person sharing, "EasyJet made me pay extra for my carry-on pillow, I still haven't recovered from the shock."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Travel Tips

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Woman avoids baggage fees with genius neck pillow hack

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While many travellers love to take advantage of cheap airline seats, the deals often come hand in hand with hefty baggage fees.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One savvy TikTok user has devised a unique way to avoid the extra charges for luggage, using a travel neck pillow. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The traveller, who shares videos under the name @anayotothe on TikTok, uses the cheap neck pillow as a secret carry-on bag to get out of those pesky extra fees. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Trying the Spirit and Frontier pillow hack cuz I ain't tryna pay $60 for a carry on," the woman wrote on the video, referencing two American airlines.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She captioned the video, “My flight is in three hours let’s see how this goes!”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The woman picked up the travel pillow for just $9 from the US supermarket Walgreens, and proceeded to take the pillow stuffing out of the case. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She then stuffed all the clothes that wouldn’t fit in her backpack into the pillowcase, which could still be used to stay comfortable during her flight. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Everything fits except for this shirt!" the woman exclaimed, while showing followers her clever technique.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After sharing the video with her followers, the woman later confirmed that she boarded her flight successfully with her hidden carry-on luggage.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"On the way to Vegas and the way back, I didn't have to pay, with my travel pillow and my backpack," she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While dozens of people commented to thank the savvy traveller for the tip, others also questioned if it was worth it to save money. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When questioned about her methods, the woman responded, "It took five minutes, also it was an hour flight… there was no reason I should pay $300 for a flight if you can just take one of the budget airlines."</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Travel Tips

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‘Absurd’ fee may see family choose between their home and pet

<p dir="ltr">A Sydney woman who applied for permission to keep her dog in her apartment has left her with a $2000 fee she may have to pay, after she was told of a new bond that could be introduced for pet owners.</p> <p dir="ltr">Georgia Dawson’s two-and-a-half-year-old son Rafy has become devoted to her Staffy named Fav, but she said her family may have to choose between their home and keeping the pair together.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s a huge amount of money and it’s very upsetting,” Ms Dawson told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/they-bought-a-puppy-for-their-son-in-lockdown-strata-did-something-absurd-2-1110560/" target="_blank"><em>Domain</em></a>. “We want to stay in our home and we don’t want to be put in a position where we have to choose between our home and our family.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The 32-year-old has been living in the apartment complex in Sydney’s lower north shore with her family for the last seven months, and feels they’re being punished for doing the right thing.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Pets are family for many of us, especially after getting through Covid and maybe not being able to afford another child. But now it feels like we’re being punished - and for doing the right thing and applying for permission,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The family’s shock discovery comes as the latest in the pets-in-apartments saga that has seen legal battles play out between residents wanting to live with their pets, and buildings that want the choice to prevent them.</p> <p dir="ltr">In August, a change in state law made it illegal to forbid pets in strata buildings. The change was the result of a four-and-a-half year litigation between resident Jo Cooper and her Darlinghurst building, Horizon, that saw a blanket ban on pets get overturned.</p> <p dir="ltr">A later judgement by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), however, found that buildings did have the right to charge pet-owners fees of up to $300 to the “administration cost” of applications.</p> <p dir="ltr">But the notification Ms Dawson received, alerting her that her building was debating levying the $2000 bond on pet owners at its January AGM and news that other buildings are considering similar policies, has angered many animal-lovers.</p> <p dir="ltr">Emma Hurst, an Animal Justice Party MP who helped create the pet-friendly legislation, said she is raising concerns about Ms Dawson’s case and pushing for additional regulation.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is outrageous that strata schemes are attempting to charge huge bonds and application fees in what appears to be an attempt to stop people having an animal in their home,” she said. “It clearly goes against the spirit of the recent changes to strata laws championed by our party.</p> <p dir="ltr">“These were designed to ensure stata complexes are animal-friendly but this is a blatant attempt to get around the new laws, and effectively block people from sharing their home with an animal by making it financially prohibitive. This affects the ability for families to rescue animals in pounds, or for victims of domestic and family violence to seek new accomodation with their companion animals.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Having recently published a review of state strata law, the NSW government has said it has “become aware of some practices that may defeat the purpose of the reforms and produce unjust outcomes”.</p> <p dir="ltr">It has recommended that its Department of Customer Service continues to monitor the use of the new pet-friendly laws to “determine whether further legislative change is necessary” to prevent unfair outcomes.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Real Estate

