How do you spend your travel budget?
 

I was reading through the "Why do you spend 400 Euros on a hotel in Paris" thread, and though this was a much more interesting question:

WITHOUT indicating an actual figure, what percent of your "on the ground" (flights excluded) budget do you spend on food, accomodations, ground transportation, site seeing? Is there something that you MUST do or have each trip? Do you even budget at all, or just come back and brace yourself for the VISA bill? No need for justification on any of it, but feel free to mention reasons if you want.

An interesting spin-off question is, what % of your annual net income do you spend on travel?

For myself, I have found that even when we have been able to increase our overall travel budget, the proportion of what we spend on what, seems to remain about the same. For TWO of us (sharing a room), we end up pretty close to: 1/3 accomodation, 1/3 food, and 1/3 for admissions and ground transportation combined.

I'd also never thought of it until today, but we likely spend about 15% of our net income on travel.

I am interested to hear how numbers vary, and how people prioritise!

I have never done a budget or kept track. I buy the plane ticket with the best routing and times at a hopefully decent price direct from the airlines, book centrally-located 3-star hotels with reasonably good reviews, and go...

I take cash and an ATM card for daily expenses. I am not extravagant nor am I a shopper. I use a charge card only for the hotel and if an emergency came up.

Maybe I'm not good at math but I also have no idea what % of my annual income goes to travel. Interesting question though.

I have a second job that I use for travel. After I've paid the airfare and estimated hotel bill, I just divide what's left by how many days I'll be there and that's my daily budget. Two years ago I estimated 300E a day which I NEVER spent. I came home with money. Not sure how much I'll have this next trip but I'm sure I'll have fun.

I guess I'm in the no budget and brace myself for the Visa bill camp. I will admit that as I've gotten older, I've desired nicer accomodations. Food has probably been the area where we've been a bit stingy; there are 5 of us, so the tab gets run up pretty fast. I think I'll be a bit freer with the food euros in Barcelona than I was in Italy. We live in the Dallas area, and restaurant meals are quite affordable here. We tried to eat for comparable prices in Italy and had some pretty bad meals.

I don't budget at all. I don't brace myself either, as I am not a big spender and don't have any problem paying my bills. For many things, I don't spend any more when I'm on vacation, than at home (like on restaurants, events or food).

There was a very similar question on here not that long ago about the budget thing, but yours makes some sense (although I don't really see what the point of it is, actually) -- the other question referred to pct of annual budget or somethign that had no particular meaning, and some people answered in gross income, some in net, some in terms of "budget" whatever that means (before or after savings or whatever).

The response to pct spent on food etc. varies a lot depending on how many people you travel with. I travel alone most of the time, and obviously my accommodation costs have to differ from someone who is splitting room costs two or three ways. There isn't any way in the world I could spend a third of my budget on admission fees and local transportation, I don't see how anyone could, actually, that's a huge amount. Admissions are almost nothing for me (a few euro for a museum maybe, but some are free), and costs for metro/bus tickets can't be more than a few euro a day no matter what you do. So I added in some to cover some train trips for day trips or other cities, to come up with:
roughly, I spend about 60% on hotel, 30% on food and 10% on the other.

I spend between 5 to 8 pct of my net income on travel, I suppose.

Looking at our budget for our May/June 17-night trip to Amsterdam/Berlin/Crete/Athens, our budget breaks down like this:

Food, sights, spending money: 36%
Inter-Europe travel (trains, planes, ferries, car rentals): 31%
Accommodations: 32%

So I guess the 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 rule is a pretty good one!

We spend about 10-12% of our net income on travel.

I am definitely a budgetter - just my nature. I even have spread sheets, so it was easy to look things up ;)

For large trips (longer than a week, not including camping trips) for food and lodging we average right around 35% of the budget for each. Transportation is about 12%. Sightseeing is about 8% and shopping about 10%.

