Shaz Does Holidays
The short version
- Decide the total you're happy to spend before you look at prices.
- Split it into travel, your stay, things to do, spending money and extras.
- Allow for the costs that don't show in headline prices.
- Count only what you've actually booked, and keep a little back.
- Track spending while you're away, in the currency you paid in.
Start with the total
Work out what you can comfortably spend without it following you home. It's tempting to start with a dream hotel and work backwards, but starting with the total makes every choice after it easier, because you can see what each one leaves for the rest of the trip.
Split it into parts
Most holiday money goes on five things:
- Getting there: flights, trains, ferries or fuel, plus car hire.
- Where you'll stay: the hotel, cottage, villa or apartment.
- Things to do: tours, tickets, shows and days out.
- Spending money: food and drink, local transport and souvenirs.
- Extras: travel insurance, parking, transfers and anything else needed to get away.
Think about what a normal day will cost where you're going and multiply it by the days you're away. Prices vary a lot from place to place, so it's worth a little research for your destination.
The costs people often forget
- Checked bags, seat choices and card fees on low-cost fares.
- Airport parking, or a taxi or transfer at each end.
- Tourist or city taxes, which some places charge per person per night, often paid at the hotel.
- Fees for using your card or taking out cash abroad.
- Phone roaming charges.
- Travel insurance, and a one-way fee if you drop a hire car somewhere else.
Count only what's booked
Estimates are useful for deciding where to go, but they have a habit of creeping up. Once you start booking, keep a running total of what you've actually paid, and compare it with your budget before you book the next thing. Keep a little back for the unexpected.
Ways to bring the cost down
- Be flexible with your dates. Moving a few days, or travelling outside school holidays, can make a difference.
- Compare a fare with the usual price for that route before you book, so you know whether it's a good one.
- Travel light if you can, and add bags only when you need them.
- Think about self-catering for some meals.
- For UK breaks, compare the cost of driving with the train once parking and fuel are added.
Stick to it while you're away
Note what you spend as you go, in the currency you paid in, and check the total now and then. It's much easier to adjust on day three than to find out when you get home.
Budget your holiday in one place
The free Shaz Does Holidays planner starts with your budget. Your trip log counts confirmed bookings only, so you see what the trip really costs and what's left, and while you're away it converts what you spend into pounds at that day's exchange rate.