+ How to Plan for Travel: Budget

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How can I get organized for travel?

My friends and family know that two of my passions are organizing and traveling. If you combine those two skills together, that makes for a pretty savvy traveler. So because of that, friends and family often ask me, “How can I get organized for travel?” They want tips about how to plan for travel – especially a trip overseas. Since there are a number of them planning to vacation abroad next summer, I thought I’d do a little countdown with one blog post per month containing travel tips to get them organized and ready to go.

 

Now if you’re planning to use a travel agent or tour company, you’ll probably have most of these things done for you. However, some tour companies require you to provide your own transportation to the initial meeting point, and all travel agents will want you to have an idea of what you want to see and do while you’re traveling. So at some point, you’ve got to know at least a little something about how to plan for travel.

 

From August 1 through June 30, I’ll be counting down the tips by how far in advance it’s optimal to plan. If you stumble across this blog post in February, and you’re planning a trip in May, you’re not too late. You’ll just have to do things at a heightened pace.

 

How can I get organized for travel: 11-12 months before

 

Set your Travel BUDGET

 

Determining your budget for your vacation is so unsexy. But it’s very necessary. If you don’t decide on a cap for your spending, you could end up going into debt, and that won’t make for a fun trip. Some of the expenses to consider are:

 

 

Airfare
Airport transfers (to/from each airport)
Checked bags
Ground Transportation in each city
Car rental
Transportation between cities
Hotel
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Snacks
Sightseeing
Souvenirs
Travel insurance
Travel documents
Medical requirements
Babysitter
Kennel
Homesitter
Travel supplies
Specialty clothing (if required)
Travel agent fee

 

 

You’ll probably do your calculations in dollars. Be sure to find out the current exchange rate (and pad a little extra in case the rate changes) to make sure you’re planning accurate costs .

 

If you’ll be traveling with more than one person, you’ll want to come to a consensus this far ahead. If one of you can afford 5-star and the other can only afford 2-star, you’ll need to make some compromises now – and not when you’re arguing on the street in front of the hotel when you arrive. Planning this far ahead also determines how much you’ll need to save each month so that you’re not stuck eating Ramen or tortillas and honey for two months before the trip in order to have enough money to go.

 

So, get your spreadsheets or calculators ready. It’s time to crunch some numbers!

 

How can I get organized for travel:

Part 1: How to Plan for Travel: Budget

Next time: Travel Goals

About Helene Segura

Helene Segura teaches go-getters how to use their time more efficiently in order to have a more peaceful life. For details about her, be sure to visit https://www.HeleneSegura.com

 
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