Vacation Budgeting Strategies

When budgeting for any type of travel, package deal, or even your family vacation, find out about all costs associated with your trip. Confirm with the agent, location or provider you have chosen or listed on the flashy brochure or website you just visited. Read the fine print and avoid any surprises. Ask about alternatives, package deals, discounts, coupons and special offers if you do not ask, you will never know. And also, no one is going to necessarily advertise a cheaper price or offer you the lowest, cheapest fare right away. There is always room for negotiation and or innovative ways to cut costs and still have a memorable trip to an exotic destination.

Another money strategy includes having a personal check or two with you. They are not accepted any and everywhere, BUT where they are, they are cheaper than credit card transactions.

Giving tips are considered common courtesy and customary most places in the world. BUT as an expenditure category, it can add up quickly and substantially! If ever in doubt whether it is appropriate to give a tip, ASK! Ensure you set aside enough of an incidental budget to cover these and other daily expenditures covering the duration of your trip.

A unique suggestion for the budget-wise traveler is to keep a spending log as you go about your shopping endeavors. List all of your purchases. Include what you paid in foreign currency and the equivalent in U.S. dollars. No time wasted calculating customs duties and fees. The added bonus is everything is at your fingertips when the time comes to do the next travel budget! You will be one-step ahead this time round and even better prepared.

Pre-paid phone cards are a great idea for gifts for travelers. They are a good alternative to long distance from your hotel-room, cabin or any-place else on location where you find yourself vacationing. Today people also choose to use cell phones and text-messages to stay in touch and remain connected. Both are good options to save money while traveling.

A budget-travel provider provides us with this quote: "Remember this advice for sightseers: Never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down, and never pass up a chance to use the bathroom" Translated into our model, savor every opportunity, embrace every chance provided that does not cost you anything, embrace hospitality, gifts and extended generosity. A nickel and a dime here and there saves dollars in the end!

Secure and make change as soon as you can after arriving at your destination. This will avoid having to revert to your smaller denomination bills and tipping with a heavy hand and even heavier heart! This is a sure way not to deplete your incidental travel budget category.