Travel Money-Saving Tips: Booking, Fees, Packing and Travel Insurance

• Compare total prices, including bag fees, seat fees and resort or cleaning fees. Hotels and vacation rentals must now show the total price up front (see our hotel and rental car fees guide).
• Use the 24-hour rule: for flights booked at least 7 days out, airlines must let you cancel for a full refund within 24 hours or hold the fare for 24 hours. It doesn't apply to bookings through travel agencies.
• Be flexible with dates and nearby airports if you can, and compare the airline's own site with travel sites.

• Check the airline's bag policy before you pack. A carry-on that fits the airline's size limits can avoid checked bag fees on many fares.
• Keep medicine, valuables, electronics and travel documents in your carry-on. DOT recommends this because airlines often exclude these items from baggage liability on domestic trips.
• Bring a refillable water bottle (empty through security) and snacks.

• Foreign transaction fees: many cards charge a fee on purchases abroad, often a percentage of each purchase. Check your card's terms before you go; some cards charge no foreign transaction fee.
• Pay in the local currency. If a card machine or ATM offers to charge you in U.S. dollars, that conversion can come with a less favorable exchange rate. Choosing the local currency lets your card network do the conversion.
• ATM fees: check what your bank charges for foreign ATM withdrawals, and avoid using a credit card for cash, which usually means fees and interest right away.
• Tell your bank you're traveling if it asks you to, so your card isn't blocked.

Travel insurance can reimburse prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs when a covered reason stops your trip, and some plans cover medical care or delays. The NAIC (state insurance regulators) suggests reading what's covered and what's excluded before you buy.

• Is my trip cost already protected by the airline's refund rules or a credit card benefit?
• Which reasons for canceling are covered, and which aren't?
• Are pre-existing medical conditions excluded? Is there a waiver, and what are its conditions?
• Does my health insurance cover me abroad? The NAIC notes most standard health plans and Medicare likely won't provide coverage abroad.