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The 12 Best Budgeting Apps for Travelers

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Ashley Rossi

Ashley Rossi is always ready for her next trip. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram for travel tips, destination ideas, and off the beaten path spots.

After interning at SmarterTravel, Ashley joined the team full time in 2015. She's lived on three continents, but still never knows where her next adventure will take her. She's always searching for upcoming destination hotspots, secluded retreats, and hidden gems to share with the world.

Ashley's stories have been featured online on USA Today, Business Insider, TripAdvisor, Huffington Post, Jetsetter, and Yahoo! Travel, as well as other publications.

The Handy Item I Always Pack : "A reusable filtered water bottle—it saves you money, keeps you hydrated, and eliminates waste—win-win."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience : "A week in a bamboo beach hut on India's Andaman Islands."

Travel Motto : "Travel light, often, and in good company."

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat : "Window—best view in the house."

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While you’re stuck daydreaming about your next bucket-list vacation, why don’t you get a hold of your finances and make it a reality by first budgeting out your travel expenses? Whether it’s a road trip or international vacation that you’re planning, easily forgettable items like parking fees can add up. That’s why you should use a travel-specific budgeting app to help streamline your costs on your next trip. Here are 12 budget apps to help you plan your expenses.

PocketGuard

PocketGuard App

Link all of your financial accounts and cards to this app, and it will automatically update and categorize your spending in real time. It then tells you what spending money you have with the “in my pocket” feature. It also automatically builds you a spending budget based on income, bills, and the goals you set. It even finds ways to lower some of your monthly bills for you … sign us up.

Download: iOS | Google Play

Tripcoin

Tripcoin lets you enter in your expenses per day and even works offline. It then processes your spending to give you a spending summary of your trip, which you can export for other uses. This lets you see how much you’re spending on each category of your trip, broken down by day, so you can monitor your vacation expenses in real time.

Download: iOS

9 Sneaky Travel Costs You Might Forget to Budget For

Trip Expense Manager

Trip Expense Manager

The Trip Expense Manager app is ideal for large traveling groups that need help planning and monitoring travel expenses. For each trip you take, you can add Google users, a list of places to go, and expenses, and even mark who paid which bill.

Download: Google Play

TravelSpend

TravelSpend

I love TravelSpend for its easy-to-use features and simple design. How it works: You add expenses as they happen (the app works offline and even converts foreign currencies) and the app tracks your spending by total and by day. You can even follow your spending on a map throughout your vacation.

wally app screenshot

Wally connects to your current financial accounts and tracks your spending so you can get a handle on your cash flow and spending by category. Wally is useful because unlike some of the other budgeting apps, it lets you use private groups for managing trip spending or other budgets. You can even add reminders, notes, lists, documents, and comments.

TripMate

Users love TripMate for its simplicity and easy-to-use features, plus it’s all free. This travel expense tracker app lets you create a trip and then add and remove users as needed. You can add expenses, receive a personalized summary, and even get hotel, and other booking-related information.

Trail Wallet

trail wallet travel budget app

If you’re looking for a travel-specific budget tool and expense tracker, this is your best bet. Input your expenses into Trail Wallet and the app will split them up based on category so you can get a closer look at your spending. Note that only the first 25 items you enter are free.

11 Budget Travel Lies You Should Stop Believing Right Now

Tricount

This travel expense app makes splitting costs a breeze. Simply invite your travel partners to the trip you’ve created on the app, and each person can enter in his or her expenses. Once the trip is over (and all expenses have been entered) you can see who owes whom what amount.

Splitwise

Splitwise is another useful cost-tracking platform that easily lets you split group expenses while traveling. You can split by percentage or shares, and it’s even available in offline mode. It’s great for international trips, too, as the app is available in seven languages and over 100 currencies. Plus, it’s integrated with Venmo and PayPal for easy payback.

travel planning and travel expenses

Mint is so much more than just a travel expense app—it connects with all of your bank accounts to give you an overall summary of your cash flow. You can then easily create a budget for different categories, like saving for a vacation.

30 Essential Non-Travel Apps for Travelers

The Bach

For those who have been involved in the planning of a bachelor or bachelorette party, you know the trials and tribulations that come with splitting large group expenses. This app was created specifically for those organizing large group trips and includes building an itinerary, polls, and chat features as well as ways to track payments and bar tabs within your group.

YNAB (You Need a Budget)

YNAB (You Need a Budget) is a popular software used for budgeting. While it’s slightly pricey ($84 annually), the positive reviews are endless. On the app version, you can set savings goals and itemize your vaca expenses. There is a free 34-day trial to get you started.

More from SmarterTravel:

  • Single Travel: Essential Tips for Planning a Solo Trip
  • 5 Ways to Stay Sane When Planning a Trip with Friends
  • The 7 Best Trip Planner Apps for Travelers

Ashley Rossi is always ready for her next trip. Follow her on  Twitter   and  Instagram   for travel tips, destination ideas, and off the beaten path spots.

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How to Budget for a Trip: The Easiest Travel Budgeting Method (+ Tips!)

Here’s a silly secret: I love budgeting travel… and I also think that most guides to creating a travel budget make it entirely too complicated.

I initially wrote this guide on how to budget for a trip almost 7 years ago, when we were prepping for what we were then calling a 6 month round the world trip (spoiler: depending on your definition of “trip”, it never actually ended).

50+ countries and the better part of a decade later, I’m still using the exact same, simple formula for calculating our budget while traveling–even if our definition of “on a budget” has changed over the years.

Planning to hit the road soon and wondering how much money you need for your trip?

Whether you’re headed off on a 2-week Europe trip or you’re planning to live out of a backpack for years like we did, our simple method for budgeting travel expenses has you covered.

Here’s the travel budget strategy that we swear by to this day!

Table of Contents

Our Formula for Creating a Travel Budget

Why we like this travel budgeting system, example of how to budget for a trip, tips for travel budgeting, planning a trip.

Kate and Jeremy Storm standing on the edge of a Mayan pyramid in Becan Mexico, facing each other

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Here’s our incredible simple calculation for travel expenses:

(Money Saved – Major Expenses) / Number of Days Traveling = D aily Budget

That’s it–simple, easy to remember, and allows you to easily translate your savings from a pile of money into an actual travel budget.

Some long term travelers prefer to divide by the number of weeks instead of the number of days, on the premise that some days you may blow a large amount, and then have cheaper days to make up for it.

While that is 100% true and Jeremy and I definitely balance expensive days with inexpensive ones, I still prefer to think in terms of days.

In my experience, smaller numbers tend to be more easily tracked, and are less overwhelming as a result.

kate storm and jeremy storm in front of great pyramid giza

How to Define Major Travel Expenses

“Major expenses” can be somewhat of an ambiguous term, but I tend to use this for pricey plane tickets, travel insurance, and large monthly bills that you’re still responsible for during your trip (say, a car payment or health insurance). 

If you’re headed to any destinations that require a visa, be sure to include those costs as well!

For shorter trips, I also like to include lodging and certain cheaper transportation costs (night trains, budget airline flights, rental cars) here, but for long-term travel, that’s obviously not practical.

The point of the major expenses category is simply to remove the money that is allocated for specific expenses from play before determining how much you have to spend.

This is to avoid either a) running around feeling like you have more money than you do and overspending or b) anxiously fretting about the upcoming expense (like a plane ticket home) and saying no to things that you want to do because you’re needlessly stressed about not having enough money.

oia santorini as seen from above--travel budgeting is essential for making the most of greece

Personally, we’re much more likely to do the second.

Looking back on almost 7 years of travel, I can now definitively say that there have been more experiences than we’ve said no to when we should have jumped at the opportunity than times we splurged on an experience that wasn’t worth deducting from our calculated travel budget.

Luckily, thanks to this travel budgeting system, those experiences have been few and far between.

kate storm jeremy storm and ranger storm on a balcony overlooking matera on a southern italy itinerary

For us, this method of creating a travel budget works perfectly.

Thanks to careful tracking, we have never overspent on a trip, and we’ve also never worried much about money during our travels.

The worst that will happen is that we have a couple of pricey days in a row and follow it up with a day of inexpensive hiking or laying on the beach to make up for it (hardly a tragedy).

While I tend to track our daily expenses via mental estimates, I will write out cash expenses daily and credit card/more easily tracked expenses a couple of times a week–yes, even 7 years later.

It may seem like a drag, but 10 minutes of work can relieve a lot of stress and fear of the unknown that can come with just letting your money slip to the back of your mind.

(At least, it will be in the back of your mind until you start panicking over the thought of where your checking account balance might be when trying to fall asleep at night!).

boulders beach in south africa--travel budgeting was essential to experiencing these penguins

Let’s say that a couple traveling is traveling to Paris from the USA for one week, and wants to calculate their travel budget.

In the interest of not searching too deeply for a pretend trip, I’ll say they buy the first flights they search for don’t stress about that too much. They’re also cautious and want travel insurance for their trip.

Our pretend couple has a $4000 travel budget, in total.

Major Travel Expenses for Our Mock Paris Trip

Round-Trip Flights to Paris: $2000

Travel Insurance : $150 

Hotel Room, $130/night for 7 nights: $910

($4000 total budget – $3060 major expenses) / 7 days = $134.28/day to spend, or $67.14/per person, per day.

selfie of kate storm and jeremy storm after climb the arc de triomphe paris with eiffel tower in the background

I would round those down to $134 or $67, both for the ease of math and to build in a slightly conservative slant to the budget.

This would need to cover activities/tours, souvenirs/shopping, transportation while in Paris, and food/drinks.

That’s not only doable but completely comfortable in Paris, as long as our pretend couple is not hoping for luxury travel.

interior of sainte-chapelle in paris -- learning how to budget for a trip helped us experience this for the first time

Know what’s worth it to you.

If you’re a major foodie, skimping on dining probably isn’t going to work for you–and if you’re a SCUBA lover, suggesting you limit dives on a beach trip may sound miserable.

Whatever your priorities are, focus on those and skimp on other areas, instead–even if other travelers consider the things you skip to be must-see sights.

Check in on your budget regularly.

Even if you don’t check in daily, be sure to track your budget at least every few days.

This will help keep you from blowing off course in either direction and also relieve any anxiety you have about not knowing the status of your budget.

Kate Storm looking toward San Marco Campanile from Scala Contarini del Bovolo, which is an excellent place to visit during 2 days in Venice

Remember that traveling on a budget doesn’t mean having less fun!

Some of our favorite travel experiences cost little to nothing.

Browsing local markets, enjoying a beach day, going for a hike, wandering aimlessly through cities, sampling street food, and more all make for wonderful and incredibly memorable travel days.

Travel budgeting can be daunting when you get started, but once you get used to it, it enhances, rather than detracts from your experiences.

Not only are there wonderful travel experiences to be had at all budgets, but knowing where you are in your trip financially is much less stressful than constantly worrying that you’re over your travel budget… without having the concrete data to confirm either way.

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2 budgeting travel photos: a woman writing a travel budget on a notebook and a woman in the caribbean wearing a sunhat. black and pink text on a white background reads "how to create a travel budget"

About Kate Storm

Image of the author, Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

11 thoughts on “How to Budget for a Trip: The Easiest Travel Budgeting Method (+ Tips!)”

Excellent post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed!

Extremely useful information specifically the last part 🙂 I care for such info a lot. I was looking for this particular information for a long time. Thank you and good luck.

Thank you! Appreciate you stopping by! 🙂

bookmarked!!, I love your site!

Another small thing to consider would be to convert your daily budget amount to local currency.

Great point, thanks for stopping by! 🙂

This is by far the best travel blog I have come across. Thank you!!!

So happy to hear that, DeElla!

Great info!

Good info. Thanks we will be traveling Italy for 28 days. The last 7 we are staying with friends. We don’t want to rent a car but use trains between towns and subway/buses in the cities. How do I budget for that? Are there month long passes for each? Excluding airfare we have $7000 food/transportation/entrance fees. Does that sound doable? We are flying into Rome, then Florence and take day trips from there, then ending up in Ugento. Any recommendations?

Thanks, Brenda!

You can definitely get around Italy without a car, that’s not a problem at all. $7000 for for 28 days on the ground also sounds reasonable (I’m assuming you’re traveling as a couple).

Trenitalia does have a monthly pass of sorts for trains, similar to the Eurail pass but for Italy only. However, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it without knowing your schedule. Most likely, booking each leg individually is fine.

For short distances in rural areas that you travel by bus, you won’t need online tickets or anything like that. Same for any “local” trains you take, like the slow train between Florence and Bologna. You can buy those tickets step by step as you go, as the prices are set.

Where the prices get higher and you’ll need to budget in advance is for the high-speed train routes around Italy, like from Florence to Lecce, for example. Those trains have dynamic pricing, so if you can book your tickets in advance, you’ll both spend less and be able to budget more easily.

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How to Make a Travel Budget in 2023 [Free Template]

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How to Make a Travel Budget in 2023 [Free Template]

Table of Contents

Can you afford to travel, the 2 approaches to travel budgets, travel budget template worksheet, travel budget considerations, websites to help research travel costs, the best apps for travel budgets and expense tracking, saving for your vacation, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Creating a travel budget isn’t all about boring spreadsheets and searching for low budget bargains — a finely-crafted budget it is designed to maximize your total travel experience.

Let’s start out easy here. You may have dreams of globetrotting and living your best life in distant lands, but can you actually afford it?

The amount you have to spend on your trip will need to be proportionate to the place you are visiting. By that, we mean that some destinations can be done on the cheap, while others will be a bit more of an investment.

Where you want to stay, what you intend to do when you get there, and physically how far away you will be from home can all have a considerable bearing on how deep your pockets will need to be.

Before you book yourself silly, really break down the potential costs of your dream trip and tally it up with the amount of money you will realistically have to fund it.

Bottom Line: Sometimes, it may be better to put your plans on hold until you have saved up enough cash to really experience a place, rather than rushing to get there and missing out on some of the best bits.

Whether you are a plan-well-in-advance sort of traveler or more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of person, there are different ways to approach setting out your budget based on what works best for you.

Plan Your Adventure Well in Advance

The most traditional way to book a vacation is to think of somewhere you want to go, plan your vacation dates, and decide how long you want to stay. This kind of advanced planning is the usual go-to for most travelers, as it allows you to book time off of work or plan trips around school semesters, and gives you the opportunity to firm up plans before you leave.

Knowing when and where you are going also has another key advantage — it gives you plenty of time to save up all the cash you will need to really enjoy your time there. Booking in advance also means you get your choice of cheaper accommodation at better rates.

Book months in advance and you can research your planned itinerary and potential expenditure, and maybe even save enough extra for upgrades of luxuries to make your adventure truly special. This kind of planning is a great incentive for saving hard.

Travel Based on Your Bank Balance

If, on the other hand, you want to take your cash and get the hell out of dodge, you can work backward to identify the most amount of fun you can have for your money. If you are feeling lucky, and you know how much you are willing to spend, the world really is your oyster.

The awesome power of the internet has made impulse traveling even easier, as you can simply hit up any number of booking sites to find an exciting destination, as well as suitable flights, accommodation, and excursions in just a few clicks.

Another great way to make your budget go further is to think outside the box. Visiting popular destinations out of season, taking shorter vacation times, or even looking at places away from the main tourist trail can all make your money go further.

A trip to the legendary Yosemite National Park during April or May, for example, is a great way to experience some of the most iconic open spaces in America before the schools let out, or hit the beaches of Miami or the Florida Keys during September and October when tourists shy away from the increased risk of stormy weather.

You can also look at alternatives to the more traditional resort destinations to get more bang for your buck. Consider a trip to Reno instead of Las Vegas, hit the slopes in Winter Park instead of the sky-high prices in Vail, or take in the history of Williamsburg and avoid the price tags of New York or Los Angeles on your next city break.

Globe on Desk with Travel Money

To help you plan and keep track of your travel budget we have created a free, handy Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

📋  Click to Download Our Travel Budget Template >  📋

When planning your travel budget, there are lots of different things to consider. Break down your budget into subsections to make it easier to plan and stick to:

Passport and Visas

One of the most essential elements of your travel plan will revolve around the legal and local requirements for travel to and from your destination. You must research any visa requirements and restrictions before you fly, and be sure to have all the documentation you need before you leave.

Most countries will have their own individual and very specific entry requirements, and there may be restrictions on how much local currency you can bring with you, as well as how long you can stay.

As a very rough guide, some examples of the requirements for U.S. citizens could include:

  • Travel to Europe — If you are traveling to or through any of the main 26 European countries, you must know the requirements of the Schengen Agreement, which eliminates borders and assumes that travelers will be able to enjoy up to 3-months of visa-free travel. This will change in January 2021 with the introduction of the ETIAS .
  • Travel to Australia — You must have a valid U.S. passport and an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) to enjoy up to 90 days of travel in Australia.
  • Travel to Central America — You will not need a visa to visit most Central American countries, but you may need a tourist card for some destinations (~$10) to allow stays of up to 90 days visa-free.
  • Travel To South Africa — You must have a valid U.S. passport, but do not need a visa for stays of 30 days or less.

Check out our guide to tourist visa information on over 100 countries.

Travel Insurance

There are many great reasons why you should always buy travel insurance coverage for your trips overseas, and only 1 reason not to. Trust us. If the worst should happen while you are away, you will wish you hadn’t tried to save money by skipping on the insurance, so make sure you always make space for travel insurance in your travel budget .

The best travel insurance policy does not necessarily have to be the most expensive one you find, but it probably won’t be the cheapest either. With this in mind, shop around and speak to a variety of providers before committing to any 1 product.

There will be different levels of coverage available to suit the requirements of every type of traveler, from lone backpackers to family vacations, but at the very least you should try to include:

  • Emergency medical expenses
  • Repatriation expenses
  • Cancellation or curtailment coverage
  • Lost baggage coverage
  • Travel delay/missed departure coverage
  • Journey disruption coverage
  • Personal liability coverage
  • Legal expenses coverage
  • Electronics loss/theft and damage coverage

Depending on where you go, what you’ll be doing, and the nature of your trip, you may want to also consider dedicated financial protection that could include specific coverage for:

  • Winter sports coverage
  • Terrorism disruption coverage
  • Cruise coverage
  • Business coverage
  • Sports equipment coverage

It is important to remember that the domestic health insurance that you use at home will not necessarily cover you if you get into medical trouble overseas . Don’t leave it to chance — invest wisely in your travel insurance and never skimp on the coverage just to save yourself a few bucks before you go.

You should also look into insurance coverage for your prized electrical items and personal belongings, too . While we would recommend leaving the diamonds at home, unless you are going somewhere exceptionally glamorous, many of us will take expensive electronics with us everywhere we go.

Find coverage that offers repairs or replacement for damaged, broken, lost, or stolen items before you go.

Hot Tip: There are some credit cards with travel insurance , so you might already have some coverage without knowing it!

map of world syringe vaccination

Vaccinations

Some parts of the world pose more of a risk to our health than others. By ensuring that you have all the travel vaccinations you need before you go, you can reduce the risk of developing serious diseases that your immune system may not be used to.

You can pretty much be vaccinated against all of the world’s most common communicable diseases at your local doctor’s office, health care center, or health department, and there will be medical professionals who will be able to provide you with useful information for your trip.

You will need to do your own research before you travel and speak to healthcare providers about the risks. But, as a rough guide to keep in mind when planning your travel budget, here are some of the most common travel vaccinations and their approximate costs:

  • Cholera — A single-dose oral vaccine costs around $45.
  • Hepatitis A — A single-dose vaccine costs around $115.
  • Japanese Encephalitis — 2 doses given 4 weeks apart costs around $290 per injection.
  • Meningococcal Disease — This single-dose vaccine is recommended from pre-teenage years and costs around $135.
  • Rabies — A series of 3 or 4 injections into the muscles over the course of 4 weeks costs around $3000 for the entire course.
  • Typhoid Fever — A single oral dose for anyone over 6 years old costs around $60.
  • Yellow Fever — This vaccine is not stocked everywhere, but if you can find a clinic that offers it, you will need a single shot costing as much as $350.
  • Malaria — There is no single vaccine, but antimalarial tablets can be taken to reduce the risk of contracting the disease by 90%. These may need to be taken as far as 3 months in advance and can cost anything from $20 a pack up to $260 per pack.

Clothes, Gear, and Toiletries

What you need to take with you will depend very much on where you headed. Whether you choose to travel light or max out your luggage allowance is up to you, but there are plenty of ways to help keep costs down when it comes to packing for your next adventure.

Compile a Capsule Wardrobe

Travel guides always bang on about the legendary “capsule wardrobe” — but it literally is a real thing. By taking 7 or 8 items of clothing with you that can be worn in a variety of ways you can dress for days at a time without worrying about overfilling your luggage or maxing out your travel budget.

Choose 2 pants, skirts or jeans, 3 tops, 1 sweater, 1 dress or a smart shirt and a coat or jacket, and you should be pretty much good to go. Throw in beachwear, sports gear, or thermals as-needed and some socks and underwear to see yourself sorted for the duration of your stay.

Another way to keep costs down is to avoid buying new stuff for every vacation . Your favorite bikini, flip flops, party dress, or even hoodie should be shown off time and time again, so never feel the need to replace your vacation clothing unless you really need to.

Here are some destination-specific packing lists:

  • Beach Vacation Packing List
  • Cruise Vacation Packing List
  • Disney Vacation Packing List

If you want to take your travel camera with you, your GoPro for awesome live video, your phone, tablet, laptop, headphones , or any other bits of kit — think carefully about whether or not you really need it.

Taking more expensive gear with you increases the risk of stuff getting lost, broken, or stolen, as well as weighing your luggage down and tying you to charging ports and electrical sockets.

Keeping Clean

Most people like to have their favorite toiletries with them, but save money and space in your luggage by not taking full-size products.

You needn’t even worry about wasting money on cute little travel size products either. Simply decant your full-size bottles and pots into smaller travel containers instead . This is super easy to do, meets with TSA regulations, and saves you a few dollars here and there.

Alternatively, buy what you need when you arrive. Most destinations and airports will have plenty of shops to choose from. One area where you shouldn’t cut costs, however, is sunscreen. Buy the best you can, ideally from a trusted brand, before you leave.

Finally, check if the airline you are using charges extra for checked baggage and if so, see if you can get away with just a carry-on case instead.

The amount you pay for your flights will vary widely depending on a wide number of variants, including:

  • Your destination
  • Who you choose to fly with
  • Whether you fly direct
  • Whether you fly return or one-way
  • The day of the week and time of day that you fly, and even the time of year
  • Where you fly from
  • When you book

There are many different ways to fly around the skies, but here are some ways to bag cheaper flights :

  • Use Points and Miles — If you aren’t accumulating points to fly, read this beginner’s guide to get started.
  • Book as Early as You Can — Flights often significantly increase in price within 3 weeks of the departure date.
  • Stay Flexible — Flights leaving on different days or at times of day can be cheaper than others.
  • Don’t Dismiss Discount Airlines — Short journeys, internal flights, and even some international journeys can be way cheaper on discount, no-frills airlines.
  • Sign Up and Shop Around — Sign up with airlines direct to be notified of discounts and flash sales, and be sure to check in on all airlines that fly to your preferred destination.
  • Use Aggregation Sites — Sometimes this is a winner, sometimes it isn’t — but don’t be afraid to try. Sites like Kayak or Skyscanner can be good, but don’t just accept the first price they give you.
  • Buy Connecting Flights — It can be cheaper to buy 2 separate connecting flights than a direct 1. Check your destination and see who stops where along the route.