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Customer shocked by exorbitant service fee

<p dir="ltr">One customer was taken by surprise after dining at Salt Bae’s new London restaurant, when they were presented with the bill for $60,000 worth of food as well as a $9000 service fee.</p> <p dir="ltr">Salt Bae, whose real name is Nusret Gökçe, recently opened a new restaurant in the ritzy London neighbourhood of Knightsbridge. Diners at the establishment can expect to spend a pretty penny, including $1500 for a tomahawk steak and $55 for fries, but one diner wasn’t expecting a 15% service fee when they were presented with the bill.</p> <p dir="ltr">In addition to the exxy food and drinks, including $18,000 wine, the bill came with a 15% service charge, working out to £4829.10 on top of the £32,194 bill. That’s a charge of about $8933 on top of a $59,327 meal.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 434.5156889495225px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844861/https___prodstatic9net.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/47ad6063eed94bab9aaef210baf96b52" /></p> <p dir="ltr">The customer shared a photo of the cheque on Snapchat with the caption, “That’s just taking the p*ss”, and the image quickly went viral online, with many wondering how any meal could be worth those kinds of prices.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many critics say Salt Bae is overstepping his markups, which include charging $33 for asparagus and $20 for Red Bull, while others believe the prices, including the service fee, are justified considering the quality of the food and the potential to see Salt Bae do his thing.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUTA32OsX6x/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUTA32OsX6x/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Nusr_et#Saltbae (@nusr_et)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Gökçe originally went viral in 2017 with a video of him sprinkling salt onto a meal getting over 10 million views. He now has almost 40 million followers on Instagram, and his videos of him doing his thing in the kitchen regularly get over 5 million views.</p> <p dir="ltr">With the opening of his London restaurant, Gökçe now owns luxury steakhouses in Miami, New York, Boston, Dallas, and Beverly Hills in the United States; Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates; Ankara, Bodrum, Istanbul and Marmaris in Turkey; and Mykonos, Doha, London and Jeddah.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Laurent Koffel/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images</em></p>

Food & Wine

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8-year-old denied life-saving surgery until $1.5 million fee is paid

<p>A Nigerian boy travelled with his parents to the UK for a small surgery then discovered he had cancer but a quirk in the system means the life-saving surgery is out of reach.</p> <p>His parents will be required to pay £885,000 (AU$1,580,000) up front before the NHS can legally operate on him.</p> <p>Nathaniel Nabena had one of his eyes removed in Nigeria in order to treat the cancer and stop its spread.</p> <p>But then in November last year, he travelled to the UK to be fitted with a prostethic eye.</p> <p>The surgery was meant to be quick and painless but the 8-year-old soon fell sick and tests revealed he had leukaemia.</p> <p>Nathaniel desperately needs a stem cell transplant to stay alive, but doctors won’t operate on him until his parents pay the fee - which is so high because patients from non-EU countries are charged 150 per cent of the NHS price for hospital treatment.</p> <p>“If we do not manage to raise the funds, we have been told that hospice care is the next step,” his father Ebisidor wrote on a<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/Raise-money-for-Nathaniels-Stem-Cell-Treatment" target="_blank"><em>GoFundMe page</em></a>.</p> <p>Nathaniel has been battling cancer for the past three years, and his parents believed the worst was over before they were hit with the leukaemia diagnosis.</p> <p>He had a myeloid sarcoma under his left eye which caused it to swell up so badly, removal was the only option.</p> <p>Nathaniel is currently in the Croydon University Hospital.</p> <p>Medical practitioners are charging £825,000 to cover their expenses for tests, chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.</p> <p>Nathaniel’s dad described his son as “a bright, wonderful child”.</p> <p>“It has been a long, hard journey but we will never stop fighting for Nathaniel. He deserves a life free of cancer,” Ebisidor Nabena said.</p> <p>A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/boy-9-diagnosed-leukaemia-uk-23496109" target="_blank"><em>The Sun</em></a><span> </span>in a statement: “Every taxpayer supports the health service and so it is only right that overseas visitors contribute towards their treatment costs.</p> <p>“As the rules stand, NHS care must be paid for in advance of providing non-urgent treatment and any debts that do arise from providing urgent care will be followed up with.</p> <p>“The NHS will always provide high standards of care for those who need it and repayment plans can be agreed with the provider.”</p>

