Here's How I Easily Covered an Unexpected $400 Travel Expense -- and You Can Too

Updated - First published on Oct. 5, 2023

Natasha Etzel

By: Natasha Etzel

Writer

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KEY POINTS

  • Sometimes, a trip can unexpectedly become more expensive than planned. 
  • Having to book an additional hotel stay is not an ideal situation to be in, but if you have savings set aside, you may feel less financial stress. 
  • Regularly setting aside money for unexpected expenses is an excellent way to prepare financially for situations like this.

Travel doesn't always go as planned. Even if you're a good planner who is well organized, sometimes the unexpected happens. I recently took a two-week trip around Europe and had an incredible time. But I did experience a hiccup at the start of my adventure. 

I found myself needing to pay for an additional $400 travel expense. The good news is I was prepared to cover the expense. Find out how I handled the extra cost with minimal stress and discover what you can do to prepare yourself for unexpected expenses like this. 

Here's how I ended up with an extra $400 travel expense 

Travel is a big passion of mine, and I've traveled to many destinations around the globe. While I've stayed in some hotels that weren't amazing, I have never stayed in a hotel that was not as described, to the point of being uncomfortable. Until recently, that is. 

For the start of my trip, I had pre-booked four nights at a boutique four-star hotel and paid for my stay with a travel credit card before arriving. The hotel room was refundable up until 48 hours before check-in. Since I intended to stay there, I didn't cancel the reservation.

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After arriving and checking in, I quickly realized it wouldn't be a comfortable experience. For starters, the hotel walls were thin, so I could hear other hotel guests. During the first night, I listened to other hotel guests talking and laughing well past midnight. 

The bed was also uncomfortable. The sheets were very scratchy, and while the bed had four pillows, each pillow had almost no stuffing. I tried to sleep by pilling them up into a pillow tower but soon realized getting comfortable with the provided pillows would prove difficult. 

The room had air conditioning, but it was hard to control the temperature, so I had to get up and make frequent adjustments. All these factors led to an uncomfortable stay, and I got almost no sleep. After two upsetting nights, I knew it would be best to leave. 

I had two more nights booked there and didn't want the lack of sleep to ruin that entire portion of my trip. I packed up all my belongings and spent a few minutes researching hotel alternatives. I found another four-star hotel with excellent reviews about a 10-minute walk away. I booked it and hoped for the best. 

I'm happy to report that the second hotel was amazing. It was as advertised -- maybe even nicer than advertised. The staff was terrific, and the room and bed were very comfortable. They even had a pillow menu -- which, after the previous two evenings, felt like a dream. 

My savings account saved the day 

While having to pay an additional $400 to book another hotel stay wasn't ideal -- I quickly got over the moment of sadness while swiping my credit card at check-in. That's because I knew I was prepared financially for a situation like this. 

Throughout the year, I regularly set aside money for travel. When the time comes to take a trip, I reimburse myself for travel costs like flights and hotel stays by using the money I have set aside in my savings account. 

Plus, I save for unexpected expenses. If a surprise bill or expense comes my way, I feel less upset because I have money saved. Because I follow this personal finance strategy, I already had money to cover the additional $400 surprise travel cost.

Here's how I stay on top of my savings goals: I automate the savings process through my bank. Money is automatically transferred from my checking account to my savings account bi-weekly. Doing this ensures I don't forget to save money regularly. 

Whether you're looking to prepare for unexpected travel costs, vet bills, or home repair expenses, following a similar saving strategy can be beneficial. If you ever find yourself with an unexpected additional expense, you'll be glad you have the money already saved. 

Don't forget to keep your savings in a bank account that earns interest. Need a savings account? Check out our list of the best high-yield savings accounts to learn more.  

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Natasha Etzel
Natasha Etzel

Natasha is a freelance writer who specializes in personal finance, credit card, credit card rewards, and travel hacking content.