travel expense spreadsheet

The Travel Quandary

The Ultimate Trip Planner Template – Easy To Use Excel Format!

You’re about to embark on your next adventure – hooray! 

Travel planning comes naturally to some who thrive on the challenge to find the best deal on a tour, stay at the coolest hotel or dine at the hottest new restaurant. These travellers are always at the airport on time, check opening hours of attractions before leaving home and have packing down to a fine art form. On the other end of the scale, there are travellers who prefer to go with the flow, do things spontaneously and are happy to rock up to a new destination and “wing it”.

According to the World Tourism Organization (UNTWO), 1.4 billion people travelled internationally in 2018. And apparently, there are over 750 million users of Microsoft Excel worldwide. There’s a high chance that you’ll fall into both of these categories (we don’t know the exact number but it would make for a pretty neat Venn diagram). And if you also classify yourself as an “unprepared” and/or “unorganised” traveller, our trip planner template is designed to help YOU.

Microsoft Excel is not only used by accountants and finance people. Microsoft Excel has become the ultimate planning and analysis tool, recognised and used worldwide which is why we’ve chosen it to create our trip planner template. We hope you find it useful and welcome your feedback and recommendations!

FREE TRIP PLANNER TEMPLATE! MICROSOFT EXCEL & GOOGLE DOCS

Why use a spreadsheet to plan your trip.

• Identify gaps in your itinerary (closures, public holidays, mandatory reservations)
• Save money (better budget decisions, better choices on trip)
• To get you excited! You’re going on a holiday! Hooray!

Download your free trip planner template here

Note: For Google Docs template, download the .zip file and upload the spreadsheet to your Google Drive. Once uploaded, open with Google Sheets.

Using this spreadsheet

The Ultimate Trip Planner Template is built into a spreadsheet which is divided into six sections. We’ve built this trip planner to include 16 days of travel but you can adjust the length of the trip by adding or removing columns in the spreadsheet.

Once you’ve confirmed your travel plans, add them here. This is where you can record all your reservations – flight details, accommodation, car rental, equipment rental, tour reservations etc. Listing them on one tab means you can quickly jump in and find those important details when you need them.

2. Planning

Researching airlines, hotels, Airbnbs, car hire, tour operators and travel insurance policies can be exhausting. You’ll probably go through a phase where you’ll have so many tabs open on your browser, it’ll make you want to pull your hair out! If you also need to compare prices and dates with your travel companions, it can become downright overwhelming.

When you find a potential option you like, add it to the “Planning” tab. When your research is condensed into a neat summary, it will be a simple exercise of reviewing all possible suppliers, key dates and prices and then after a process of elimination, you will be left with the most suitable option.

A budget is by no means set in stone. Our budget tab is designed to help with your travel planning decisions. We feel that it is important to understand the costs of a holiday before making any hasty decisions. And we consider it even more important that you don’t spend beyond your means!

We don’t want to sound like party-poopers but the last thing you want is to get ripped off and/or find yourself stuck abroad without any money. By understanding where you plan to spend the bulk of your hard-earned money on your holiday, you can plan where you’ll allow yourself to splurge and other areas where you may need to tighten the purse strings.

For example, we give ourselves extra budget for food and coffee experiences as this is an aspect we love about travelling. We tend to book budget/basic accommodation on the road depending on the destination and available options, as all we need is a bed, access to a (preferably) hot shower in a secure room.

A good chunk of your budget will already be paid or known in advance before you’ve even left home (i.e. flights, some ground transport, accommodation, tours (if applicable) etc), so this should also help when allocating your budget to food, shopping and extras. There will also be times where you need to be strict and say “no” if your gut feeling and bank account tell you that you cannot afford a certain something. Be conservative but also be kind to yourself – you are treating yourself to a holiday after all and you’ll have to spend money to fully enjoy the experience!

4. Itinerary

We spend a lot of time planning our travel itineraries on a day by day basis and even breaking it down to each hour of each day. Some people call us crazy but when we are short on time and have an extensive list of things to see/do/eat/shop etc, we prefer to be organised.

Laying out our trip day by day also helps us to block out periods of time for travel or to take note of when restaurants and attractions are closed. Of course, plans can and will change. Rain may force you indoors (museums, galleries, shopping) or an unknown public holiday may disrupt your planned travel day.

We recommend using this tab to roughly outline your plans and drop in the activities and places you simply cannot miss. You can move activities to different days if your original plan doesn’t work out. If you want, record your daily expenses at the bottom and you can track how your actual spending goes against your budget.

5. Packing List

For those who begrudge packing, it tends to be the case that you will end up wearing 20% of your packed belongings during 80% of your trip. Or if you’ve left packing until the last minute and thrown items higgledy-piggledy into your suitcase, you’ll arrive at your accommodation to realise you’ve forgotten your favourite undies or packed the wrong shoes.

Packing lists work. Once you’ve considered the weather and climate at your destination, your baggage allowance plus the duration of your trip, you can plan what you need and limit unnecessary purchases on the other side.

We’ve compiled a pretty epic packing list covering practically every type of adventure and possibly everything that you may need. Feel free to adjust accordingly to your requirements.

6. Checklist

This is the final step before you walk out your front door to embark on a brand new adventure. Before you go, use this tab to ensure you’ve dotted all the i’s and crossed all the t’s. And then you’re off!

Bon voyage!

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Give us your feedback of the Trip Planner Template below!

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CONTINUE PLANNING YOUR TRAVELS

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28 thoughts on “the ultimate trip planner template – easy to use excel format”.

HOLY COW I cannot believe I found EVERYTHING I needed all in one for FREE. I feel like I have ROBBED someone! My partner and I never grew up in households where family vacations were had, so we have no idea what were doing. Thank you kindly to The Travel Quandary. If I can donate, share your page, volunteer, etc. let me know how I can repay <3

SO HELPFUL ! THANK YOU SO MUCH !

How you extend the dates! I am going for a month

This template is so great! Planning a trip to New Zealand and will be traveling around a lot – this is super helpful!

NICE!! MUCHAS GRACIAS VERY COOL!!! Alina

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and your files!

Thanks so much for the template. This is a very good start for a traveller like me. Easy to use!

Amazing template! Exactly what I needed. Thank you!

Thank you for the great tool! I was wondering if theres a way to enter an end date as well to the itenerary?

Hi there! I was wrapped to see that the template is created by some Aussies! and local ones as well. I’m from Melbourne! Template is a charm! Just what I’ve been looking for ages! Planning our Europe trip for 2023 that got cancelled in 2020! (We all know why!!) Will let you know how it goes and will definitely check out your website! Thanks,

Hi Rosanna, we’re so glad to hear that you’ve found this template useful! Very jealous that you’re planning an escapade to Europe. No doubt it will be amazing! Safe travels 🙂

Thankyou for your post on THE ULTIMATE TRIP PLANNER TEMPLATE on excel. It is very usefull. I have been using this template to plan my trips for a while now and it has saved me a lot of time. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a travel planner.

