Once you’ve picked where to go, think about how long to stay, and in what style. Budget depends a lot on these three factors. Unless you intend to earn-as-you-go, estimate costs carefully before leaving, save up, and pay in advance where practical.
One of the best sites for budgeting travel expenses is Budget Your Trip. The site is free, and helps estimate costs for various countries based on previous travellers’ data. You can use the site without signing up, but free sign-up accesses a number of advantages.
Here are the important expenses to consider:
Airfares – Skyscanner is a good place to start. If you’ve no particular place to go, enter ‘flexible’ in the destination box. Consider stopovers if your flight is long-haul. Buying return fares can be cost-effective. Have a look at round-the-world fares – you never know. If you are a full time student, have a look at sites like Student Flights.
Luggage – Last time we took soft-bodied wheeled suitcases. They were big, purple, and clumsy to pull long distances through city streets. But they were matching faithful friends who followed everywhere behind us. Now we’re considering the Tortuga Travel Backpack at US$199 so we can say goodbye to the hassles of checked luggage.
Passports and visas – For 20 years we didn’t need a passport, then family travel in 2011 meant buying five. Passports take time to process, so don’t leave it too long if you need one urgently or yours is out of date. Here’s a link for Australian passport renewals. Find out what visas you need, how to apply and how long they take.
Travel Insurance – is a must. That said, we’ve never claimed. Adrian: In Japan, in 2012, I was stricken with the worst sciatica ever. Stupidly I wore shoes with laces – never wear laced shoes in Japan. Travel Insurance Direct insured us, and phoned me every day to see how I was hobbling. They didn’t end up needing to pay, but took a sympathetic interest- more than some insurers. Their price was competitive and their website easy to navigate. But shop around.
Vaccinations – If visiting developing nations like India you need to do homework. Europe needs no vaccinations. In Australia consult the government’s Smart Traveller website for up-to-date information about risks and vaccinations.
Accommodation – For best value, search and search some more before leaving home. There are dozens of websites to scour and compare. When you find a hotel or apartment you like, don’t take the first price for your dates. A few minutes extra search may save money. Booking in advance is mostly cheaper. But it ties you like a dog to a fence. Travelling Europe by train, we often checked into the hotel closest to the rail station, which was easy, saved time, but not booked ahead. Tourist informations at stations recommend accommodation. But don’t let them book it for you as they charge a fee. Apartments, villas or holiday rentals leased over several days are better value for families or groups than hotels. The Airbnb apartment where we stayed in Amsterdam was perfect for our needs.
Car hire and fuel – Car, campervan or motorbike let you travel long distances at speed, see the countryside and take the road less travelled. Rentalcars.com compares companies and quotes. Remember that the initial price rarely includes insurance, which, if you want adequate cover, can as much as double the quoted cost. You can take extra cover on your travel insurance to cover a rented car.
Intercity rail and bus fares – These can be purchased in advance as passes, but you should weigh carefully the cost of total individual journeys against the cost of a pass. Use of a pass often involves hidden surcharges, such as booking fees.
Local transport – Oyster cards or Visitor Oyster Cards in London, for instance, aren’t cheap. Most capital cities are the same.
Meals – Budget more than expected. You’ll want to taste the local cuisine, and eating in good company is one of the greatest pleasures we have. Be imaginative in ways to enjoy the local food- such as a picnic in a park or field, or just standing up. Combining your own fresh ingredients from a local market can be fun and surpass the fare served in some restaurants. Of course, all-inclusive packages let you relax, and that can equally be nice.
Drinks – Don’t underestimate the spell of the right wine. On a patch of iridescent lawn beneath the trees at Chateau Yalumba in the Barossa Valley, South Australia, we once ate cheese, olives and grapes from the local supermarket, and enjoyed a bottle of merlot that was elixir of love strained through angels’ harp strings. It wasn’t a s0-called ‘fine’ wine, but it interacted seamlessly with grass, sun and sweet afternoon, all of which were on the house.
Entries and sightseeing – Book the essentials in advance. But put aside extra cash for spur of the moment decisions. In 2015 in Amsterdam, Francesca suddenly announced, ‘We’re going on that.’ I looked up and saw the 90 metre Free Fall Tower in the middle of Dam Square amusement park, and my life flashed in front of my eyes. I didn’t want it to all end here. ‘Yes we are,’ she confirmed, leading me by the hand. And we went. Two minutes later we were high over the rooftops, gables and canals. It was fantastic. The view from the top will always stay with me – in fact, I think I left my eyeballs up there, so they’re still looking at it. Cost of the ride? I don’t remember. Don’t want to. But I’m glad we had the pocket money on the day.
Souvenirs and gifts – ‘Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers.’ But even Wordsworth in Switzerland must have felt the requirement to carry home chocolates or a cuckoo clock. A scarf, an egg timer or a spoon catches your eye, and you know Lilly would love it. Then there’s the cost of postage, if you’re taking just carry-on on the plane. You can’t arrive home with nothing. Gifts for yourself only increase the guilt, so more purchases called for. Maybe set aside a gift budget: so much and no more.
Tips and buskers – Also in Amsterdam, on a bridge in the Red Light District, two buskers played the Beatles with just guitar and upright bass. They faithfully reproduced the exuberance, the energy and the bass lines, and all this unplugged. They sang their hearts out. We gave generously, glad we’d budgeted. Find out the tipping customs in the countries you’ll be visiting. Guides, drivers, porters often require tipping. In developing countries, carry in a pocket small notes and change.
Other – Oh yes, there’s other aplenty. Does your dog, cat or canary need a luxury hotel to live in while you’re away? Your travel wardrobe? We talk about that on another page. Money belts, cameras, sunglasses, phone, roaming charges, airport parking, currency exchange fees, bank charges. The list goes on . . .