| When traveling internationally, there is nothing more | | | | Airport departure fees range in amount and can be |
| annoying than those pesky airport taxes. An | | | | anywhere from just a few bills of the local currency |
| easily-forgettable afterthought, airport taxes are fees | | | | to over $100 USD, as is the case for North American |
| charged to travelers, usually departing, for "use of | | | | and Australian travelers to Argentina, who must pay |
| the airport" or some other such nonsense. Although, | | | | a "reciprocity fee". This tax is the equivalent of what |
| in the olden days, most international airports had silly | | | | Argentine citizens must pay for a visa to their |
| little kiosks where one had to queue up to pay the | | | | country. So, in the case of Americans traveling to |
| price and retain a ticket to prove they'd paid their | | | | Argentina or Chile, they must pay $131 - the same |
| way out, most have now converted to a system | | | | price that Argentine and Chilean travelers must pay |
| where these taxes are included in the price of your | | | | for a visa to the United States. |
| airfare. Now only a few countries around the world | | | | If you are unsure about whether or not a departure |
| still utilize those obnoxious airport tax kiosks that can | | | | tax is in use in the country that you're traveling to, |
| really put a damper on the last few minutes of your | | | | be sure to check online for country-specific |
| trip. | | | | information about airport fees. Travel Nation has also |
| Airport taxes, also known as departure taxes or | | | | compiled a useful list of countries where you must |
| entry taxes, are essentially a way for countries | | | | still pay an airport tax in person, but bear in mind that |
| around the world to exploit travelers for those last | | | | fee amounts and general tax practices are subject to |
| few bits of cash. Since most countries now use the | | | | change, so it's best to check with the U.S. |
| airfare-inclusive system, it is easy to forget about | | | | Department of State's Country Specific Information |
| these taxes when traveling in a country where you | | | | sheets for the most up-to-date info about departure |
| must still pay them at a kiosk in the airport. | | | | taxes. |