How to Calculate Your Vacation Budget and What to Do if You Don't Have Enough Money
Going on a long-awaited vacation, we certainly need to calculate the approximate budget of the trip and decide how much money to take with you to a particular country. This will largely depend on the choice of hotel or the number of days of rest. Many tourists planning a trip often wonder how much money to take with them. We tell you how to correctly calculate the amount you need so that you have enough for everything.
Hotel
Many tourists love All-Inclusive vacations because it makes it much easier to calculate the cost of the trip. You know that your hotel is "All Inclusive" and will remain to take money only for souvenirs. But even if you go on vacation to a hotel where "All Inclusive," you may have unexpected expenses. For example, in the UAE is often asked to make a deposit, which is returned to you when you check out, and tourist centers in Europe require you to pay a tourist fee. So, when booking a hotel, it is worth checking with your travel manager what expenses may await you on vacation, perhaps they are small, but it will help you calculate a more accurate amount.
Meals
If you go on vacation not on the system "All Inclusive," the main item of expenditure will be food. We want to draw your attention to the fact that it is not always profitable to book a vacation on the "All Inclusive" system, often in Europe or Asia it is much more profitable to take a meal "breakfast", and lunch and dinner in local cafes and restaurants. In order to understand whether it is worth overpaying for additional meals in hotels, ask about the average checks in local restaurants. Such information can be easily found on TripAdvisor or check with your manager when booking a tour. If you are going on an all-inclusive vacation, still allocate a small reserve that can cover dinner in a traditional restaurant or drinks during excursions.
Transportation
Many tourists save on the hotel and forget about the additional cost of transportation. This is not terrible if you have a few stops on the subway or streetcar, but if, for example, you dream of visiting Barcelona and booking a vacation in Costa Dorada, it is worth considering that the trip will cost you from 11 to 20 euros one way. A good way to save on transportation is to buy a tourist card, which is very common in Europe. Some of them not only give you the opportunity to use transportation at a good price but also allow you to enter museums and attractions for free.
Excursions and Sightseeing
In a new country, you always want to go to see the sights and visit the most interesting excursions, so before traveling, it is not superfluous to ask about the cost of admission to the main attractions and average prices for excursions. Many cities now have tour buses that run along the route of the most interesting sights. At any of them, you can get off and then get on the next bus and go further along the route. The cost of this type of excursion is minimal, and you can see a lot in one day. The second way to save money is to use a tourist card, which we wrote about above. Before buying it, check which museums on the card you can enter for free or at reduced rates and which ones you will have to visit for an additional fee. This will help you add up the sum to plan your trip.
Souvenirs and Shopping
Souvenirs and shopping are often the most expensive part of the trip. When you add up the sum of all the previous items, you will realize how much extra money you can expect to spend. Magnetics and various small things will cost you from 1$ to 5$. Antiques and clothing can already number in the hundreds, so it all depends only on your wishes and budget. If souvenirs must necessarily bring the whole family, then before the trip, write a list of all who need to buy something and calculate the amount of money for souvenirs for each. This way it will be easier to understand how much money to take with you, and you won't forget anyone.
Unforeseen Expenses
Lastly, always think about any unexpected expenses that may arise. Anything can happen on a trip, and at the very least, you should take enough money with you for your return ticket home. You can keep this reserve on your bank card so you won't be tempted to spend it.
Where to Get Money for a Vacation?
Our savings, if we have them at all, are not enough for the vacation we want or plan. Of course, you can cancel everything and stay at home, but it is a vacation, so it should be great to help you rest and recharge. Therefore, you should not put a cross on it.
Borrow from friends
This is the easiest and, in fact, economical way. Friends or family are unlikely to charge you interest for using their money. Neither will they charge extra fees or penalties for early repayment.
But this method has its drawbacks. For example, your loved ones may not always have the necessary amount. In addition, many people fundamentally do not lend to friends so as not to spoil the relationship.
Take a loan
Yes, you will have to pay interest. But you are guaranteed to get the money you need. In addition, vacation loans often have a fairly low-interest rate. This way, you can go on vacation, don't ruin close relationships with financial problems, and generally don't depend on anyone.
Take a part-time job
If there is enough time left before the vacation and you lack a small amount of money, you can earn it. Freelancing is great for this if you have skills that can be "sold." You can help your neighbors with household chores, moonlight in a cab, or delivery service. In fact, there are many ways to earn in your free time.