Didn’t work. At least, not on my version of excel.

something about “delimited” something or another.

Hi Piotr, We’re sorry to hear this. What version of excel are you using? Are you on a Mac or PC? If you wish, we can email you an Excel copy of the template.

So so sooo helpful! I’m happy to find this great itinerary template! Thank you so much.

Thanks Tahira! We’re so glad that you found it helpful. Enjoy your travels! 🙂

Hi Tahira, we’re thrilled you found this template helpful. Enjoy your travels!

I needed this so much, easy and simply. Thank you for a great spreadsheet.

Thanks Nga! Happy travel planning!

Hi Nga, we’re so glad you loved this spreadsheet. Hope you had an amazing travel adventure!

Thank you , soooo much ! I appreciate you putting this together and sharing it

Hi Priscilla! So glad that you found this planning template useful! We hope you enjoy your trip!

I am so excited to find this. (Thank you, Pinterest!) I will be leaving in a month on an eight day train trip and this is exactly what I needed to get all my ducks in a row. Thank you so much!

HiTeresa! We’re so glad to hear this and so exciting for you. Enjoy your trip!

This is great! Found this as i was looking for a newer travel planner and this is very helpful and user friendly!

We’re so glad to hear this! Happy travel planning!

great tool. never used a planner before and it has most every item to consider… add a route sheet for those who driving to, during and back from their vacations…

Glad you like it and thanks for the feedback. We’ll look into adding a new tab for routes.

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Managing travel expenses can be a challenging task, especially when you’re dealing with multiple receipts and transactions. Our Travel Expense Report Template is designed to help you organize and analyze your travel expenses, providing you with a clear picture of your spending patterns and financial health.

Section 1: Why You Need a Travel Expense Report

A Travel Expense Report is an essential tool for anyone who travels frequently for business or personal reasons. It helps you:

• Organize Expenses: Categorize and record all your travel-related expenses in one place.
• Identify Spending Patterns: Analyze your spending patterns and identify areas where you can cut costs.
• Prepare for Reimbursements: Simplify the process of claiming reimbursements by having all your travel expenses organized in one place.
• Make Informed Decisions: Use the insights gained from the report to make informed decisions about budgeting and financial planning for future travels.

Section 2: How to Use Our Travel Expense Report Template

Our template is user-friendly and requires no advanced spreadsheet skills. Here’s how you can use it:

• Download the Template: Click the download button to get your free copy of the template.
• Input Your Data: Enter your travel-related expenses for the trip into the respective categories.
• Analyze Your Spending: The template will automatically calculate the total expenses for each category, providing you with valuable insights.
• Make Informed Decisions: Use the insights gained from the template to make informed decisions about your travel finances.

Don’t let the complexities of travel expense tracking overwhelm you. Download our Travel Expense Report Template now.

Excel Expense Report Template

An Expense Report is an organized way for businesses and their employees to track and report their expenses for business-related trips and events. The expense report is usually a printed form or a spreadsheet that is filled out and kept for accounting and tax purposes. Because of this, it is especially important to track any expenses that are tax deductible.

For a quick solution , instead of making your own expense report in Excel or Google Sheets, download and use one of our free Expense Report Templates below. Easily customize the spreadsheet by adding your company information and other details, then share the file with your employees.

Important Note for Employers : When your employees use a travel expense report, they should also submit copies of receipts along with the report so you can keep adequate records for tax purposes. We've included the note "Don't forget to attach receipts" in these spreadsheets to help serve as a reminder.

Travel Expense Report Template

License : Private Use (not for distribution or resale)

Description

Report your travel expenses , especially those that are tax deductible, with a simple and easy-to-use spreadsheet. This report template includes separate columns for common types of expenses. It also includes a table for recording detailed itemized expenses, such as a break-down of your meals or transportation expenses.

Simple Expense Report Template

The Simple Expense Report template uses one column for all expense types. The expense type can be selected from a drop-down that is easy to customize. There is also a designated place to specify the rate for mileage reimbursement.

For a blank, printable expense form that you can fill out by hand, simply remove the sample data and fill in the information you want printed.

Update 5/7/2020: I've added a new worksheet to this version of the expense report that lets you mark specific expenses "to be reimbursed" in case you use both a company card as well as personal money. Place an "x" in this column (or check the box in the Google Sheets version) if you want the amount to be added to the "Amount to Reimburse" total.

What business travel expenses are tax deductible?

Some of the most common tax deductible travel expenses include: flights, car rentals, mileage, uber rides, lodging, meals, tips, dry cleaning and laundry. We've based the expense types in our templates on these common expenses. For an official and detailed list that includes explanations and examples, we highly recommend visiting the Business Travel Expenses page on IRS.gov: https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc511 )

Other Helpful Expense Report Templates

Our Reimbursement Form template is great for general employee expense reimbursements (for non-travel expenses). The Business Mileage Tracking Log lets you keep track of daily mileage for record keeping and reporting. The Weekly Expense Report template provides a way to include more details and more expense categories.

Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general education and not to be used as personal financial or tax advice. If you have questions about taxes or proper reporting procedures for travel expenses, please consult a certified professional.

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Travel Budget Templates in Google Sheets and Excel

Get the most out of your trip using our travel budget templates in google docs, sheets, word, and excel formats. plan all your expenses, including plane tickets, apartment or hotel booking, visas, car rental and others. choose from dozens of editable and printable designs in different colors.

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Traveling is always fun and interesting. However, travel is always associated with various kinds of expenses, which are best foreseen in advance. If you want to always be sure that you have chosen the right budget for your trip, then we recommend using any travel budgeting template from TheGoodocs . Our amazing Google Sheets templates are always the best option to save time and money.

Just imagine that you won't need to understand spreadsheet functionalities and built-in instruments, but you'll still get a professional, well-structured, and well-designed budget plan. We have a traveling budget template for any personal or business need. It does not matter if you work in a travel agency or just going on vacation and want to calculate its cost in advance. You will definitely find the right option only with us.

How do you like our offer? We advise you to study the list of advantages because of which our clients and visitors prefer our platform!

Expense Report for Word, Excel, PDF, Google Sheets

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Template Highlights

• This expense report template is available as an Excel workbook, a Word document, or a PDF.
• Begin by completing the information in the upper left corner of the report. You will need to include the pay period, as well as your name, position, department, manager, and employee ID number. You should also indicate the reason for the expenditures.
• Now, enter your expenses in the spreadsheet. Include the date of purchase and a brief description. Place the amount in the appropriate column (designated by category).
• The expenses will be summed automatically at the bottom of the table.
• Add any relevant notes before submitting to your supervisor.
• When the expense report is authorized, your manager will add their name and signature.

What is an expense report?

An expense report tracks the items and services that you purchase for work. Expense reports are often used for business travel so employees can be reimbursed at a later time, but they can be used to record everyday expenses, too. Common examples of expenses to record during business travel are transportation, meals, parking, and hotels.

What does an expense report include?