Legal

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10 countries with the worst ATM fees in the world

<p>Withdrawing money from an ATM while you’re overseas can be an expensive experience, particularly if you haven’t done your research prior. There are parts of the world, many of them popular with tourists, where travellers are taken to the cleaners by excessive ATM fees. But which countries are the worst culprits?</p> <p>We’ve narrowed our list down to 10 countries with the worst ATM fees in the world. If these destinations are on your itinerary, you might want to change your money prior to arrival.</p> <p>To see them all, scroll through the gallery above.</p> <p>Have you ever been stung by excessive ATM fees?</p>

Travel Trouble

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Report reveals worst airlines for extra fees

<p>It’s no secret airlines make a lot of money by slugging us with extra fees for luggage, reserved seats and in-flight food. But which airlines are the worst culprits?</p> <p>A report from research firm IdeaWorksCompany has identified the world’s top 10 airlines for extra fees that results in $35.3 billion in extra revenue for these companies.</p> <p>This money, called ancillary revenue, was used to determine the rankings.</p> <p>The report said, “Low cost carriers rely upon a la carte activity by aggressively seeking revenue from checked bags, assigned seats, and extra leg room seating.</p> <p>“Some of the best in this category have extensive holiday package business with route structures built upon leisure destinations.”</p> <p><strong>2016 Top 10 ancillary revenue rankings (a$)</strong></p> <p>1. United Airlines (USA): $6.22 billion</p> <p>2. Delta Air Lines (USA): $5.17 billion</p> <p>3. American Airlines (USA): $4.9 billion</p> <p>4. Southwest Airlines (USA): $2.83 billion</p> <p>5. Air France/KLM (France/Netherlands): $2.1 billion</p> <p>6. Ryanair (Ireland): $1.98 billion</p> <p>7. easyJet (UK): $1.36 billion</p> <p>8. Lufthansa Network (Germany): $1.35 billion</p> <p>9. Qantas (does not include Jetstar): $1.19 billion (90% of this is from frequent flyer program)</p> <p>10. Air Canada (Canada): $1.18 billion</p> <p>Have you flown with any of these airlines?</p> <p><em>Source: IdeaWorksCompany</em></p>

Travel Tips

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“Hospital parking fees have gone too far”