Accommodation

Again, how much you spend on where you stay is entirely up to you. Keeping costs down can be harder in large cities or expensive beach resorts, but there are ways to rest your head without losing your mind over the cost of it all.

Whether you are going for an all-out 5-star luxury or a family-friendly motel room, there are always deals to be had. Book direct through the hotel, include weeknights or a Sunday night in your stay, and be flexible on location.

Hot Tip: A hotel just outside of town, for example, will offer more attractive nightly rates and free parking and will usually represent better value for money than a downtown hotel will.

Renting a private home or vacation apartment on a short term basis can be much more affordable than a hotel. You can also find some superb properties for rent, complete with everything you need to enjoy your stay.

Fully-equipped kitchens, parking, TVs, and even pools often come standard and depending on your destination, there are lots of great Airbnbs and other holiday rental websites available.

If you are heading to the coast, the backcountry, or just getting out into the great outdoors, camping can completely transform your experience. Many campsites come complete with showers and cooking facilities and even pools, sports facilities, and fitness centers. You can take your own tent or rent one.

Another great way to save money on accommodation is to look at hostels in the area. A far cry from old fashioned student accommodation, many modern hostels are clean, bright, and modern and offer a combination of dorm-style bedrooms and private double or family rooms with en-suite facilities.

Hot Tip: Hostels are a great way to stay right in the middle of some of the most expensive cities in the world.

Rent a Recreational Vehicle

Another great choice if you are heading out on the open road, RVs can save you a fortune as you literally take your accommodation with you. RV trips are fun, family-friendly, and provided you aren’t always in a gas station, a great way to save money on where you stay.

RVshare and Outdoorsy are 2 companies that rent out campers and RVs.

You can pretty much rent any kind of vehicle , anywhere in the world. Although if you are staying in a city, public transport is a much more useful and affordable proposition.

The same rules also apply to some intercontinental trips, as well. For example, it can be easier and cheaper to travel through Europe using trains and buses than worrying about having to take care of a car when you get there.

If you want to explore out of the way destinations, hard to reach beaches, or just like the idea of being free to come and go as you please, car hire is readily available in most corners of the world.

Before you commit to it, think about the rental fees, fuel costs, and other potential expenditures and compare the costs of using public transport in your chosen destination.

Car Rental

Car hire here in the U.S. will vary depending on the type of car you choose and how long you intend to hire it. Small city cars are the most cost-effective, and big SUVs, 4x4s and luxury cars can also be hired if you have deep pockets.

When it comes to car rental, keep your costs down by:

  • Booking your vehicle in advance
  • Looking outside the airport as you may get a better deal in town
  • Choosing a practical vehicle to suit your needs, not your dream supercar
  • Being aware of mileage limits and one-way fees
  • Use a credit card with car rental insurance , so you can be ready to turn down unnecessary add-ons and cross-sells that you don’t need
  • Making sure the vehicle is checked for damage before you take the keys
  • Only hiring it for as long as you need it
  • Keeping your eyes out for deals on particular types of car, and better prices for longer-term rentals

Local Transportation

Most tourist hotspots, big towns, cities, and even some iconic landmarks will offer a wide range of public transport options to get you around. There will be more choice and more frequent services in highly populated areas, while services may become more restricted further out in the countryside or suburbs.

If you are clever, you could save yourself a small fortune by grabbing good deals on public transport, leaving you with more cash to spend on the fun things in life.

Try these to tips for traveling around town on the cheap:

  • Buy daily, weekly or even monthly travel passes in advance
  • Bulk buy tickets online or via an app
  • Take advantage of student passes or discounted fares for families, seniors, or children
  • Avoid traveling during peak commuter times
  • Services like Greyhound offer cheaper fares for mid-week journeys
  • Sign up for early notification of flash sales and other promotional codes and discounts

Attractions and Activities

Wherever you are headed, there will no doubt be plenty of things to do and places to see when you get there. The key to not missing a single thing is researching everything before you leave.

Have a plan in place of all the activities you want to take part in and the attractions you want to see and integrate the potential entrance costs, additional fees, and other expenses into your initial budget.

With a bit of luck, you will be able to find plenty of local discounts, city passes, and money-saving ways to see all of the very best attractions at rock bottom prices.

Pick up a copy of the local listings magazine or newspaper and check out free events , as well as using the coupons and discount codes they supply for all kinds of attractions. You can also subscribe to online discount sites like Groupon to find discounted ticket prices.

Historical landmarks, museums , art galleries, theme parks , sporting events, concerts, and many more attractions often offer reduced entrance prices at off-peak times or group discounts to entice visitors in. Some even have a free entrance day once a month.

Big cities often have lots of free entertainment on offer, too. Check out the artsy districts of major cities for street entertainers and free shows. If you are heading to the beach, research costs such as sunbed rental, locker rental, and even the menus at local restaurants to gauge an idea of how much a day on the beach could potentially cost you.

If you want to try your hand at surfing, sailing, or other kinds of water sports, you may want to get back on the internet and find reduced price lessons or discounts for group bookings.

Colosseum during daytime

Walk-Around Money

While you may have budgeted every dollar down to the last cent, you should also keep a contingency plan for some pocket money . Days out in the town, lazy afternoons on the beach, or even a trip on a planned excursion can present you with lots of little unknown expenses.

Whether you need to buy an extra bottle of water, some sunscreen for your face, or entrance to additional attractions, keeping a little cash on you is a good way to be prepared.

Large amounts of cash should never be carried about your person while you are out exploring, but a couple of dollars stashed into your pocket or travel wallet and can be incredibly useful.

In order to keep your money safe, you should:

  • Never flash wads of cash
  • Keep your notes and loose change somewhere safe like your inside pocket or in a money belt
  • Carry small denomination notes and coins
  • Understand the local currency you are carrying, so you known how much to give over when paying

Walk-around money is simply a little buffer to keep you going, but set yourself a daily budget and stick to it.

Gifts and Souvenirs

These days, almost everyone travels at some point. This means that those unusual and unique products that we used to buy as souvenirs are no longer as sought after as they once were.

Nearly every tourist destination on earth will be able to sell you tacky bits and pieces for you to take home, but savvy travelers bypass these and look for more personalized and unique mementos to take home with them instead.

Bottom Line: A t-shirt here, a guide book there, and lots of little bits and pieces in between can soon add up. Spend wisely, and if you must buy gifts and souvenirs, choose ones that have a special meaning to you, that you can treasure forever.

To help make your research easier, some clever folks who have traveled before you have made websites that can help you to research and plan every single aspect of your next big adventure and what the costs involved may be.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip is a huge repository of travel costs that have been hand-gathered from thousands of travelers, and now provides an incredibly comprehensive guide to how much your trip will really cost you.

You can create and personalize your very own travel budget once you register with the website. You can also pick up tons of top travel tips and advice for both new and experienced travelers alike.

Nomad List offers a heap of resources and information for remote workers, digital nomads, and travelers, Nomad List is designed to help users navigate the world. Find information on thousands of destinations, places to work, neighborhoods to stay, and even make new friends before you go.

A great site for anyone who wants to work and travel for longer-term adventures, you can ask questions and arrange meet-ups to touch base with other like-minded wanderers.

This clever little website has 1 goal in mind — to let you know exactly how much money you really need to stay at your dream destination. Expatistan offers direct comparisons between different locations and the website is essentially a giant cost-of-living database that is updated and improved on a regular basis.

Using collaborative information garnered from expats from all over the world, this website really will give you the lowdown of where you can, and can’t, afford to be.

Keeping track of your expenses using your bank balance alone can be a real pain. A dedicated travel money app will help you to keep control of your finances, even when you can’t check the internet. Here are some of the best:

Trail Wallet

Trail Wallet

This easy to use expense tracker is a great way to keep an accurate record of your finances on the go. Designed to be incredibly intuitive and easy to use, you can make a note of all your expenses in a way that makes the best sense to you. Set up daily spending limits, view records of your recent outgoings, and upload images of receipts for multiple trips with custom start and end dates.

Perfect for use both at home and away, this clever little app will even let you input amounts in local currencies from over 200 countries , and you can update the app with the current exchange rate.

Trail Wallet can be used on both iPhone and iPad and is free for up to 25 items, or unlock unlimited amounts for continuous travel with the $4.99 upgrade.

Trabee Pocket

Trabee Pocket

Trabee Pocket is available on both iOS and Android, and you can choose between the free version or additional services in the paid-for version. Even with the basic version, you can add the details of as many expenses as you like, covering various trips and destinations. You can choose your currency, and there are 8 basic categories to file your virtual expenses under.

You can add images of the physical receipt and produce an expense report and breakdown of expenditure using the data from each category . The upgrade costs around $2.49, and you can add multiple currencies and additional customized categories.

All in all, Trabee Pocket is sleek and an easy to use app that helps you to see how much you are spending and where you are spending it.

Tripcoin

TripCoin is a concise and easy to use app that is available on iOS only. It is free to download , and there are no upgrade options at the present time. This smart app allows you to keep tabs on your spending at the touch of a button while making is super easy to add new entries when you need to.

Summary reports can quickly be compiled to let you see progress reports and spreadsheets, and you can even export the data to Excel, Numbers, Open Office, or Google to keep your inner accountant happy anywhere in the world.

Wally App

Wally was designed to help anyone to manage their finances, anywhere in the world easily. It promises to offer a simple, seamless tool that works in an intuitive way, making it super easy to keep track of your money on the move.

The basic version allows you to add details of all of your regular incoming and outgoings as well as inputting your day to day expenditure, creating groups to manage joint accounts, and splitting payments with your friends when you need to.

It can be set to your local currency and lets you divide your outgoings into easy to find pre-set categories. Available on both iOs and Android, you can upgrade to the paid-for version for $24.99 a year to enjoy unlimited trips and categories.

Splitwise

This is a brilliant invention for anyone traveling with friends. Available on both iOS and Android, you can download it for free, but an in-app upgrade is available to Splitwise Pro. No more scrambling around with a pen and paper to split the bill, this app allows you and your buddies to keep track of your shared expenses and balances at the touch of a button.

You can add a bill, and choose how to split it, or send text or email requests to remind your friends and family that payments are now due. You can also categorize your expenses, calculate amounts in over 100 different currencies, and even sync all of your expenditures with the Cloud.

If you want to keep a more detailed record of your accounts, this little app will also export the data into easy to read CSV reports.

Before you worry about how to manage your finances while you are away, you will need to devise a plan that gives you the funds to get you there in the first place. Unless you have been blessed with a sudden windfall or a lottery win, you will need to save your cents to achieve your goals.

Set a Savings Timeline

If you receive a regular wage, or you are able to forecast your earnings accurately, you can start to set a timeline on how long it will take you to save up for your vacation . If you put aside just $100 a month, for example, you will be able to have $1200 to play with in just a year. This amount may not pay for a new life abroad, but it could you buy a week by the ocean.

Bottom Line: Think of where you want to go to, find out how much it will cost, and then set a monthly savings goal and stick to it. Some months you may have to sacrifice on your social life or shopping habits, but it will all be worth it in the end.

Multiple Savings Accounts

Once you know how much you need to save each month, be sure to physically remove that money from your day to day bank account. Set up at least 1 separate savings account and electronically move it , or set up an automated payment to leave your regular account on payday.

Visualization

Re-train your brain to save instead of spend, and you will be able to tally up every cent you save with something amazing . Your first $150 saved, for example, could mean that you have those tickets for that boat party in Miami in the bag, or that you are on your way to paying for a 4-star hotel instead of a mid-range one.

Whether you are dreaming of trekking up the Himalayas, backpacking around Asia, Interailing through Europe , or a long-awaited family vacation, seeing what your savings can afford will super motivate you to save more.

Wherever you are planning on traveling to, being in control of your finances will make your experience even more amazing. Worrying about getting into debt on your credit cards or not having the cash in your pocket to really explore the region will ruin your adventures.

Save hard, spend well, and look for ways to save money across every aspect of your trip. Plan your spending before you go and keep track of your expenditure while you travel. There are deals to be had on flights, accommodation, food, attractions, and almost every area of your next vacation. Plan in advance and enjoy knowing that you are having the best time for less.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can i travel with a low budget.

There are plenty of excellent places to travel on a low budget. Here are some great options:

  • South Africa

How much should I budget for a trip?

There are lots of factors that make up how much you should budget for a trip. Where you are going, the time of year, your travel style, what you want to do, and how long are you going for are just some of the considerations. It’s best to work out exactly what the trip would cost, cut out anything you can do without, and go from there.

How do I stick to a budget while traveling?

The best way to stick to a budget while traveling is to keep track of all your expenses so you know exactly where you are against your budget. The easiest way of doing this is to use a travel budget and expenses up like Trail Wallet, Trabee Pocket, or Tripcoin.

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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Wondering how to travel on a budget? While it may seem like traveling is exclusive to those with cash to spare, you don’t have to overspend in order to get out of town. There are plenty of ways to travel on a budget — including using reward points or miles and traveling during ideal times— that can end up saving you a lot of money. Here's travel guide for beginners on a budget.

Start planning early

If this is your first big trip, odds are you’ve already started planning. That’s good — the sooner you start, the more time you have to save money . Travel prices rise and fall with demand, and the cycle fluctuates as your travel dates get closer.

Beginning your planning early gives you the best chance of finding discounted hotel rooms, cheaper flights and other less-expensive activities. Although you won’t find the cheapest prices far out in advance (as we mentioned, it’s a cycle) keeping an eye on rates will allow you to jump on them and book when they drop.

» Learn more: How to account for inflation in your travel budget

Book at the right time

This bears repeating. Why? Because when you book and when you travel can make a huge difference in the price of your vacation. This applies to flights and hotels.

Confused about when the "right time" to book will be? There are multiple free tools available online to help you.

One of the easiest to use is the price tracking tool available via Google Flights. This service lets you know how the fare you’re looking at purchasing compares with past pricing. It also lets you know if rates are high or low compared with average costs.

travel planning and travel expenses

If the flight you’re considering does appear to be expensive, Google Flights also features a price tracker alert system that will email you when fares drop. You can toggle this feature on within the search bar.

travel planning and travel expenses

According to Expedia, the best day of the week to buy your airline ticket is on Sunday.

Skip overpriced tours

There’s nothing like getting out into a new city to explore. But how much of that exploring can you do on your own? With the information available online, it’s simple and easy to conduct your own tour for free rather than paying for a guide.

If this doesn’t sound appealing to you, consider instead one of the many free tours that many major cities offer. These walking tours will give you tons of information about the area completely free of charge, though gratuities are welcomed.

Otherwise, apps such as Spotted By Locals , Tripadvisor and Rick Steves offer comprehensive information for many large cities. Often this is free, but sometimes you’ll need to pay a nominal fee.

Use reward points

One of our favorite ways to save money includes redeeming reward points for travel. Some of your biggest expenses, such as hotels and flights, can be wiped away by using reward points during your trip.

This type of travel takes planning; you’ll need to accrue enough points to make a travel redemption. Much of the time, this is accomplished through welcome bonuses earned when you open a travel credit card .

For example, a round-trip flight from Los Angeles to Paris costs $1,255 at the beginning of November 2022.

travel planning and travel expenses

This same flight can be booked using 45,000 American Airlines miles .

travel planning and travel expenses

While 45,000 miles may seem like a lot, you can earn this amount of miles with ease. For example, you can earn more than enough miles needed for this flight with the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles after making your first purchase and paying the $99 annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days. The first purchase could be a stick of gum or a cup of coffee — it doesn’t matter.

Many co-branded airline credit cards also offer perks like free checked bags and priority boarding, saving you time and money.

The same can be said of hotel credit cards . Most major hotel chains have co-branded credit cards, including Hilton , Marriott , IHG , Hyatt , Choice and Wyndham . These credit cards — and their sign-up bonuses — can go a long way toward cutting costs on your vacation.

Even better, many of these credit cards offer complimentary elite status . Elite status can grant you perks such as free breakfast, room upgrades, free WiFi and late checkout.

It’s a good idea to consider booking hotel rooms using points, especially for budget family travel. Sometimes hotels charge more for additional people in your room, but these costs won’t translate to reward redemptions. You’ll generally pay the same standard price as long as you can all safely occupy the room.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Travel in the off-season

Along with using reward points, taking your trip during the offseason is another excellent way to save money. Each destination has a peak period of demand during which prices will be inflated.

This will include flights, hotels, tours and even dining, making traveling on a budget difficult. In Europe, the high season is in the summer, when most people come to visit.

During this time, flights will be at their most expensive. Remember the above example featuring that flight to Paris for $1,255? A similar flight during peak season will cost $2,070 round trip.

travel planning and travel expenses

As you can see, even if you’re paying cash for your flights you’ll be saving over $800 by taking your trip when demand is lower.

» Learn more: Why "shoulder season" is the best time to travel

If you want to travel on a budget

Vacations don’t have to be expensive. Whether you’re a vacation veteran or a travel newbie, it’s easy to save on trips by starting planning early and keeping an eye on prices.

More importantly, taking advantage of reward points can significantly cut down on flight and hotel costs. Otherwise, traveling during the offseason can help drop expenses and allow you to travel on a budget.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travelâ„ , 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travelâ„ .

Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travelâ„ , 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

travel planning and travel expenses

Travel Budget Calculator

Share it with your family and friends, your ultimate guide to smart travel planning.

Your Ultimate Guide To Smart Travel Planning

Planning a trip can be exhilarating, but it often comes with the stress of managing finances. Fear not! With the Travel Budget Calculator, you can embark on your dream journey with confidence. In this guide, we’ll delve deep into the intricacies of budgeting for travel, empowering you to make informed decisions and maximize your experiences.

Understanding the Travel Budget Calculator

travel planning and travel expenses

Embarking on a journey starts with meticulous planning, and the Travel Budget Calculator serves as your trusty companion. This tool revolutionizes the way you approach travel expenses, offering a comprehensive overview of your financial landscape. By inputting essential details such as number of nights, duration, accommodation preferences, and activity interests, the calculator generates a personalized budget tailored to your preferences and constraints.

Vacation Budget Planner is the ultimate tool for travel budgeting! Easily estimate your trip expenses and budget your journey with precision using our user-friendly Travel Budget Calculator. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a month-long adventure, our tool helps you plan every aspect of your trip, from accommodation to transportation and meals.

Simply input your desired budget and our calculator will provide you with a detailed breakdown of estimated expenses, including flights, hotels, meals, and activities. Planning a trip for 4 days with a budget of $2000? No problem! Our tool helps you allocate your budget efficiently to make the most out of your travel experience.

With features like the Trip Expense Calculator and Vacation Budget Estimator, you can plan your itinerary with confidence, knowing exactly how much you’ll spend. Plus, our tool caters to every budget, whether you’re a backpacker on a shoestring budget or a luxury traveler looking for premium experiences.

Say goodbye to guesswork and hello to stress-free travel planning! Try our Travel Budget Planner today and make your dream trip a reality.

Benefits of Using the Travel Budget Calculator

Planning your itinerary can be overwhelming, but the Travel Budget Calculator simplifies the process. Here’s why incorporating this tool into your travel planning arsenal is a game-changer:

  • Efficiency in Planning: Say goodbye to tedious spreadsheets and guesswork. The Travel Budget Calculator streamlines the planning process, providing instant insights into your projected expenses. With a few clicks, you can fine-tune your budget and allocate resources efficiently, ensuring a hassle-free travel experience.
  • Financial Transparency: Transparency is key to effective budgeting, and the Travel Budget Calculator offers just that. By breaking down expenses across various categories such as transportation, accommodation, dining, and activities, you gain a clear understanding of where your money is allocated. This transparency empowers you to make informed decisions and prioritize experiences that matter most to you.
  • Flexibility and Customization : No two travelers are alike, and the Travel Budget Calculator recognizes that. Whether you’re a budget-conscious backpacker or a luxury seeker, this tool adapts to your preferences and constraints. Adjust parameters such as accommodation standards, dining preferences, and activity intensity to tailor your budget to your unique travel style.

Travel Budget Calculator: Your Key to Financial Freedom

In conclusion, the Travel Budget Calculator empowers you to embark on unforgettable journeys without compromising your financial stability. By leveraging its capabilities and implementing savvy budgeting strategies, you’ll unlock a world of possibilities and create cherished memories that last a lifetime. So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your next adventure today and let the Travel Budget Calculator be your guiding light.

FAQs About Travel Budget Calculator

Below are some basic questions that arise while using a travel budget calculator.

Q. How does the Travel Budget Calculator work?

A. Calculating a travel budget isn’t rocket science; it’s just simple math. As we know, if we have exact numbers in front of us, decision-making becomes much easier. A Travel Budget Calculator simply provides us with all the expense numbers.

Q. Is the Travel Budget Calculator suitable for all types of travelers?

A. Absolutely! Whether you’re a budget-conscious backpacker, a luxury seeker, or somewhere in between, the Travel Budget Calculator adapts to your preferences and constraints. Simply adjust the parameters to align with your unique travel style and embark on your adventure with confidence.

Q. Can I trust the accuracy of the Travel Budget Calculator?

A. Yes, the Travel Budget Calculator is designed to provide accurate and reliable estimates based on the information provided. However, it’s essential to factor in unforeseen expenses and fluctuations in prices to ensure comprehensive budget planning.

Q. Can I save my budgeting preferences for future use?

A. Unfortunately, the Travel Budget Calculator does not currently offer a save feature but you can download it. However, you can easily recreate your budgeting preferences each time you plan a trip by inputting the relevant details into the calculator.

Q. How frequently should I update my travel budget?

A. It’s advisable to review and update your travel budget regularly, especially as your trip approaches and circumstances change. Factors such as fluctuating exchange rates, last-minute bookings, and unexpected expenses can impact your budget, so staying proactive is key to financial planning success.

How to Make a Travel Budget in 5 Easy Steps (Free Planner)

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Creating a travel budget may seem like a hassle, but it’ll actually make your vacation more enjoyable. Knowing that you’ve already planned out how you’re going to pay for everything will help you relax and have a good time.

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Many people enjoy traveling the world, exploring new places, or just relaxing in a tranquil environment.

Taking a vacation is a great way to reduce stress and improve productivity, but traveling can be costly. Making a travel budget will make a big difference while planning your next getaway.

Those who love to travel should incorporate it as a line item in their monthly budgets. Each month, set aside a certain amount for travel in its own separate account.

Earmark that money specifically as a vacation budget so that it can be spent guilt-free. Money that is put toward trip expenses can simply be reimbursed from the travel account.