An expense report typically includes an itemized list of each purchase an employee made that needs to be reimbursed. The report also usually includes: 

• Date : When the purchase was made.
• Vendor : Where the purchase was made.
• Amount : The transaction amount, including tax.
• Employee : Who made the purchase.
• Description : An explanation of the expense.
• Category : The type of expense, such as transportation or meals.
• Total : The total amount of expenses to be reimbursed.

You may also record:

• Client : The client associated with the expense.
• Project : The project associated with the expense.
• Notes : Additional details related to the expense you want to track.

Importance of expense reports

An expense report is a helpful tool business owners can use to reimburse employees and accurately report business expenses for tax purposes. This expense report template makes tracking business purchases easier and more accurate than relying solely on pen and paper. Additionally, this expense report template for Excel, Google Sheets, PDF, and Word can help you with:

Accurate reimbursements

As a business owner, you want to make sure that you reimburse your employees for the right amount. Having team members file an expense report is a simple way to verify their work expenditures.

Accountability

Creating an itemized expense report builds accountability into your employees’ business travel. This way, you know exactly what you’re reimbursing them for and make sure you only pay them back for business-related expenses.

Cost analysis

Recording expenses every time an employee travels can help you understand the categories and clients where you spend the most money. Insights from expense reports enable you to make data-driven decisions about your business’s finances. According to one report, 55% of companies use expense management data to inform financial activities, like annual budgeting and planning. 

Template Preview

Expense report.

EXPENSE REPORT

STATEMENT NUMBER: PAY PERIOD: FROM TO

EMPLOYEE INFORMATION

NAME: POSITION: PURPOSE:

DEPARTMENT: MANAGER: EMPLOYEE ID:

DESCRIPTION

ENTERTAINMENT

AUTHORIZED BY

SUBTOTAL $0.00

TOTAL REIMBURSEMENT $0.00

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you create an expense report in excel, is this template free, can i edit this template.

Yep. This one's on the house… just like all of our templates! Feel free to tailor this template to fit your specific expense reporting needs.

Once you’ve entered your contact information, you can instantly download this template (along with all the other templates in this collection!). That’s it.

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Travel Expense Report

Travel expense report: track your spending & reimbursement. a travel expense report helps you keep track of your travel costs. use our free templates to record your travel expenses for business trips, vacation, or any other purpose. easily track expenses and save money with our free expense tracking tool..

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Buying Info

• Total Downloads 3
• Template Rating 0.0

Template Information

• Released Aug 08, 2023
• Updated Jun 25, 2024
• File Type Microsoft Excel
• Demo Video No
• File Size 39.6 KB
• File SKU 0412
• Tags Trip , Costs , Airfare , Hotel , Accommodations , Transportation , Meals , Sightseeing , Business , expenses

Contributor Profile

Ankita Potdukhe

Travel expense report description, travel expense report template.

Traveling for work can be an exciting adventure, but it can also be costly. To ensure that you are reimbursed for all of your business-related travel expenses, it is important to fill out a travel expense report. This helpful template will provide you with the information you need to accurately document your expenses and get your money back.

What is a Travel Expense Report?

A travel expense report is a form that is filled out by a traveler to document and track their expenses. The purpose of the report is to provide a detailed accounting of all the money spent while the traveler is away. It is also used to help the employer or client to understand how the money was spent and to make sure that the traveler is reimbursed for all of their expenses.

What Does the Travel Expense Report Include?

The travel expense report template includes the following information:

• Name of traveler
• Date of travel
• Destination(s)
• Purpose of travel
• Total travel expenses
• Details of each expense (item, cost, method of payment, etc.)

How Can I Use the Travel Expense Report Template?

The travel expense report template can be used to document and track all of your travel expenses. Simply fill out the form with the relevant information and submit it to your employer or client for reimbursement. It is also a good idea to keep a copy of the form for your own records.

Tips for Completing the Travel Expense Report

To ensure that you are properly reimbursed for all of your travel expenses, here are a few tips to follow when completing your travel expense report:

• Record all expenses, no matter how small.
• Keep all receipts and other supporting documents.
• Enter all expenses accurately and in the correct categories.
• Double-check your calculations.
• Submit the report in a timely manner.

Using the travel expense report template and following these tips will help you to accurately document your travel expenses and get your money back. So the next time you travel for work, make sure to fill out a travel expense report to ensure that you get reimbursed for all of your business-related expenses.

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Free Travel Budget Template for Google Sheets (2024 Update)

Free google sheets travel budget template.

Grab a copy of this travel budget template in Google Sheets and edit it as you see fit.

Don't request for permission to edit, simply go to File > Make a copy .

How to Use Our Free Travel Budget Template in Google Sheets

Below we have outlined the steps on how to use our travel budget template in Google Sheets: 

Step 1: Planning and Budget Estimation

Begin with researching the costs associated with your destination(s). Look into accommodation prices, transportation fares, daily food expenses, and the cost of activities or attractions you plan to visit.

Step 2: Filling Out Estimated Costs

Open your Google Sheets travel budget template. Navigate to the "Estimated Cost" column (Column B) next to each category (Accommodation, Transportation, Food, etc.).

Based on your research or past experiences, enter the estimated amount you expect to spend for each category. This will serve as your budgeted amount for each part of your trip.

Step 3: Tracking Expenses During the Trip

As you travel, keep all receipts and make quick notes of all your expenses. This can be done in a small notebook, on your phone, or by taking photos of receipts.

Step 4: Updating Actual Costs Regularly

For each expense you incur, find the appropriate category and update the "Actual Cost" column (Column C) with the amount spent. 

Step 5: Reviewing Your Budget in Real-Time

As you update your actual costs, the "Difference" column (Column D) will automatically calculate the variance between your estimated and actual expenses. This column is formulated to subtract the actual cost from the estimated cost, showing you at a glance if you are over or under budget for each category.

Use the information from the "Difference" column to make informed decisions about your spending for the remainder of the trip. If you find yourself over budget in one area, you may decide to cut back on another category to compensate.

We hope that this article has helped you and given you a better understanding of how to use our travel budget template in Google Sheets. If you enjoyed this article, you might also want to check out our free debt payoff template and our event budget template in Google Sheets .

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

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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.

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!

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 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.

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

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 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 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 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.

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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The Best Expense Report Template for Excel [3 Options]

• Last updated October 11, 2023

In this guide, I’ll give you three examples of an expense report template for Excel under different categories:

Simple Expense Tracker

Business expense tracker, travel expense tracker.

Read on for a detailed guide on how to use each expense tracker.

Table of Contents

What Is an Expense Report Template for Excel?

An Excel expense report template is a pre-made spreadsheet that can be used by businesses and individuals to record and track their expenses.

Excel expense tracker templates are customizable, meaning you can change them based on your needs and requirements. You can add or remove rows and columns, adjust formatting, and include formulas to automate some of the calculations.

Using expense report forms can help you maintain an organized record of your business expenditures, which is crucial for tax purposes, budgeting, and financial planning.

