Traveling is a great way to clear your mind and have memorable experiences. However, it can be very expensive and can lead you to save and calculate expenses in advance. By finding the time to carefully consider each outing, both for needs and for leisure, you can create a budget designed specifically for your holidays.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Create an Initial Budget
Step 1. Determine what you can afford
Evaluate how much money you have available for the holidays. Keep in mind the expenses you will have to incur upon your return, such as rent, utilities and food. While traveling, you don't have to worry about running out of money when you return.
Step 2. Take advice from friends and family
Ask someone you know if they have ever visited the place you plan to go. While websites and reviews are useful, you can't tell if they are being influenced by local sponsors or other advertisers. Friends and family will give you more personal and reliable advice.
For example, ask how much it costs to eat or what you can do without spending too much money
Step 3. Use the Internet to prepare a budget
There are a number of websites designed for setting a vacation budget. They will let you know what the standard of living of a place is and what expenses you will need to consider.
Try visiting sites like BudgetYourTrip.com, SavingForTravel.com, and IndepdentTraveler.com. Open an account and enter all the information relating to your budget and travel expenses
Part 2 of 4: Calculate the Major Expenses
Step 1. Establish your means of transportation
It can be expensive to travel to your chosen location. Then, determine your travel expenses by plane, train, bus, car rental or ferry. The plane is the choice that allows you to move more quickly, but it can be more expensive than the train, bus or car rental if the distance is not too great. Cruise ships offer the ultimate in luxury and often include multiple stops, but are also the most expensive option.
You can compare flight ticket prices using Google Flights, SkyScanner.com, Expedia, FareCompare.com or Kayak. Before purchasing, always search the Internet to compare prices
Step 2. Consider local transportation
Once you reach your destination, you will need to use local transport to get around. Many people take taxis, share cars with other users, or use buses and the subway to get around. If you have some extra cash, you can travel more easily by hiring a car on the spot.
- Use your favorite search engine to find out about the public transport system in the destination country. Not in all cities you can find the options mentioned.
- Compare car rental prices on SkyScanner.com, Expedia or Kayak. Always search the internet to compare prices before booking.
- If you intend to rent a car, you should also consider the agencies closest to the airport or hotel.
Step 3. Consider the accommodation costs
One of the most important elements of your budget is the overnight stay. Accommodations vary greatly in cost and quality, so be sure to accurately assess your needs and availability in the place you need to go. If you are visiting a tourist destination, you will likely have a wide variety of choices from hotels, motels, resorts and bed & breakfasts.
- Choose a hotel near the tourist attractions you intend to see. It will be more convenient and will save you on transport costs.
- Consider the cost of some amenities, such as in-room television, Internet access, and swimming pools. Also, you should calculate the quality and size of the beds and bathrooms, the availability of air conditioning and breakfast. If you have any questions that are not answered on the website, please call the front desk.
- Check customer reviews on Google and Yelp. Be aware that almost every accommodation facility has excellent and bad reviews on travel sites. Read as much as possible to get a complete idea of the quality of the hotel.
- In some places there are hostels where you can stay overnight by paying little or nothing in exchange for a small manual contribution.
- You can compare hotel prices and features on Expedia and Kayak. You can also use Hotwire, Hotels.com, Priceline, Travelocity, and Agoda. Always search the Internet before booking because each site can charge different prices for the same property.
Step 4. Enter the food costs
Of course, you will need to feed yourself during the holidays, so you will need to calculate your meals. Keep in mind that you will mostly eat out and that expenses can vary greatly from place to place. Use your favorite search engine to find out about restaurant prices.
If you need to save some money on food, consider finding accommodation with a kitchenette or at least a microwave and then cook something simple by shopping
Step 5. Calculate the ancillary expenses
Make sure you always have some money left in your holiday budget. There will likely be some unexpected expense, such as sunscreen or some medication for a sudden malaise.
Step 6. Consider travel insurance
It is stipulated to insure against a series of unforeseen expenses of a certain importance, such as medical treatment not covered by the classic health policy when you are abroad, the loss of luggage, any theft or transport accidents. In some countries, it can be purchased from vending machines at airports or via the Internet.
- Allianz, World Nomads, Travel Guard and InsureMyTrip.com have websites that offer travel insurance that you can choose on your own.
- You can also secure insurance coverage for your trip with a general insurance company. Plus, you have the option to get a discount if you already have car, life or home insurance.
Part 3 of 4: Calculating the Extras
Step 1. Determine the expenses for the visits
It is normal for travelers to want to visit a place. Think about transportation, museum entrances, and other vacation-related costs. Most of the time, monuments, parks and museums are free, but some may require you to pay a ticket. Do your research before you leave so you can include these expenses in your budget as well.
Look for guided tour packages at the destination you have chosen. They can give you the chance to visit the main attractions without breaking the bank
Step 2. Consider entertainment expenses
If you are planning to go to an amusement park, go out at night or see a show, calculate these costs in your budget. You could roughly plan what the daily entertainments will be so that you can do an investigation.
- For example, you can use Yelp and TripAdvisor to find out about the entertainment offered to vacationers at your destination and get an idea of how much you're going to spend.
- Consider becoming a higher level member to enjoy discounts at restaurants and clubs.
Step 3. Consider the gifts and souvenirs
Many tourists buy them for themselves and their loved ones. It is not easy to establish these expenses in advance, so make a budget that you can stick to.
List the people you intend to buy a thought from and try to give each a certain amount
Part 4 of 4: Develop a Plan that Allows You to Meet Your Budget
Step 1. Put some money aside
Traveling can be expensive, so it would be a great idea to develop a more detailed budget.
- You could also save some money on daily expenses so that you have enough cash. Define an amount to set aside for travel expenses and start saving as soon as possible.
- If you need more money to add to your vacation quote, consider finding a part-time or temporary job, such as a babysitter or dog sitter. Look for it on websites like craigslist or indeed.it.
- You can pay for the cost of airfare or travel if you have earned points with a flight company or received travel benefits from your credit card company.
Step 2. Convert your money
If you have to go abroad, you will probably have to change the money into the local currency. Use your favorite search engine to find the country you plan to visit and find out about the local currency. However, many foreign countries accept payment in euros, so you may want to check via the Internet if it also applies to your destination.
Use the site https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/ to determine the exchange rate. Simply enter the amount of money you have foreseen in your budget and change the second box to the currency of the destination country
Step 3. Consider an all-inclusive vacation
There are various agencies that provide all-inclusive vacation packages, allowing you to reduce the costs of certain products and services and easily prepare a quote. They usually include food, accommodation and entertainment, but also entry to amusement parks or guided tours. Generally, the packages are intended for couples, singles and families with children.
