Planning a family vacation takes work. Knowing what kind of budget you have to work with makes this job easier.
By planning for each of the following budget categories, you should avoid unexpected financial surprises on your trip.
accommodation
This category has a lot of room for flexibility. You can stay anywhere from a spare room at a friend or relative’s house, to a tent, a budget or high-budget hotel, or a five-star resort.
Unless your accommodation is the main part of your trip, ie a cruise, avoid making this a large part of your travel expenses. Be sure to budget for the nights you can stay overnight while traveling to your destination.
Transport
This category may be dictated by your destination. You can’t drive across the country for a week-long vacation, nor can you take a bus from the United States to France.
But there are several transportation options to choose from and some of them, like a train or a cruise ship, can make travel time an adventure in itself and can add fun and excitement to your trip without stretching your budget.
food
If you’re on a budget, you can plan to cook some of your meals in your hotel room. You can also pack your own snacks and take advantage of the continental breakfast if your hotel offers it.
If you are visiting a region that is known for a certain type of food, make sure you budget enough money to enjoy the local cuisine.
Entertainment
This may be the category your ride revolves around. If your reason for visiting Southern California is to visit one or more of the area’s many theme parks, add that expense to your budget.
You may want to balance the main expense with other low-cost or free activities, like visiting San Diego’s Tide Pools and Point Loma or spending a day at the beach.
Many museums offer free days. Do some research to see if you can find this deal in the area where you’ll be vacationing.
tips
Almost every service you receive on your trip will expect some type of tip. You can avoid some of these by not using valet parking and using a luggage cart to transport your luggage to the airport and your hotel.
I know that most service employees depend on tips for their salary, but if you find yourself short of funds towards the end of your trip due to a miscalculation of your expenses or an unexpected emergency expense, tips are an area where you can reduce.
Avoid incurring this expense if possible, but if you must, do what you can and offer a sincere thank you along with the tip.
pet sitting
If you are a pet owner, you will need to plan for pet expenses on your trip or plan for pet care while you are away. One way to save money on this expense is to choose housing options that pets can be easily accommodated in, such as a tent or camping trailer.
If you are going to leave your pet at home, try to find a single person or family to take care of your pet, your home, your garden, etc.
home care
Unless you can trust a neighbor, friend, or relative to keep an eye on your house and make sure your yard is well-maintained and everything is safe and secure, you may need to hire someone to do this task. Single young people are great for this job, as their lives are often flexible. Ask around to see if someone you know can recommend someone for this job.
One possible way to save money if you live near a college or university is to plan your trip just before the semester begins or ends. There may be a student who has to arrive early or stay late due to transportation or work problems and they will gladly watch your house, possibly free of charge, to avoid the expense of staying in a hotel. If you find a possibility, be sure to check them out, including references, and interview them before giving them the keys to your house.
Gifts for friends, family and people who host you in their homes
These are common expenses, but they are completely optional. It’s nice to give a gift in these situations, especially if you haven’t seen the person in a while, but if money is tight, skip the gift and write a nice card instead or take several photos of you and the person(s). people). ) ) together. When you get home, print one or more photos, buy a nice frame for them, and then mail them with a note thanking you for visiting.
If you buy gifts before you leave on your trip, be sure to leave room in your luggage and in your vehicle to transport them.
spend money and memories
This expense can be a huge blow to your budget if you’re not careful. To reduce some of your spending money, buy snacks and drinks to keep in a small cooler in your car and in your hotel room. This will help you avoid costly expenses at convenience stores and vending machines.
emergency fund
This doesn’t have to be an actual amount of cash, but it’s a good idea to have at least some funds available on a credit card just in case. You never know when you might have an unexpected medical expense or need to pay for a car repair.
While you may not necessarily be able to shop around in an actual emergency, having additional funds available will prevent you from accessing your already planned expenses if necessary.
Sure
Make sure your car insurance is adequate and good for where you’ll be traveling. You may also consider purchasing travel insurance to cover unexpected emergencies and a health insurance policy if you travel outside the country.
Look for rate quotes for this type of insurance to get the best coverage at the lowest rates.
Take some time to consider how you’ll spend your travel budget before you leave home, and you’ll be able to avoid unnecessary spending and get the best prices on everything you do.