Related: Get a Free Business Expenses Spreadsheet

Benefits of Using an Excel Expense Template

Using an expense tracking template in Excel has been a game-changer for managing my business finances. Here are some of the benefits I experienced:

Easy Expense Tracking

Using an expense tracking Excel template has simplified my expense tracking process. It lets me have an organized format to add all my financial transitions. This has eliminated the need for old-school manual records, making it a hassle-free experience.

Tailored Categories

When I create an expense Excel template, I can add a category section by using a dropdown button. This makes filtering data easier, as I can use a formula and search for rows containing “Rent” or “Groceries.” Removing or adding categories in a separate list also allows me to update the template in real-time, keeping the data accurate.

Automatic Calculation

Excel allows users to use functions and formulas to automate calculations. By using formulas, I don’t have to worry about manually updating the totals in my spreadsheet. Using simple formulas also allows me to perform calculations with changing values. For example, I can add the gas price in a cell and use it to calculate fuel prices based on the updated rates.

Effective Management

Budget management has become more accessible using a free expense report template, Excel. I can set a budget limit, monitor my spending, and see how much money I have left. Using conditional formatting, I can add rules to my budget to show a specific color based on how much funding I have used. For example, I can set it so my budget stays green when it’s less than 75%, becomes yellow between 76% and 90%, and goes to red above 90%.

Creating Charts

Excel’s graphs  are one of the best features to use if you’re looking for visual insights. Making a chart allows me to visually represent my spending patterns. I tend to use bar graphs and pie charts to help me quickly identify my spending habits.

Simplified Tax Preparation

Using Excel expense report templates can be great for simplifying the process of consolidating deductible expenses  into a single spreadsheet. This ensures that I always have an organized record of tax deductions, which helps save time and reduces the stress of the tax season.

Excel expense trackers are a valuable tool for businesses and individuals to manage their finances effectively. Using an expense template has become a daily part of my financial toolkit.

It streamlines the process of finance tracking, offers customization, real-time insights, automated calculations, budget management, charts, and graphs, and helps prepare you for tax season.

Related: Free Trucking Expenses Spreadsheet Template

What Should I Include in a Good Expense Report Template?

Although you can customize an expense report template according to your needs and preferences, let’s take a look at some essential elements I can add to an expense report template:

When creating templates for personal use, I don’t tend to add a lot of headers unless I need to add information for future reference. However, when creating templates for business use, I generally add cells for the company’s name, the expense report’s title, the date, or the reporting period.

Some of the details you should look to have in your expense template include the date of the expense, description or name, category, amount spent, and payment method.

Expense Categories

I like to divide my expenses into categories for easier sorting. You should look to create a separate column with a dropdown menu using Excel’s Data Validation feature. This way, you can have preset categories which you can add with a click.

Budget Tracking

Although this isn’t entirely needed in an expense tracker, having a budget tracker is certainly nice. I also like to create a cell for the money I have left, which uses a simple formula to check how much I have spent.

These are some of the things I like to add to the expense tracker template I make. However, feel free to add more elements to your expense tracker template based on your needs.

Related: How to Create a Budget Spreadsheet

Best Excel Expense Report Templates for 2024

Here are some expense report examples you can use in Microsoft Excel. To use the template, simply download it and open it using Excel. Feel free to make any changes and delete the previously added data to start from scratch.

If you like the following templates, you should also check out our premium templates library , where you can use the code “SSP” to save 50% off all SpreadsheetPoint templates.

Get Premium Templates

I created this expense tracker template to be as simple as possible for the user, as not everyone is looking for a template that allows them to micromanage their expenses.

This is a simple, hassle-free way to monitor your budget and expenses. The template was designed with both mobile and PC users in mind. This expense tracker features two distinct sections.

The first section records your expenses. Here, you can add a Name for the expense, choose its Category from a drop-down menu, and enter an Amount and the Date . You can also add optional Notes  to describe the expense.

The second section allows you to add your Budget and Categories to the selected expenses in the first section. The top ribbon shows the Total Spent , your Budget , and the Money Left . The Total Spent  is calculated automatically using a formula that sums the values in Amount . Add your Budget in the cell, which will then show the Money Left  using a formula that subtracts the value in Total Spent  from the Budget  value.

Finally, you can add the Categories , shown in the Category section, by clicking on an arrow showing a drop-down menu.

I made this free Excel expense report template for people looking to track their business expenses. The template features a simple, intuitive design, which should make this template easy to use, even for the basic user.

The template consists of three sections. The first one allows you to add some basic information about the report. This includes the Company Name , ID , Employee Name , Department , Purpose , and the From  and To  dates.

The next section allows you to add information about the expenses. This includes the Date , Description , Transport Costs , Fuel , Meals , Lodging , and Other expenses. Finally, the third column adds the Total for the specific day. A row towards the bottom of the table also shows individual totals for Transport , Fuel , Meal s, Lodging , and Other expenses.

Additionally, two cells allow you to add the Date and the signature of the person by whom the payment was Authorised By .

Related: Google Sheets Expense Tracker

This is the perfect template for anyone looking for an expense tracker template for travel. The template has two sections. The first section allows you to add details like your Name , Position , Department , Manager , Purpose , Start Date , End Date , and Mileage Rate . The total costs of the expenses are color-coded for easier viewing.

The next section allows you to add the Expense name, Date , and Account . You can also add the expense amounts directly in the Hotel , Meals, and Other sections. To calculate the Mileage , write the starting and ending reading. It will be automatically calculated based on the Mileage Rate .

Finally, the grand total of the expenses can be found towards the top right part of the template under Expense Report Total .

Wrapping Up

Hopefully, you now have the perfect expense report template for Excel to cater to your needs. If not, remember you can edit templates to suit your specific purposes.

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Travel Expense Templates

Free downloadable and printable travel expense templates that are compatible with PDF, Microsoft Word and Excel.

Simple Per Diem Expense Report in PDF

Get this free Per Diem Expense Report Template available in PDF to help track your employees’ business travel expenses on a daily basis.

Printable Per Diem Expense Report in Word

Get this free Per Diem Expense Report Template available in Word to help track your employees’ business travel expenses on a daily basis.

Per Diem Expense Report Template in PDF (Blue)

Blank Per Diem Expense Report Template in Excel (Plain)

Get this free Blank Per Diem Expense Report Template available in Excel to help track your employees’ business travel expenses on a daily basis.

Blank Per Diem Expense Report Template in Excel (Green)

Per Diem Expense Report Template in Excel (Blue)

Get this free Per Diem Expense Report Template available in Excel to help track your employees’ business travel expenses on a daily basis.

Blank Per Diem Expense Report Template in PDF (Printable)

Get this free Blank Per Diem Expense Report Template available in PDF to help track your employees’ business travel expenses on a daily basis.

Simple Per Diem Expense Report in Word

Per Diem Expense Report Template in Word (Printable)

Blank Per Diem Expense Report Template in Word (Green)

Get this free Blank Per Diem Expense Report Template available in Word to help track your employees’ business travel expenses on a daily basis.

