Traveling is a great way to clear your mind and create memorable experiences. However, travel can be expensive and may require you to save up and budget for your trip. By taking the time to consider your costs, both for necessities and for leisure, you will have a working budget ready for your trip.
Let’s be honest, it is hard to budget for anything. If you’re still in the planning stage, a travel budget will help you make a more realistic travel plan. If you are just saving for a trip, a travel budget will act as a guide to set a realistic savings goal. And, if you’re ready to take off, a travel budget will help you make the best spending choices on the go.
Daydreams of sailing down a Venetian canal, overlooking the city of Dubai from the Burj Khalifa, laying on the beach in Bali or peering down on the city of Paris from the Eiffel Tower are all incentives that can make budgeting a little easier.
You should remember that your travel budget is a guide and not a restrictive set of rules. Remember you are going to estimate things on the information you have on hand. And most of all do not look at your budget as gospel, it must be flexible.
Break down your budget into monthly goals
Think small to dream big by breaking down your goal into monthly increments. At Colesville Travel we offer you the option of putting down an initial deposit. The initial deposit usually ranges from about $300 to $450 per person depending on the destination. The remaining costs will be bundled into automatic payments each month.
Plan ahead
If you book your trip further in advance your monthly deposits will be less. This may sound obvious but can be a hard rule to follow when wanderlust strikes. I recommend you spend the time deciding and reserving your dream trip about a year (or more) in advance. This will make your budgeting stress-free and your monthly amount less. In the meantime, satisfy your need to travel with a few weekend trips or day trips around your hometown.
Travel off-season for better rates
Traveling off season is one of the best-kept secrets in the travel industry. Traveling off season means fewer crowds, seasonal festivals, better rates at hotels, lower airfares, and other benefits.
Make budgeting fun and part of your routine
If you are an avid traveler, and traveling is part of your lifestyle, there are probably other aspects of your daily life that you are passionate about. Try linking a favorite activity to travel savings. For example, if you go for a run, try a new recipe, lose a couple of pounds, go to an exercise class, put $10 into your travel budget account. Before you know it, you will have a sizeable amount in your account. It will be a win-win situation.
Spending on your trip
Before you leave for your trip, set a budget for your daily spending. How will you get around? Will you take public transportation or private taxis? Have you considered the cost of food in your destination? Have you thought about the cost of sight-seeing? What about nightlife? Do you want to go to a show or an amusement park?
Purchasing gifts and souvenirs are also a huge part of travel. More often than not we like to bring back a little something for ourselves and our friends while on vacation Make sure you budget for things that you want to buy while on vacation.
Sightseeing on vacation
Most of the tours booked by Colesville Travel include all your tours. Including your tours in advance is the most cost-efficient way to go on vacation and to ensure that you see all the sights.
Plan for emergencies
Make sure you budget for emergencies, unforeseen circumstances, and impromptu events.
Set a realistic budget
Coming up with a realistic travel budget is the first and basic step towards planning a great vacation. It gives you a clear idea of what you’ll be able to afford, sets guidelines for how much you need to save, and lets you be in full control of your money.
It’s your turn
Do you create a budget for travel? Do you have any tips for a financial stress-free vacation? We would love to know.
Share your ideas, thoughts and suggestions with us in the comments section below.
In the meantime, stay inspired
Cindy