With that said, if there is outstanding debt that is difficult to pay off, planning an immediate vacation may not be a good idea. In this case, the priority should be to set up an emergency fund that includes three-to-six months’ worth of living expenses.

Why Is Budgeting for a Vacation Important?

While it is good to get into the habit of setting aside vacation funds every month, it is also important to create a budget for each individual trip. This will help determine how long it will take to build up enough money in the vacation account to pay for that trip. It will also allow for logistics to be planned out, while staying on budget.

Scheduling and budgeting for vacations can be very enjoyable. Researching hotel accommodations, restaurants, and free things to do helps to build up anticipation. It can be fun for the whole family to spend time together, figuring out the different parts of an upcoming trip.

How to Budget for A Vacation in 5 Simple Steps

When it comes time to map out those vacation expenses, a few key steps will help lead to success and worry-free traveling. Begin by drafting a well-rounded vacation budget, focusing on expenses in the following five main categories. Once these are figured out, the rest of the details will fall into place.

1. Choose a destination and preferred date

Start by picking a destination and nailing down travel dates. Remember that some locations are more expensive to visit than others. The time of year can also make a difference in pricing. Traveling done at peak tourist times usually costs more than off-season trips.

Be flexible

Being flexible is one of the easiest ways to save when budgeting for a vacation. Check out multiple travel destinations and compare prices before settling on options for lodging and airfare. Since these are two of the largest expenses in any travel budget, keeping them in check will go a long way toward helping to keep the overall cost down.

Be willing to look at alternative accommodations or stay at a place that is a little farther away from the tourist areas. Remember that most vacation time is spent outside the hotel room – so there is no reason to put a large chunk of the budget toward nice accommodations that will be used only for sleep.

Also, be flexible when choosing a travel date. Many travel search engines have a “flexible dates” option that can be used to research the lowest prices for airfare and lodging. Plan around these dates for added savings in the travel budget.

Consider the season

The time of year can really impact a travel budget. A lot of people have begun to plan weddings around their honeymoons, and not vise versa. For example, if the goal is to travel to Italy without spending a fortune or facing large crowds of tourists – while still enjoying nice weather – get married in early autumn, which is known as the shoulder season. It’s a great time of year to travel, because the weather is still nice, but the crowds have thinned out. Most people with children travel during the summer. Once the kids are back in school, prices for airfare and accommodations tend to drop, allowing people with more flexibility to travel cheaper.

Related: Make Money Renting Your Home with Airbnb While You’re on Vacation

2. Make a list of your major expenses (use a travel budget worksheet)

When drafting a travel budget worksheet, plan for the biggest expenses, including transportation, accommodations, and food, first. Getting those out of the way will greatly aid in putting together the overall vacation budget.

Free Printable Travel Budget and Itinerary

Research cheap travel deals (transportation)

Transportation costs for trips that are taken close to home will not be very high. But when airfare comes into the picture, the transportation line item will increase dramatically. Research multiple airlines for cheap travel deals, and consider taking connecting flights to cut down on the cost. If it’s feasible, check out the price of flights leaving from airports in nearby cities.

Flights on airlines to and from major airport hubs are usually lower in cost. For example, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are both headquartered in Dallas. Flights on those airlines tend to be the cheapest travel to and from that area.

Research accommodations

Another large expense in any travel budget is lodging. There is a wide range of options to consider when it comes to picking out a place to stay, including hostels, hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, or apartments. Or, if a trip includes camping, those accommodations can include cabins and tents.

Rather than being brand-loyal to a particular hotel, utilize travel sites like Hotels.com to compare costs at different chains. After all, most travel time is spent sightseeing and exploring, not inside the room.

The closer accommodations are to major attractions, the more expensive they will be. Consider staying somewhere off the beaten path to save money.

When traveling with a group of people, split the cost of accommodations. For example, rent a house or condo with multiple rooms and divide the costs. If your destination is more remote, consider renting an RV. For as low as $175 per night, you can comfortably sleep 10 adults and still come in under $20 per person per day.

Budget for food

One of the trickiest line items in a vacation budget is food. To save some money in this area, choose a place to stay that has a kitchen – or at least a refrigerator and microwave. Eat some meals there, and then splurge a few times by going out to eat at local restaurants.

Another great way to save money on food is to stay in a bed and breakfast or a hotel that includes breakfast. Some chains like Homewood Suites or DoubleTree offer both a kitchen area and a hot breakfast, which helps in saving money . Drinks bought while eating out can quickly add to a bill, so buy wine or beer for the room to keep that travel budget in check.

When budgeting for meals, try going out for lunch instead of dinner. Lunch is usually cheaper than dinner, and many of the same options are offered for less. It is also usually not as tempting to order pricey alcoholic beverages during lunch.

Related: How to Find Cheap Gas Nearby (When You’re On the Go)

3. Make a list of smaller expenses

Once the larger expenses are planned out, figure out the extras, like sightseeing, entertainment, and gifts.

Research potential vacation activities and local places to visit. Go online to get an idea of the associated costs, and budget accordingly.

Don’t forget to plan for any necessary vaccines if traveling abroad, as well as gifts to take back home. Build a buffer into the budget to account for any surprise expenses. It’s always best to plan for more, and then spend less.

4. Determine the monthly savings

Once a rough vacation budget has been established, it’s time to figure out how to pay for it. Take the total amount and divide it by the number of months left until the trip. For example, if the vacation date is in nine months and the cost of the trip is approximately $2,700, $300 must be set aside every month.

If that amount seems too large, there are two options: adjust the timeline or make some extra money.

If necessary, push the trip out by a few months until enough money can be saved, or figure out how to bring in some extra income. There are many different ways to make money on the side, and help to reach that savings goal.

5. Vacation budgeting doesn’t end there

Those travel budgets won’t do much good if they aren’t followed. It is important to track costs and stay on top of spending while on vacation. Don’t stress out over every penny, but don’t go overboard, either. It wouldn’t be fun to see some nasty surprises on the bank or credit card statement later.

One of the easiest ways to track expenditures while traveling is with a budgeting tool like Personal Capital. Alternatively, keep on top of spending with an Excel spreadsheet or even with a pen and paper. Whatever the method, keep it updated and check it regularly.

Bonus Tip: Draft an itinerary

Travel Budget: Man Holding Passport

While it’s not necessary to create an itinerary when budgeting for a vacation, it really helps stay on track. The best way to do this is by using an Excel spreadsheet. Make a rough outline with a separate entry for each day of the vacation. Fill in all of the travel information and any scheduled activities like sightseeing tours.

Make a separate column to the side and list out all potential vacation activities. Group together any events that are in the same area of town and write down approximately how long each one would take. Now slot them in under the different day headers for either the morning or afternoon.

Try to group together activities or sightseeing that will occur in the same part of town. Food and restaurant options can be added in after the schedule is roughed out.

Itineraries are meant to be flexible, not restrictive. Move things around to find the right balance. Note the associated cost of each entry on the list.

Add all of the expenses together at the bottom of the spreadsheet to estimate the total travel budget. Remember that it’s not necessary to follow the itinerary word for word. Use it as a planning tool and focus on enjoying the trip.

Creating a Travel Budget Is Well Worth the Time

Even though it may seem like creating a travel budget can be a hassle, in the long run, it will make vacations far more enjoyable.

Having a vacation budget means not stressing about money after the trip. It allows for advanced planning and time to save up enough money. Budgeting for a vacation means that it will be easy to relax and have a good time, knowing that everything is in the budget and ready to be paid for.

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Free Travel Budget Calculator: Easily Make Your Vacation Budget

Packed for Life contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Disclosure policy for more info.

Ready to take the hassle out of planning and managing your vacation budget? Our online Free Travel Budget Calculator is  simple, and easy to use, and can help you plan and track your vacation expenses in just a few clicks.  

I’ve used these same methods and categories of expenses for every trip I’ve taken over the last 25 years. From multiple  3 month solo adventures through Europe and South America, to weeks long trips to Cuba and Vancouver Island, Canada with my family. 

Now online with automatic calculations, so you don’t have to mess around with spreadsheets or hand write in printables that clutter up your home. 

In this post you’ll get access to this free tool, plus, you’ll get my top tips for planning your budget effectively for your trips and how to save money on travel. All the advice you need for smarter travel planning is right here.

Table of Contents

How to Use the Travel Budget Calculator & Try It Out!

Graphic of a planner sheet with travel icons in front of a tropical beach background.

Make sure to bookmark this page so you can come back to it anytime you need to track your vacation expenses and make travel plans.

This free vacation budget calculator will give you an estimate of total travel costs for your trip and whether your budget is enough to cover what you want to do.

It can help you identify areas you can potentially save money on trip expenses. Whether it’s choosing more budget-friendly hotels, walking or taking the bus instead of taxis, or prioritizing your top not-to-miss activities.

You can also start with your budget.

Then play around with the length of your trip, how much hotels, flights etc will cost to help you determine your price range for each travel expense as well.

  • Enter 0 (zero) if there are certain categories you don’t need . The calculator will output an error ($NaN) if you don’t.
  • Instructions for the calculator are below the Travel Budget Calculator, to give you an idea of what you should include under each budget item.

Vacation Budget Calculator

Calculator instructions.

Enter all your estimated expenses you’ve gathered during your vacation research.

Make sure it’s actually a realistic travel budget. For a  family trip with young kids, you’ll also need to factor other things like diapers, baby wipes etc.

  • Travel Budget : Enter your overall vacation budget you have for this trip.
  • Number of Travellers: Enter the number of people you are paying for on this trip
  • Number of Nights: Enter the number of nights you will need accommodations for. This will be used to calculate hotel costs.
  • Number of Vacation Days: Enter the number of days you will be on vacation. Include travel days to be safe . This will be used to calculate your overall food & drink, daily transportation and activity costs.
  • Total Flight Costs: Enter the estimated total of flight costs for everyone travelling. Be sure to include any baggage fees.
  • Transportation Costs: Enter the total transportation costs for the trip. This is for any major transport costs that aren’t flights like trains, city transfers, car or RV rentals.
  • Daily Transportation Costs: Enter your anticipated daily transport costs. This is for things like taxis, buses, Ubers, parking costs etc, you might need to get around every day.
  • Hotel Costs (Per Night): Enter the amount your accommodations will cost each night. Don’t forget to include any tips for housekeeping staff etc. you may need to pay.
  • Total Tour Costs: Enter your overall total budget or cost for tours, including guide tips.
  • Activity Costs (Per Day) : Enter the amount you expect to spend on activities daily (do not include tours). These are for things like seeing movies, souvenirs, shopping, trips to a rec centre / pool, bowling, seeing a hockey game or a concert etc.
  • Food & Drink Costs (per Day): Enter your overall daily food & drink budget or expected costs for everyone. Don’t forget to include tips.
  • Miscellaneous Expenses: Enter an amount of money you will have overall for unexpected expenses or miscellaneous costs that pop up. Be sure to also include extra travel expenses not covered elsewhere.
  • Travel Insurance: Enter the overall amount of money you will pay for travel insurance for everyone. This is for things like travel health insurance, trip cancellation insurance etc.

Budget Outputs

Currency Note: While the output is in dollars (uses the $ symbol), you can really use any numerical currency you’d like. Just ignore the $ symbol.

Once you hit the calculate button, you will get 4 pieces of info based on the numbers you provided:

  • Total Vacation Costs : This is the estimated cost for your vacation based on the info you provided.
  • Over Budget / Under Budget: This is the amount you are either over or under budget. If your expenses are over your vacation budget, it will say Over Budget and the number will be negative. If it says Under Budget, that is the amount you are under your estimated budget.
  • Travel Costs Per Day: This is the amount of money your trip will cost you each day.
  • Cost Per Person Per Day: This is the amount of money your trip will cost you per person, each day.

Make sure to review your results. If your over budget are there things you can do to bring the costs down? Or is there a way you can save or make more money before your trip?

Why You Need A Travel Budget

One side tropical beach with text so you can enjoy this. The other side is a stressed out couple over money with the words without this.

Listen, I am all for spending a little extra to do things our family doesn’t get to do at home. 

But there is nothing more anxiety-inducing than running out of money on a trip, or having to pay off huge credit card bills at 28%  interest because you didn’t plan ahead.

This is where a vacation budget can really help. 

It doesn’t mean you can’t have fun or spend money.

Creating a budget will actually help you be able to afford your dreams. Plus be able to relax & have fun on your vacation knowing you won’t be in debt when you get back home.

The trip budget calculator will make financial planning fun, and easy.

How To Set Your Travel Budget & Determine Expenses

1. determine your overall travel budget.

First things first. Decide on your overall vacation budget or the money you are willing to spend on this trip.

When determining your overall vacation budget, you’ll want to consider a few things:

  • How much money are you willing to spend on this trip?
  • How much have you already saved?
  • How long do you plan to go for? (more or less time can impact your budget)
  • How many people will be travelling? (some places like Europe limit 4 people to a hotel room, this can significantly impact cost)
  • When do you want to travel and how much time do you have to add to your vacation fund?
  • How much extra can you afford to put away every week / month on top of your regular bills & household expenses?
  • Is there any way you can decrease household expenses, or increase your income to add to your vacation fund faster?

Just make sure it’s a realistic budget. It doesn’t do anybody any good to use too low or too high numbers as a starting point. 

2. Do Your Research

The type of trip you want to take, the length and the type of activities you want to do, will really impact your budget.

For example a week long trip to Thailand will be much different than a week in Japan, or a trip to Disneyworld.

Do some intial research to give you an idea of what your basic travel expenses will costs, so you can have ballpark figures to enter in the travel cost calculator.

You can always google average costs of living / travelling at your destination.

Careful planning is an important part of any travel budget. 

3. Find Ways to Cut Costs

Unless you have a rich benefactor, or suddenly won the lottery, it’s a good idea to consider ways you can cut costs, save money and use your travel budget wisely.

Besides using our holiday budget calculator, our favourite ways to save money on travel expenses.

Transportation & Accommodation

  • Find flight deals & error fares : The best way is with Going (Formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) Flight tickets can be a big expense and make up a good portion of the total cost usually. 
  • Consider housesitting: is our go-to site for housesitting around the world.
  • Rent a place with a kitchen : Save money on food with a vacation rental . They can also be cheaper than renting multiple hotel rooms if you have a large family or group.
  • Compare car rentals: Using Discover Cars can help you save up to 70% by quickly comparing rental cars options.
  • Book early: Hotels, flights and trains are generally cheaper booked in advance. You won’t want to risk paying significantly more waiting until last minute.
  • Take public transportation: If it’s safe to do so, take the local bus, or walk instead of relying on expensive taxis all the time.

⭐️ Also check out our list of the best ways to save money on flights .

General Money Saving Tips

  • Travel off season or peak season: Not only is it usually much cheaper, there’s usually fewer tourists.
  • Use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees : Those transaction fees can really add up. Also consider if travel credit cards with points are for you.
  • Eat where the locals eat : Avoiding the touristy restuarants, and eating where the locals eat will not only save you lots of money, it will give you a more authentic look into their local cuisine and culture.
  • Avoid popular destinations:  The most popular touristy destinations  often cost a lot of money, compared to smaller, lesser known destinations.  
  • Consider using travel agents: Sometimes a travel agent can find you a great deal, with much less work on your part. 
  • Adjust your travel style: Luxury resorts may be out of your price range. Road trips, camping trips can be just as memorable for for a family vacation.
  • Plan free activities : Pick some free activities to do in between your more expensive tours, theme parks, & day trips to ancient ruins. 
  • Check out these ways to save on flights

Final Thoughts Using The Vacation Budget Calendar

Creating a vacation budget might seem challenging, but don’t worry! Equipped with the right tools and a bit of strategic planning, your next epic adventure is closer than you think.

Using a vacation budget calculator can help guide you to make smart, affordable choices, allowing you to experience the journey you’ve always dreamed of, without stressing about expenses.

Travel can be exciting and enjoyable at all budget levels. So here’s to making memories with your family, and friends.

Related travel planning resources:

  • Ultimate Pre-Travel Checklist
  • Family beach vacation tips
  • Tips for saving money on road trips
  • Easy ways to build a travel fund
  • Save money on attractions: Where to buy online tour tickets

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Donna Garrison is the founder of Packed for Life, an ever curious traveler with a passion for making memories with her family. With a unique perspective on travelling on a budget gathered over 30 years, 20 countries and 5 continents she gives families the tools & resources they need to experience the joys of travelling more for less through practical solutions. She helps over 20,000 families a month plan & take the family travel, camping and road trip adventures of their dreams in Canada, the USA and around the world. Contact her at: Donna [at] packedforlife.com

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Travel Budget Calculator

Your total travel cost, basic information, daily expenses, other expenses, custom expenses, frequently asked questions, what is a travel budget calculator, how do i use this calculator, what should i include in my travel budget.

When planning your trip, it is essential to include all potential expenses such as airfare, local transportation, accommodation, meals, entertainment, excursions, shopping, and emergency funds. Also consider smaller costs like tips, visas, and travel insurance, which can add up.

For local transportation, carefully evaluate your options. Are you renting a car at your destination to get around? Or perhaps you're considering taxis, riding the subway, or local buses? Using services like Uber might also be an option. Each choice comes with its own set of considerations and costs. For instance, if you’re renting a car, remember to account for additional taxes and fees, as well as the cost of parking, which can be particularly high in downtown areas. Conversely, if you're staying at a hotel in the city center, you might save on transportation costs by walking or utilizing the hotel’s complimentary shuttle services from the airport and then relying on public transportation to explore the area.

Furthermore, it's important to research the sights you want to see and plan your transportation accordingly. This preparation can help you determine the most cost-effective and convenient way to travel during your trip. Whether you choose a rental car, public transit, or another method, understanding the full scope of your transportation needs and costs will ensure a smoother, more enjoyable travel experience.

Can I add my own expenses to the Travel Budget Calculator?

Can i use this calculator for international trips, is the travel budget calculator suitable for planning group holidays, what strategies can help me save on vacation activities expenses.

To economize on vacation activities, here are some strategic tips you might consider:

  • Purchase Tickets Early : Securing your tickets before your trip can lead to significant savings, as pre-booking often comes with discounts. This also helps you avoid long waits at attractions, allowing more time for enjoyment.
  • Research Local Opportunities : Before your vacation begins, take the time to look into local activities and attractions. This not only builds anticipation for your trip but can also uncover less-known, cost-effective options.
  • Utilize Discount Brochures : Keep an eye out for discount brochures available in hotels or local tourist centers. These brochures are filled with coupons and special offers for local attractions and day trips that might not be widely advertised.
  • Opt for All-Inclusive Packages : When the cost of individual activities starts to accumulate, consider all-inclusive options. Resorts or theme parks that offer these packages include various activities at a reduced rate, giving you a clearer understanding of the total expense of your trip from the outset.

How can I bring my own food for the flight to save money?

What tips can help me save on the cost of food per day during my travels.

When aiming to reduce daily food costs while traveling, consider the following strategies:

  • Avoid Airport and In-Flight Purchases : Airports are notorious for high food prices. To counter this, pack your own snacks and meals for your flight. This not just cuts costs but also ensures you have healthier and more satisfying options.
  • Steer Clear of Room Service and Minibars : These are among the most overpriced services in hotels. Planning your meals ahead and avoiding the convenience of direct hotel dining can save a significant amount of money.
  • Eat Like a Local : Instead of dining in tourist-centric restaurants, find where the locals eat. Local markets, grocery stores, and small eateries often offer delicious food at a fraction of the cost. Look for pre-made meals or food counters that sell regional specialties.
  • Explore Local Beverages : Instead of indulging in expensive drinks at the hotel bar, try local breweries or wineries. Purchasing local brands can be cheaper and add a unique cultural experience to your trip.

By employing these tips, you can enjoy a rich culinary experience without splurging excessively, allowing you to indulge in other aspects of your journey.

How can I leverage personal connections to secure affordable lodging options?

Leveraging personal connections can significantly reduce lodging costs when planning a vacation. Start by reaching out to your network to inquire if anyone owns a vacation home, a lake house, or a rental property that might be unoccupied, particularly during the off-season. Such properties can often be made available to you, sometimes at a reduced cost or even for free, if the timing is right.

Additionally, consider proposing a vacation swap with friends who live in another part of the country. This arrangement involves you and your friend swapping homes for a period, which not only gives you both free accommodations but also the opportunity to explore a new area. You might also offer to house sit or pet sit for your friend during their vacation, providing them peace of mind and yourself a cost-effective place to stay. Such creative arrangements can lead to enjoyable and affordable vacation experiences by maximizing your personal relationships.

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How to Budget for a Trip

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Plan for the Big Expenses

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The Balance

Whether you’re planning an international vacation or a long-weekend road trip, the idea of escaping your daily life for the promise of relaxation and adventure is intoxicating. But while planning a big trip can be exciting, it can also be overwhelming—especially when you’re trying to figure out how much it’s going to cost.

We’ve created a simple Google spreadsheet to help you plan and budget for your next trip. The Balance’s Travel Budget Worksheet includes common expenses (large and small), plus space to enter credit card or other loyalty program rewards that defray some of the cash costs. It’s free to download and use (but you will need a Google account).

The last thing you want is to arrive at your destination and realize you’re out of money. That’s why it’s important to make a travel budget that includes everything from rental car costs to seat selection fees. As part of “ Our Money’s on Travel ”—our series on getting back to travel—we’re taking a look at how to budget for a trip, whether it’s the big costs or the small, plus a few travel hacks to help you save money along the way. 

Most trips involve significant expenses such as transportation and lodging. How significant they are depends on your plans—transportation could include plane tickets or gas for your car, and lodging could mean a five-star hotel or a cabin in the woods. Websites such as Budget Your Trip can help you plan for these costs, but don’t factor in any tips or tricks for saving money. So while this kind of budgeting site can be a good starting point, there’s a lot more that goes into planning your travel budget. Here are a few strategies for saving money on these major travel expenses.

  • If you have access to multiple airports, like New York City residents, check prices out of all of them: LaGuardia (LGA), John F. Kennedy (JFK), and Newark (EWR). 
  • If you only have one local airport, consider booking a separate, cheaper ticket to a major hub, which may offer cheaper flights.
  • Be flexible with your dates and aim to travel during off-peak times. 
  • In pre-Covid times, there was evidence that you could get the best fares by booking 20-115 days in advance and flying on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. But those bets are off because airlines’ pricing formulas are in transition as they cautiously ramp up for more travel. For now, you’ll just have to look for deals and grab them when you see them.   
  • Follow airfare deal sites such as Scott’s Cheap Flights , Secret Flying , and Dan’s Deals to find out about cheap flights as soon as they’re available. 
  • Check multiple sources before booking hotels to find the best rates and deals. For example, Hotels.com offers a free night for every 10 nights you book. Large hotel chains often advertise best rate guarantees and will give you up to 25% off your stay if you find a better rate elsewhere.  
  • Consider shared lodging, such as a private room or dorm in a hostel or a private room in a local’s house on Airbnb, rather than renting an entire home. 
  • Take advantage of any deals through membership programs such as AAA and AARP. 