Simple Per Diem Expense Report in Excel

Per Diem Expense Report Template in Excel (Striped)

Blank Per Diem Expense Report Template in Word (Plain)

Blank Per Diem Expense Report Template in PDF (Simple)

Employee Travel Expense Report Template in Excel

Use this Travel Expense Report in Excel to get reimbursements from all expenses spent during your trip. Receipts should be attached along with this form.

Blank Per Diem Expense Report Template in PDF (Green)

Editable Per Diem Expense Report in Excel

Employee Travel Expense Report Template in Word

Use this Travel Expense Report in Word to get reimbursements from all expenses spent during your trip. Receipts should be attached along with this form.

Per Diem Expense Report Template in PDF (Striped)

Printable Per Diem Expense Report in Excel

Blank Per Diem Expense Report Template in Word (Printable)

Per Diem Expense Report Template in Word (Blue)

Printable Per Diem Expense Report in PDF

Blank Per Diem Expense Report Template in PDF (Plain)

Blank Per Diem Expense Report Template in Excel (Simple)

Editable Per Diem Expense Report in Word

Per Diem Expense Report Template in PDF (Printable)

Editable Per Diem Expense Report in PDF

Per Diem Expense Report Template in Word (Striped)

Blank Per Diem Expense Report Template in Word (Simple)

Blank Per Diem Expense Report Template in Excel (Printable)

Per Diem Expense Report Template in Excel (Printable)

Employee Travel Expense Report Template in PDF

Use this Travel Expense Report in PDF to get reimbursements from all expenses spent during your trip. Receipts should be attached along with this form.

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Free Vacation Budget Planner

Prepare for upcoming trips with Jotform’s free vacation budget planner. Great for travel planners or for personal use. Add your budget info through an online form, a CSV or Excel file, or enter details manually into a secure, collaborative spreadsheet.

Free Budget Planner Templates

Get started with ready-made budget planner templates. Choose one and customize it in a few easy clicks with our drag-and-drop builder.

Vacation Budget Planner Template

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Manage your travel budget.

Whether you’re a professional travel agent or planning your family’s next trip, manage your budget with a ready-made vacation budget template — or import an existing CSV or Excel file to get started.

Access from any device

View and edit your budget on the go. See budget details as a spreadsheet, a calendar, or easy-to-read cards in Jotform Tables. You can also download your budget as a PDF once it’s complete.

Customize with ease

Personalize the design of your budget planner with our intuitive interface. Add new rows and columns, split details into multiple tabs, add calculations, and more.

Share with family or friends

Send your vacation budget to family members or friends to keep them in the loop. You can even collaborate on your budget in Jotform Tables by sharing your table or assigning cells to others.

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How do you budget for a vacation?

To start budgeting for a vacation, first look at your financial situation. Take into account how much money you currently have, how much money you will have at the start of the vacation, and if you have any bills or recurring monthly expenses that may interfere with your budget. Next, take into account all of the expenses associated with the trip — such as transportation, lodging, meals, souvenirs, and other miscellaneous expenses. Once you know how much you have and how much you’re able to spend, you can start planning the details of your trip.

How can I stay on budget while on vacation?

There are many steps you can take to stay on budget while on vacation. To start, try not to go during the busiest vacation times of the year — this can vary depending on location, but it usually helps to avoid major holidays or times of the year when the weather is ideal for the location. When it comes to transportation, lodging, and activities, be on the lookout for deals. This can be a good way to find cheap, fun vacation locations or activities that you may not have thought of before. Instead of opting for an expensive hotel or Airbnb, consider less expensive options like motels, hostels, camping, or staying with friends. And if you’d like to save on food, preparing meals yourself instead of eating out for every meal can help you save a lot of money!

How do I make a travel expense spreadsheet?

Jotform Tables lets you build a travel expense spreadsheet from scratch or get started with a ready-made template. If you’d like to customize your spreadsheet, feel free to add new rows or columns, include formulas to automatically calculate totals, add color-coded tags, and make other changes in seconds with Jotform’s easy-to-use interface. You can add travel expense details manually, upload them via a CSV or Excel file, or fill out an online form to auto-populate your spreadsheet. You can then manage your budget on any device straight from Jotform Tables.

How can I share my spreadsheet with others?

In Jotform Tables, click on the Share icon in the upper right hand corner. Then choose your privacy settings and how you would like to share your table. You can make your table public or private, share it via email or invitation link, or even embed your table in another web page. If you update your share settings to allow collaborators, you can also work on your vacation budget with colleagues or members of your travel group. Visit our user guide to learn more about how to share and collaborate in Jotform Tables .

Can multiple people edit the budget spreadsheet at the same time?

Yes! If you open your table to collaborators, you can all work on your spreadsheet together in real time.

Can I download my data?

Yes. Feel free to download your vacation budget planner spreadsheet as a PDF, CSV, or Excel file. Learn more about how to download your Jotform Tables data .

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Free PDF Expense Report Templates and Forms

By Andy Marker | January 3, 2023

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We’ve compiled a collection of the most helpful free PDF expense report templates and forms for recording business expenses and ensuring that employers reimburse team members in a timely fashion. 

Included on this page, you’ll find a simple printable expense report form , a business expense sheet , an employee expense report with mileage template , and a monthly expense report template . Plus, find helpful tips on using these templates.

Simple Printable Expense Report Form 

Download the Simple Printable Expense Report Form for Adobe PDF  

This basic printable expense report template simplifies the expense reporting process for employees and ensures that managers can issue reimbursement quickly. For each expense, enter the date, description, and type (e.g., lodging, travel, fuel or mileage). Enter the cost for each item, along with any advances, to calculate the total reimbursement amount, or print out the template to perform the calculations by hand. Whether you fill out this PDF template online or print a hard copy to submit to your manager, this easy-to-use template will help you streamline your expense reporting procedure. 

For expense resources geared toward smaller businesses, see this article on small business expense reports, trackers, and spreadsheet templates .

Business Expense Sheet 

Download the Business Expense Sheet for Adobe PDF

Proactively track all of your business expenses with this business expense sheet for Adobe PDF. For each expense, enter its date, description, category, and amount. The template’s Total column keeps a running tally of your total reimbursement amount. The template will calculate the subtotal of your expenses and subtract any advances you enter to provide your total reimbursement amount. Be sure to attach receipts to your expense report to ensure timely reimbursement. 

Check out these free expense report templates in multiple file formats to track your expenses and meet your reimbursement needs.

Employee Expense Report with Mileage Template

Download the Employee Expense Report with Mileage Template for Adobe PDF

Designed to track costs for business-related mileage or travel, this employee expense report with mileage template is the perfect tool for recording every mile or kilometer you travel. Under the template’s Mileage column, track each day’s traveled distance. Tally the total mileage of your trip, as well as any other transportation expenses you’ve listed, in the Transport/Mileage field at the top-right corner of the form.

Check out this expense tracking and reporting set for optimized business expense tracking needs.

