Do you want to travel the world on a budget? Planning is necessary for your holidays on a budge. From airfares to subway tickets and street snacks, you have to plan everything. Budgeting early is essential to plan your holidays. You have to figure out your accommodation, meals and transportation costs. Consider buying a travel insurance policy after planning your trip. With an insurance policy, you can cover medical emergencies and unexpected events. Here are some tips for planning your holidays on a budget.
Start with Budgeting
Budgeting should be the initial phase of planning to avoid a massive blowout of money. Start it with a spreadsheet to keep everything smooth. Add different columns for expenses. It will help you to understand the difference between actual spending and your budget. You should add a column for notes at the end of every item.
After preparing your spreadsheet, start your research about costs and add them in the sheet. Make flexible decisions while selecting airlines, suppliers and hotels.
Transportation Cost
You have to deal with different transportation costs, such as booking for holidays. Think car hire, airfares, gas, tickets, rail/bust, public transport or transfers. To reach your destination, choose an economical option. You own vehicle can help you to drive easily.
To travel overseas, you have to compare the airfares of different flights. Travel with an airline with affordable prices to save money. You should have information about car hire, bus/rail, and public transport. Compare their fares to choose an affordable and convenient option.
Accommodation Plans
Lodging may be a significant part of your budget based on your stay. You have to select the type of accommodation for your convenience, such as apartment rentals, guesthouses, hostels or hotels. See the prices for areas you want to visit. Make sure to multiply the nights while calculating the total cost of accommodation. Remember, you can’t choose an exact place to stay. You will only get an idea of lodging costs in your travel destination.
Make Eating Plans
You can’t live without food; therefore, you have to do your research to estimate your expense for food. Consider your travel destination before preparing a budget for food. If you want to travel to New Zealand, Australia or Europe, eating out may cost you the same as Canada or the US. In Southeast Asia or South America, eating out can be cheaper in several cases.
It can be difficult to specify the exact number of foods. Use your judgment for a travel destination. In Europe, the cost of lunch per person is the US $15 per day. For dinner, you have to pay almost US $20 per day for one person. Add a few extra dollars for soda or water bottle during the day. Alcohol is not included in this cost. Try to eat at less expensive places to save money.
For a tight food budget, check for guesthouses or hotels that may offer breakfast. Consider affordable apartment rentals to get a kitchen to make your food. You can save money by purchasing groceries and cooking food a few times.
Enjoy Numerous Activities
Plan your budget for different activities on your vacation. You can visit ruins, parks, museums, and various other attractions. Don’t miss any attraction without an entrance fee. If you want to be a part of expensive activities, such as a ride in a hot air balloon or scuba diving, you must have a separate budget for these activities. Add their expenses in your travel costs to make an overall budget.
For shopping, you must have extra money. A few postcards can’t affect your budget, but fashion shopping can break your bank. Avoid expensive shopping if you have a tight budget. While traveling, try to track your spending. It will help you to stay on budget, and even you can save money. Sometimes, you may underestimate your expenditure on food and other activities. Your iPhone can help you to track your expenditure.
Meet locals to find out their cheap places to eat. They will guide you about public transport and car rental services. Feel free to eat street food or visit a sit-down restaurant to save money. Sometimes, you can get better food items from street vendors than a fancy restaurant.
