In its article, Airline fees survival guide, SmarterTravel investigates the affect those ‘hidden, little’ fees have on the final cost of your trip. They’ve also joined forces with SeatGuru and Airfare Watch Dog to put together a nifty guide which lists many of the fees charged by the big American carriers for items such as luggage, food/beverages, change fees, and more. According to the SmarterTravel, the list will continue to grow and will be updated on their…so this is good little chart to check out and keep on standby.

PFCs?
SmarterTravel does a great job in providing some travel scenarios and cost comparisons between airlines. For instance, a single traveler with no carry-ons doesn’t have to worry about baggage fees. However, if that traveler’s trip includes a layover, a PFC (passenger facility charge…hey airports are losing money too!) is tacked on to the price of the ticket. The old theory that flights with layovers are often the cheapest is now going out the window, because with every layover another PFC is added on. In their cost comparisons for the single traveler, the flights with more layovers actually ended up being slightly higher because of this.

Pay to sit?
Another fee I learned about was the seat assignment fee. In the couple traveling to Puerto Rico scenario, base airfare for AirTran and Spirit were initially lower. Of course we know Spirit charges for everything…but what I didn’t know is that both airlines charge if you decide you want to have a seat assignment.

In Part II of the guide, they discuss the lovely food and beverage charges and more baggage fees. Not to our surprise, in these cost comparisons, Southwest is still considered one of the most fee-friendly airlines out there.
Speaking of Southwest, their new commercial always makes me giggle…

Do you think we’ll ever stop being nickle-and-dimed? Doubt it…so we just have to know how to play by the rules…and beat the airlines at their own game.

During our visit to Italy last Fall, my wallet had a rude awakening. As the trip drew nearer, I knew it was time to face the music and research the currency exchange rates. Let’s not forget those service fees tacked on for good measure. At that time, it was going to cost me roughly $1.60 for every Euro I planned to spend. OUCH! I almost convinced myself that the pizza and gelato were just as good here at home. Nah.

A great strategy for overcoming the exchange rates and getting the most ‘bang for your buck’, could possibly be planning your vacation around them. There are still some destinations where the exchange rate is more favorable. The February issue of Conde Nast Traveler magazine uncovers some of these hidden gems in its article, Dollar Power, and I’m passing them on to you, my Divas.
Your purse can thank me later.

Some Currency Super Stars:
1. Costa Rica
Value of $1 five years ago: 384.70 Colones
Value of $1 today*: 495.35 Colones
Increase of nearly 40 percent

2. Laos
Value of $1 five years ago: 7,905 Kip
Value of $1 today: 9,297 Kip
Increase of nearly 20 percent
3. Egypt
Value of $1 five years ago: 4.6 Egyptian pounds
Value of $1 today: 5.51 Egyptian pounds
Increase of nearly 20 percent

Honorable mentions:
Maldives, Barbados, St.Kitts, St. Lucia, Turkey, Ecuador, Panama

Ever seen an $18 hot chocolate? Well, here it is…from Venice, with love.

For some perspective on my spending in Italy: $1 today is equivalent to .68 Euros…
Costa Rica, here we come!

To calculate more currency exchange rates, visit XE.com

*currency rate as of 1/20/2008