Your Vacation Travel Budget
How to spend your dollars wisely
Budgets: Ugh. Does anyone really like them? But unless your funds are unlimited, you will need to figure out approximately how much money you have available before you can plan a realistic honeymoon .
According to the informal survey on the Honeymoons/Romantic Getaways forum, most couples plan to spend between $2,000-5,000 on their trip. That’s certainly enough to enjoy a great couple of days, or longer, away from home.
On the next page you’ll find a useful vacation budget worksheet , which lists just about every travel expense you might encounter. Use it to determine the approximate cost of your trip — and then you’ll know how much vacation you can afford.
Are there ways to save money and still have a great vacation?
Absolutely! One of the easiest ways to cut costs is on transportation. If you can drive to a nearby destination rather than fly to a distant one, that’s likely to save big bucks.
If you do fly, keep your departure and return dates flexible. Use the calendar-based fare tools on Travelocity and Expedia. They’ll show you the cheapest dates to get to your destination.
Where you go, and the time of year you travel, will also affect the cost. Tropical islands and ski resorts can be frightfully expensive in winter. Europe is jammed in the spring and summer. New England gets booked up fast in fall. Visit these places during the off-seasons, and you’ll save a bundle.
What else?
Taking a cruise or going to an all-inclusive resort are other smart ways to control a budget. You’ll know the entire cost of the trip in advance, and major expenses, from food to lodging to activities, are covered in one rate.
If this is your first trip away from home, you may a) have more money in your pocket than ever before; and b) feel a bit overwhelmed by all the things you can possibly spend it on. You’ll be surprised how fast it goes on things like meals and hotels, so part with it carefully.
Ready to find out what your trip is going to cost?
Want to know how much your next getaway will cost? Use the worksheet below to itemize projected expenses. Leave a blank if you do not require a certain item. If you don’t know an exact amount, estimate. (It’s a good idea to guess on the high side).
Underneath the pink expense work sheet, there’s another one where you can calculate what you can afford to spend. If your vacation-expense total turns out to be less than your income total, great! You’re on your way to planning a fiscally responsible holiday.
EXPENSES
| BEFORE YOU GO… | AMOUNT |
| Wardrobe necessities (see packing) | |
| Luggage and locks | |
| Passport/passport photos | |
| Inoculations/medications | |
| Sundries (suntan lotion, etc.) | |
| Personal care (waxing, etc.) | |
| Extra pair of glasses/ sunglasses/ contacts | |
| Child care/pet care expenses | |
| Camera/ film/ processing | |
| TRAVEL… | |
| If Flying: | |
| Airfare for two | |
| Transportation to and from airport/long-term airport parking | |
| Airport magazines, snacks, etc. (roundtrip) | |
| If Driving: | |
| Gasoline/oil | |
| Tolls | |
| Meals/snacks x number of days on the road | |
| Other Transportation (cab, bus, subway, train, ferry) | |
| AT THE DESTINATION | |
| Room rate x number of nights | |
| Room taxes x number of days | |
| Breakfast for 2 x number of days | |
| Lunch for 2 x number of days | |
| Dinner for 2 x number of days | |
| Beer/wine/alcoholic beverages for 2 | |
| Snacks for 2 x number of days | |
| Tips x number of days | |
| Phone calls/Internet connection | |
| Souvenirs/Gifts/Postcards | |
| Activity fees (golf, horseback riding, spa services) | |
| Equipment rental (snorkel/scuba etc.) | |
| Excursions (sightseeing tours, dinner cruises) | |
| Entertainment (shows, nightclubs, discos, movies, fairs, other admission) | |
| Gambling | |
| Other | |
| EXPENSE TOTAL: |
Can you afford it?
| INCOME | AMOUNT |
|
||
| Savings | ||||
| Gifts of Cash | ||||
| Miscellaneous/ Other Income |
||||
| TOTAL FUNDS: | ||||
If you plan to charge your entire trip on credit cards, know how long it will take you to pay off the bill and finance charges. If you can’t afford a major vacation right now, consider delaying until you can.
Instead, treat yourselves to a romantic weekend getaway — and start putting cash away for an out-of-this-world anniversary trip….
