Planning a trip is always fun and exciting but it’s important to be aware of all the expenses involved. It’s easy to underestimate how much travel will cost. To help you keep track of the many costs of travel, let’s look at the 10 top expenses you are likely to face.
1. Airfare
If you are flying, your airfare is going to be one of your biggest expenses. Earning miles with travel clubs is a good way to reduce airfare or, in some cases, score some free trips.
2. Hotels
This is another category of expense where you can often save money by planning ahead for the best deals. Hotels, like airfare, can also be paid for using travel miles.
3. Food and Drink
This is one of the most underestimated expenses on many trips. The cost of meals and beverages adds up quickly, especially if you patronize high end restaurants or even your hotel’s minibar. Food costs can be reduced by doing some local food shopping at grocery stores or by eating your main meal at lunch rather than dinner.
4. Entertainment
This can overlap with food and drink, but also includes things like amusement park and museum admissions, concerts, fees to enter tourist sites and so forth. Travelers are often surprised at how many places charge admission. This is something worth researching before you leave.
5. Driving
If you rent a car, you will have to add this as an expense for your trip. The same is true if you bring your own car, though in this case you can cross airfare off your list. Depending on fuel costs, this can add up if you do a great deal of driving.
6. Shopping
Most people buy a variety of things when traveling, from clothing to souvenirs. If you’re visiting a place with flea markets or lots of tourist shops, you can spend quite a bit on shopping. That’s why it’s a good idea to set a shopping budget for your trip.
7. Tipping
Tipping is an expense that’s hard to avoid and it’s another one that can add up more than you think. In most places, you are expected to tip waiters, bartenders, cruise personnel, hotel staff, taxi drivers and many other service providers. This is another expense you must keep in mind when planning a trip.
8. Phone and Internet
Depending where you travel, phone and internet costs can be expensive. In some places you can rely on free wi-fi, but many hotels charge extra to use internet.
9. ATM Fees
Everyone needs cash and if you’re constantly putting your card into ATM machines, you are paying fees. The best way to reduce or eliminate these fees is to use machines for banks where you have an account. This, however, is not always practical.
10. Exchange Rates
This only applies if you’re traveling to a country with a different currency. In some cases, exchange rates can work against you and cause your trip to be costlier than you anticipated. If you’re visiting multiple countries with different currencies, this can get confusing. There are also fees associated with exchanging currency.
Travel can be expensive, so it’s always wise to create a realistic budget before you embark on your journey. The above are the main expenses that you will face on most trips. Don’t make the common mistake of overlooking or underestimating your expenses while traveling.