Transportation

  • If you’re planning to rent a car, use sites like Autoslash to compare rental car costs across a wide variety of programs and get a quote for the cheapest rates available. 
  • Train passes, like the Eurail Pass , offer discounted or unlimited travel for a fixed price so you’ll never be surprised by last-minute ticket costs. 
  • Electric scooter companies such as Bird and Lime allow you to purchase daily or monthly ride passes in certain cities. 

Is Travel Insurance Worth It?

Travel insurance protects you in case of unexpected delays, cancellations, or medical costs in covered situations. But before you buy it from your airline or another carrier, check to see whether you’re covered by the credit card you’re using to book your trip. 

In addition, many airlines have eliminated change fees for flights, while many hotels have begun allowing flexible cancellations on their bookings. If you won’t face financial consequences for changing those big-ticket bookings, travel insurance may not be worth the cost.

The big costs aren’t the only ones to consider beforehand. Your travel budget should also consider expenses like tipping, entertainment, souvenirs, food, and even cellphone fees.

Plan for as many of these costs in advance as possible so you aren’t surprised during your trip—or when you return home to larger-than-expected bills. 

Watch out for these costs and minimize or eliminate them with these smart strategies:

  • Rental car additional driver fees : If you need a second driver on your booking, book through a service that includes them for free, such as Costco Travel . 
  • Rental car insurance : If you already have car insurance, check to see whether it extends to rental cars. If you don’t own a car, look into a non-owner car insurance policy that will cover you when you drive a rental, which generally costs far less than traditional rental car insurance policies. Also, check whether the credit card you’re using offers its own rental car insurance. 
  • Debit card holds : Hotels and rental car companies will put a hold on your card when you arrive. If you’re paying with a debit card, the money they put on hold will not be available to you until the hold drops, which could take some time. If possible, make your bookings with a credit card instead, or include the hold in your travel budget.
  • Cellphone coverage : If you’re with Google Fi or T-Mobile, you’re in luck, as most locations are covered for free by your cellphone plan. Otherwise, consider purchasing a local prepaid SIM card, which can cost significantly less than the international roaming fees charged by most cellphone companies. Or plan to leave your phone on airplane mode and only use it when connected to Wi-Fi.
  • Entertainment costs : Many major cities offer tourist cards, which bundle tickets to a number of attractions onto a card that’s valid for a set number of days. If you plan to hit all the highlights, these cards could save you a bundle over individually purchased tickets.

After diligently earning rewards on your travel credit cards, now’s the time to cash them in for free flights and hotel stays. You can choose to redeem points directly through your card’s travel portal, or transfer them over to hotel or airline chains to book awards. 

We recommend crunching the numbers to find the best way to redeem credit card points . For example, hotel chains such as Hilton and Marriott offer the fifth night free on award bookings, so it may make sense to transfer your points to your hotel rewards account. This can also be a good strategy for buying expensive flights, as airlines will sometimes charge a set amount of miles for a ticket even if the cash price is high. 

Now that you’ve got a handle on how to save money on travel expenses, it’s time to do the heavy lifting: actually saving money for your trip. Consider these ways to save up for your trip:

  • Set up an automatic transfer from your checking account into a dedicated “travel fund” account. This strategy keeps your travel budget separate, so you’re not tempted to spend it elsewhere before your trip.
  • If you receive a tax refund, put as much as you can straight into your travel fund.
  • If you have extra cash left over from the stimulus checks, move it into your travel fund. 
  • Work bonuses or side hustles could offer unexpected ways to boost your travel account.
  • If your family exchanges gifts, consider letting them know that you’re saving up for a vacation. Cash is always an option, and gift cards for hotels, airlines, and restaurants can also make a significant contribution to your travel budget. They could even give you frequent flyer points if they’d like.

CheapAir.com. " CheapAir.com’s 5th Annual Airfare Study Reveals the Best Time to Buy Airline Tickets ."

Hotels.com. " Instant Savings. Reward Nights. And more ."

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></center></p><h2>How To Create A Realistic Travel Budget That Actually Works</h2><p>So you’ve decided on your dream summer destination and are all set to take off? Or, are you still finalising plans, booking stuff and looking forward to your upcoming holidays? Or, are you just saving up for your much-needed vacation? Whatever may be the case, you need a travel budget! Period.</p><p>But why, you may be wondering! Some of you may be really good with your money and would be sure not to overspend while vacationing. And, some others may not want to waste their hard-earned holidays to stress over their spending! No matter what stage of travel planning you may be in or what your idea of handling money may be, a travel budget will only help you plan better and enjoy a stress-free holiday.</p><p>Let’s be honest. How many times have you returned home after a holiday and regretted the way you spent money? How many times have you wished you had a little more time and money to tick off a nearby place on your way? Let’s say, more than once?</p><p>All of us want to get the maximum value for the money we spend while travelling. We also want to have a nice time without the stress of constantly thinking about money. And, this is why you need to have a plan… and a TRAVEL BUDGET!</p><blockquote>A travel budget lets you enjoy your trip by taking out the stress of constantly thinking about money.</blockquote><h2>Who needs a travel budget?</h2><p>Anyone who wants to travel, is travelling or will be travelling.</p><p>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.</p><h2>Creating a travel budget is not in the least complicated.</h2><p>But before you go any further…</p><p>Understand that your travel budget is a guide, not a restrictive set of rules. Accept that you’re going to estimate things based on the information you have and that you may make mistakes while doing so. And, don’t hang on to the budget like it’s gospel. Remember…</p><blockquote>A good travel budget is one that is flexible.</blockquote><p>So are you ready to get started?</p><p>Here you go!</p><h2>7 Simple Steps To Create A Realistic Travel Budget</h2><p>Think of how you’ll get there.</p><p>The major expense you’ll incur while travelling is most often the cost of actually getting to your destination . Depending on where you plan to travel to, your choice of transportation will vary. But start your research and look at various options available to you and arrive on an expected figure depending on your choice.</p><p>In this step, determine the costs of taking a flight, bus, train, rental car or cruise ship to your destination. If you plan to travel to more than a single place, estimate how much the rates for these trips will be as well. Add that up and write it down.</p><p>Our top tip: Never book a ticket without comparing prices . There’s always a good deal available if you look around. Try fare comparing sites like Skyscanner , GoEuro and Kayak to help you make the best choice and get the cheapest tickets available.</p><h2>Think of where you’ll be staying</h2><p>The next big chunk of your travel expense will be your accommodation. Research about various lodging options available at the destination. Each of us look for different things when we travel, so look out for the prices of the experience closest to what you want to make a good enough estimate. For instance, if you’re a budget traveller, you should be looking at hostels, budget hotels or shared living options.</p><p>Our top tip:  Try to look for accommodation facilities that offer at least one meal with the stay. Or, if you are on a really shoestring budget, look out for hostels or lodging with common kitchens.</p><p><center><img style=

Think of how you’ll be moving around

Every destination is different, so is every traveller. So the next step is to think about and find out what’s the best way to move around once you’ve reached your destination. Some of you may like to explore your destination by foot, others by cycle, public transport or taxis. Whatever be the best available option that suits your tastes, arrive at an estimate of how much you would need to set aside to freely move around the place you’re in.

Our top tip:  Look out for public transport ticket options. It is very likely that you might find cheaper tickets if you book them in advance or book them for a longer period of time. In case, you need to book taxis, research about the best services that locals use on Quora or Facebook Groups to avoid being ripped off.

Think of what you’ll be eating

No, we’re not asking you to list out all what you plan to eat during your two-week long trip. Instead, have an idea of what a meal costs in the places you’ll be travelling to. Some people already have a number in mind on how much they would spend on food in a day. It is best to arrive at this number with some research. Online resources like Lonely planet travel guides , travel websites like Trip Savvy or blogs like Nomadic Matt are good places to start looking. Or try out apps like Zomato and TripAdvisor to find latest, updated prices.

If you have no time to research, then, budget a minimum of at least 2 to 2.5 times the price of your accommodation per night for one day’s worth of food . This rule of thumb works well for budget travel.

Our top tip: If you’re on a longer trip, try to cook at least one meal a day. You’ll be surprised how much money you would save. Also, always opt for natively consumed and seasonal items. Or, try meeting up with locals and eating home-cooked food through meal sharing apps to get an affordable taste of local culture.

travel budget

Think of what you’ll be doing

Have at least a vague plan on what you intend to do for the large part of your trip. For instance, chilling by the beach or a hiking trip would be different from a city tour or a music festival crawl, cost wise. So depending on this, know what major activities you’ll be spending on during the trip . Some people make a list and prioritise them according to time and cost. Go ahead and do whatever works for you. What is important is that you have some idea about the entry fees or cost of these attractions or activities.

Our top tip: Most often, by booking some activities in advance can save you money and sometimes even can help you skip long lines at tourist attractions. Many countries have specially designed tourist cards catering to different interest groups (like for art lovers, sports enthusiasts etc) with special discounts and offers on such activities.

Think of what you’ll be buying

Gifts and souvenirs are a huge part of travel. Most often than not we like to bring back a little something from the places we visit. You may not be able to have a clear picture about how much things would cost unless you get to the destination, but keep aside some money to be spent on things you want to buy while travelling.

Our top tip:  Making a list of people for whom you want to pick up gifts for will save you time, help you stay organized and stop you from overspending or buying things on impulse. You could use a simple notepad or if you don’t want to carry an additional weight, just use Wallet’s Shopping Lists and create a digital list, ticking off names once you buy each item. Simple and effective, isn’t it? 

Think of emergencies

So why do we have a plan? To be prepared to face come what may. Then wouldn’t it be foolish to not budget for unforeseen circumstances or emergencies? This is the final step or item in your budget. Keep aside some money for things you forgot to budget for , medical emergencies, extra expenses, or even happy accidents, like an impromptu event you may be invited for, while you’re on the road.

Our top tip: If you aren’t sure how much to put aside, two to three days worth of living expenses per person would be good to start with.

How to create a travel budget on Wallet

Now that you’ve arrived at an estimated total amount you plan to spend on your trip, you can make the process of sticking to your budget so much more easier by using Wallet.

Combining two of Wallet’s most powerful features, Budgets and Labels, creating and sticking to your travel budget will be a cakewalk!

Labels allow limitless customizations which will help you manage your money in a way that makes sense to you.

Say, for instance, you’re planning a trip for two to Italy. You’ve gone through the steps we listed above and arrived at a figure of $6000. Create a travel budget with this figure and with a label called, say, Italy. Now, every time you spend money, you just need to label it Italy for it to be counted in this budget. In this way, you can easily see how you are faring with regards to the budget you set for yourself. Wallet will also forecast your spending and alert you if you need to make changes, thereby making it easier than ever to stick to your budget better .

travel planning and travel expenses

If you want to dig in a bit more, you could create different budgets for different categories of expenses you want to track on the trip, say food and daily expenses, or just taxi (helps if you would want to claim it back later) and so on. Just create a new label for it and create a Budget with the respective label.

You could also create different budgets for each place you’ll be visiting on a long trip . The choices are limitless. Wallet gives you tools that can be customized as you wish to simplify the process of money management for you.

And, if you don’t want to track your expenses on the go, but still want to compare your expenses with your budget, you could just Import your transactions once you’re free during the trip or after the trip as per convenience.

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 exactly you’ll be able to afford, sets guidelines for how much you need to save for and lets you be in full control of your money. So get a budget and take that vacation now!

Over to you…

Do you create budgets before you travel and track your expenses while on the road? What are your 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.

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How to estimate travel expenses

This post may contain affiliate links.  Click here  to see what that means.

Whether planning business travel expenses or a vacation budget for the family, knowing how to estimate travel expenses really helps you stick to your travel budget.

We use this step by step guide, Our TRAVEL COST ESTIMATOR, to determine trip costs including car rental or flights, hotel expenses, food and activities. For business or corporate travel, a tool like this helps with expense management.

The example in this article uses vacation trip planning, factoring in entertainment costs which would not be needed for business travel.

Be sure to download our FREE travel cost estimator to use for your own travel planning.

travel planning and travel expenses

When calculating travel expenses, we estimate the cost of each aspect of the trip to determine the final budget. Knowing the budget we have to work with saves time when making final reservations and plans. Online tools make it a lot easier to estimate prices to help us save on travel.

Table of Contents

How to determine a vacation budget

Travel resources, travel costs: how much will it cost to get there, hotel and lodging costs: where will you stay, food costs: where will you eat, attractions and entertainment: what will you do, estimate travel expenses: total the costs.

When you estimate travel costs ahead of time, it’s easier to make vacation planning decisions.

Using this tool to set your vacation budget helps you keep travel costs in line with what you really plan to spend.

Step one  is deciding the type of vacation you want and where to go. Step two  is figuring out how much it will cost.

If planning a vacation budget is new to you, it might seem overwhelming at first. But, I promise, after you do it once, it’s easy! And the peace of mind you get from knowing you can afford your vacation? Priceless! So let’s look at how to calculate travel costs of your vacation.

I’ll be using a 5 day vacation example through the whole thing to help you see how it works.

There are lots of travel resources online that make it easy to estimate travel expenses.

We have a page dedicated to the travel resources we use to plan our own trips, which you can use. Each of these travel resource tools is free to use!

Visit our TRAVEL RESOURCES page to start planning your trip!

Step by step travel cost planning

So, you know where you want to go. Let’s figure out how much this vacation is going to cost.

The first thing to consider when planning vacation is how to get there.

When I plan a vacation more than a one day drive from home (10 car hours), I compare the vacation expenses of driving to the vacation expenses of flying.

We actually enjoy road trip travel , so ten hours in the car isn’t too bad. But, sometimes, when you weigh out all travel expenses, flying is actually cheaper than driving, particularly for smaller families.

How do you calculate travel costs by car?

There are several questions to consider when calculating road trip costs:

  • Will you have a rental car or be driving your own vehicle? If you’ll be using a car rental, estimate the cost. (For business travel, ask your tax professional which is best for your situation.) Here’s a great rental car savings site !
  • How much will gas cost. I used to calculate this myself, but the Fuel Economy Trip Calculator from the US EPA is a whole lot easier! Answer a few questions, and it calculates road trip gas costs for you.
  • Then add in costs for toll roads if needed. This link helps make that easy.  
  • We calculate $25/person for all day road trips (2 meals), unless we pack a cooler to save on food costs. Remember to calculate costs for getting home, too.
  • Add overnight hotel lodging (if needed for the length of the trip). We use hotel savings sites to book inexpensive rooms along our route to keep this travel expense down.
  • Consider the cost of parking your car during your trip. In major cities, you’ll likely have to pay to park your car even at the hotel, so it helps to budget that cost in.

Once you have each of these numbers, add them up for a good road trip cost estimate.

How do you calculate air travel costs?

To decide if it might be better to fly to your destination, also consider the time involved. If you only have a few days, it might be better to fly so you have more time to enjoy at your destination. For corporate travel, knowing air travel costs is helpful to determine business travel expenses.

Here’s the step by step process to determine air travel costs:

  • Time of day can affect cost — Early morning and late evening flights tend to be cheaper, if that time of day works for your travel needs.
  • Different airlines have different prices — Finding an airline with a direct hub to your destination is often cheaper (and quicker) than if you need to make connections.
  • Consider costs from nearby airports — Sometimes you can save a lot by traveling a bit further from home. Years ago, we flew to Paris from Washington, DC (5 hours from our home) because it saved us more than $1,000 on airfare. On a trip where every dollar mattered, that was a huge savings!
  • Add in the cost of checked luggage. (Airlines charge $25-$50 for each checked bag unless you get a free checked bag as a perk with an affiliated credit card. I use American Express to get free checked luggage on Delta, which has a hub at my home airport.)
  • Factor in daily parking at the airport. I use $10/day for easy math.
  • Add in the cost of airport transfers to the hotel or the cost of rental car for the trip.

Once you estimate each of these four costs, total them up for a good estimate of travel flight costs.

You would use the same process for train tickets and public transportation instead of flights and car rental/airport transfers. When we go to New York City, we use public transportation and save a lot of money over car transfers or rental cars!

Where you stay on vacation can have a great impact on your vacation budget.

Consider a variety of hotel options as you calculate travel costs: hotel brands, amenities offered and location related to what you want to do when deciding your vacation budget.

Using a hotel comparison site like Trivago , you can quickly compare hotels to find the best one for your needs.

AN EXAMPLE: We are taking a cruise vacation, and want to stay at a hotel the night before the cruise. We considered hotels near the cruise port in Tampa, but the cheapest we found was close to $300 per night. We looked at hotels about an hour away (along our road trip travel route), and found an overnight stay for about $120, including a full hot breakfast. The hour drive to the cruise port won’t be hard the morning of the cruise, and we save about $180!

When you estimate travel expenses, remember resort fees. Some hotels charge a daily resort fee, especially hotels that offer extra amenities like a lazy river, playgrounds or sauna. Many hotels charge a daily fee for WiFi and/or parking. Add those costs to your travel expenses worksheet.

Here’s an example in a post I wrote about hotels near Carowinds . It’s a detailed example of what I do when selecting hotels for my personal family vacation. And, when you see hotel recommendations on this site, I try to include the information you need to quickly determine if it’s a good fit for your trip.

You might not be able to estimate food costs exactly, but you can calculate travel costs for dining based on how you usually spend money at restaurants.

  • If your family spends $100 when you eat out, budget $100 for every meal you will be eating at a restaurant.
  • If you eat quick meals on the go and/or carry snacks, you might be able to budget less.
  • And, if you like to enjoy a bottle of wine or a couple of beers at dinner, the costs go up.
  • Simply put: You know your restaurant spending habits. Use that number to calculate vacation expenses for dining.

As a general rule (before 2022 when food costs skyrocketed), we factor $100/day for a family of four if breakfast is included at the hotel. We usually grab quick meals between sightseeing adventures on vacation and plan only one or two “nice” restaurant meals.

We increase it to $150/day if breakfast is not included. In major cities and at theme parks, we increase our budget by $50/day for a total of $200/day.

Look at theme park restaurant menus or do an internet search of restaurants at your destination if you have specific restaurants in mind.

What do you plan to do on vacation? Make a list and estimate costs for tickets and parking.

Consider these attraction costs:

  • Theme park tickets (multiday tickets are cheaper than single day tickets),
  • Theater tickets
  • Game tickets (NFL, MLB, etc)
  • Concert tickets
  • Museum admission costs
  • National park admission fees
  • Bike, kayak, or other adventure rental costs
  • Ferry costs
  • Mass transit costs (subway or metro tickets)

There are lots of ways to save on the cost of attraction tickets. We use them for all our vacations to save big on the cost of attractions:

  • UndercoverTourist: This is a great site to save on theme park tickets, especially in Orlando and Los Angeles. I always check here for theme park tickets. (We saved about $400 using UndercoverTourist on a trip to Universal Orlando compared to what we would have paid directly back in 2018).
  • CityPASS: Use CityPASS to save up to 50% on attraction admission in major cities. We have used CityPASS in Atlanta, New York City, San Francisco and Tampa. It’s the first place I check for big city travel savings.
  • GetYourGuide: This is a tour site I like to use to save on food tours, adventure tours and city tours. GetYourGuide offers some of the best tour options at a savings compared to rack rate. It has United States and international offerings, and can be good for cruise shore excursions, too.
  • TripAdvisor: If you aren’t sure what you want to do, TripAdvisor is a good place to start. See what’s available. But, compare prices before you book! The other links I share tend to save me more than if I book through TripAdvisor.

Once you have decided what you want to do on vacation, total up the cost of all the tickets to get a good estimate of your entertainment costs.

Now that you’ve crunched the numbers for each aspect of vacation, total them up, and that’s your vacation estimate. Don’t forget travel insurance , if you think you’ll need it.

If the total cost is higher than you want to spend, look at your options to see how you can save. Like I explained above, we cut our air travel costs to Paris by $1,000 by choosing a different airport with a direct flight. Or, see if you can get discount tickets to save on attractions.

With this vacation cost estimator, you can adjust to save on travel costs if you need to. Or, if you have a dream trip in mind, you can use this tool to plan and budget for it.

As promised, here is your FREE Vacation Cost Estimator Tool ! <– click on that and it will open! Use it to calculate travel expenses for your vacation, and you’ll know your vacation budget before you go.

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How to budget for your trip, build a travel budget before you hit the road..

October 19, 2022 | 3 min read

Planning a big trip can be stressful, especially when you’re trying to do it on a budget. But knowing what you can afford, what you’ll need to spend and how to avoid overspending can help maximize the fun and minimize the stress. Here are a few ideas for building a travel expenses budget so you can feel as good about your finances as you do about your itinerary.

Start at home

If you don’t stick to an overall spending budget, you may find it hard to build and keep a travel budget. So start by figuring out exactly how you spend at home, making sure you have enough left over each month to put away in a savings account . If you don’t, search your budget for places to save. If you’re spending too much on á la carte workout classes or a gym membership, try online workout classes or free forms of exercise like running, biking and hiking to help keep costs down. Or hunt your bank statement for subscriptions , digital or otherwise, that you never use and cancel them. Once you’ve started padding your savings account, you’ll feel more confident about planning a big trip and building a budget for it.

Analyze that spending

The simplest way to figure out what you’ll spend on a trip is to look hard at where your money went on a previous trip. Using the website or app for your bank and credit cards, find every expenditure related to the trip, from your airfare to your cab ride home from the airport. Include things you bought for your trip (like new walking shoes or sunscreen) and things you bought during your trip (like souvenirs or dinner). Then, build a spreadsheet that summarizes what you spent in each category. It’s not the most fun evening activity, but analyzing past spending will offer a glimpse into how much you spent on food, drinks, taxis and other categories, helping you plan for your next trip.

If you’ve never traveled or are traveling abroad for the first time, you can still plan your travel budget. Using the categories in the next section and a little online sleuthing, you can do your best to estimate your trip costs. On your next trip, consider getting receipts as emails whenever possible, and take photos of your paper receipts. It can help you analyze your spending the next time around.

What travel expenses to budget for

If you’re not an experienced traveler, you may not know exactly how to budget for travel. So, start with categories. Imagine your trip from start to finish, focusing on how you’ll spend money along the way. As you go, create a travel budget worksheet that puts your spending into buckets. Those buckets will depend on where you’re traveling and how you like to travel. Planning an all-inclusive beach vacation will require different categories than a trip to a national park. But generally, the categories in your trip budget should include:

  • Transportation. This includes how you get to and from your destination and how you get around when you get there. These days, many people are opting out of airplanes and trains in favor of more personal forms of travel, like rental cars. Make sure you’re taking these choices into consideration when you budget for things like gas, food pit stops, and prepping your car for a lot of road time. Then check out your options for how you’ll travel when you arrive—taxis, Lyfts, public transportation or just walking. It could be a good idea to add in some cushion in case your transportation needs shift once you get there.
  • Lodging, including taxes and fees. This could be a big chunk of change, but luckily, you should know exactly how much it is before you leave.
  • Food and drink. This depends on a lot of factors, including how you like to eat, where you’re traveling and how much you expect to tip. If you’re more comfortable grabbing take out or getting delivery, make sure you’re taking those extra fees into account.
  • Activities like museum tickets, tours, excursions, golf outings, etc.
  • Souvenirs—anything you might buy on your trip that you wouldn’t buy at home.