Monthly Expense Report Template 

Download the Monthly Expense Report Template for Adobe PDF

Use this template’s unique month-by-month tabs to provide a comprehensive, multi-month account of all your reimbursable business expenses. While monthly tabs help you provide greater detail of each month’s accrued expenditures, this template’s main Monthly Expense Report tab allows you to keep a running tally of your monthly and total expenditures. You can adjust this completely customizable template to create different expense categories and get reimbursements for every business-related expense quickly.  

For additional expense report resources and templates, see these comprehensive articles on expense report templates in Excel and expense report templates in Google Sheets .

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"Shoeboxed makes it stupid simple to scan receipts...”

Travel expense template google sheets: top 4 free templates.

Tomoko Matsuoka

Published on

April 9th, 2024

Shoeboxed is an expense & receipt tracking app that helps you get reimbursed quickly, maximize tax deductions, and reduce the hassle of doing accounting.

Traveling can be a thrilling and enriching experience, but it also comes with its share of expenses. The costs can quickly add up from transportation and accommodations to daily meals.

Many travelers turn to Google Sheets as a versatile tool for managing travel expenses . Utilizing travel expense templates in Google Sheets helps individuals and businesses organize their financial data , ensuring specific details are not overlooked and that they are making the most of their money on their journey.

The beauty of using Google Sheets for this purpose lies in its accessibility and simplicity. With many pre-designed travel budget templates available, anyone can start planning their trip's finances with minimal setup.

Here are our favorite travel expense templates for Google Sheets, plus 1 service perfect for frequent travelers!

Table of Contents

Best free travel expense templates for Google Sheets

1. travel budget template by vertex42.

Creator : Vertex42

Main features : This template is designed for those with extensive itineraries. It includes various sections for stopovers and activities.

Benefits : Users benefit from a comprehensive approach to budgeting, ensuring that no expense is overlooked during travels. Users can also save ahead of their trip by inputting projected costs.

👉 Download link

2. Travel expenses template by Google Sheets

Creator : Google Sheets

Main features : The template comes with fields for Accommodation, transport, eating in, eating out, drinks, activities, and other items, along with columns for each place in your itinerary.

Benefits : You can analyze travel costs based on location.

3. Travel expenses tracking template by Jeff Blum

Creator : Jeff Blum

Main features : Tracks up to 1 year of travel and has options for recording shorter trips.

Benefits : Travelers can download and edit their spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel. The charts tab provides an excellent overview of your trip or vacation.

👉 Download link  

4. Travel expense report by Richard Anderson

Creator : Richard Anderson

Main features : Employees can use this template to request reimbursement for business-related travel expenses.

Benefits : This is great for small businesses that need a template for employees to use when on business-related trips.

5. Bonus: Shoeboxed, the best alternative to a travel expense spreadsheet

Need a simpler alternative to spreadsheets? We hear you.

Shoeboxed is a receipt management service that simplifies expense tracking for frequent travelers. It offers a streamlined approach to managing and maintaining records of expenses that you want to keep track of.

If you're traveling by car, you often have many expenses on the road, such as fuel, meals, and maintenance costs. 

Keeping track of all these receipts can be a challenge, but with Shoeboxed’s Magic Envelope service , drivers just need to stuff all their receipts into the prepaid envelope provided by Shoeboxed and send it in. 

Shoeboxed’s data entry team will scan, categorize, and organize these receipts digitally.

Here’s how that would work: Keep a Magic Envelope in the seat next to you as you drive. After you fill up for gas or leave that drive-in, slip the receipt into the prepaid envelope. Send the envelope in at the end of the month, and you won’t have to go near a spreadsheet again!

“Set and forget” expense reporting—use the Magic Envelope to store your receipts, then send them in and get them scanned and uploaded to your account. 

Accurate mileage tracking that can be included in expense reports.

Add multiple users to a single account for FREE.

Store digital copies of important documents, including invoices, warranties, contracts, and other important documents.

Importing e-receipts to your Shoeboxed account is as easy as syncing your Gmail with Shoeboxed, using Shoeboxed's special Gmail Receipt Sync feature.

Integrate with other software, such as QuickBooks, for tax reporting and accounting purposes.

Used and trusted by travelers.

Plans that include the Magic Envelope cannot be purchased through the mobile app.

Plans that include the Magic Envelope start at $18/month, up to $54/month. 

All monthly plans come with a 30-day free trial.

All annual plans are charged upon sign-up and come with a full money-back guarantee if the plan is terminated at any point within the first 30 days.

Shoeboxed is the only receipt scanner app that will handle both your paper receipts and your digital receipts—saving customers up to 9.2 hours per week from manual data entry!

Hit the road with Shoeboxed 🚗

Stuff receipts into the Magic Envelope while on the road. Then send them in once a month to get scanned. 💪🏼 Try free for 30 days!

What else can Shoeboxed do?

Shoeboxed has been voted as the best receipt scanner app for tax season by Hubspot and given the Trusted Vendor and Quality Choice awards by Crozdesk.

A quick overview of Shoeboxed's award-winning features:

a. Mobile app and web dashboard

There are many ways to upload receipts to Shoeboxed.

Shoeboxed’s mobile app lets you snap photos of paper receipts and upload them to your account from your phone.

Shoeboxed also has a user-friendly web dashboard so you can drag and drop receipts or documents from your desktop.

b. Gmail receipt sync feature for capturing e-receipts

Shoeboxed’s Gmail Receipt Sync grabs all receipt emails and sends them to your account for automatic processing! These receipts are then labeled as Sent to Shoeboxed in your Gmail inbox.

In short, Shoeboxed pulls the receipt data from your email, including the vendor, purchase date, currency, total, and payment type, and organizes it in your account.

Your purchases will even come with images of the receipts attached!

c. Expense reports

Expense reports let you view all of your expenses in one cohesive document. They also make it simple to share your purchases with your accountant.

Shoeboxed makes it easy to export your yearly expenses into a detailed report. All expenses come with receipts attached.

You can also choose certain types of receipts to include in your expense report. Just select the receipts you want to export and click “export selected.”

d. Search and filter

Call up any receipt or warranty in seconds with advanced search features.

Filter receipts based on vendors, date, price, currency, categories, payment type, and more.

e. Accounting software integrations

Export expenses to your accounting software in just a couple of clicks.

Shoeboxed integrates with 12+ apps , including QuickBooks, Xero, and Wave Accounting, to automate tedious life tasks.

f. Unlimited number of free sub-users

Add an unlimited number of free sub-users to your account, such as family members, employees, accountants, and tax professionals.

g. Shoeboxed's mileage tracker

After you sign up for Shoeboxed , you can start tracking miles in seconds:

Open the Shoeboxed app.

Tap the “Mileage” icon.

Click the “Start Mileage Tracking” button.

Whenever you start a trip, Shoeboxed tracks your location and miles and saves your route as you drive.

As you make stops at stores and customer locations, you can drop pins to make tracking more precise.

At the end of a drive, you’ll click the “End Mileage Tracking” button to create a summary of your trip. Each summary will include the date, editable mileage and trip name, and your tax deductible and rate info.

