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Holiday budget calculator

Add up the total cost of your holiday so you can save and budget enough to have a great time, wherever you go.

amy smith
Amy Smith Insurance and personal finance writer
Last updated 16 April 2021

Why should I plan a holiday budget?

Holidays are exciting, so it’s really easy to get carried away and let costs get out of hand.

There’s nothing relaxing about getting into debt to spend a week or two in the sun, so it’s a good idea to sit down and work out what you want to spend and how you’re going to afford it first.

You can use our calculator to make sure you’ve thought about and included all your costs in your holiday planning, so you’re better prepared to save for them, or cut back a bit if you need to.

Travel costs


Hint: Consider costs of things like flights, fuel, airport parking and car hire. You can estimate the cost of your fuel with our fuel cost calculator.

Accommodation


Tip: The total cost for your entire stay. Could be hotel B&B, AirBnB or camping.

Food and drink


Tip: Include groceries for shopping if you’re self-catering.

Meals out and takeaways


Tip: Don’t forget to add in drinks which can add a lot to the meal cost.

Activities


Tip: Include day trips, excursions, experiences and water sports.

Travel insurance


Tip: The average cost of single-trip travel insurance policies was £21.30 for those without medical conditions and £56.05 for people with medical conditions in 2020.[1] Compare travel insurance quotes for your own trip.

Pet care


Tip: Add up daily cattery, kennel, petsitter or visiting costs.

Gifts and souveniers


Tip: Think about how much you’ll spend on presents for others, keepsakes for yourself and postcards.

Tips


Tip: Find out how much you can expect to tip around the world so you know what to budget.

Your total estimate:


References:


[1]Average price purchased data recorded by theidol.com for single-trip travel insurance, split by those with medical conditions and without, from 1 January to 31 December 2020.



How to save and budget for your trip

1. Use our calculator to get an idea of how much your trip will cost. Divide the total by the number of months before your holiday and you’ll know how much to save each month.

2. If it’s too much, think about where you could cut back a bit.

3. Check for cheaper accommodation if you haven’t already paid for it.

4. Ask a neighbour, friend or family member to care for your pet instead of hiring a petsitter.

5. Do without the souvenirs and make do with memories – but remember to bring something back for that caring person that looked after your pets.

6. Consider a cheaper destination where the cost of living is lower.

7. Check for cheaper flights and try booking them separately to your accommodation.

8. Set a daily food budget and research the cost of eating out before you travel. Think about how you can self-cater some of the time or find cheap street food snacks.

9. Research the best exchange rates and exchange money before you travel. Don't withdraw cash abroad.

10. Travel during the off-peak season and outside school holiday times if you can.

Did you find this guide useful?

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