Don’t Get “Noob Taxed”: The Travel Add-Ons That Drain Your Budget

About this episode

The episode discusses how to avoid costly travel add-ons and upsells that can inflate your trip budget.

Learn how to avoid common travel upsells that drain your budget, from cruise add-ons to sneaky foreign card charges. In this video episode, hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle break down travel “noob traps” to help you spot pricey add-ons before you click “book.” But first, they cover the latest travel headlines, including Chase adding Wyndham as a new transfer partner, Skyscanner launching flight search inside ChatGPT, Kayak’s spring break airfare trends, and new airport lounge openings at LAX and Las Vegas. They also flag a NerdWallet story from Craig Joseph digging deeper into the Chase-to-Wyndham transfer news. Then, they dive into the most common “noob traps” that can quietly inflate your trip total, including cruise specialty dining, attraction photo packages, room service sticker shock, early check-in fees, and dynamic currency conversion abroad. They also discuss when travel insurance add-ons can be worth it (and when they can disappoint), why timeshare presentations and pricey hotel activities can backfire, what to know about cell phone roaming charges, and how “convenience” offers can cost more than you expect. Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most…

People in this episode

Hosts: Sally French, Meghan Coyle

Topics covered

• travel budget
• travel upsells
• noob traps
• travel insurance
• credit card benefits
• foreign charges

Keywords

• travel add-ons
• budget travel
• cruise upsells
• foreign card charges
• dynamic currency conversion
• travel insurance
• cell phone roaming

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Chase, Wyndham, Skyscanner, Kayak

Places: LAX, Las Vegas

More episodes of Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

• Unpacking the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s Biggest Update in Five Years: What You Need to Know · June 10, 2026 · 41 min
• Earn More Points on Purchases You Already Make: Online Shopping, Dining, Rideshares and More · June 3, 2026 · 52 min
• Summer Travel 2026: How to Time Your Trip, Pick Your Destination, and Actually Save Money · May 27, 2026 · 39 min
• Introducing Your Next Dollar: Money Management for High Earners · May 26, 2026 · 3 min
• World of Hyatt Award Chart Changes 2026: What's New and Where to Get the Most Value · May 20, 2026 · 53 min
• How to Travel Without Paying for a Hotel: Inside Home Swapping and Pet Sitting Apps · May 13, 2026 · 1h 9m