We find that an easy way to stay within our buget for daily expenses like food is to just go with cash. I set a reasonable budget based on our travel style and the costs of where we are going and then we take cash out as we go along - 2 days worth at a time or whatever. And we make hotel reservations ahead of time, so that is easy to budget. Transportation and sightseeing costs - I check them out ahead of time to get an idea of what they will be.

Overall, we spend between 5 and 8 % of our income on travel.

One thing I realise I didn't even consider was shopping and gifts etc. I spend very little on those things, but when I do they fall into the 1/3 for transportation and admissions etc.

We can spend quite a lot on transportation and admissions. We like to move around during the course of a trip, so trains, car rentals, etc add up. And our highest priority is probably sites. We never skimp out on going to a museum or site. And sometimes we'll take an organised day trip which can be a bit pricy.

I try to get an idea of cost by doing a spreadsheet and inputing as much information as possible such as hotels and some transportation and activities costs.

Regarding Christina's post: budget is most certainly contingent on who is traveling. We are a family of four. Some hotels require two hotel rooms or we are charged extra for the kids. This is not split costs. In addition, transportation cost for families can be very costly and can easily be a big percentage of the budget. For Greece and Turkey we have to take one ferry that is 160 Euros for four and we are taking 3 flights because cost and time make it more practical. We are also renting a couple of cars and taking buses. When you multiply admission fees times four in can add up. Almost any place you step your foot in in Greece or Turkey cost 5, 10 Euros. Multiply that and it adds up. There are also some activities that can be quite expensive but contribute to the experience such as the ballon ride we will take in Cappadoccia. Talk about an expense.

The biggest budget issue for me is food. I don't really have any idea how to figure that out. I am a total foodie and I have two teenaged boys in addition to a hungry husband. I have pages of good inexpensive restaurant recommendations that I hope will eliminate too many bad experiences.

I have no idea of the income percentage..if I do such a thing I think I will travel aa lot less :)
I don't travel alone, usually with a friend so we split the money but as a general rule I spend 40 % on hotel, 30% on food and the other 30% on taxis, a bit of shopping, visits..this is not fixed , it depends on the place I visit , in some places I prefer to add a bit more to the hotel.
If I have to cut on something, I always cut on food..it's not my main objective when travelling.

><How do you spend your travel budget?<

Like a drunken sailor.

((I))

PS: This has been done before.

OK I'm guessing 10-15% of my annual income spent on travel. That said, I'm single self-supporting and don't have a huge salary to begin with. That's covers two trips per year, everything included.

Like suze, I've never kept a budget. I've kept track of prices just to inform others who are interested. However, I live in NYC so food and travel costs in most places I travel are cheaper than home, so I don't see that as an additional expense.

With one kid in college and another set for next year, we have to budget if we want to travel. Travel costs allotment excluding air fare: 45% room, 35% eating, 15% entertainment & 5% ground transport.

I am afraid to figure out what percent of my annual budget we spend on travel, it would only make me feel guilty.

Regards, Gary

We like B&Bs and smaller family-owned properties and spend about 25% or so on lodgings--including breakfast. Probably about 35% for food and booze. Spend practically nothing on shopping. Spend a good bit on various "active vacation" experiences.

We splurged some on our last trip to Prague and Berlin and did go around 35-40% for lodging. Nice, modern hotels with nice, rooms (interesting rooms in the Berlin hotel), but we didn't enjoy them as much as the B&Bs and smaller hotels.

I don't really budget. After meeting my goal of annual retirement savings the rest goes to travels. And the less I spend on one trip, the more trips I can have.

Of course, convenience comes first, for example, hotel is chosen by proximity to public transportation, the airline by schedule, the tour by its route.

But after trying a first-class tour once, I'm back to budget travel. Didn't feel the spending was justified then.

