Excellent Travel Begins with a Budget

August 16, 2009

Most people already have a sum of money set before they head out on a trip. Believe it or not, most of us are more organized than we give ourselves credit for. For those who don’t have a budget, it’s time to get one so your credit card debt doesn’t leave you feeling depleted when you return to a stack of bills after your excellent travels.

While income and other factors are affecting travel right now (we just heard one of our city’s sister-city events was cancelled due to budget & swine flu concerns as the folks must come from New Zealand to the U.S.), don’t let it stop you from getting out and exploring.

First, decide how much you really can afford for a trip. If it’s down to the pennies, then keep the vacation close, and short… go for just a day or more. There are gobs of hotels right now offering rooms for around $50. That’s the price of a meal for one at some restaurants. Las Vegas is offering incredible deals with top of the line rooms (4 diamond) at cowboy prices (around $100, or even less).

It’s really easy to set your sights on a vacation by setting parameters before you go. If you need reminders, make notes. Then when you arrive, the emotions won’t kick in, but instead, you’ll be ruled by common cents.