Travel Budgeting Tips

That travelling bug is mighty.  I caught it as a young child travelling with my parents.  It started out with us going back to Europe every 2 years to visit family, and then when I was old enough to travel on my own I would travel as often as I could.  

The two main things you need to travel are time and money.  Health is important also.  In this post I'll be talking about the money side though.

Living in Australia, travelling to nearly anywhere is expensive.  The airfare alone, and then comes the foreign exchange impact.  So, it's important to plan and prepare as much as possible, so you aren't faced with a horrendous credit card bill at the end!

What is also important is being able to enjoy yourself while you're travelling, and not having to watch every cent (if you can avoid it).  It is nice to splurge sometimes, and you can do it, even on a budget.

Like anything, you first need to figure out what kind of holiday you want.  Is it a relaxing break by the beach?  Or perhaps a trek in Nepal?  Or, a cultural experience on one of our world's wonderful continents?

Your budget may dictate this decision for you.  If it doesn't, then figure out what kind of holiday you want first.

Then:

• Save into a "Fun Fund".  If you don't already, put a percentage of your monthly income aside for fun.  For me, this is mainly travel.  You don't want to be putting your trip on a credit card and then getting a nasty bill once you are back.  This includes spending money - save for that too.  Don't just put everything on your credit card;
• Prepare for "Picnics".  By this I mean visit a local supermarket when you arrive at your destination, and pick up some food that you can make for your lunches, maybe breakfasts (if they aren't included with your accommodation) and possibly some dinners.  This not only saves money, but is sometimes a welcome break from eating out and fast food - depending on where you are.  I also like sampling local food from supermarkets, it's part of the cultural experience.
• Pack for anything.  By this I mean taking things like medicines and all the things that you really need.  That way you won't forget something and have to go and buy it.  Save your money for more interesting outlays, like souvenirs, entries into places, and going out.
• Book accommodation ahead.  Or, at least be prepared for the time of year and what else might be on.  If you're going in a busy season, it's best to book ahead, otherwise you will be at the mercy of whatever you can find - expensive or horrible.
• Look at hotel alternatives.  Things like AirBnb are good if travelling as a family - it's cheaper than multiple hotel rooms, or squeezing into a "quad room" (which is often just a regular sized room with 2 queen beds).
• Pack smartly.  Don't pay for excess baggage.  It's expensive and easily avoided.  Use a medium sized suitcase for longer trips, so you aren't tempted to fill a large suitcase!
• Book last minute shows.  While accommodation is good to book in advance, the opposite is often true for shows or the theatre.  Unless it's a particular show that you really want to make sure you see, you can often find last minute tickets at a box office that are cheaper.

These are just a few ideas to help with the budgeting side of travel.