Click “Done” to generate a receipt for your drive and get a photo of your route on the map. Shoeboxed will automatically categorize your trip under the mileage category in your account.

h. The Magic Envelope

The Magic Envelope service is Shoeboxed's most in-demand feature, particularly for businesses, as it lets users outsource receipt management.

When you sign up for a plan that includes the Magic Envelope , Shoeboxed will mail you a pre-paid envelope for you to send your receipts in.

Once your receipts reach the Shoeboxed facility, they’ll be digitized, human-verified, and tax-categorized in your account.

Have your own filing system?

Shoeboxed will even put your receipts under custom categories. Just separate your receipts with a paper clip and a note explaining how you want them organized!

Break free from manual data entry ✨

Use Shoeboxed’s Magic Envelope to ship off your receipts and get them back as scanned data in a private, secure cloud-based account. 📁 Try free for 30 days!

How to create a travel expense template

Creating a travel expense template in Google Sheets helps travelers to stay organized and keeps their finances in check throughout their trips.

1. Basic structure and formatting

A Google Sheets travel expense template starts with a well-organized layout. The first row typically serves as the header, clearly labeling columns such as Date, Description, Category, Amount, and Currency.

Use bold text for header names to distinguish them from other entries. For easy reading, alternating row colors can be applied, and appropriate column widths should be set to ensure all data is visible. Text alignment—dates and descriptions to the left and numerical values to the right—maintains a professional look.

2. Essential categories and fields

Key categories in a travel expense template might include Transportation, Lodging, Meals, Entertainment, and Miscellaneous Expenses. Each category should have its own column or be selectable from a dropdown list in the Category column.

Including a field for notes allows for additional details, such as the purpose of the expense or related project codes.

3. Automating calculations

Google Sheets offers powerful formulas that they can employ to automate various tasks. For instance, the SUM function adds totals across a range of cells, perfect for tallying daily expenses or category totals.

Additionally, the SUMIF function allows them to sum up values based on specific criteria, such as only adding expenses labeled as "transportation."

If playing around in Google Sheets isn't your idea of fun, consider fully automating expense management by outsourcing all your data entry to Shoeboxed!

4. Conditional formatting

Google Sheets allows Conditional Formatting to change the color of cells based on specific conditions automatically. When applied to a travel expense template, it can highlight categories that are over budget or visually distinguish between reimbursable and non-reimbursable expenses.

For example, one could set a rule to turn the cell red if the expense exceeds a defined threshold or green if it is within budget.

5. Dropdown lists and checkboxes

Dropdown lists can be used to select expense categories or payment methods, ensuring data consistency. Checkboxes are helpful for marking expenses as cleared or needing further review.

This level of control simplifies the management of travel expenses and can be particularly beneficial for users sharing the document, as it sets a standard for marking different types of costs.

See also: Top Apps for Taxi Drivers to Enhance Efficiency and Earnings

Frequently asked questions

How can i use google sheets to track my travel expenses.

One can easily track travel expenses with Google Sheets by creating a ledger of the costs categorized by type, such as transportation, lodging, gifts, and food , and with columns for date, cost, description, etc. Users may input their expenses as they occur, helping them stay on budget.

What are some tips for creating an effective travel budget spreadsheet?

When constructing a travel budget spreadsheet, including categories for all expected expenses is important. Also, ensure that it is easy to update on the go. One should consider using formulas to calculate total spending and remaining budget automatically.

Is it possible to generate an expense report using Google Sheets?

Google Sheets allows users to generate detailed expense reports. These reports may include categorized expenses, visual summaries, and automated calculations that simplify expense tracking and reporting.

Can you suggest ways to customize a Google Sheets travel budget for personal use?

A Google Sheets travel budget can be personalized by adding custom categories, using currency conversion formulas for international travel, and incorporating charts to visualize spending trends.

Are there any travel expense templates for Excel that can be imported into Google Sheets?

Excel travel expense templates can be imported into Google Sheets for continued use. The process involves opening the Excel file in Google Sheets and then saving it within the platform, giving users the flexibility to choose their preferred template format.

By incorporating a template into their routine, travelers can focus more on the substantive aspects of travel and less on the administrative intricacies of expense reporting.

Tomoko Matsuoka is managing editor for Shoeboxed, MailMate, and other online resource libraries. She covers small business tips, organization hacks, and productivity tools and software.

About Shoeboxed!

Shoeboxed is a receipt scanning service with receipt management software that supports multiple methods for receipt capture: send, scan, upload, forward, and more!

You can stuff your receipts into one of our Magic Envelopes (prepaid postage within the US). Use our receipt tracker + receipt scanner app ( iPhone , iPad and Android ) to snap a picture while on the go. Auto-import receipts from Gmail. Or forward a receipt to your designated Shoeboxed email address.

Turn your receipts into data and deductibles with our expense reports that include IRS-accepted receipt images.

Join over 1 million businesses scanning & organizing receipts, creating expense reports and more—with Shoeboxed.

Try Shoeboxed today!

Turn business receipts into data & deductibles

Join over 1 million businesses scanning receipts, creating expense reports, and reclaiming multiple hours every week—with Shoeboxed.

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Travel Planner Spreadsheet: How to Stay Organized with this Google Sheets Itinerary Template

I don’t know about you, but after a year of quarantining and diligently following all of the rules, I am so ready for an epic adventure. As the vaccine rolls out and cases begin to decrease I’m starting to feel the first dash of hope which spurred me to open up my Google Sheets travel planner spreadsheet.

I started dreaming about traveling again. Not even to far off destinations, but to local spots for more than a quick day trip. I figured now was the perfect time to introduce to you how I plan my trips using my Google Sheets itinerary template.

I started using this type of travel planning when I quit my job and got to plan a multi-month, multi-destination adventure. It was a fairly overwhelming process, but the way I stayed organized and on budget was by using Google Sheets.

I created spreadsheet upon spreadsheet to track all of my confirmation numbers, bucket list activities, and trip necessities in one place. I also learned which ones made sense, what information was necessary, and which ones I could delete. Leaving only the best and most useful travel itinerary template to share with you!

This post contains affiliate links, which means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a tiny bit of income if you decide to make a purchase or booking. For more, check out my disclosure . 

Why Do I Use Google Sheets instead of Excel?

I love using Google Sheets for just about everything in my life. I have my budget there, keep track of my blogging stats, and my client work.

Here are a few reasons why I prefer using Google Sheets for my trip planner:

• Google Sheets is more Mobile . I have the Google Sheets app on my phone and the spreadsheets are editable offline. This means that if I end up without WiFi or data, which happens all of the time on the road, I can still access any important information or make updates.
• I can easily share it with my friends and family . They will be able to see as I make changes to it in real time, compared to having to email them a new Excel document each time. In terms of my safety when I travel solo , if they ever need to get a hold of me, they will have all of the necessary and up to date information.
• I am an Apple person through and through and simply PREFER Google Sheets over Excel .

