| . . . By Rental Car
A four-day car rental from the Manchester, N.H., airport. BASE RATE: $171.88 ($42.97 per day)
REFUELING CHARGE: $20.20 ($5.05 per gallon)
CFC: $9 ($2.25 per day)
The CFC, or customer facility charge, varies by location; it's also known as the rental car facility charge and the facility usage fee.
VLF: $6.40 ($1.60 per day)
Not every state lets rental car companies charge a VLF, or vehicle licensing fee, which helps the company recoup the cost of licenses and titles for vehicles. Fees vary from company to company, location to location.
AIRPORT ACCESS FEES: $17.19
This is charged by airports; a.k.a. airport concession fee, concession recovery fee.
MEALS AND RENTAL TAX: $16.36
Goes to New Hampshire government, a.k.a. state tax.
TOTAL: $241.03
OTHER POSSIBLE EXPENSES
Unavoidable when applicable:
Excise taxes: Some state and local governments levy a special tax on rental cars to raise money, often for such projects as the construction of stadiums, convention centers and arts facilities.
Security (for on-site security measures)
Energy recovery (a fuel surcharge)
Customer contract fee (for processing paperwork)
Peak season (leaf-peeping season in New England)
Young driver surcharge (for ages18-24) Optional:
Insurance: Loss damage waiver, supplemental liability protection, personal accident insurance and personal effects coverage might duplicate insurance the renter already has.
Frequent flier surcharge (for using rental cars to earn miles)
Additional drivers
Roadside assistance
Equipment (ski rack, GPS device, child seat) COST-SAVING TIPS
Rent through online travel sites such as Orbitz, Travelocity or Hotwire, which display total cost upfront, or make an online reservation with the car company itself.
Avoid airport fees by renting near your hotel or downtown when possible.
Sidestep refueling charges by fi lling up right before returning the car; use gasbuddy.com or AAA’s Gas Price Finder to find the lowest-priced nearby station.
 | . . . By Cruise Ship
A four-day Carnival cruise, departing Sept. 1, traveling round trip from Miami, with stops in Key West, Fla., and Cozumel, Mexico.
BASE FARE: $180.
CUSTOMS FEE: $1.93
IMMIGRATION TAX: $3
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURE CRUISE-ONLY TAX: $3
PORT CHARGES: $42.56
Each port city charges a fee to cover such costs as security, electricity, water, etc. The port authority and the cruise line determine a rate that each passenger must pay. This figure is not based on the size of the ship or amount the passenger paid for his cabin, so everyone pays the same amount.
NON-COMMISSIONABLE FEES: $148.50
The cruise line does not break out these fees, considering them part of the price of the cruise; the travel agent broke them out because his commission is based on the smaller base fare.
FUEL SURCHARGE: $36
The cruise industry began introducing fuel surcharges last year to defray rising oil costs. The amount varies per cruise line; Carnival charges $9 a day.
TOTAL: $414.99
OTHER POSSIBLE EXPENSES
Gratuities: Expect to pay about $10 a day per person. The breakdown:
$5.50 per day for the waiter and assistant waiter; $1 per day
waiters/cooks in the bistro (alternative dining); $3.50 for the cabin
steward. Some cruisers also tip the maitre d' and other helpful crew
members.
Beverages: Drinks, both alcoholic and
some booze-free, are additional. A 15 percent gratuity is automatically tacked on.
Shore excursions: Any activity off the boat will cost you; tours start at $14.
Onboard classes: The main amenities such as the fitness center and evening shows are free. However, guests pay extra for special classes, such as yoga, aerobics, kickboxing and cycle spinning ($10 per person per session), and spa treatments (e.g., a Swedish massage costs $72 for 25 minutes, $109 for 50 minutes).
Internet: 75 cents per minute; $16.50 for a 30-minute package (55 cents per minute); $24 for a 60-minute package (40 cents per minute). COST-SAVING TIPS
For land excursions, book through an independent operator, not the ship's activities desk. Wait for the ship to dock and go online at the port, at a nearby cyber café. BYOBeverages: Applies generally; in this case, each guest can bring onboard one bottle of wine or champagne at the beginning of the cruise, as well as a small amount of nonalcoholic drinks. Beverages can be stored in coolers no larger than 12-by-12-by-12. | . . . By Hotel Room
One night’s stay at the Library Hotel in
midtown Manhattan last winter.
BASE PRICE: $339
STATE TAX (8.375%): $28.39
CITY TAX (5%) and OCCUPANCY TAX ($2): $18.95
These are what’s called the “bed tax.”
STATE HOTEL UNIT FEE: $1.50
Finances renovations to the Jacob K. Javits
Convention Center.
TOTAL: $387.84
OTHER POSSIBLE EXPENSES
Gratuities: $2 or more per day for housekeeping, $1 or $2 per bag for the porter, $5-$20 for concierge services, $5 for room service, $2-$5 for parking attendant.
Housekeeping/bellhop: Additional fees are sometimes added to your bill.
Resort fee (sometimes tacked on at properties with gyms, swimming pools, etc.)
In-room safe
Luggage holding
Telephone use: For in-room calls; some hotels even
charge for toll-free calls or for picking up the receiver.
Internet
Mini-bar: Motion sensors in fridges can add charges for just opening the door.
Parking
Package delivery
Laundry/dry cleaning
Cancellation or early departure
COST-SAVING TIPS
Ask about resort fees, automatic housekeeping tips and other charges when booking. Such add-ons may persuade you to spend the night somewhere else. Use a cellphone instead of the room phone. Have packages delivered to a nearby shipping office (like FedEx) instead of to the hotel. Find a nearby WiFi hot spot or Internet cafe
instead of paying for Web access at the hotel. Skip the mini-bar items, and avoid opening the fridge. Store cold items in the ice bucket, or be prepared to contest mini-bar charges if you do use the fridge. Allow yourself extra time at checkout to examine your bill and ask about any unclear charges. 
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