Mistakes That Could Blow Your Travel Budget

The holiday season is approaching fast and one wrong move and your carefully crafted travel budget could fly out the window.

According to the survey by the personal finance website Expedia and the Harris Poll, forty-five percent of Americans expect to shell out an average of 1,393 dollars on flights and/or hotels over the holidays. And according to Expedia spokesperson Alexis Tiacoh, "The holidays are a really busy time and there are already so many things to do - from checking off wish lists to holiday functions. That means a lot of travelers won't have time to sit and browse for the best flight and hotel deals."

To make the most out of your holiday, you need to come up with a smart travel budget and stick to it. Keep your hard-earned money working for you by avoiding mistakes to stay within your allotted travel budget:

1. Forgetting about the little extras

People often simply sketch out a rough budget and don't dig into all the small charges. Aside from airfare, hotel, rental car and food, little things like tolls, ATM fees and coffee/snack breaks add up to the trip.

Tip: Budget an extra $25 to $50 a day for unexpected expenses.

2. Buying the "ultra-low cost" fare

Sometimes the cheapest ticket possible can cost you: Does it include a checked bag and an onboard meal? What about the acceptable carry-on size or do you even get a carry-on? Think about what you'll need to bring with you on the trip. Buying a checked bag at the airport can run you anywhere from $25-$100 in the U.S. Packing lighter summer clothes doesn't take up too much space, so you can probably get away with only a carry-on bag.

Some people think that booking the cheapest flights might save them a wad of cash, only to find that when the day of travel comes around the budget airline they're booked on is experiencing a lot of cancellations and delays. This ends up costing a lot more.

3. Exchanging money at the airport

Perhaps you bought a bottle of water and a sandwich at the airport. The chances are you overpaid for such simple items.

The same goes for exchange rates. The airport is the worst place to exchange money at. Most often at airports the exchange rates are poor and transaction fees high. Don't be overwhelmed by the idea of finding a bank or ATM in a foreign country,

4. Not double-checking baggage allowances

You may already feel savvy by bringing a carry-on bag so you don't have to pay for checked luggage. But airlines sneak in extra fees any chance they get so you might not realize until you got to the airport that your bag didn't fit their size standards.

Always remember to check the baggage allowances before booking a flight so you know exactly how much it will cost.

5. Ignoring hidden charges

Your economy fare or ultra-discount airline flight might seem cheap on fine print. But usually, other fees are included not in the price. By the time you factor in checked bags, carry-on bags, seat selection, resort fees, parking costs and WiFi charges, it may rise above the cost of the flight or hotel.

We hope you stick to your budget.