4 unexpected expenses travelers forget to budget for

Sadly, we are not all millionaires. If you are reading this and are indeed a millionaire...then good for you. Please send me some money.

For the rest of us, our travels are limited to a certain monetary budget. When we are planning a vacation, most of us try to stick to planning a trip that we can reasonably afford; we pick flights, hotels, and tours that work within our budget. Plus a little extra for food and a souvenir or two.

However, unfortunately, the trips that we plan don't always...well, go to plan.

Especially when it comes to the budget part.

For even the most experienced travelers, there are always a few surprise expenses that can pop up at any given time.

This can throw your finances completely out of whack, add unnecessary stress and frustration on your trip, and even leave you with mess to clean up once you get back home.

To avoid the headache of unexpectedly blowing your budget on vacation, here are four hidden expenses to be wary of and add some extra wall cushion.

Driving Fees

Now this is a hidden fee that mostly only applies to travelers who decide to rent a car, but best believe that the cost of a rental is NOT the only driving fee you will encounter.

When I say driving fees, that includes but not limited to rental insurance, highway tolls, parking fees, and even speeding/traffic violation tickets. To help you navigate some of these hidden fees, we'll go point by point.

Rental insurance: now most of the time, you do not need to pay for additional rental insurance through the rental company because many credit cards - especially travel credit cards - offer their own supplemental rental insurance if you pay with that card.

That said, if you do have a major incident (accident, serious injury, etc) then there is the potential for the credit card to relay their coverage to your primary car insurance back home which could increase your rates. However, two travel credit cards offer primary insurance as an included perk, meaning anything covered by the card will not be reported to your home car insurance! These cards are the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the American Express Platinum Card.

Parking fees: Before your trip, be sure to double check if your lodging charges for parking because the daily rate can certainly add up.

While most street parking is often very affordable or even free, if you visit popular attractions, big stadium event, or even a city with a busy downtown, you may have to park in a designated parking garage or lot. Those can get expensive! Budget for about the equivalent of $50USD for each day you may have to park in a garage or lot.

Traffic violations: okay so this one is not completely avoidable. Obviously we all try NOT to get tickets...but it happens. To help mitigate potential tickets, be sure to research common infractions such as turning right at a red light, road symbol signs, and speed limit conversions between miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (kph).

On that note for tolls, if you are doing a road trip, put your route into a GPS to calculate your expected tolls. Often rental companies will offer a toll pass (for a fee), otherwise you'll get a bill from the rental company for your toll expenses PLUS an often hefty processing fee.

Resort Fees and Taxes

Similar to the driving fees, the cost of booking your hotel resort may not be the "final" cost paid. Often, a hotel resort fee or added city hotel taxes (common in high tourist areas) can be noted as a percentage instead of a flat amount.

These resort fees and city taxes will be added to your bill at the time of check in, so you'll want to ensure you have enough space available on your credit card - plus extra for an incidental hold! Double check your lodging reservation to confirm the cost (if any) of resort/hotel/city tax fees that are not included in the price.

International Cell Phone Plans

If you are traveling internationally, chances are you will still want to stay somewhat connected to your life at home. Sure, you can get-by on WiFi alone, but WiFi can be spotty, unreliable, or downright non-existent.

Plus, if you accidentally get lost in the middle of nowhere, your offline Google Maps might not be able to help you. Depending on your own network provider, international roaming is usually an added fee per day of usage, so be sure to check beforehand so you aren't surprised when your next cell phone bill comes in. If you travel often, it may even be worth it to calculate if switching to an unlimited plan (or service provider) that includes international coverage.

Another alternative is to invest in an international SIM card once you arrive at your destination. You insert the SIM card into your phone (the store or kiosk you buy it from can help) and then you can be connected to a local network for the duration of your trip.

When you leave, simply put your old SIM card back in! If you travel often with another person or a group (like your family or friends), then it could also be worth it to invest in a pocket WiFi device - that way, you only have to buy one SIM card for the hotspot and your entire group can connect to it.

Baggage Fees

One of the most common travel misconceptions is that all airlines are created equal. That is the FARTHEST from the truth, both in service and in logistics such as additional fees.

Before you go full-Karen in an airport (the last place you want to unleash that energy), be sure to triple check the airline's baggage policy, including quantity, size, and weight allowances. Some budget airlines even go as far to measure AND WEIGH your carry-on luggage. Flying can be stressful enough as it is, you don't want to add unexpected luggage fees on top of that!