..I don't know what % of my net income I spend on travel ..I don't have a budget but I do have a daily allowance. In a big city, I always stay centrally in a great neighborhood but as long as it is safe and clean I am not particular. (ie I try to save $$). My time is too valuable to waste commuting and if I am travelling alone, I do not want to travel far to return home from a play, party or restaurant. Meals. I am a coffee and pastry person in the am. I will always have either a nice dinner or lunch..this doesn't necessarily mean expensive just good. The other meal will be a salad or soup. I never scimp on admissions. this is why I am there! example- if I spend 100E on a room, probably 50 on food drink and coffee and 50 on sightseeing and local transport...I spend almost nothing on shoping- just a few souvenirs and sometimes try to buy Xmas or birthday presents to "leave" if I am visiting foreign friends and family.

I could ditto Suze's first post exactly. I'm not a "shopper" at all, and I don't spend on extravagant meals.
In France, I like to rent a car to see the various areas, and since I usually go solo, the car is rather expensive (2 weeks usually). Also, a pet sitter is another big expense!

Very interesting question. I just rapping up the family financial for the year. Have to get back.

Don't really budget but do have a mental "limit" as to what I'll spend on a hotel room..but that varies depending on the property possibilities.

What fun is knowing the % of one's annual income spent on travel without the figures????????????????? You already know there are some people who will LIE about it!

We usually go to London every 18 months or so and spend a month. We've been renting the same apartment since 1994. We fly coach and try to leave at the end of March or in mid-October to catch the best fares.
Since we have an apartment, I cook most meals. We prefer a relaxed meal with no need to dress up and pretend to be sophisticated, especially after a day of sightseeing and we find the ready-to-heat aisle at Sainsbury's a constant delight. Add a salad and we're doing as well as we would at home.
Our two biggest extravagances are first-class railpasses and keeping the apartment even when we spend a few days out of London. We usually have one three or four-day excursion to Wales to visit friends and at least a couple of days in one other part of Great Britain.
We also tend to treat ourselves to a taxi home after a big day of sightseeing or an evening performance.

We've never done a budget or really kept track. We know our style (want 4* hotel with lots of amenities at 3* price - but will pay 4 if we have to) so that takes a substantial portion. (Rarely we will do a 5 for a special occasion.)

For meals we do casuale lunches wherever we are and nice dinners - with usually one splurge in each major city. So - that's another major expense.

Cars aren;t very expensive - even with gas and tolls. And we use metro or tube mostly in cities. So that, with walking around money (entrance fees, drinks, gelatos etc) is a smaller part.

And we don;t shop. Or rather don't shop on vacation for things we wouldn;t want anyway - so we don;t really allow money for that in a vacation budget.

I don't really budget. I always have my hotel and airfare paid before I go and then have X amount of dollars in the bank. I kind of keep an eye on things as I go, because I won't go on a trip unless it's 100% paid for, so when the credit card bills come in, I can just pay it. Food isn't important to me really. I mean I want a good meal, but I'm not a foodie. I do like to shop but I use descresion. I like to get some things that I can wear..scarves mostly, and use or display, that reminds me of my trip. I probably spend more on shopping and various sites, museums etc. than on either hotel or food. I do like a nice, well located hotel with a lift and ensuite bath. I usually don't go below three star. I also realize that the stars are not always an indication of what a paricular hotel is like. Last trip the room was 140 euros per night and I split that with my friend.

Accomodation and food: 71%
Ground transport, admissions, etc. 24%,

We move around a lot on our trips, which might explain the relatively high percentage on ground transportation/sightseeing

Incidentals, 5%(includes guidebooks, maps, laundry, photo expenses, small souvenirs)

We don't budget in a quantitative sense, althought we usually do a rough calculation before we go as to how much we think we'll spend, and we're usually pretty close to our estimate.

In a qualitative sense, we do set a budget. In other words, we only book 2 or 3 star hotels and we only eat 1 meal per day in a cafe (rarely a restaurant); the other meal is picnic-style. (This is no hardship as we don't eat 2 'formal' meals per day at home, either.)

Local market conditions fix the actual price of goods and services bought in the categories in which we shop.

I was just wrapping up the family finances so these number were available. Last year we spent about four week in Europe with both sons and one girl friend mostly in and around Italy. We spent about 11% of gross income or about $700/day. We don't really budget but do try to travel very economcially. Never really looked at total numbers but don't consider $700/day for five people too bad. Interesting question.