Now, Google Sheets and Excel are basically the same thing, so if you are an Excel person you can take the travel planner templates I share here and apply the idea to Excel .

When to Use a Travel Itinerary Templates?

I suggest using a trip planner template anytime you’re planning a trip with a lot of moving parts. Is it necessary for a weekend getaway? No, probably not.

But if you’re planning anything more than a week and you want to ensure you stay on budget and get to see, do, and eat what you want then using a spreadsheet to track everything is incredibly helpful.

I also find them really helpful for planning road trips, so I created (and included for you) a road trip template .

While I primarily use them for planning my vacation itinerary you could also use them to help you plan a business travel itinerary as that begins to resume.

How to Use a Travel Itinerary Template in Google Sheets ?

I’m going to walk you through my tried and tested method for using Google Sheets as your travel planner. My travel spreadsheet template has 11 individual spreadsheets . You can definitely make these yourself, but if you want them already done for you, you can purchase the templates here .

Quick tip : Add links whenever possible. If you find a cool tour you want to do, save the link to the spreadsheet so you can easily find it when it comes time to book

I’ll show you a screenshot of each of them and a short video, but here’s the overview. 

Travel Planner Spreadsheet Template

Travel expense spreadsheet, travel budget spreadsheet.

• Travel Itinerary

Travel Itinerary Daily View

Travel itinerary calendar view.

• Flight Planner
• Accommodation Planner
• Bucket List Planner

Pre-Travel Shopping List

Packing list, road trip planner.

This is the master spreadsheet , if you will. This is where you’ll put any travel related purchases leading up to and during your trip. You can change or add the categories to reflect what works best for your situation.

Let’s say you’re planning a Hawaii getaway ! Leading up to the trip, you decide you want to buy a new swimsuit. You’ll add that to this spreadsheet and put it under MISC or add a column for clothing. As you book your accommodation for the trip, you’ll add that here as well. Then as you are exploring the gorgeous Hawaiian islands, you’ll track your expenses for food, activities, gifts, etc. 

Then at the end of the month, you’ll know exactly what you spent on your trip , both before the actual trip and during. 

This is broken out by months, then at the very bottom, you’ll have a yearly total for travel expenses . 

I hope to have some numbers in there this year!

This spreadsheet is your travel budget planner . It’s broken out into locations, because many trips include more than one destination! You’ll enter the number of days you’ll be in each location, then as you move through the spreadsheet add in the cost for only days worth of food, accommodation etc. The total will calculate at the top !

The travel budget spreadsheet is intended to provide you with an approximate cost of your trip . Once you have this information you can adjust as needed. If the trip is too far out of your budget, don’t give up! 

Can you find cheaper accommodations ? Can you DIY some of you bucket list activities? Can you cook food instead of eating out?

One of my biggest travel tips to stay on budget is to prioritize the activities and experiences that you know will fill you up and bring you joy. Forget the rest.

See where that leaves your budget.

Travel Itinerary Spreadsheet

The Travel Itinerary Spreadsheet provides a birds eye view of your entire trip itinerary. Once you make a decision on where you’re staying, your method of transportation, and activities, input that information here. Include the confirmation number, the costs, and any other information that you find valuable for your trip.

The Travel Itinerary Daily View is where you’ll get into the details of your trip . Use this sheet to plan out each day of your trip so you ensure you get to do, see, and eat all of the things.

Another one of my top travel tips is to only schedule ONE activity per day . This allows time for a little bit of spontaneity on the road, while still ensuring you do what you went there to do. 

As you research your destination, you’ll likely come across places to eat that you don’t want to forget, so add those here as well.

Add any bonus activities that would make sense on that day if time allows!

This calendar view provides a way to see how your trip fits into the rest of your year . Does it fall on a holiday? Do you have trips planned each month? 

The year and dates are intentionally left blank for you to input so no matter what year you’re planning your travels, you can have the correct dates.

To be honest, I use this sheet the least, but I know some people really like seeing a calendar view.

Flight Planner Spreadsheet

As you research your flights, use this sheet to track the entire cost of the flight . This will include a checked bag (maybe), food on board etc. Those cheap flights are super tempting, but since you have to pay for everything else, it really adds up. So use this sheet to be sure you know how much that $35 flight will actually cost you.

Accommodation Planner Spreadsheet

Accommodation can be overwhelming to book. There are so many options, which should you choose? First, check out my guide to booking hostels . If you’re not a fan of hostels don’t worry, the tips in there are applicable across all accommodation types.

Then as you research, add the information, including additional amenities (some hotels charge for WiFi) to provide the total cost. 

This will help you ensure that you get the biggest bang for your buck out of where you lay your head. 

There are multiple destination options in this sheet, as you might be moving about the country!

Bucket List Planner Spreadsheet

The Bucket List Planner is where the fun stuff lives! Start with your destination and determine your can’t miss, bucket list activities!

Have you ever been planning a trip, read a blog post that mentions an epic activity, and you think, I want to do that. But then you don’t save the link to the tour ? Well, add the booking link to this sheet along with other important information (cost, tour operator etc). Then when you’re ready to book, you have the link and all of the information you need!

Sometimes, you need some gear before a trip. This could be anything from a new swimsuit for your beach vacation to luggage to vaccinations! Keep track of those costs here and factor it in to the overall budget of your trip.

I am a big fan of NOT spending too much in this phase of the travel planning. Try to use what you have , borrow what you can, and only buy something when absolutely necessary.

I’m sure a friend or family member has a piece of carry on luggage you can use and no you don’t need a brand new wardrobe for your trip.

This is a sample packing list , yes, but it also covers just about everything you’ll need for your trip. I know there are 5 shoes mentioned, please don’t bring 5 pairs of shoes ! It’s just an example of footwear you might need depending on your planned activities. If you’re not hiking, please don’t bring hiking shoes!

But always, no matter the weather, always pack a swimsuit . You just never know when you might encounter a hot spring, hot tub, or lake for a dip!

Last but not least, you’ll find a road trip planner ! This road trip itinerary planner gives you space to note your starting location, your ultimate destination, the number of miles you’ll drive, cost of gas and things you’d like to see along the way!

There is also a section at the top for your rental car information if you need to rent one for your road trip.

In the first column, you can put the day of the week, the actual date or leave it numbered as is.

At the bottom of the spreadsheet, it will total up the number of miles driven and the total cost of gas for the trip.

I know that planning a trip, no matter the length, can be really fun, but also a bit overwhelming. Especially when you’re trying to stay on budget! These travel planner spreadsheets will help you plan the trip of your dreams (which we all need right about now) while staying on budget and leaving the overwhelm behind.

If you’d like to purchase these templates, they’re available here !

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Ten Best Travel Budget Template Excel Free Spreadsheet

A travel budget template excel sheet is a great way to keep track of your travel expenses. It helps you to know how much you have left in your budget and what you can do with that money. You can use this travel budget template excel spreadsheet to keep track of your travel expenses by adding each item and then totaling the amount at the bottom. It is also helpful to keep track of the different types of expenses you have so that you can figure out where your money is going.

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