Look for places to save

Once you see how you spend, you may discover that traveling costs a lot more than you realize. If so, you may want to try traveling more cheaply.

Say your last trip included hundreds of dollars in spending on Lyft or taxis. Price out what it would cost to rent a car for the length of your trip, which is often the cheaper option.

Maybe your dinner bills regularly reached $100 on your last trip. Use local food blogs and magazines to seek out small, local eateries and street food vendors that will capture the local flavor while keeping your dinner tab manageable. Also consider staying near a farmers market or small grocery store, so you can try your hand at cooking meals with local ingredients.

Airfare often is the biggest expenditure on a trip budget, and right now, a lot of people just don’t feel comfortable with it. Instead, think about traveling by car. If you’re traveling with friends, make sure you’re keeping track of gas usage so you can split the cost later. Scope out the parking situation beforehand so you know where you can safely leave your car without racking up too high of a garage fee or getting an unexpected parking ticket.

Consider a staycation instead. If traveling away from home is something you don’t feel comfortable with right now or if it just isn’t in your current budget, planning a staycation could be a good alternative. You can still plan fun activities around the neighborhood, get your favorite take-out or go to your favorite local spot, or even set up a tent in the backyard. Finding some R&R with a staycation can give you the feeling of getting away, while being a lighter touch on your budget.

Adjust on the fly

Analyzing your spending after one trip might help you plan for the next. But it won’t keep you from sticking to your budget while you’re traveling. So, if money is tight, consider tracking your spending while you travel and comparing it daily against your trip budget planner.

One way to rein in your spending is to designate a daily budget for food, drinks and other costs. You may even set aside that amount in cash each day, so you know exactly how much you spend. Just be sure to bring along a debit card or credit card in case of an emergency.

Then, every afternoon, when you’re not wiped out but can use a short break, take a few minutes to see what you’ve spent. If you’ve overspent on food or drinks, consider something lighter for dinner. If you’ve already hit your target for activity spending, plan your next day around free sights. If you’re traveling somewhere that allows access to your favorite banking or budgeting app , use that. If not, bring a printout of your budget and just jot down what you spend in a notebook, then take a few minutes to compare.

If you stay on top of things, you might find it easier to stay on budget until your head hits the pillow the second you arrive home. You may even find that you have enough left over to start planning your next big adventure.

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The summer travel season is picking up, and with this increase in demand comes higher prices on everything from airfare to hotel rooms and more.

At the same time, high inflation continues to impact travel , making budgeting more important than ever. Even if you’re using travel credit cards to offset some of the costs, it’s important to have a budget for all other expenses.

Whether you’re traveling alone or with a group, it can be challenging to track costs and avoid overspending. Luckily, you don’t have to do this entirely on your own. There are lots of great trip budget planner apps that will help you plan travel and track your budget. Some of them even make it easy to coordinate with a large group and split expenses evenly.

If that sounds right up your alley, you’ll want to review our seven best apps to help you travel on a budget:

Best travel budget apps

With so many great travel budget apps on the market, you might be wondering which one to get. It really comes down to your travel style and needs. Are you traveling solo or with a group? Do you need a simple budget tracker or do you want planning tools? There’s something out there for everyone, but here are the best options:

Managing your expenses when you’re traveling for work can be challenging. Expensify lets you track your travel expenses easily. This app lets you upload and share receipts with your accounting team for reimbursement.

If you’re merely tracking expenses for tax purposes, Expensify offers several handy tools. The GPS calculator automatically tracks your eligible mileage for you, so you don’t have to enter it manually. The app also lets you create expense reports by scanning receipts or entering time worked, for billing purposes.

Sign-up is super easy. All you have to do is provide your email address to set up an Expensify account. You can start using the app immediately, which is free for most users. A “Collect” account, which includes accounting and payroll tools, costs $5 per month. Meanwhile, a “Control” account costs $9 per month and allows for multiple approvers, setting expense policies and custom reporting tools.

When you sign up for Expensify, you can get a seven-day free trial of the Collect and Control memberships.

PocketGuard

PocketGuard markets itself as the “#1 budgeting app for college students and overspenders,” but it’s actually a great vacation budget planner as well. That’s because the app uses the “in my pocket” feature to calculate how much disposable income you have available. You can then allocate this towards your travel budget.

All you have to do is provide your income and spending information. PocketGuard will calculate your disposable income accordingly. Vacation planning may not be a priority for you if you’re in debt, but PocketGuard will recommend a strategy for paying it off in the most efficient way. You can use PocketGuard to set financial goals, save money and plan for future travel as a reward.

If you’re a seasoned business traveler, you may already be familiar with the Concur suite (and in some cases, you may be required by your employer to use it). If you aren’t, get ready to meet one of the most robust, full-featured business travel solutions available today.

Within the SAP Concur suite, you’ll find separate modules for managing travel plans and submitting reimbursement requests for travel-related expenses. Concur Expense’s ExpenseIt app for travel expenses makes it easy to take pictures of your paper receipts and automatically categorize them to submit as expense reports. Meanwhile, Concur Travel lets you book your own business travel or make arrangements with your company’s preselected carriers, hotels, and other providers.

SAP Concur offers travel management solutions for organizations of all sizes — from small businesses to enterprise leaders. Business owners and managers can try Concur Expense and Concur Travel for free; individual users who have access to these tools through their employer can download the iOS or Google Play app to get started.

If you’re traveling with a group, it’s not always practical for each person to pay for their own expenses. Pulling out multiple credit cards to cover the group dinner bill is possible, but booking group tours and even airfare can be a hassle when done individually. That’s where Splitwise comes in. The app lets users track shared expenses and the balance owed by each person. This transparency can make it much easier to determine who owes what at the end of a group trip.

Simply download the free app, add group members and each of you can enter shared expenses as they occur. The app will divide up the total equally among all group members. PayPal and Venmo are both integrated into the app, allowing you to seamlessly settle up at the end of the trip.

Bachelorette parties can be challenging in so many ways, but the BACH app simplifies things with budgeting and planning tools designed to make bachelorette parties less stressful. Users can budget, plan and book all activities associated with their bachelorette party. You can even add your friends to the app to communicate and make planning decisions easier, as well as divide up expenses in the app.

While BACH is marketed around bachelorette parties, you can use it to book any type of group activity in participating cities. Use it to plan your girls’ getaway, Friendsgiving, reunion or virtually any other excuse to gather close friends. The BACH app is free to use, though there is a processing fee when you make a booking.

Trabee Pocket

The Trabee Pocket app provides both budget and expense tracking in a user-friendly interface. Trabee lets you set a budget and then enter your expenses to track how much you’re spending in different categories. The app also provides currency conversion, so you can get an accurate sense of your spending.

At the end of your trip, you can even export your expense data to a PDF or CSV file for future budgeting and tax purposes. Overall, this is a solid app if you want a free spending tracker app. Trabee is available on iOS and the Google Play store.

The great thing about Tripcoin is that you can use it without an internet connection, which is especially important if you’re traveling through remote areas. The app’s Dropbox integration also makes it possible to back up your data in case you lose your phone.

Tripcoin’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to set up a trip and break down your spending each day by expense category. You can find out how much you’re spending on transportation, meals, activities and other travel expenses, making it a great way to stay accountable and on top of your budget at each destination.

Tripcoin supports over 150 currencies, converging your spending automatically based on current exchange rates. This ensures accuracy in your budget tracking and ensures you don’t have to perform this tedious task yourself.

The bottom line

With the summer travel season on the upswing, having a travel budget tracker is more important than ever. Planning a vacation on a budget is one thing, but sticking to it can be very challenging. By utilizing some of these apps, you can stay on budget, cut down on unnecessary expenses and plan your travels more efficiently .

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Travel Budget Worksheet

Are you planning a major trip? Will you be able to stay within your budget? Rather than just spending without a plan and then dealing with the debt for the next few years, use our travel budget template to list your travel expenses. It will help you estimate your total travel costs and see if you will be able to take your trip without going over budget.

Travel Budget Worksheet | Travel Cost Estimator

License : Private Use (not for distribution or resale)

Authors: Jon Wittwer and Jim Wittwer

Description

This travel budget template makes it easy to enter your travel expenses for your next trip. The top section allows you to set a total budget, and as you enter your travel costs you can quickly see where the money is going, how much extra you'll have, or how much you'll need to add to your budget.

The worksheet is set up to let you enter a quantity and unit cost for each item. For example, for lodging you can enter the number of nights you will be staying and the cost per night. If you will be driving rather than flying, you can enter the total miles and the cost per mile. Remember to include both fuel and wear as part of the cost (see the link below for what the IRS uses as the standard mileage rate - $0.56/mile in 2014).

Additional Resources

  • Be sure to check out our Travel Itinerary and Packing List templates.
  • IRS Publication showing Standard Mileage Rates at irs.gov - You might consider using the standard mileage rate if you are estimating the cost of driving.
  • Tips for Creating a Budget for Travel at wikihow.com - This article is actually a really good resource to help you remember what to consider when budgeting for a trip.

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Travel expenses list: A guide to managing your travel budget

Explore our travel expenses list and learn how to optimize your travel budget. Stay organized, track your spending, and make informed decisions with Accrue.

Travel expenses list: A guide to managing your travel budget

A travel expenses list is essential for mapping and managing your travel budget. It helps ensure you don’t overspend or underestimate the cost of your trip. You can keep track of planned and unplanned expenses, ensuring they fit within your overall budget.

Unfortunately, for most travelers, budgeting isn’t easy. The cost of airfare, accommodation, and meals vary greatly and can quickly add up. Without an organized strategy in place, it’s all too easy to blow your budget and end up with a mountain of debt.

Learn in this comprehensive guide the basics of creating a travel expenses list, including transportation, accommodations, food & beverage, and activities, and offer advice on saving money while traveling.

1. Transportation

Transportation costs refer to all your costs of moving from point A to point B. They account for the biggest chunk of most travel budgets and include:

Many travelers, especially those traveling for business purposes, prefer booking flights due to convenience, speed, and cost-effectiveness. Airfare is the amount you pay for the plane ticket and can vary greatly depending on the airline, route, and time of year. However, there are other additional airport expenses, such as luggage, taxes, and transfers you must factor into your budget. 

Car rental and gas

You may need a rental car at the destination to help you get around, especially if you plan to explore the area and take side trips. Depending on where you’re going and for how long, renting a car might be more cost-effective than using public transportation, taxis, or rideshares — factor in the rental cost, insurance, and gas. 

Other additional fees include parking fees, tolls, and pit stops on the road. If you’ll be driving a lot, look into getting a fuel-efficient car and research the average cost of gas in the area.

Public transit

Public transportation is typically the cheapest way to get around a city, especially if you plan on taking multiple trips. It includes subways, buses, ferries, and trains, each with its own rate. Buses, metro, and train tickets vary in price depending on the region. 

Consider buying a day pass or multipass to save transport money if you plan on taking multiple trips. Most cities also offer rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, which can be more cost-effective than driving a personal vehicle. Research the public transit options available at your destination to see which fits your budget.

Parking fees and tolls

If you plan to drive a lot during your trip, you might have to pay parking fees and tolls. Parking fees vary depending on the city and are usually hourly or daily. Some cities have free street parking but most paid lots and garages charge a fee. 

Tolls are charges for using certain roads and bridges. You can pay the tolls in advance or use a toll pass for the duration of your trip. Other expenses associated with car rentals include insurance, gas, and repairs.

2. Accommodations

Accommodation expenses are the costs of staying at a place during your trip. They include hotel stays, Airbnb rentals, hostels, and campsites. The prices vary depending on the accommodation type, amenities, and location — research various options to determine what works best for your budget.

Hotels and resorts

Hotels and resorts are the most common option for short-term stays. They can range from budget-friendly motels to luxurious five-star hotels and offer a range of amenities like swimming pools, spas, saunas, and fitness centers. 

Their prices depend on the location, star rating, and amenities. You will incur additional fees for hotel room service, extra beds, laundry, and other services. Book in advance or use hotel rewards and loyalty programs to save money .

Bed and breakfast (B&B) expenses

Bed and breakfast establishments offer a more affordable and intimate experience than hotels. They can range from private rooms in someone’s home to luxurious properties with multiple bedrooms. 

Prices usually include bed and breakfast, but you may be charged for extra amenities like housekeeping, dry cleaning, and Wi-Fi. Unlike hotels, you’ll be dealing directly with the owner, so it’s essential to read reviews and ask questions before booking.

Meal expenses also account for a considerable chunk of your travel budget, so it’s important to plan ahead and budget accordingly. How much money you spend on food depends on where you’re going, the type of food you like, and how often you plan to eat out. 

Local cuisine is usually the cheapest option, so find places that offer authentic dishes. Bringing snacks such as nuts, energy bars, and trail mix is always a good idea. You can save money by snacking instead of buying expensive meals. Ordinary meal expenses include:

Restaurants and dining out

Restaurant dining is the most common way to eat while on vacation or a business trip, but it can be costly. Prices vary depending on the type of restaurant, cuisine, and location. Fine dining establishments charge premium prices for their food and drinks, while casual eateries and fast food joints are more affordable. Check out local restaurants and read reviews before going out. Deals such as discounts for early birds or happy hours are creative ways to help you save on these expenses.

Street food and vendors

Street food is a popular option for travelers who want to indulge in the local culture and cuisine. Street vendors often serve traditional dishes at low prices. You can find food carts or stalls selling sandwiches, kebabs, tacos, and other dishes. However, be mindful of food safety and hygiene protocols to avoid getting sick. Research average prices for the area to make sure you’re not being overcharged.

Coffee and beverages

Coffee and beverages are usually the least expensive items on the menu. You can find coffee shops and cafes selling specialty drinks, like lattes, cappuccinos, and frappuccinos, at a fraction of the price of restaurants. 

Most places also offer tea, smoothies, juices, and other non-alcoholic drinks. Local markets will usually have cheaper options for bottled water and other beverages. For alcoholic drinks, look for local breweries, pubs, and bars and take advantage of happy hours and specials to save money.

Tipping and service charges

Tipping is common in many countries and is expected for certain services, such as restaurant meals and hotel stays. The tip amount varies depending on the quality of service and local customs. It’s usually 15-20% for a meal, but you can check with the restaurant or your server if in doubt. 

Service charges come with the bill and should be indicated on the menu. Allocate a portion of your travel budget to cover tips and service charges. Staff at hotels, restaurants, and other establishments rely on tips for their income, so be generous when you can.

4. Activities and entertainment

A vacation wouldn’t be complete without some fun and entertainment. You can find inexpensive or free activities to do depending on where you’re traveling. Museums, galleries, and other cultural attractions are usually free or have discounted admission for students and seniors. Typical expenses for activities and entertainment:

Sightseeing and attractions

Sightseeing is a big part of many people’s travel plans. Historical and cultural attractions, like monuments, churches, and museums, are usually the most popular sightseeing destinations. You can also visit theme parks, zoos, aquariums, and art galleries. 

Prices vary depending on the type of attraction, and access passes are usually cheaper than buying tickets for individual attractions. You can pay a small fee to take historical tours from locals, while in certain cities, free walking tours are also available.

Organized tours and excursions

The best and most fun-filled way to see a new place is to join an organized tour or excursion. Most cities have tours that take you to the must-see sights and attractions but you can also book day trips to castles, vineyards, or nature reserves. 

An organized tour covers entrance fees, transport, and sometimes meals. Compare rates and read customer reviews to find the best value for your money.

Outdoor activities

Outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and water sports are great ways to explore the local landscape. Many national parks and forests have trails for biking, horseback riding, and climbing. 

Some parks offer guided tours with experienced instructors. The guided tours usually include equipment rentals and safety gear, but you may incur park entrance or permit fees for certain activities.

Shows and performances

If you’re looking for a bit of culture, shows, and performances are a great way to spend an evening. Theaters and opera houses often have discounted prices for matinee shows or special performances. 

If you’re staying in a city, look out for street performers and enjoy free outdoor concerts. Cinemas are usually cheaper than live performances, so you can taste the local culture without breaking your budget.

Spa and wellness

Spa treatments are a great way to re-energize after a long flight or an intense sightseeing session. Some hotels offer complimentary spa treatments, while others have special deals for guests. 

Try a local massage parlor or a yoga studio if you want something more affordable. You will pay from a few dollars to hundreds, depending on your chosen services. Spa services usually include massages, facials, saunas, and steam rooms.

5. Shopping and souvenirs

Bringing back souvenirs is a fun part of any trip, but it can be easy to overspend on gifts for yourself and your loved ones. The cost of souvenirs depends on where you’re traveling and the type of item you want to buy. It’s common to bargain or haggle for lower prices in some places. Research the local currency and market prices to avoid getting ripped off. 

Travelers should also be aware of import laws and customs regulations. There may be restrictions on certain items such as food, alcohol, and tobacco.

6. Emergency and unprecedented expenses

Despite how well you plan your trip, there may be unexpected costs. Unforeseen events, such as a life-threatening medical emergency or natural disaster, can result in high expenses. Budget for emergency funds and purchase travel insurance to cover any medical costs or unexpected losses. 

Carry enough cash for emergencies, and use a debit or credit card for international purchases. Also, double-check your documents to ensure you have all the necessary visas and permits before your trip.

7. Currency exchange rates

Exchange rates make a huge difference when transferring money or paying in foreign currency. Compare current rates with those from the booking time to ensure you get the best deal. Check with your local bank or credit card provider for their rates and fees. 

You can also look up online currency converter tools to see how much you spend in your home currency. Be aware of hidden charges when exchanging money. Such hidden charges include ATM fees, commissions, and other administrative costs that can quickly add up.

Tips for managing travel expenses

Proper travel expense management is critical to a successful and enjoyable trip. Planning ahead and budgeting for each expense will help you manage your travel expenses.

Set daily spending limits and monitor your expenses

Estimate your total budget for the trip and then divide it into daily spending limits. This will help you stay on budget while still allowing you to enjoy the activities and attractions. Monitor your personal expenses throughout the trip to ensure you don’t exceed the budget.

Save money on product purchases with Accrue Savings

Saving money for travel expenses is a challenging feat. Juggling everyday expenses while saving for a trip can be overwhelming. Accrue Savings is a great way to save money for travel without having to scrimp and sacrifice everyday items. 

This easy-to-use service allows you to save money for travel expenses by automatically putting aside a portion of your everyday purchases. You only need to create a free Accrue account, fund your wallet, and track your progress. And there is no set amount you must contribute — save as little as $1 weekly or $50 monthly, depending on your flexibility.

Book everything in advance

Book flights, accommodations, and activities in advance to get the best deals and save on travel costs. Check for airline discounts or hotel loyalty programs, and watch for last-minute discounts and deals on attractions and activities.

Traveling during the off-peak season

Flights and accommodation prices tend to be higher during the peak season. Consider traveling during the off-peak season when prices are lower. Hotels usually offer discounts or special packages during this time, saving you money on accommodations. You may have to sacrifice some activities due to fewer available options, but you’ll get more bang for your buck.

Keep an eye out for discounts

Take advantage of discounts and special deals to save on out-of-pocket expenses. Look for coupons, student or senior discounts, and loyalty club memberships that offer discounts on activities and attractions. You can also find discount codes for car rentals, restaurants, and other services online. Business travel expenses, for instance, may be tax-deductible depending on your situation.

Save intelligently on your purchases Accrue Savings

Poor budgeting decisions can quickly put a damper on your trip. Accrue Savings provides a smart and easy way to save money for travel expenses while avoiding the risk of overspending.

It’s a great way to keep your travel expenses in check without missing out on the fun. Once you sign up and fund your wallet, you can track your progress and watch your savings grow. You will also earn rewards along the way to help you realize your travel dreams quickly. 

Register today and check out our partners to earn money toward your future travel expenses and purchases.

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Topic no. 511, Business travel expenses

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Travel expenses are the ordinary and necessary expenses of traveling away from home for your business, profession, or job. You can't deduct expenses that are lavish or extravagant, or that are for personal purposes.

You're traveling away from home if your duties require you to be away from the general area of your tax home for a period substantially longer than an ordinary day's work, and you need to get sleep or rest to meet the demands of your work while away.

Generally, your tax home is the entire city or general area where your main place of business or work is located, regardless of where you maintain your family home. For example, you live with your family in Chicago but work in Milwaukee where you stay in a hotel and eat in restaurants. You return to Chicago every weekend. You may not deduct any of your travel, meals or lodging in Milwaukee because that's your tax home. Your travel on weekends to your family home in Chicago isn't for your work, so these expenses are also not deductible. If you regularly work in more than one place, your tax home is the general area where your main place of business or work is located.

In determining your main place of business, take into account the length of time you normally need to spend at each location for business purposes, the degree of business activity in each area, and the relative significance of the financial return from each area. However, the most important consideration is the length of time you spend at each location.

You can deduct travel expenses paid or incurred in connection with a temporary work assignment away from home. However, you can't deduct travel expenses paid in connection with an indefinite work assignment. Any work assignment in excess of one year is considered indefinite. Also, you may not deduct travel expenses at a work location if you realistically expect that you'll work there for more than one year, whether or not you actually work there that long. If you realistically expect to work at a temporary location for one year or less, and the expectation changes so that at some point you realistically expect to work there for more than one year, travel expenses become nondeductible when your expectation changes.

Travel expenses for conventions are deductible if you can show that your attendance benefits your trade or business. Special rules apply to conventions held outside the North American area.

Deductible travel expenses while away from home include, but aren't limited to, the costs of:

  • Travel by airplane, train, bus or car between your home and your business destination. (If you're provided with a ticket or you're riding free as a result of a frequent traveler or similar program, your cost is zero.)
  • The airport or train station and your hotel,
  • The hotel and the work location of your customers or clients, your business meeting place, or your temporary work location.
  • Shipping of baggage, and sample or display material between your regular and temporary work locations.
  • Using your car while at your business destination. You can deduct actual expenses or the standard mileage rate, as well as business-related tolls and parking fees. If you rent a car, you can deduct only the business-use portion for the expenses.
  • Lodging and non-entertainment-related meals.
  • Dry cleaning and laundry.
  • Business calls while on your business trip. (This includes business communications by fax machine or other communication devices.)
  • Tips you pay for services related to any of these expenses.
  • Other similar ordinary and necessary expenses related to your business travel. (These expenses might include transportation to and from a business meal, public stenographer's fees, computer rental fees, and operating and maintaining a house trailer.)

Instead of keeping records of your meal expenses and deducting the actual cost, you can generally use a standard meal allowance, which varies depending on where you travel. The deduction for business meals is generally limited to 50% of the unreimbursed cost.

If you're self-employed, you can deduct travel expenses on Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Business (Sole Proprietorship) , or if you're a farmer, on Schedule F (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Farming .

