Budgeting

How to budget for travel

We are from the UK and we record all our travel expenses in £ - British Pounds (GBP) on our destination pages.

This helps us and our readers to compare prices and budget for future trips.

However, everyone’s travel preferences are different and costs will vary depending on travel style and countries visited.

When we set a budget for a trip, we try to account for the cost of transport to, within and between places; accommodation; food; laundry; activities and entrance fees; and shopping and souvenirs.

Some days we blow our budget (hello Disneyland California), but other days we manage to keep costs low (free beaches and cooking our own meals in Australia).

We know we are incredibly privileged to be able to travel as much as we do.

Amazing adventures don’t always have to be far away or cost loads! Free activities can keep total costs down.

Hiking, visiting playgrounds or browsing markets can all be fun, rewarding, and free!

Here are some more ideas for reducing the cost of travel.

Options to reduce costs

Travel independently

Sometimes travel agents can be invaluable. Their expertise can save a lot of time and effort. Doing it ourselves is usually cheaper though, and we prefer to make our own arrangements where we feel confident to.
Travel to lower cost locations

Travelling within your home country or to countries where costs are lower can save a significant amount. For example, our daily spend in Thailand was around £100 per day - less than a quarter of the £420 we spent daily in the USA.
Travel off-peak

Travelling during off-peak or shoulder seasons, can save money and also helps to avoid locations over saturated with domestic and international tourists. Travelling off-peak brings money and jobs year-round to local economies that can be seasonal.
Travel via sustainable modes

We love travelling by train which is often cheaper than flying. When check-in queues and security lines are factored in, it can be quicker too. Our rail journeys to Denmark and Austria, were slower but more enjoyable than flying. Arriving at the Faroe Islands and Iceland by ferry felt magical compared to landing at an airport!
Travel slowly

Slower travel can be much cheaper. Moving locations costs money. Staying in one place for longer saves on transport costs. Moving quickly from A-B is expensive and rushed travel is less fun and can be exhausting. We prefer to take our time and explore in-depth.
Travel to homes from home

Accommodation is usually our biggest expense. Hotels and Airbnbs offer discounts for longer stays but we still end up spending a lot on lodging. One cost-saving option we are yet to try is home sitting and home swaps. We could also try camping to reduce costs.