<p>How many times have you visited family and friends in hospital and nearly blown a gasket when called upon to cough up obscene sums of money for parking fees?</p> <p>Visitors of the sick and dying are taken advantage of by greedy car park owners who know that people are so anxious to see their loved ones they will shell out the required dosh to see them. Even if they don't have the money, they will risk paying a fine for the greater good of cheering someone up, in order to offer support and advocacy.</p> <p>And there's the rub. We feel mean at quibbling about shelling out money to visit a poorly friend or family member, and some hospital car park owners capitalise on these mixed emotions.</p> <p>Patients too are well aware of the financial cost a friend or relative may be incurring and will urge their visitors to stay only a short while for fear of them being hit with a heavy fine.</p> <p>The psychological benefits of having one's nearest and dearest come to see you when you're often at your lowest are obvious. Their support is a necessary part of the recovery, and a great boost for a patient who may be feeling alienated in the clinical and strange environment of a hospital.</p> <p>They may be sharing a ward and feeling unloved and a little blue observing their fellow patients receiving more visitors than them. Who wants to be pitied lying prone in a hospital cot? Yes, I know it's not a competition to see how many people you can gather round the bedside, but these thoughts cross the mind, particularly when you're not feeling the best.</p> <p>So bravo to Alex Dexter, who started an online petition after having spent $140 a week on parking to visit his premature first-born son and ailing wife in Auckland's Middlemore Hospital.</p> <p>That's a lot of extra money to find, particularly for the low-waged struggling to pay mortgages, rents and utilities, and keep a car registered, warranted and full of petrol. Dexter wants people to sign a petition calling for free parking for hospital staff, and subsidised parking for visiting patients.</p> <p>The argument that hefty parking fees act as a deterrent to using cars and instead to frequent public transport doesn't wash when there's a life and death situation.</p> <p>Stuck on a meandering bus is not an option if you need to be immediately bedside at births and deaths. And there are plenty of buses that simply don't arrive on schedule, or at all with no explanation given.</p> <p>Visitors wouldn't feel so ripped off if they knew that the car park was owned by a district health board and the money was being ploughed back into the hospital. Certain car park owners are notorious for being ruthless rip-off merchants and shouldn't be allowed to "operate", excuse the pun, in cooey of a hospital.</p> <p>It is perfectly reasonable to charge a small fee for parking for visitors, as free parking might encourage abuse from families and friends swamping hospitals and making nuisances of themselves to staff, and overwhelming the patient.</p> <p>The cosy incubator heating of hospitals, which often makes you want to strip off to your smalls, might encourage the freezing hordes in winter to come in from the cold. But that is another vexed matter.</p> <p>Perhaps patients should be allotted one free or heavily subsidised car parking ticket, which they would have to register with the car park owner. Maybe there's an opening here for an Uber-type operator who could run affordable hospital shuttles from all suburbs to drop and pick visitors up via text. We have the technology – if you have the money on your phone. </p> <p>Departing patients are heavily dependent on a friend or family member to pick them up in a car to take all their belongings and additional hospital apparatus that is too cumbersome to be ferried by bus, taxi, or shuttle.</p> <p>We have become so used to user-pays that, instead of raging against the machine, we silently stew in anger and resentment when the state doesn't pick up the tab.</p> <p>Alex Dexter has done what we have all forgotten, or have been too beaten down, to do and that is to raise an objection to a deeply unfair parking system in hospitals. He can't do it on his own, which is why we need all pens to the petition.</p> <p>Do you think it’s fair for us to pay so much for hospital parking?</p> <p><em>Written by Jane Bowron. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>. </em></p>

Legal

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Father is outraged he “has to pay" to see sick son in hospital

<p>Visitors and helpers for the sick and dying have shown their support to get rid of pricey parking fees at hospitals.</p> <p>Alex Dexter started online petition <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.causes.com/campaigns/106423-change-paid-parking-in-new-zealand-hospitals" target="_blank">'Change paid parking in New Zealand hospitals'</a></span></strong> last week after he spent $140 a week on parking to visit his premature first-born son and recovering wife in Auckland's Middlemore hospital.</p> <p>On a single income, Dexter said his family was lucky they could afford the pricey parking fees.</p> <p>But he said it was wrong that nurses and family members in the poorer area of south Auckland had to pay to support and care for their ill spouse, parent or child. </p> <p>"It has been really stressful and really hard times over the past few weeks and we are still going to be here for a little while until he [his son] is ready to take home. I've got to pay to see my son," Dexter said. </p> <p>"But I'm not really doing it [the petition] for me, I'm doing it for everybody else."</p> <p>Dexter is urging 100,000 people to sign the petition calling for free parking for hospital staff and at least subsidised parking for visiting patient supporters. More than 8000 people signed the petition by Thursday.</p> <p>"My sister is a nurse and we have friends who are nurses and to hear that they are paying for parking when they are doing such an amazing job … I don't think it's right.</p> <p>"I don't think staff should pay and I don't think next of kin should pay when they are having to go through so much already." </p> <p>New Zealand Nurses Organisation spokeswoman Karen Coltman​ said nurses working at Auckland District Health Board hospitals had to pay for on site parking. Dexter said workers who pay for inner city parking came with the territory of working in a central business district, but it was different at hospitals. </p> <p>"I understand there has to be gains and you have to manage it [hospital carparks] otherwise people stay or have entire families parking there and no one else gets a park because there is no incentive for them to move on.</p> <p>"I just think it is wrong really in general … You have got people who are picking up their kids and they have only got 15 minutes [of free parking]. They have got no money in their wallet and they are there for 17 minutes and they don't even have the $4 to pay."</p> <p>Wilson Parking chief executive Stephan Wuffli said the company operates two car parks owned by district health boards. One of those carparks is at Auckland City hospital where parking fees cost up to $18 for eight hours. Wuffli referred all questions about its hospital parking business to the district health boards.</p> <p>The Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) would not say how much it paid Wilson Parking to operate the carpark on its behalf, or how much profit it made from parking. Wilson Parking collected $98 million from New Zealand parking fees from all its parking facilities in 2016. An extra $9m than the previous year. Its profit in New Zealand more than tripled from $2.2m after tax in 2013 to $10m in the year to June 30, 2016.</p> <p>Dexter was not surprised to hear how much Wilson Parking collected from parking. </p> <p>"I know that Wilson Parking do a lot of different parking structures in town, but surely they can offer a discount rate to hospitals," he said. </p> <p>When the petition reaches between 10,000 and 15,000 signatures he will take it to DHBs, local councils and private carpark operating companies, Dexter said.</p> <p>"The first thing I need to do is get people to help me … I'm probably in over my head but I decided that someone's got to start this and see where this goes."</p> <p><em>Written by Madison Reidy. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a></em></p>