If you're a member of the National Guard or military reserve, you may be able to claim a deduction for unreimbursed travel expenses paid in connection with the performance of services as a reservist that reduces your adjusted gross income. This travel must be overnight and more than 100 miles from your home. Expenses must be ordinary and necessary. This deduction is limited to the regular federal per diem rate (for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses) and the standard mileage rate (for car expenses) plus any parking fees, ferry fees, and tolls. Claim these expenses on Form 2106, Employee Business Expenses and report them on Form 1040 , Form 1040-SR , or Form 1040-NR as an adjustment to income.

Good records are essential. Refer to Topic no. 305 for information on recordkeeping. For more information on these and other travel expenses, refer to Publication 463, Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car Expenses .

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Russia Travel Budget - Visit Russia on a Budget or Travel in Style

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  • Is Russia Expensive?
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  • How much does it cost to travel to Russia? (Average Daily Cost)
  • Russia trip costs: one week, two weeks, one month

Is Russia expensive to visit?

  • How much do I need for a trip to Russia?
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How much does it cost to travel to Russia?

You should plan to spend around $67 (₽5,984) per day on your vacation in Russia. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $14 (₽1,271) on meals
  • $5.22 (₽464) on local transportation
  • $62 (₽5,490) on hotels

A one week trip to Russia for two people costs, on average, $943 (₽83,773) . This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Travel Style: All Budget (Cheap) Mid-Range Luxury (High-End)
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day $ 67 ₽ 5,984
  • One Week Per person $ 472 ₽ 41,886
  • 2 Weeks Per person $ 943 ₽ 83,773
  • One Month Per person $ 2,021 ₽ 179,513
  • One Week For a couple $ 943 ₽ 83,773
  • 2 Weeks For a couple $ 1,886 ₽ 167,546
  • One Month For a couple $ 4,042 ₽ 359,026

How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Russia cost?

A one week trip to Russia usually costs around $472 (₽41,886) for one person and $943 (₽83,773) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Russia on average costs around $943 (₽83,773) for one person and $1,886 (₽167,546) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Russia will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Russia on average costs around $2,021 (₽179,513) for one person and $4,042 (₽359,026) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.

Independent Travel

Traveling Independently has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Russia is a reasonably affordable destination to visit. It is in the top 25% of countries in the world for its affordability . If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.

Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Russia is reasonably affordable compared to the other countries. It is in the top 25% of countries in Europe for its affordability . You can find more affordable countries such as Ukraine, but there are also more expensive countries, such as Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands.

For more details, see Is Russia Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Russia?

The average Russia trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Russia travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.

Accommodation Budget in Russia

Average daily costs.

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Russia is $31 (₽2,745). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Russia is $62 (₽5,490). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.

  • Accommodation 1 Hotel or hostel for one person $ 31 ₽ 2,745
  • Accommodation 1 Typical double-occupancy room $ 62 ₽ 5,490

Hotel Prices in Russia

Looking for a hotel in Russia? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

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Local Transportation Budget in Russia

The cost of a taxi ride in Russia is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $5.22 (₽464) per person, per day, on local transportation in Russia.

  • Local Transportation 1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc. $ 5.22 ₽ 464

What did other people spend on Local Transportation?

Typical prices for Local Transportation in Russia are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Local Transportation prices in Russia, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

  • Short Taxi Ride ₽ 100
  • Metro Passes ₽ 125
  • Two Metro Passes ₽ 135
  • Taxi Ride ₽ 200
  • Taxi Ride ₽ 500

Food Budget in Russia

While meal prices in Russia can vary, the average cost of food in Russia is $14 (₽1,271) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Russia should cost around $5.72 (₽508) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Russia is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.

  • Food 2 Meals for one day $ 14 ₽ 1,271

What did other people spend on Food?

Typical prices for Food in Russia are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Food prices in Russia, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

  • Breakfast for 2 ₽ 1,000
  • Lunch in the Center Market ₽ 300
  • Lunch (for 2) ₽ 410
  • Quick Lunch for Two ₽ 195
  • Lunch for Two ₽ 430
  • Lunch for Two ₽ 550
  • Tea ₽ 40

Entertainment Budget in Russia

Entertainment and activities in Russia typically cost an average of $15 (₽1,368) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.

  • Entertainment 1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc. $ 15 ₽ 1,368

What did other people spend on Entertainment?

Typical prices for Entertainment in Russia are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Entertainment prices in Russia, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

  • Kremlin Entry (2) ₽ 1,000
  • Hot Springs (for 2) ₽ 400
  • Theater Tickets ₽ 1,150
  • Map Frolikha Adventure Coastline Track ₽ 354

Tips and Handouts Budget in Russia

The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Russia is $0.61 (₽54) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Russia is 5% - 15% .

  • Tips and Handouts 1 For guides or service providers $ 0.61 ₽ 54

Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in Russia

Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in Russia is $1.22 (₽108), as reported by travelers.

  • Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps 1 $ 1.22 ₽ 108

What did other people spend on Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps?

Typical prices for Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps in Russia are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps prices in Russia, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

  • Luggage Storage ₽ 120
  • Luggage Storage ₽ 113

Alcohol Budget in Russia

The average person spends about $9.19 (₽816) on alcoholic beverages in Russia per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.

  • Alcohol 2 Drinks for one day $ 9.19 ₽ 816

Water Budget in Russia

On average, people spend $0.80 (₽71) on bottled water in Russia per day. The public water in Russia is considered safe to drink.

  • Water 2 Bottled water for one day $ 0.80 ₽ 71

Related Articles

Russia on a budget.

Russia

At A Glance

  • For many international travelers, obtaining a visa for Russia can be tricky. It often requires an invitation for travel. These invitations can be bought from travel shops within the country. Make sure you research your options well in advance as acquiring the visa can take time. If you're requesting the visa from a country other than your own the situation can become trickier. It's best to work out the details before you leave home.
  • Train travel is almost always your best option. The roads are often in poor condition, particularly in the more remote areas, and the driving safety record is quite poor. Trains are generally more comfortable, reliable, and safer.
  • Russia has a long standing tradition in music. If you're visiting a city for a few days, try and get tickets to a classical music concert. The orchestras are quite impressive and the theaters are a fun place to experience the local culture.
  • It's important to keep your currency very clean and crisp. It's easier to exchange bills that are not worn or torn. When you're given cash in change, flip through it and make sure the bills are in good condition as well.
  • ATMs are available all cities and most small towns. Some ATMs do not accept foreign cards, so if you're having trouble finding one that does, go into an upscale hotel where you will likely have better luck. Most ATMs also have an English interface as well.

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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works .

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  • CU policies
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New Travel Expenses policy and procedures effective July 1, 2024

On July 1, 2024, a newly revised University Policy 3.2, Travel Expenses , will go into effect with new rules impacting expense reporting. This revision aligns with the new policy framework requirements issued by the Chief Compliance and Privacy Officer, encourages cost-conscious travel practices, and abides by the Internal Revenue Service's Accountable Plan rules for business expenses.

The updated policy now focuses on the core principles or overarching, enduring tenets, while detailed procedures are available on the newly revised Travel website. This separation allows for a more concise policy document and easier access to specific procedural information.

  • University Policy 3.2, Travel Expenses
  • Travel website

DFS Conversations Recap

An overview of the policy changes was presented during the June 11 DFS Conversations session. The recorded session and accompanying resources are available for those who missed it or want a refresher.

  • DFS Conversations

Key Changes

Cost-saving measures are strongly encouraged:

  • Budget implications of sending multiple travelers from one unit to the same event or conference should be discussed with the budget manager or administrative office.
  • Virtual options are encouraged where possible and reasonable for candidate interviews, meetings, and conferences.
  • The use of preferred booking methods and vendors is strongly encouraged.

Changes to what's reimbursable:

  • Fully remote worker travel to campus is restricted to specific distances and circumstances.
  • Gifts in lieu of housing when staying at private residences are not reimbursable.
  • Business and hosted meals while in travel status are reimbursed at 100%, including tax and tip, of the daily per diem rate per person for that location. The rate was previously 150%.
  • Reimbursable and non-reimbursable expense lists have been updated.

Changes to what's taxable to the traveler:

  • Travel expense reports submitted 60 calendar day or more after the travel end date will be taxable. Any late report that results in a reimbursement due to the traveler requires approval by the dean, vice provost, vice president, provost, president, or a direct designee.
  • After 365 days, out-of-pocket expenses will not be reimbursed, and all university-prepaid expenses and T&M card charges will be taxable. Expense reports still must be submitted.
  • Amounts advanced that exceed expenses must be repaid within 120 days of the travel end date, or the amount will be taxable.

Support and Resources

If you have questions about the new policy or procedures, the Shared Services Center (SSC) can help. You can contact them directly or attend one of their Virtual Office Hours on Zoom.

Tags:  policy travel

The dos and don'ts of visiting Russia for the first time

Sep 24, 2021 • 6 min read

Saint Basil's Cathedral in Red Square in winter at sunset, Moscow, Russia.

These top tips can help you make the most of your visit to Russia © MarinaDa / Shutterstock

The world’s largest country beguiles and fascinates with its world-class art, epic landscapes and multifaceted society. You may also find that perseverance  and a sense of humour will go a long way in enriching your first-time Russian travel experience. From the things you absolutely must do before you travel to the things we recommend that you steer clear of once you're there, here are some top tips for avoiding common pitfalls when visiting  Russia .

People stand at a viewpoint looking out at a huge road bridge over a body of water

DO apply for a visa early and register on arrival

Visas must be applied for in advance by all visitors. How you do that varies depending on your nationality and where in Russia you are traveling to. Travelers from many countries, including the UK and US, need to apply in-person at an embassy or consulate and provide biometric data. An e-visa may be an option for passport-holders from 52 countries, which include many EU travelers, as well as those from China, India, Japan, Singapore, and some Middle Eastern countries. However these are temporarily suspended due to COVID-19.  Check with your local Russian embassy or consulate for confirmation, or get up-to-date information here . 

You can apply at the last moment, but it may cost you a fortune. Start the application process at least a month before your trip and consider using a specialist travel agency to arrange visas and make key transport bookings. Every visitor to Russia should have their visa registered within seven days of arrival, excluding weekends and public holidays. The obligation to register is with your hotel or hostel, or landlord, friend or family if you’re staying in a private residence. Also keep in mind that your visa entry and exit dates will be written according to European calendar convention (day/month/year) as opposed to the American style, so don't get mixed up or over-stay your visa. 

A sail boat on a river at night. It has large red sails and is backlit by bright lights

DO check the events calendar

During major holidays – the first week in January (between New Year’s Day and Orthodox Christmas) and the first week or two of May (around Labour Day, or May Day, and Victory Day) – Moscow and St Petersburg empty out. Despite this, both cities are festive during these times, with parades, concerts and other events, but museums and other institutions may have shortened hours or be shut altogether. May to September is the best time to visit St Petersburg but mid-June is when the city is irresistible, with the White Nights revelry at its peak.

The exterior of a large white building with columns in the evening

DO dress up for a night out

We can’t guarantee you’ll make it past Moscow’s "face control" (the term comes from clubs trying to "save face" by only letting in patrons who meet their image standards) but you can better your chances of getting in to the top clubs by making a sartorial effort – high heels and skirts for women, all black for men. Russians also make an effort when they go to the theater or a posh restaurant – you should do likewise to fit in.

A street sign with Cyrillic writing on the side of a building

DO learn the Cyrillic alphabet

Making an effort to familiarize yourself with the Cyrillic alphabet repays tenfold. It will help you decode street and metro signs, maps, timetables and menus, even if you don't know many Russian phrases. While digital tools like the Russian Metro app  and Google Translate make it easier than ever to visit countries where you don't speak or read the language, brushing up beforehand can reduce frustration and endear you to the locals.

Rideshare options such as Taxovichkoff and Yandex Taxi upended the taxi industry in Russia as much as anywhere else. That means less pressure to know the Russian phrases you'd need to hails cabs in the streets, but it still is wise to learn key phrases in case there's a navigation mixup, like the address of your hotel or intersection of your short-term apartment rental. 

A series of large buildings, the outer one with dark red walls, line a riverside in a city

DO expect to spend your money

Moscow is one of the most expensive cities in the world and St Petersburg is not a cheap destination either; wallet-thinning shock is common at many restaurants and hotels. As a foreigner you’ll also find yourself paying more than a Russian for some museums – often as much as 10 times the price Russians pay. If you’re a student, flashing your ID can save you money at museums and other institutions.

You can save on dining out a few different ways. Many restaurants offer "business lunches" that are great value and very filling. Several years ago the trend for " anti-cafes " cropped up in larger Russian cities, and there are still a few where you pay by the minute for coffee, biscuits, and a little wi-fi time. 

Food markets  that blend farmers markets and food halls are popular, and are often found in architecturally significant vintage buildings. You can shop for ingredients to cook yourself or sample cuisines from around the world from dozens of  vendor stalls. Many food markets are less expensive than sit-down restaurants and let you try a wider variety of local and international dishes. 

A small glass of a clear liquid with a chess board in the background

DON’T ask for a mixer with your vodka

Few traditions in Russia are as sacrosanct as the drinking of vodka , and any foreign notions of drinking it with orange juice or tonic are anathema to your average Russian. If you need something to wash it down, you can chase it with a lemon, a pickle or, perhaps, a separate glass of water. Vodka is drunk in swift shots, not sipped. It’s traditional (and good sense) to eat a little something after each shot, so order some vodka snacks too.

A huge white church with three golden domes on the roof

DON’T be disrespectful in a church

Working churches are open to everyone, but as a visitor you should take care not to disturb any devotions or offend sensibilities. There's no face control, but women should cover their heads and bare shoulders when entering a church. In some monasteries and churches it’s also required for a woman to wear a skirt – wraps are usually available at the door. Men should remove their hats in church and not wear shorts.

DON’T take photos of government buildings

Be very careful about photographing stations, official-looking buildings and any type of military-security structure – if in doubt, don’t snap! Travelers have been arrested and fined for such innocent behaviour.

Two police officers dressed in black walk through a heavily touristed area

DON’T be surprised if you’re stopped by the police

Although new laws were passed in 2011 that ostensibly reconfigured Russia's police and their interactions with the public, it's still wise to carry a photocopy of your passport, visa and registration – not to mention travel documents that indicate how and when you'll return home – and present them when an officer demands to see your documents. You may also see special tourist police near major attractions like the Red Square , who have special training and language skills to assist travelers.

If you're issued a fine, Russian authorities might expect an "unofficial payment" to expedite their service on the spot, as opposed to handling the matter later at the station. Either way, always ask for an official receipt, and consider carrying the phone number for your country's embassy in case matters get more complicated. 

You might also like: How to spend a perfect weekend in Moscow    How to plan and pack for the Trans-Siberian Railway    Beyond the Trans-Siberian: travelling Russia's unexplored northwest by train   

This article was originally published in August 2009.

This article was first published Oct 30, 2019 and updated Sep 24, 2021.

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LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 25: A woman looks at Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers painting at the EY Exhibition: Van Gogh and Britain press day which opens at Tate Britain on March 25, 2019 in London, United Kingdom.  (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

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Retirement planning: how much the average person under 70 spends monthly.

As people move toward retirement age , having a realistic budget is imperative to cover monthly expenses. While everyone has a different financial situation and spending habits, understanding how much the average retiree spends a month allows for smarter planning and a more financially comfortable and stress-free retirement.

Discover More: Retirement Savings: 4 Expenses Retirees Regret Keeping in Their Budgets, According to Experts

Check Out: The Surprising Way You Can Get Guaranteed Retirement Income for Life

The average person 65 years and older spent $4,818 a month in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and retirees should plan on spending the majority of their monthly income on expenses. “Retirees can expect to spend 50% to 80% of their current income in retirement,” Jack B. Murad , CPA, MBT, said.

To help those nearing retirement make informed decisions, GOBankingRates consulted experts who explained how the average retiree spends their monthly income and provided tips on stretching limited funds .

Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them .

Housing, Food and Transportation

It’s no surprise that housing is one of the biggest expenses for retirees. â€śOn average, retirees at 67 spend around $3,800 monthly,” Shawn Plummer, CEO of The Annuity Expert , said.

“This includes housing, healthcare, food and transportation. Housing is typically the largest expense, often consuming 30% to 35% of the budget. Utility costs, property taxes and maintenance fees add to this expense,” he explained.

A tip for retirees trying to cut costs is to downsize to help manage housing costs, Plummer said.

Read Next: 9 Moves for Retirement Planning To Make Now If You’re Worried About the Economy

Another big monthly expense is healthcare. “Healthcare is crucial, often costing $600 to $700 per month,” per Plummer.

“This includes premiums, medications and out-of-pocket expenses. Budgeting for healthcare is essential to avoid financial strain. Long-term care insurance and Medicare supplement plans are also wise considerations.”

Retirement should be about enjoying the rewards of your hard work and seeking new adventures like traveling.

“When managing cash flows for clients under the age of 70, something that is not focused on is that I have yet to see a single client spend less on experiences and travel than they had previously,” Matthew Murawski, financial planner with Goodstein Wealth Management, LLC , said.

“What happens is when people start to retire, they are flooded with all the time in the world to do whatever they want for the first time since they were kids, and the average spending on things like international travel, travel to grandkids, theatre tickets, cruises, etc. ranges from $1,000 to $3,000 per month,” he added.

Grandkids’ College Fund

Another area retirees spend their money on is their grandkids’ college. â€śIn my practice, the average person under 70, in addition to all the known expenses, contributes anywhere from $150 to $500 a month to their grandkids’ college savings plans,” Murawski said.

“Depending on the state of residence, this offers tax benefits in the year of the contribution as well.”

How To Maximize Retirement Savings

Every retiree wants financial security, and while Social Security is a key component of retirement income, “it’s essential to know the exact benefit amount and the best time to start taking it,” Plummer advised.

He also suggested considering delaying Social Security benefits until age 70. “This maximizes your monthly benefit, providing more financial security. Benefits can cover a significant portion of monthly expenses, but relying solely on them isn’t advisable,” he explained. “Supplementing Social Security with pensions, annuities or investment income ensures a more secure retirement.”

Another way to make the most of your monthly retirement income is to consolidate or pay off debt before reaching your golden years.

“Reducing or eliminating high-interest debt can free up more monthly income for essential expenses,” said Plummer. “Entering retirement with minimal debt ensures better financial stability and peace of mind.”

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : Retirement Planning: How Much the Average Person Under 70 Spends Monthly

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The Ultimate Guide to the Trip to Russia Cost in 2024

Author's Profile Picture

by Trip.com

August 8, 2023

travel planning and travel expenses

Planning a trip to Russia? Wondering about the trip to Russia cost? Look no further! In this article, we'll provide you with all the essential information you need to know before embarking on your Russian adventure. Whether you're a first-time traveler or a seasoned explorer, we've got you covered. Our main goal is to help you save money without compromising on the quality of your experience. From finding affordable accommodations to enjoying delicious local cuisine, we've got plenty of tips and tricks up our sleeves. So, let's dive in and discover how you can make the most of your trip to Russia without breaking the bank!

When it comes to the cost of traveling to Russia, it's important to consider various aspects. For a round-trip ticket, flights to Russia can range from approximately $500 to $1,500, depending on your departure location and the time of year. As for accommodation, you'll find a wide range of options to suit every budget. From budget hotels and hostels starting at around $20 per night to luxury hotels that can cost upwards of $200 per night, there's something for everyone.

Fortunately, Russia boasts an extensive and efficient public transportation system, making it easy to get around without breaking the bank. A one-way subway or train ticket typically costs around $0.50 to $1.50, depending on the city. When it comes to dining, you'll find a variety of options to satisfy your taste buds. Budget restaurants offer meals starting at around $5 per person, while mid-range restaurants can range from $10 to $30 per person.

If you're a budget traveler, you can expect to spend around $50 to $70 per day in Russia, excluding accommodation. This budget should cover your meals, transportation, and some activities. On the other hand, if you prefer a more mid-range experience, you can expect to spend around $100 to $150 per day, including accommodation. However, it's important to plan ahead and research activities and costs to create a budget that works for you. By doing so, you can ensure a memorable and affordable trip to Russia!

  • How much does it cost for 2 nights and 3 days when traveling to Russia?

Planning a trip to Russia? Wondering how much it will cost you for a 2-night, 3-day adventure in this fascinating country? Well, the cost can vary depending on various factors such as your travel style, choice of accommodation, transportation, and activities. But don't worry, we've got you covered with a rough estimate of the cost for a budget traveler. So, let's dive in!

travel planning and travel expenses

When it comes to flights, the cost range for a round-trip ticket to Russia from major cities around the world can vary. However, you can expect to spend anywhere between $500 to $1500 in US dollars, depending on your departure location and the time of year you plan to travel.

Now, let's talk about accommodation. If you're on a budget, you'll be pleased to know that there are plenty of affordable options available. Budget hotels in Russia can cost you around $30 to $80 per night, depending on the city and the level of comfort you're looking for. So, for a 2-night stay, you can expect to spend approximately $60 to $160.

Getting around in Russia is relatively affordable, especially if you opt for public transportation. A one-way subway or train ticket can cost you around $0.50 to $2, depending on the city. So, for 3 days of transportation, you can expect to spend roughly $3 to $12.

Now, let's satisfy your taste buds! When it comes to food and drinks, budget travelers have plenty of options. You can enjoy a meal at a budget restaurant for around $5 to $15 per person. If you're looking for even cheaper options, street food and convenience store meals can cost you even less. As for drinks, the prices can vary depending on the type of drink and the location. On average, you can expect to spend around $1 to $5 for a drink. So, for 3 days of food and drinks, you can estimate a cost of approximately $60 to $180.

When it comes to sightseeing and activities, Russia has a lot to offer. Some popular attractions may be free or have a small entrance fee, ranging from $1 to $10 per person. However, if you're looking for more exclusive experiences, there are attractions that can be a bit more expensive, costing you around $20 to $50 per person. So, for 3 days of sightseeing and activities, you can expect to spend roughly $30 to $150.

Now, let's sum it all up! For a budget traveler who wants a 2-night and 3-day trip to Russia, the total cost range can be estimated as follows:

  • Flights: $500 to $1500
  • Accommodation: $60 to $160
  • Transportation: $3 to $12
  • Food and drinks: $60 to $180
  • Sightseeing and activities: $30 to $150

Please note that these are rough estimates and actual costs may vary depending on your travel style, activities, and other expenses. However, we hope this gives you a good starting point to plan your budget for an unforgettable trip to Russia!

  • How much does it cost for flights when traveling to Russia?

Planning a trip to Russia? One of the first things you'll need to consider is the cost of flights. The price can vary depending on several factors, including your departure location, the time of year you plan to travel, the airline you choose, and the availability of tickets. Let's dive into the details and give you a general idea of the cost in US dollars for both one-way and round-trip tickets from major cities around the world to Russia.

When it comes to booking flights, your departure location plays a significant role in determining the cost. If you're flying from a major city like New York or London, you can expect to find a range of options at different price points. On average, one-way tickets from these cities to Russia can cost anywhere from $500 to $1500, depending on the class you choose.

