Cheap headline prices rarely describe a complete trip. Check baggage, seat selection, airport transfers, resort or city taxes, payment fees, visas, insurance exclusions, and the cost of reaching an early departure. Connection risk can also create a hotel night or replacement fare — see the Europe-specific version of this list for the fees that show up most often on that continent.
Review each travel day door to door. A slower route can be cheaper once transfers and lost time are included. Keep these items visible in the estimate — the same category-by-category method used in a full trip cost breakdown — so a real quote can be compared honestly with the plan.