Money & Banking

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Why higher baggage fees actually improve your trip

<p>When you’re thinking about the ways in which you could improve upon a holiday, your mind might turn to hotel upgrades, private tours or some sort of automated poolside cocktail machine. The last thing you’re probably thinking about is higher baggage fees.</p> <p>But higher baggage fees might just be the thing that makes your next big trip more enjoyable. The reason? Well, it just so happens that if you’re paying more to check your baggage, you’re actually much more likely to arrive at your destination on time.</p> <p>A <a href="https://www.ku.edu/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">recent study by the</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> University of Kansas</span></strong></a> in the US, analysing average airline performance across a range of carriers, has drawn a link between the amount charged for baggage fees and the likelihood of a plane arriving on time. And while this may on the surface seem a little coincidental, there’s actually a little bit of science backing these links up. </p> <p>The study found that flights with higher baggage fees are more likely to leave on time. The theory behind why this is actually the case, is linked to passenger behaviour.</p> <p>Basically, higher baggage fees act as a deterrent for passengers to check luggage, instead bringing it onboard as carry on. As a result there’s much less work for the ground crew to do, and the likelihood of an avoidable delayed is significantly decreased.</p> <p>Mazhar Arikan, a KU assistant professor of supply chain management in the School of Business, says, “Because passengers changed their behaviour, less weight went into the plane below the cabin. This offset any changes in carryon luggage, and it helped airlines improve their on-time departure performance. The below-the-cabin effect dominates the above-the-cabin effect.”</p> <p>The study found that the biggest changes were observed at major hub airports, as they generally had to process the largest amount of checked bags. The study also found that airlines with higher baggage fees also posted a substantial drop in baggage-related passenger complaints.</p> <p>So what’s your take? Would you be willing to pay higher fees for checked bags if you knew it was going to increase the likelihood of you getting to your destination on time?</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/07/5-smart-ways-to-prevent-your-luggage-getting-lost/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 smart ways to prevent your luggage getting lost</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/8-common-mistakes-when-packing-checked-in-luggage/"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>8 common mistakes when packing checked-in luggage</strong></span></em></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/how-to-ensure-your-bag-is-never-misplaced/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>How to ensure your bag is never misplaced</strong></em></span></a></p>

International Travel

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Popular cruise lines waving single supplement fee

<p>Hitting the high seas as a solo traveller just became a whole lot more attractive, with a number of cruise lines announcing “no single supplement” deals and even unveiling new sole occupancy cabins.</p> <p>In the past, singles have been hit with hefty fees to justify booking a twin cabin – sometimes as much as 150 to 200 per cent of the published per person fare – to cover the cost of the “missing” person.</p> <p>Cruise line mega-giant Cunard’s has spent $160 million on remastering the Queen Mary 2 to include 15 cabins for solo travellers, not unlike the retro-fit cabins on sister ships Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria.</p> <p>The newest ships from Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line and British P&amp;O Cruises also include some solo rooms. </p> <p>If a river cruise is more your style, book your 2017 adventure with Avalon Waterway’s European river cruises without being hit the supplement charge. The offer is available across all European departures, but excludes royal suites.</p> <p>Do you have any memorable experiences as a solo cruise ship passenger? Share your stories with us in the comments below.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/08/8-beautiful-islands-you-can-only-visit-on-a-cruise/"><em>8 beautiful islands you can only visit on a cruise</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/08/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-cruise-ships/"><em>10 things you didn’t know about cruise ships</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/08/5-items-to-never-bring-on-a-cruise/"><em>5 items to never bring on a cruise (and what to pack instead)</em></a></strong></span></p>