Speaking of classes, the cost of flights can vary significantly based on the level of comfort and luxury you desire. Economy class tickets are generally more affordable, with prices ranging from $500 to $800 for a one-way trip. If you're looking for a bit more legroom and additional amenities, premium economy tickets can cost you around $800 to $1200.

For those who prefer to travel in style, business class tickets are available at a higher price range. Expect to pay anywhere from $1500 to $3000 for a one-way trip, depending on the airline and the level of luxury provided. Finally, if you're looking for the ultimate flying experience, first-class tickets can set you back around $3000 to $5000 for a one-way journey.

It's important to note that these prices are just a general range and can vary based on the time of year you plan to travel. During peak travel seasons, such as summer or holidays, ticket prices tend to be higher due to increased demand. On the other hand, if you're flexible with your travel dates and can opt for off-peak times, you may be able to find more affordable options.

Additionally, the airline you choose can also impact the cost of your flight. Different airlines have different pricing strategies and may offer various deals or promotions. It's always a good idea to compare prices and check for any ongoing discounts before making your final decision.

In conclusion, the cost of flights to Russia can vary depending on factors such as your departure location, time of year, airline, and ticket availability. On average, one-way tickets from major cities around the world to Russia can range from $500 to $1500, depending on the class you choose. Keep in mind that prices may fluctuate based on seasonal demand and airline preferences. Happy planning and enjoy your trip to Russia!

  • How much does it cost for hotels when traveling to Russia?

Planning a trip to Russia? One of the key factors to consider is the cost of accommodation. The price of hotels in this vast country can vary significantly depending on various factors such as location, season, and the type of accommodation you are looking for. Let's dive into the details and explore the cost of hotels in Russia.

travel planning and travel expenses

When it comes to hotels, major cities in Russia tend to be on the pricier side compared to smaller cities or rural areas. For instance, cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg are known for their vibrant culture and historical landmarks, which often translates to higher hotel rates. On the other hand, smaller towns or rural areas offer more affordable options for budget-conscious travelers.

Now, let's talk numbers. In major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, the cost of a mid-range hotel room per night can range anywhere from $100 to $200. If you're looking for a touch of luxury, be prepared to spend around $300 to $500 per night for a high-end hotel experience.

Heading to other cities or smaller towns in Russia? You'll be pleased to know that the hotel prices are generally more budget-friendly. A mid-range hotel room in these areas can cost you around $50 to $100 per night, while a luxury hotel room might range from $150 to $300 per night.

Remember, these price ranges are just estimates and can vary depending on the specific location, season, and availability. It's always a good idea to do thorough research and compare prices before making your final decision.

So, whether you're exploring the bustling streets of Moscow or venturing into the charming countryside, understanding the cost of hotels in Russia will help you plan your budget accordingly.

  • How much does it cost for food when traveling to Russia?

When planning a trip to Russia, it's essential to consider the cost of food and dining. The expenses can vary widely depending on several factors, including the type of food, the restaurant's location, and the level of formality or luxury. So, let's dive into the details and get a sense of what to expect.

travel planning and travel expenses

Food prices in Russia can range significantly depending on where you choose to eat. Whether you're craving street food or fast food, looking for a casual dining experience at a local restaurant, or aiming for a more luxurious meal at a high-end restaurant, there are options for every budget.

For those seeking a quick and affordable bite, street food or fast food joints offer a range of options. Prices can start as low as $3 and go up to around $10 per meal.

If you prefer a more relaxed atmosphere and want to explore local cuisine, casual dining or local restaurants are a great choice. Expect to spend around $10 to $20 per meal, depending on your preferences.

For a slightly more upscale experience, mid-range restaurants in Russia offer a diverse menu with a price range of approximately $20 to $40 per meal. These establishments often provide a balance between quality and affordability.

If you're looking to indulge in a luxurious dining experience, high-end or luxury restaurants in Russia can satisfy your cravings. However, be prepared to spend around $40 or more per meal for this top-notch experience.

Aside from restaurants, there are other affordable options for food in Russia. Convenience stores and supermarkets offer a wide range of products at reasonable prices. This can be an excellent alternative for those looking to save some money or enjoy a picnic in one of Russia's beautiful parks.

Now, let's talk about tipping. In Russia, tipping is not as common as it is in some other countries. However, it is still appreciated to leave a small tip if you receive exceptional service. A general guideline is to leave around 10% of the total bill, but it's entirely up to your discretion.

So, when planning your trip to Russia, keep in mind the various factors that influence the cost of food and dining. From street food to high-end restaurants, there are options for every taste and budget. Don't forget to explore the local cuisine and consider more affordable alternatives like convenience stores and supermarkets. And if you receive outstanding service, a small tip will surely be appreciated. Enjoy your culinary adventures in Russia!

  • How much does it cost for souvenirs when traveling to Russia?

travel planning and travel expenses

Well, let me tell you, the cost of souvenirs in Russia can be as diverse as the country itself. It all depends on what you're looking for, where you're shopping, and the quality of the item. From traditional Matryoshka dolls to intricately painted lacquer boxes, there's something for everyone. If you're on a budget, fear not! You can find small trinkets and keychains for as low as $1 to $5. But if you're looking to splurge, you can find exquisite Fabergé eggs or handcrafted jewelry ranging from $100 to $500. Keep in mind that many souvenir shops in tourist areas have fixed prices, but don't lose hope! In other types of stores like flea markets or antique shops, there may be room for negotiation. So, put on your bargaining hat and get ready to haggle for the best deals. Just remember, the trip to Russia cost doesn't have to break the bank when it comes to souvenirs!

  • How much does it cost for transportation when traveling to Russia?

travel planning and travel expenses

When planning a trip to Russia, it's important to consider the cost of transportation. The expenses can vary depending on the mode of transportation and the distance you plan to travel. Let's take a closer look at the different options available and their associated costs.

Train: Train travel is a popular and convenient way to get around Russia. The cost of train tickets can range from $10 to $100, depending on the distance and the class of the ticket. For example, a ticket from Moscow to St. Petersburg can cost around $50 for a second-class seat.

Subway: Russia's major cities, such as Moscow and St. Petersburg, have efficient subway systems. The cost of a subway ticket is relatively low, usually around $0.50 per ride. This makes it an affordable option for getting around within the city.

Bus: Buses are another affordable mode of transportation in Russia. The cost of a bus ticket can range from $1 to $20, depending on the distance traveled. For example, a bus ride from Moscow to Kazan can cost around $10.

Taxi: Taxis are readily available in Russia, especially in urban areas. The cost of a taxi ride can vary depending on the distance and the time of day. On average, a taxi ride within the city can cost around $5 to $10.

Rental Car: Renting a car gives you the freedom to explore Russia at your own pace. The cost of renting a car can range from $30 to $100 per day, depending on the type of car and the rental company. It's important to factor in additional costs such as fuel and parking fees.

It's worth noting that Russia offers transportation passes and discount tickets for visitors. These passes can be a great value if you plan to do a lot of traveling in a short period. For example, the Moscow CityPass offers unlimited travel on public transportation and free admission to various attractions for a set number of days.

In conclusion, the cost of transportation in Russia can vary depending on the mode of transportation and the distance traveled. It's important to consider your budget and travel plans when choosing the most suitable option. With a bit of research and planning, you can navigate Russia's transportation system without breaking the bank.

  • How much does it cost for sightseeing when traveling to Russia?

Planning a trip to Russia? Wondering how much it will cost to explore the beautiful sights and attractions? Well, the cost of sightseeing in Russia can vary widely depending on the location, attraction, and activity you choose. From iconic landmarks to breathtaking natural wonders, Russia offers a plethora of options to suit every budget.

travel planning and travel expenses

Let's take a closer look at some popular tourist attractions in Russia and their cost ranges in US dollars:

  • The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg - $10 to $20
  • The Red Square in Moscow - Free
  • The Trans-Siberian Railway - $300 to $1,000 (depending on the duration and class)
  • The Peterhof Palace in St. Petersburg - $10 to $30
  • The Lake Baikal in Siberia - Free
  • The Catherine Palace in Pushkin - $10 to $20
  • The Kazan Kremlin in Kazan - $5 to $10
  • The Golden Ring - Free (self-guided) or $50 to $100 (guided tour)

As you can see, the cost of sightseeing in Russia can range from free to a few hundred dollars, depending on your preferences and the attractions you choose to visit. However, it's worth noting that there are also many free or low-cost sightseeing options available in Russia.

For instance, you can explore the stunning parks and gardens in Moscow, such as Gorky Park or VDNKh, without spending a dime. Take a leisurely stroll along the picturesque canals of St. Petersburg or visit the colorful Izmailovsky Market for a unique shopping experience at affordable prices.

So, whether you're on a tight budget or looking to splurge on once-in-a-lifetime experiences, Russia has something to offer for everyone. Plan your trip wisely, consider your interests and budget, and get ready to embark on an unforgettable sightseeing adventure in this magnificent country!

  • How much does it cost for Wi-Fi & communication when traveling to Russia?

travel planning and travel expenses

When planning a trip to Russia, it's essential to consider the cost of staying connected. Wi-Fi and communication options vary, but fear not, fellow traveler, for I shall guide you through the maze of choices. Let's dive right in! Firstly, let's talk about rental Wi-Fi routers. Depending on the rental company and plan you choose, prices can range from $5 to $15 per day. These nifty devices allow you to connect multiple devices simultaneously, ensuring you're always connected on the go. Next up, SIM cards. These little wonders provide you with data plans and the freedom to use your own smartphone. Prices for SIM cards in Russia can vary depending on the data plan and provider, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $10 to $30. With a SIM card in hand, you'll be able to navigate the streets of Moscow or explore the beauty of St. Petersburg without worrying about losing connection. Now, let's not forget about the allure of free Wi-Fi. Some hotels and accommodations in Russia offer complimentary Wi-Fi for their guests, so be sure to check before booking. Additionally, certain smartphone apps like "WiFi Map" and "Free Wi-Fi Finder" provide access to free Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the country, making it easier for you to stay connected without breaking the bank. It's important to note that the cost of Wi-Fi in Russia can vary depending on the method of access and the data plan you choose. However, rest assured that there are plenty of options available for travelers to stay connected while exploring this magnificent country. So, go forth and embark on your Russian adventure, knowing that you'll always be just a click away from the digital world.

  • How Much Does It Cost for a Visa When Traveling to Russia?

travel planning and travel expenses

Planning a trip to Russia? One of the essential factors to consider is the cost of obtaining a visa. The price range for visa applications varies in US dollars, depending on your country of citizenship and the type of passport application. Let's take a closer look at some specific figures for major countries worldwide. For example, citizens of the United States can expect to pay around $160 for a tourist visa, while those from the United Kingdom may have to shell out approximately $120. It's important to note that visa-free access is available for certain countries, such as Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, among others.

When it comes to visa application fees, it's crucial to understand that costs can vary based on your country of citizenship and the type of application. Moreover, some countries may require additional fees for visa applications or other travel documents. To ensure you have the most up-to-date information on passport and visa requirements and fees, it's always wise to check with your local embassy or consulate. They will provide you with accurate details and guide you through the process smoothly.

  • How much does it cost for insurance when traveling to Russia?

travel planning and travel expenses

The cost of insurance for a trip to Russia can vary depending on several factors. These include your age, the length of your trip, the type of coverage you need, and the insurance provider you choose. To give you a general idea of the costs involved, here are some guidelines:

For a single trip, the cost of travel insurance can range from around $50 to $200. This will depend on the coverage you require and the duration of your trip. It's important to compare policies from different providers to find the one that best suits your needs and budget.

If you are a frequent traveler to Russia or plan to take multiple trips in a year, an annual travel insurance policy might be a better option. The cost for this type of policy can range from $200 to $500, depending on the level of coverage and the number of trips you plan to take.

If you want comprehensive coverage that includes not only medical expenses but also trip cancellation, baggage loss, and other potential risks, the cost will be higher. Comprehensive travel insurance policies for trips to Russia can range from $100 to $400, depending on the duration of your trip and the coverage options you choose.

When comparing travel insurance policies, it's essential to read the policy details carefully. Make sure you understand what is covered and what is not, as well as any deductibles or exclusions. Some credit cards and travel booking sites also offer travel insurance as a benefit or add-on, so be sure to explore those options as well.

In conclusion, the cost of travel insurance for a trip to Russia can vary significantly depending on your specific needs and circumstances. By comparing policies from different providers and understanding the coverage details, you can find the insurance that best meets your needs and budget.

  • How much does it cost for family, couples or single when traveling to Russia?

travel planning and travel expenses

The cost of traveling to the country can vary widely depending on a number of factors, such as the length of the trip, the type of accommodation, the level of luxury, the activities planned, and the number of travelers. Here are some estimated costs for a trip to the country:

Airfare: The cost of airfare to the can vary depending on the departure city and the time of year. You can expect to pay anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars for a round-trip ticket from the United States to Russia per person.

Accommodation: When it comes to finding a place to stay, the cost can vary greatly. If you're on a budget, you can find a budget hotel or hostel for around $20 to $50 per night. For those looking for a bit more comfort, mid-range hotels, luxury hotels, and ryokans can range from $50 to $300 per night.

Food and drink: The cost of dining out in Russia can vary depending on your preferences. If you're looking to save money, you can enjoy a budget meal at a local restaurant for around $5 to $10 per person. If you're in the mood for something a bit more upscale, a mid-range meal can cost anywhere from $15 to $30 per person.

Transportation: Getting around in Russia can be affordable if you choose the right mode of travel. A single metro or train ticket can cost around $0.50 to $1.50, while a long-distance bullet train ticket can range from $50 to $150. Keep in mind that taxis and car rentals can also add to the transportation costs.

Overall, the cost of traveling to Russia can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per person, depending on your travel style and preferences. Whether you're traveling with your family, as a couple, or as a single traveler, you can expect to spend around $500 to $5000 for a trip to Russia.

  • Methods to Save Money When Traveling to Russia

Planning a trip to Russia can be an exciting adventure, but it's no secret that travel expenses can quickly add up. However, with a little bit of knowledge and some smart strategies, you can make your trip to Russia cost-effective without compromising on the experience. Here are some tried and tested methods to help you save money while exploring this fascinating country.

travel planning and travel expenses

First and foremost, consider traveling during the shoulder season. This period, which falls between the peak and off-peak seasons, offers lower prices on flights, accommodations, and attractions. By avoiding the crowds and taking advantage of discounted rates, you can significantly reduce your trip to Russia cost.

Another way to save money is by opting for public transportation instead of expensive taxis or private transfers. Russia has an extensive network of trains, buses, and metros that are not only cost-effective but also provide a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture. Plus, you might stumble upon hidden gems that are off the beaten path!

When it comes to accommodations, consider staying in budget-friendly options such as hostels or guesthouses. These establishments not only offer affordable rates but also provide a chance to connect with fellow travelers and share valuable tips and recommendations. Additionally, booking your stay in advance or taking advantage of last-minute deals can help you secure the best prices.

Food is another aspect where you can save money without compromising on taste. Instead of dining in expensive restaurants, explore local markets and street food stalls. Not only will you get to savor authentic Russian cuisine, but you'll also save a significant amount of money. Remember, the best way to experience a country's culture is through its food!

Lastly, don't forget to research and compare prices for attractions and activities. Many museums and landmarks offer discounted tickets for students, seniors, or specific days of the week. Additionally, consider exploring free attractions, parks, and gardens, which can provide a delightful experience without breaking the bank.

By following these methods, you can make your trip to Russia not only memorable but also budget-friendly. So, pack your bags, embrace the adventure, and get ready to explore the wonders of this incredible country without worrying about excessive expenses!

  • Tips for Traveling to Russia

Are you planning a trip to Russia? Well, buckle up and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime! Russia, the largest country in the world, is a fascinating destination with its rich history, vibrant culture, and breathtaking landscapes. But before you pack your bags and board that plane, here are eight essential tips to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey.

travel planning and travel expenses

1. Get your visa game on point: Russia requires visitors to obtain a visa before entering the country. So, make sure to apply for your visa well in advance and provide all the necessary documents to avoid any last-minute hiccups.

2. Embrace the Cyrillic alphabet: The Russian language uses the Cyrillic alphabet, which might seem daunting at first. Familiarize yourself with the basics, like the letters and common words, to navigate signs, menus, and transportation easily.

3. Don't forget your fur hat: Russia is known for its cold winters, so pack warm clothing, including a cozy fur hat. You'll thank me later when you're strolling through the snow-covered streets of Moscow or exploring the majestic beauty of Siberia.

4. Stay connected with a local SIM card: To stay connected and make your journey hassle-free, grab a local SIM card upon arrival. This way, you can easily access maps, translation apps, and stay in touch with your loved ones back home.

5. Savor the Russian cuisine: Indulge in the flavors of Russia by trying traditional dishes like borscht, pelmeni, and blini. Don't miss out on the opportunity to sample some authentic Russian vodka too, but remember to drink responsibly!

6. Be mindful of your belongings: Just like in any other tourist destination, it's important to keep an eye on your belongings and be cautious of pickpockets. Keep your valuables secure and be aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded areas.

7. Experience the Trans-Siberian Railway: If you have the time and the spirit of adventure, hop on the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway. This iconic train journey will take you through vast landscapes, charming villages, and give you a glimpse into the heart of Russia.

8. Immerse yourself in Russian culture: Russia is a country with a rich cultural heritage. Take the time to visit museums, theaters, and art galleries to appreciate the beauty and depth of Russian art, literature, and music. Engage with locals, learn a few Russian phrases, and embrace the warmth and hospitality of the Russian people.

So, fellow travelers, get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey to Russia. Follow these tips, and you'll be well-prepared to explore the wonders this magnificent country has to offer. Remember, the key to a successful trip is to embrace the unknown, step out of your comfort zone, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Happy travels!

* All user reviews in this article have been translated by machine.

* The information above is subject to change at any time. For the latest information, please check the websites of hotels and attractions.

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Best Cheap Travel Insurance of June 2024

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

In an ever-evolving world, emergency medical and evacuation travel insurance coverage is essential, especially if you're traveling internationally. However, sports equipment coverage, pet protection, and cancel for any reason coverage are among the increasingly popular coverage options that are changing the way we travel. We've gathered the best cheap travel insurance plans to help you protect your trip while on a budget.

Best Cheap Travel Insurance Plans

  • Best overall: HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance
  • Best for trip cancellation:  Aegis General Travel Insurance
  • Best for medical-only coverage:  GeoBlue Travel Insurance
  • Best value: Nationwide Travel Insurance
  • Best for reputation: Trawick International Travel Insurance

Compare the Best Cheap Travel Insurance

The best travel insurance meets your needs at a price you're willing to pay. Sometimes, you're just not willing to pay that much. The following companies offer decent coverage for low prices. To determine which companies made this list, we compared quotes across the travel insurance industry for the same trip, making a note of which companies offered particularly good coverage in certain areas and which companies were well reviewed.

Here are the best affordable travel insurance companies picked by Business Insider editors in 2024.

Best Affordable Travel Insurance Overall

Hth worldwide.

The HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance Economy plan offers the most comprehensive coverage across major categories of all the providers in this guide.

You'll have some peace of mind with up to $75,000 of financial protection for eligible medical emergencies, and up to $500,000 per person for medical evacuation costs. For more everyday expenses, you can also relax with baggage loss and delay, trip interruption, cancellation and delay coverage that will help you recoup many, if not all, of your costs.

However, this plan falls short on missed connection benefits and accidental death coverage, both of which are not available under most circumstances (missed connection coverage only applies to cruises, and will only cover up to $500 per person after a three-hour delay).

Read our HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance review .

HTH Worldwide HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance

  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Three plans to choose from
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Reasonable premiums
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. CFAR coverage available with some plans
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. High medical emergency and evacuation coverage
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Special coverages for pets, sports equipment, etc not available
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Limited reviews with complaints about claims not being paid
  • Trip cancellation of up to $5,000 with the Economy plan and up to $50,000 with the Preferred plan
  • Cancel for any reason insurance and missed connection insurance available with the Preferred plan
  • Baggage delay insurance starting after 24 or 12 hours depending on the plan

Best Affordable Travel Insurance for Trip Cancellation

Aegis general travel insurance.

The Aegis General Travel Insurance Trip Cancellation Plan is exactly that: a cost-effective plan that offers protection in the event that your trip is canceled for a covered reason. The plan we priced out for our hypothetical trip cost just 1.16% of our total travel expenses — a very small amount of money to pay for the guarantee of our money back in the right circumstances.

The benefit is that this plan can supplement other coverage you already have, or give you a little bit of protection for a trip where you might not otherwise have opted for insurance altogether. On the downside, you won't get any protection for medical emergencies, trip interruption or delays or lost bags from this plan.

Read our Aegis Travel Insurance review .

Aegis General Insurance Agency Aegis General Travel Insurance

  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Offers a CFAR upgrade add-on on certain plans
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Comprehensive insurance plans include generous coverage for baggage loss, plus protection from hurricane and other intense weather-related issues
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Competitive pricing
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Online complaints about claims not being paid and non-responsiveness
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Not all more expensive plans include CFAR coverage
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Dropping rating with AM Best
  • Annual and multi-trip plans available
  • All plans include pandemic coverage for COVID-19
  • Coverage for weather-related delays, cancellations and other incidents

Best Affordable Travel Insurance for Medical Coverage

Geoblue travel insurance.

GeoBlue Travel Insurance is a travel insurance provider that specializes in travel medical insurance. Because it doesn't offer much trip protection or travel inconvenience coverage, it can charge cheaper premiums. A 30-year-old from California would pay as low as $20.55 for a policy that covers a two-week trip. 

GeoBlue plans can cover medical expenses up to $1 million with several multi-trip annual plans available. It offers coinsurance plans for trips within the U.S. and 100% coverage for international trips. It also has a network of clinics in 180 countries, streamlining the claims process. It's worth noting that coverage for pre-existing conditions comes with additional costs.

Read our GeoBlue travel insurance review .

AJM Global Inc GeoBlue Travel Insurance

  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. A subsidary of Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Offers strong medical plans as long as you have a regular health insurance plan, but it doesn't have to be through Blue Cross
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Offers long-term and multi-trip travel protection
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Multiple complaints about claims not being paid or being denied
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Does not provide some of the more comprehensive coverage like CFAR insurance
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Buyers who do get claims paid may need to file multiple claim forms

Best Affordable Travel Insurance for Value

Nationwide travel insurance.

Nationwide Travel Insurance  is a well-rounded alternative to HTH Worldwide Trip Protector Economy. This plan offers solid protection for both travel-related snafus as well as situations that might call for emergency medical and evacuation, making it a good choice for trips where you have cause to worry about potential interruptions or delays. However, it does not offer protection for missed connections or accidental death.

Read our Nationwide Travel Insurance review .