I was thinking about the shopping thing - we are not big shoppers either and we only bring back gifts for a few people. Actually I asked my husband if we were gift slackers because it seems like other people we know bring back stuff for tons of people - LOL. Shopping has turned out to be around 10% of our budget though - what did I buy? I don't remember doing much shopping - LOL. Then I remembered - yes, my 100 euro beer stein, DH's 250 euro watch... Ok, it adds up quickly ;)

My SO and I put away $240 each per month in our "vacation jar"...truly, is a jar that says "vacation" on it....

On top of that we spend even MORE!

We love to travel. I would say at least 10% of our pay goes to vacations!!!

;;)

I am lucky. I travel and earn Marriott and other hotel point for a "free" room. Airfare is the biggest cost, best I got was $400.00 each round trip to Paris on Lufthansa via Frankfurt. I an fly British Air to London (7 days) and on to Nice (7 days) $2,500 for 2 with trans-atlantic upgrades.

I learned to pick one cc and 1 hotel chain and use them to reduce the cost of vacations.

sherm99

I am with suze and missypie--I do not really budget. I know what I can and cannot afford and then, I kind of eye my travel goal, reserve the best to my liking options available, take some cash and MC, and go and have a great time. I figure if I have to count my pennies, I might as well stay home or travel locally.

Anna Roz

Right, Anna, I have sort of an "inner comfort zone" ... prices I'm willing to pay for things vs. what I'm not.

Another thing is, I just can't THINK about the cost of admissions to things. As a family of 5, even small attractions that "only" cost, say 5 euro, cost 25 euro for us. I tell myself, "You chose to have three kids and you chose to bring them on vacation. This is the price you have to pay." And really, compared to what airfare has been lately, no admission price is truly shocking.

We are a family of six and we usually take at least 7-8 "pleasure" trips a year. I would think most people who frequent this site are "travelers" and are likely to spend a good portion of their income on travel. Your 15% of net income is probably in the range of most Fodorites.

The size of our family may skew things a bit, but we don't do the self-cater thing except for our annual beach week trip with extended family. Obviously that trip, in terms of percentages, is high in lodging costs and very low in food and sightseeing. Aside from the beach, I would guess we average a little more than 1/3 for hotels, a little less than 1/3 for ground transport/sightseeing and around 1/3 for food. We don't really budget, but we do try to use hotel points and frequent flier miles whenever possible. For meals, we always stuff the kids at breakfast, grab a quick, light lunch and all dress up for a nice dinner at the end of the day. This is mostly because my husband and I don't consider it a fun to sit in a hotel room with four kids and two pizza boxes listening to them argue about which cartoons they want to watch.

As Missypie stated, sightseeing can be expensive with six people. Many times, we've passed on visiting sights (less important ones usually), because it was going to cost us $50 or so to walk through one more museum, castle, etc., especially if the children are tired or whining. Other times, we'll split up and those who are truly interested go in. Often however, we will hire a private guide to make the most of our sightseeing. The children are more attentive when they're engaged by someone other than mom or dad exclaiming, "Would ya look at that, son!"

Neither my husband nor I like to shop on vacation. If we do buy anything, it's usually an antique or something particular to the area we are visiting. Children can go wild in souvenir stores so several years ago we started collecting shot glasses for the kids! I know it sounds funny, but everywhere we go, each child knows their souvenir is going to be a shot glass (usually $2 - $5). They'll be well equipped for college! They can also select a t-shirt or sweatshirt. That's it. They get their consumer gratification and It makes for a much more pleasant vacation experience. We don't lug home a bunch of junk only to find credit card bills for hundreds of dollars from every souvenir junk store we passed by.

I think it's a good point raised that traveling with a large-ish family requires a different strategy than if you are single or a couple.

I'm just me solo, or traveling perhaps with another single friend spliting expenses. I do what I want and spend what I need to, but for me it's just not that much since I like staying at more basic hotels, hanging around doing local things, looking for free events and entertainment.