Cruising

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How to avoid hidden fees on cruises

<p>Cruising is one of the best ways to see the world – comfortable, safe, and fun. However, if you don’t know how to manage your budget at sea, it can also be one of the priciest ways to see the world. Here are three simple ways you can keep costs down the next time you climb on board.</p> <ol start="1"> <li><strong>Book your own excursion</strong> – any cruising pro will tell you the non-included offshore activities organised by your cruise ship will set you back much more than they should. Research your own port adventures and you’re sure to find companies that provide quality excursions for a fraction of the cost. Or, forget a traditional excursion altogether and hop on a bike or simply walk around the destination. Often the best way to see a new place is to simply wander around.</li> <li><strong>Research roaming costs</strong> – if you’ve ever been slapped with a shock phone bill after holidaying, pay attention. Read around and do your research to find a service provider with the lowest roaming costs. Or, leave your sim card at home and go off the grid while you relax on board. There’s always Wi-Fi if you need a Facebook fix, plus pay phones to contact your friends and family back home.</li> <li><strong>Read the fine print</strong> – so, you’ve found the perfect cruise for you. It looks ideal in the brochure, but have you read all the terms and conditions? You’d be shocked at how many people fail to realise what is and isn’t included in the price of the ticket. Always do your research. It never hurts to do a little Google search about your cruise and read up on what other passengers have experienced.</li> </ol> <p>What other money saving tips do you have for fellow cruise aficionados? Share your advice in the comment section below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/06/secrets-from-a-cruise-ship-kitchen/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Secrets from a cruise ship kitchen</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/06/best-cruise-lines-in-the-world-revealed/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>The world’s best cruise lines revealed</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/06/things-you-did-not-know-about-cruise-ship-staff/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 things you didn’t know about cruise ship staff</strong></em></span></a></p>

Cruising

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5 outrageous travel fees and how to avoid them

<p>There’s no such thing as a free lunch (or dinner, or upgrade, or transfer) in travel. Here are a few fees that are especially annoying – and how to avoid them.</p> <p><strong>1. Airline baggage fees</strong></p> <p>These can range from exorbitant fees for checking a single bag (at least $25 on many airlines) to the simply outrageous charges associated with excess baggage. Some airlines in the US have even started charging for carry on baggage that needs to be stowed in the overhead bin. It can end up costing more than your ticket! How can you avoid it? Firstly, two words: Pack. Light. Don’t pay for baggage you don’t need. Secondly, look for tickets that include baggage or have the lowest fees. Be aware that these generally won’t be the cheapest fares on offer.</p> <p><strong>2. Hotel Wi-Fi</strong></p> <p>Surely if McDonalds can offer its customer free Wi-Fi, then your hotel should be able to do the same? Unfortunately not and many charge anywhere from $10 to $30 per day for access. If connectivity is important to you then check the hotel’s policy carefully before you book. Strangely enough, it’s usually cheaper hotels that offer free Wi-Fi while more expensive ones charge extra for it. Or, seek out Wi-Fi hotspots to log on and avoid the fees altogether.</p> <p><strong>3. Single supplement</strong></p> <p>Travelling as a single almost always doubles the price, which can make it prohibitively expensive for the solo traveller. And that seems pretty unfair. Thankfully, many of the worst offenders – like cruise lines and tour companies – have started to realise that solo travellers matter too. Keep an eye out for deals that remove the single supplement entirely or offer it at a reasonable price. Many new cruise ships have begun to install solo cabins that are good value and, while small, have everything you need to come aboard.</p> <p><strong>4. In-flight amenities</strong></p> <p>$7 for a pillow? $5 for headphones? No thank you. Airlines have made an artform out of charging for absolutely everything, so you can end up spending another $50 on bits and pieces to make yourself comfortable. Bring your own blanket and pillow, load up your iPad with enough to keep you entertained and pack some snacks in your hand luggage. Problem solved.</p> <p><strong>5. Priority boarding</strong></p> <p>We’re just going to say it – this one is nonsense. There is no real need to pay a fee for priority boarding on a plane. If you genuinely have mobility issues or need some assistance, then you will be able to board early and the staff will help. Otherwise, your seat is allocated to there’s no need to rush. Save your money.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/03/teen-saves-flying-sheffield-to-essex-via-germany/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Teen saves money by flying from Sheffield to Essex via Germany</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/05/controversial-idea-to-shorten-airport-queues/"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Controversial idea to shorten airport queues</strong></span></em></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/05/5-ways-to-avoid-being-stuck-in-the-middle-seat/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em>5 ways to avoid the middle seat on planes</em></strong></span></a></p>