Nationwide Nationwide Travel Insurance

  • Trip cancellation coverage of up to 100% of trip costs (for cruises) or up to $30,000 (for single-trip plans)
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Three cruise-specific plans to choose from
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual travel insurance plans available
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong trip cancellation coverage
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Cancel for any reason coverage available
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. CFAR insurance not available with every single plan
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Medical coverage is lower than what some competitors offer

Nationwide Travel Insurance offers many of the standard benefits you might see with a travel insurance policy. This can include things like trip cancellation coverage, so you can recover pre-paid costs or trip interruption in the event your vacation is interrupted by an unexpected event. There's also baggage delay coverage and medical coverage.

  • Cancel for any reason coverage available

Best Affordable Travel Insurance for Reputation

Trawick travel insurance.

The Trawick International Travel Insurance Safe Travels Explorer plan has been purchased by more than 36,000 travelers since 2020, and it has great reviews to boot. And no wonder: Trawick offers generous trip delay coverage of up to $2,000 per person, although hopefully you won't need to reach that reimbursement amount because the daily limit is $150.

You'll also be able to rely on a $200 reimbursement per person for lost baggage - one of the higher amounts amongst these affordable plans, although this amount pales in comparison to the baggage loss coverage offered through the best travel credit cards .

Read our Trawick Travel Insurance review .

Trawick Trawick International Travel Insurance

Trip cancellation coverage for up to 100% of the trip cost and trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost

  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Useful for adventurous travelers headed to higher-risk destinations
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Affordable plans with varying levels of coverage
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. 10-day free look option
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous baggage loss replacement policy
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Trip delay coverage kicks in after just six hours
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Some policies allow a CFAR add-on
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Up to $1 million medical evacuation coverage limit
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Baggage and trip delay coverages don’t kick in until after the 12-hour mark
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. International student policies available for temporary stints abroad
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Complaints about claims not being paid or involving an intermediary to resolve claims

Trawick International travel insurance offers plans customized to diverse travelers' needs. We look at coverage options, claims processing, pricing, and other important factors for savvy travelers.

  • Travel medical insurance
  • Trip protection and cancellation
  • International student insurance
  • Visitor medical insurance (for traveling to the US)

Types of Affordable Travel Insurance

Comprehensive coverage.

This type of insurance offers extensive protection, covering everything from medical issues to trip cancellations. While it's more expensive up front, it can save you a lot in the long run.

Medical-Only Coverage

As the name suggests, this policy focuses solely on medical emergencies, dropping trip cancellation coverage and travel inconvenience coverage. It's a cost-effective option for travelers who are primarily concerned about health-related expenses.

Evacuation and Repatriation

In extreme cases where you need to be evacuated due to a medical emergency or a natural disaster, this coverage ensures that you can return home safely without incurring huge costs.

Benefits of Opting for Cheap Travel Insurance

Cost savings.

Cheap travel insurance can significantly reduce your travel expenses, ensuring that you're not overpaying for coverage you might not need.

Adequate Coverage for Less

Just because it's cheap doesn't mean it's lacking. Many affordable policies offer substantial coverage, giving you peace of mind without breaking the bank.

How to Pick The Best Cheap Travel Insurance Plan for You

No single travel insurance plan will meet the needs of every single traveler. By nature, we are diverse and evolving meaning travel insurance should be equally so. Travel insurance for a week-long trip to a big city shouldn't be the same as the coverage for a backpacking expedition in the mountains. A splurge to purchase comprehensive insurance coverage may also be worth it for international ventures or other large expenditures.

In most cases, the cost difference between a basic and comprehensive travel insurance plan isn't as significant as you might think. Regardless, it's generally a good idea to choose a trusted travel insurance provider known for exceptional customer service and coverage. (For this roundup, we looked at traveler reviews shared through the travel insurance aggregator SquareMouth .)

  • Assessing Your Travel Needs: Consider the nature of your trip, the destination, and your own personal needs when choosing a policy. This ensures that you're not over-insured or underinsured.
  • Comparing Different Policies: Don't settle for the first policy you find. Compare different options, looking at their coverage and prices, to find the best fit for your budget and needs.
  • Reading the Fine Print: Always read the terms and conditions carefully to understand what's covered, what's not, and the process for making a claim.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Cheap Travel Insurance

To determine the best insurance plan for travelers on a budget, we evaluated dozens of products using a hypothetical trip to Australia for a single traveler, age 26, with a total cost of $2,500 for flight, hotel and other incidentals. We then compiled the plans that covered the essentials at the lowest costs.

Of note: All of these plans include COVID-related medical coverage and 24-hour assistance, and pay at least 100% of your trip cost for eligible trip cancellations. None include rental car coverage.

The four winning plans cost between $29 to $74 — significantly below the average cost of comprehensive travel insurance , which can range between 4%-8% of total travel expenses, according to the US Travel Insurance Association. But these affordable plans also come with comparably low ceilings for various aspects of coverage such as emergency medical, trip cancellation, or delay — and do not include rental car or " cancel for any reason" (CFAR) protection . So if you think you might need these benefits, it may well be worth upgrading to a comprehensive travel insurance plan for a few more dollars, just for the peace of mind.

Convenience and Flexibility

Each of the plans in this list include 24-hour assistance worldwide from reputable insurance providers. And despite being on the lower end of insurance plans, each of these options includes refunds for up to 100% of your total trip cost for eligible reasons. Each of these plans also includes medical coverage for COVID-related issues that may arise during your travels, which may come in handy as the pandemic continues to evolve worldwide.

Sufficient Coverage in Essential Categories

The cheapest travel insurance plan will rarely cover every scenario that could go awry on your trip. However, each of these plans can at least help you get your money back in the event that your travel is canceled for an eligible reason, and most of them include travel medical insurance if you incur emergency medical bills while traveling. We also factor in what travelers are most concerned about now. 

You can read more about how Business Insider rates insurance here.

Best Cheap Travel Insurance FAQs

You can reduce the cost of travel insurance by opting for simpler coverage or choosing higher deductibles on travel medical insurance. You can also consider annual travel insurance , which will save you money in the long run if you take multiple trips over one year.

Yes, many affordable policies offer comprehensive coverage suitable for international travel. It's crucial to compare policies and understand your needs. You can find our guide on the best international travel insurance here.

Travel insurance is relatively cheap because it only covers you for a set period of time, and depending on your plan, the level of coverage you get may not be particularly high. However, even with high coverage limits and extras like cancel for any reason coverage , travel insurance is relatively affordable. 

The average cost of travel insurance is 4%-8% of your trip's cost. This usually translates into a premium between $89 to $399. That said, many companies offer premiums far below average costs.

If you just want trip cancellation protection, go with the Aegis Trip Cancellation plan. For more robust coverage that won't break the bank, consider HTH Worldwide's TripProtector Economy, Trawick's Safe Travels Explorer, or Nationwide's Essentials plan.

travel planning and travel expenses

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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TechBullion

TechBullion

Top 10 must-visit destinations in 2024: an in-depth travel guide.

travel planning and travel expenses

Travel is more than just visiting new places; it’s about immersing oneself in different cultures, experiencing unique landscapes, and creating lasting memories. As we look forward to 2024, the world continues to open up with exciting destinations that promise unforgettable adventures. This article will explore the top 10 must-visit destinations for 2024, delve into the concept of destination travel, highlight the latest technological innovations in the travel industry , and provide a step-by-step guide on how to plan your travel.

What is Destination Travel?

Destination travel refers to trips planned specifically around a particular location or series of locations that offer unique experiences, attractions, and activities. Unlike routine travel or business trips, destination travel is often centered on leisure, exploration, and cultural immersion. The goal is to experience the essence of a place, from its historical landmarks and natural wonders to its culinary delights and local traditions.

What makes destination travel special is the focus on the distinct characteristics that make a location unique. Travelers seek out destinations that offer something extraordinary, whether it’s the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand, the rich history of Rome, or the vibrant street life of Tokyo. Destination travel is about creating a deep connection with the place and its people, making each journey a personal and memorable experience.

Top 10 Must-Visit Destinations in 2024

1) kyoto, japan :.

Known for its stunning temples, traditional tea houses, and beautiful gardens, Kyoto offers a glimpse into Japan’s rich cultural heritage. Highlights include the Fushimi Inari Shrine, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and the historic Gion district.

2) Lisbon, Portugal :

Lisbon is a vibrant city with a mix of old-world charm and modern sophistication. Visitors can explore the historic Alfama district, enjoy panoramic views from SĂŁo Jorge Castle, and savor delicious Portuguese cuisine.

3) Marrakech, Morocco :

Marrakech is a sensory delight with its bustling souks, ornate palaces, and vibrant markets. Must-see attractions include the Jardin Majorelle, Bahia Palace, and the lively Jemaa el-Fnaa square.

4) Queenstown, New Zealand :

Known as the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown offers activities like bungee jumping, skydiving, and skiing. The stunning landscapes of Milford Sound and the Remarkables mountain range are also major draws.

5) Cape Town, South Africa :

Cape Town is renowned for its natural beauty, with iconic landmarks such as Table Mountain, Robben Island, and the Cape of Good Hope. The city’s vibrant arts scene and diverse culinary offerings add to its appeal.

6) Rome, Italy :

Rome is a treasure trove of historical and cultural landmarks, including the Colosseum, Vatican City, and the Pantheon. The city’s rich history, art, and architecture make it a must-visit destination.

7) Cusco, Peru :

As the gateway to Machu Picchu, Cusco is steeped in Incan history and culture. Visitors can explore the Sacred Valley, hike the Inca Trail, and immerse themselves in the vibrant local traditions.

8) Sydney, Australia :

Sydney offers a blend of iconic landmarks and natural beauty, from the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge to Bondi Beach and the Blue Mountains. The city’s lively cultural scene and outdoor activities make it a top destination.

9) Reykjavik, Iceland :

Reykjavik is the perfect base for exploring Iceland’s stunning natural wonders, including the Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, and Northern Lights. The city’s unique blend of modernity and tradition is captivating.

10) Santorini, Greece :

Santorini is famous for its breathtaking sunsets, white-washed buildings, and crystal-clear waters. Highlights include the caldera views, ancient ruins of Akrotiri, and the charming village of Oia.

Top 10 Must-Visit Destinations

Latest Technology Innovations and Trends in the Travel Industry

The travel industry is continually evolving, with technology playing a pivotal role in shaping the way we travel. Here are some of the latest technological innovations and trends that are transforming the travel experience in 2024:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning :

AI and machine learning are enhancing personalized travel experiences. From AI-powered chatbots that provide real-time assistance to predictive analytics that offer personalized recommendations based on past travel behavior, these technologies are making travel more seamless and tailored to individual preferences.

Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) :

VR and AR technologies are revolutionizing the way travelers plan their trips. Virtual reality tours allow users to explore destinations and accommodations before booking, while augmented reality enhances on-site experiences by providing interactive guides and real-time information about attractions.

Mobile Technology and Apps :

Mobile apps are central to modern travel, offering everything from flight bookings and hotel reservations to language translation and digital guides. These apps provide travelers with the convenience of managing their entire trip from their smartphones.

Internet of Things (IoT) :

IoT is enhancing travel experiences by connecting devices and systems. Smart hotels offer IoT-enabled rooms where guests can control lighting, temperature, and entertainment through their smartphones. IoT also improves airport efficiency with real-time baggage tracking and automated check-in processes.

Biometric Technology :

Biometric identification systems, including facial recognition and fingerprint scanning, are streamlining security processes at airports and border control points. These technologies reduce wait times and enhance security, making travel smoother and more secure.

Sustainable Travel Technologies :

With a growing emphasis on sustainability, new technologies are being developed to reduce the environmental impact of travel. Electric and hybrid vehicles, sustainable aviation fuels, and eco-friendly accommodations are becoming more prevalent, catering to eco-conscious travelers.

Blockchain Technology :

Blockchain is improving transparency and security in travel transactions. It is being used for secure bookings, loyalty programs, and identity verification, ensuring that traveler data is protected and transactions are tamper-proof.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Plan Your Travel

Planning a trip can be a daunting task, but with a systematic approach, it becomes manageable and enjoyable. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you plan your perfect vacation:

1) Choose Your Destination :

Start by deciding where you want to go. Consider factors such as your interests, budget, and travel goals. Research different destinations to find one that excites you.

2) Set a Budget :

Determine how much you are willing to spend on your trip. Include expenses such as flights, accommodation, meals, activities, transportation, and souvenirs. Having a budget helps you plan more effectively and avoid overspending.

3) Research and Plan Itinerary :

Once you have chosen a destination, research the best time to visit, local attractions, and activities. Create a rough itinerary that includes must-see sights, cultural experiences, and leisure time. Be flexible to allow for spontaneous adventures.

4) Book Flights and Accommodation :

Use travel comparison websites and apps to find the best deals on flights and accommodation. Consider factors such as location, amenities, and reviews when choosing where to stay. Booking in advance can often save money and ensure availability.

5) Get Necessary Documents :

Ensure your passport is up to date and check if you need any visas for your destination. Some countries may also require vaccinations or travel insurance. Make copies of important documents and store them securely.

6) Pack Smartly :

Make a packing list based on your destination’s climate and planned activities. Pack versatile clothing that can be layered, and don’t forget essentials like chargers, toiletries, and travel adapters. Leave some space in your luggage for souvenirs.

7) Plan Transportation :

Research transportation options at your destination, such as public transit , car rentals, or ride-sharing services. Knowing how to get around can save time and reduce stress. Consider purchasing transit passes if available.

8) Prepare for Emergencies :

Familiarize yourself with local emergency numbers and the location of the nearest embassy or consulate. Carry a basic first-aid kit and any necessary medications. It’s also wise to have some local currency on hand.

9) Stay Connected :

Consider getting an international phone plan or a local SIM card to stay connected during your trip. Download useful travel apps for navigation, language translation, and local recommendations.

10) Enjoy and Be Flexible :

While it’s great to have a plan, be open to new experiences and changes. Travel often brings unexpected opportunities and challenges, so stay flexible and enjoy the journey.

Traveling is one of the most enriching experiences one can have. It broadens our horizons, introduces us to new cultures, and creates lasting memories. The top 10 must-visit destinations for 2024 offer a diverse array of experiences, from the adventure-filled landscapes of Queenstown to the historic charm of Rome and the vibrant streets of Marrakech.

With the latest technological innovations, traveling has become more accessible and convenient than ever before. Technologies like AI, VR, and mobile apps are transforming the travel industry, making it easier for travelers to plan and enjoy their trips.

By following the step-by-step guide to planning your travel , you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey. Whether you’re exploring a new city or relaxing on a pristine beach, the key is to immerse yourself in the experience and make the most of every moment.

So, pack your bags, set your sights on one of these incredible destinations, and get ready for an unforgettable adventure in 2024. Safe travels!

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COMMENTS

  1. Budget Your Trip

    View typical and average travel costs for thousands of cities and hundreds of countries around the world. Plan your next trip with real knowledge of your travel budget. All of the average travel costs come from real travelers. You can sign up to track your own travel expenses, too. France United States Thailand Morocco Ireland Brazil.

  2. The 12 Best Budgeting and Travel Expense Apps to Download

    The Trip Expense Manager app is ideal for large traveling groups that need help planning and monitoring travel expenses. For each trip you take, you can add Google users, a list of places to go ...

  3. How to Budget for a Trip: The Easiest Travel Budgeting Method (+ Tips!)

    Travel Insurance: $150. Hotel Room, $130/night for 7 nights: $910. ($4000 total budget - $3060 major expenses) / 7 days = $134.28/day to spend, or $67.14/per person, per day. Paris, France. I would round those down to $134 or $67, both for the ease of math and to build in a slightly conservative slant to the budget.

  4. How to Make a Travel Budget in 2023 [Free Template]

    Travel Budget Template Worksheet. To help you plan and keep track of your travel budget we have created a free, handy Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. đź“‹ Click to Download Our Travel Budget Template > đź“‹. Travel Budget Considerations. When planning your travel budget, there are lots of different things to consider.

  5. How to Travel on a Budget for Beginners

    Much of the time, this is accomplished through welcome bonuses earned when you open a travel credit card. For example, a round-trip flight from Los Angeles to Paris costs $1,255 at the beginning ...

  6. Travel Budget Calculator Or Vacation Budget Planner

    The Travel Budget Calculator streamlines the planning process, providing instant insights into your projected expenses. With a few clicks, you can fine-tune your budget and allocate resources efficiently, ensuring a hassle-free travel experience. Financial Transparency: Transparency is key to effective budgeting, and the Travel Budget ...

  7. How to Make a Travel Budget in 5 Easy Steps (Free Planner)

    3. Make a list of smaller expenses. Once the larger expenses are planned out, figure out the extras, like sightseeing, entertainment, and gifts. Research potential vacation activities and local places to visit. Go online to get an idea of the associated costs, and budget accordingly.

  8. Free Travel Budget Calculator: Easily Make Your Vacation Budget

    Calculator Instructions. Enter all your estimated expenses you've gathered during your vacation research. Make sure it's actually a realistic travel budget. For a family trip with young kids, you'll also need to factor other things like diapers, baby wipes etc. Travel Budget: Enter your overall vacation budget you have for this trip.

  9. Travel Budget Calculator: Manage Trip & Holiday Expenses

    A Travel Budget Calculator is a tool designed to help you estimate the total cost of your trip by accounting for all expected expenses, such as transportation, accommodation, food, and activities. It helps you plan your finances effectively, ensuring a smooth travel experience.

  10. How to Budget for a Trip

    How to Budget for a Trip. Plan ahead, save up, and make the most of credit card rewards. By Carissa Rawson. Updated on December 31, 2021. Reviewed by. Khadija Khartit. In This Article. Plan for the Big Expenses. Account for the Little Costs of Traveling.

  11. A beginner's guide on how to plan your travel budget

    Once you have a total for this part, divide it by the number of days that you will be traveling. For example: if I am vacationing for 10 days and the Vacation Expenses part of my budget totals $600, my math would look like this: $600 total/10 days = $60/day. By dividing your budget into a set amount per day, it will be easier for you to keep ...

  12. How To Create A Realistic Travel Budget That Actually Works

    If you have no time to research, then, budget a minimum of at least 2 to 2.5 times the price of your accommodation per night for one day's worth of food. This rule of thumb works well for budget travel. Our top tip: If you're on a longer trip, try to cook at least one meal a day. You'll be surprised how much money you would save.

  13. How to estimate travel expenses

    Add in the cost of airport transfers to the hotel or the cost of rental car for the trip. Once you estimate each of these four costs, total them up for a good estimate of travel flight costs. You would use the same process for train tickets and public transportation instead of flights and car rental/airport transfers.

  14. Learn How to Budget for a Trip with Travel Expenses

    Here are a few ideas for building a travel expenses budget so you can feel as good about your finances as you do about your itinerary. Start at home. If you don't stick to an overall spending budget, you may find it hard to build and keep a travel budget. So start by figuring out exactly how you spend at home, making sure you have enough left ...

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  16. How to Plan a Vacation Budget

    Generally, travel insurance costs 4% to 8% of a trip's total expenses, according to the U.S. Travel Insurance Association. But costs can vary depending on the provider and the policy's ...

  17. Publication 463 (2023), Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses

    Travel expenses defined. For tax purposes, travel expenses are the ordinary and necessary expenses of traveling away from home for your business, profession, or job. ... In March, your employer sent you on a 3-day trip to Washington, DC, to attend a planning seminar. You left your home in New Orleans at 10 a.m. on Wednesday and arrived in ...

  18. Travel Budget Worksheet

    The worksheet is set up to let you enter a quantity and unit cost for each item. For example, for lodging you can enter the number of nights you will be staying and the cost per night. If you will be driving rather than flying, you can enter the total miles and the cost per mile. Remember to include both fuel and wear as part of the cost (see ...

  19. Travel expenses list: A guide to managing your travel budget

    Proper travel expense management is critical to a successful and enjoyable trip. Planning ahead and budgeting for each expense will help you manage your travel expenses. Set daily spending limits and monitor your expenses. Estimate your total budget for the trip and then divide it into daily spending limits.

  20. Topic no. 511, Business travel expenses

    Topic no. 511, Business travel expenses. Travel expenses are the ordinary and necessary expenses of traveling away from home for your business, profession, or job. You can't deduct expenses that are lavish or extravagant, or that are for personal purposes. You're traveling away from home if your duties require you to be away from the general ...

  21. Russia Travel Cost

    A one week trip to Russia for two people costs, on average, $943 (â‚˝83,773). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing. All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  22. What Does Travel Insurance Cover? Key Features Explained

    Emergency medical and dental benefits: up to $2,500 for medical expenses (subject to a $50 deductible) when on a trip arranged by a travel agency and traveling more than 100 miles from home.

  23. New Travel Expenses policy and procedures effective July 1, 2024

    After 365 days, out-of-pocket expenses will not be reimbursed, and all university-prepaid expenses and T&M card charges will be taxable. Expense reports still must be submitted. Amounts advanced that exceed expenses must be repaid within 120 days of the travel end date, or the amount will be taxable. Support and Resources

  24. What a first-time visitor to Russia needs to know

    Start the application process at least a month before your trip and consider using a specialist travel agency to arrange visas and make key transport bookings. Every visitor to Russia should have their visa registered within seven days of arrival, excluding weekends and public holidays. The obligation to register is with your hotel or hostel ...

  25. Retirement Planning: How Much the Average Person Under 70 Spends Monthly

    The average person 65 years and older spent $4,818 a month in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and retirees should plan on spending the majority of their monthly income on expenses.

  26. The Top 10 AI Trip Planner Tools

    Trip Planner AI helps budget-conscious travelers create detailed itineraries, track expenses, and discover local attractions. Its visual interface and interactive map make it ideal for visual planners. Pros: ... TripGenie simplifies travel planning by automatically generating itineraries based on user input about interests and travel dates. It ...

  27. The Ultimate Guide to the Trip to Russia Cost in 2024

    When planning a trip to Russia, it's important to consider the cost of transportation. The expenses can vary depending on the mode of transportation and the distance you plan to travel. Let's take a closer look at the different options available and their associated costs. Train: Train travel is a popular and convenient way to get around Russia ...

  28. Understanding the Various Expenses in Traveling Construction

    Enhanced Visibility: Detailed reports and data analysis gave the finance team insights into travel expenses. This improved budget accuracy and financial planning. Invest in the Best Expense Management Software for Traveling Construction. Traveling construction professionals face many expenses that can significantly impact project budgets.

  29. Cheap Travel Insurance: Protecting Your Journey on a Budget

    The plan we priced out for our hypothetical trip cost just 1.16% of our total travel expenses — a very small amount of money to pay for the guarantee of our money back in the right circumstances ...

  30. Top 10 Must-Visit Destinations in 2024: An In-Depth Travel Guide

    Step-by-Step Guide on How to Plan Your Travel. Planning a trip can be a daunting task, but with a systematic approach, it becomes manageable and enjoyable. ... Determine how much you are willing to spend on your trip. Include expenses such as flights, accommodation, meals, activities, transportation, and souvenirs. Having a budget helps you ...