Travel Tips

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10 travel fees you may not know about

<p>From hidden departure taxes to not factoring in tolls on your road trips, these are the most often-overlooked travel fees. </p> <p><strong>1. Airport transportation</strong></p> <p>If you’re taking any type of transport to and from the airport, you’ll be paying at least $20 extra each way in standard fees. The best way to avoid the “airport tax” is to call ahead to your hotel to see if they can arrange airport transfers or pre-book any shutter services or shared vans.</p> <p><strong>2. Entry and departure tax</strong></p> <p> Many countries have an entry and departure tax that vary by length of stay. It’s typically paid at the airport, although sometimes it is included in the airfare. Do your research beforehand as most developing nations will want cash in local currency for this charge.</p> <p><strong>3. Visa</strong></p> <p>Most countries require a visa for entry and some countries will require you to apply for a visa before you visit the country. Make sure you read up on any visa requirement well before you trip.</p> <p><strong>4. Data usage on mobile phones</strong></p> <p>If you use your mobile phone’s data on an international trip without an international plan or the country’s local SIM card, you’ll be left with a huge phone bill. A basic international plan will give you “cheap” data in case of emergency and will save you big in the long run if you do ended up having to use your mobile for some reason.</p> <p><strong>5. Tipping</strong></p> <p>Each country’s tipping policy is different – in some countries it is rude to tip, and in other’s it’s mandatory to tip. Do you research beforehand and if visiting a destination like the US, budget at least 15 per cent into your meals and services budget.</p> <p><strong>6. Parking and tolls</strong></p> <p>When people plan road trips, they often budget for petrol and meal breaks, but often forget about tolls and parking fees. Both of these can sure add to the cost of your road trip so don’t get caught out and do you research.</p> <p><strong>7. Transaction and ATM fees</strong></p> <p>When travelling abroad, you’ll most likely encounter ATM fees and foreign transaction fees, which can add up. Currency exchange companies can also charge outrageously high exchange rates, so it is best to get your money in order before jetting off.</p> <p><strong>8. Airport prices</strong></p> <p>Everyone knows that prices are higher at the airport so avoid buying things like books, neck pillows or souvenirs last minute.</p> <p><strong>9. Emergencies</strong></p> <p>You never know what will happen so if you’re travelling, don’t skip the travel insurance.  Without insurance, if for any reason you need medical attention or lose something, it could end up costing you thousands.</p> <p><strong>10. Local taxes</strong></p> <p>Taxes vary by country and state, so don’t be surprised if you don’t pay taxes on something in your country and have to in another country. While most countries include taxes into the listed price of an item, make sure you check so you’re not caught out with extra expenses.</p> <p><strong><em>Have you arranged your travel insurance yet? Tailor your cover to your needs and save money by not paying for things you don’t need. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://elevate.agatravelinsurance.com.au/oversixty?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=link1&amp;utm_campaign=travel-insurance">Click here</a></span> to read more about Over60 Travel Insurance. </em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>For more information about Over60 Travel Insurance, call 1800 622 966.</em></strong></p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2015/10/travel-fails/"></a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international-travel/2015/12/iconic-destinations-falling-apart/">6 iconic destinations that are falling apart</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2015/10/travel-fails/"></a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international-travel/2015/12/best-countries-to-visit-in-2016/"><em>Top 10 countries to visit in 2016</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2015/10/travel-fails/"></a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international-travel/2015/12/best-countries-to-visit-in-2016/">10 best-value travel destinations for 2016</a></em></strong></span></p>

International Travel

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