What’s on your travel bucket list? Certain vacation experiences are particularly captivating, from scuba diving off a remote island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean to climbing to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. However, it can be easy to feel like these far-flung destinations are out of reach financially. Check out these ways to budget for a bucket list vacation and make your travel dreams a reality.
Determine the Cost
Before you can outline a budget, it’s important to know how much your bucket list trip will cost. Take some time to research flights, accommodations, and activities to get an idea of how much money you must save. It will be easier to create a weekly or monthly budget once you have a clear goal in mind.
Determine your ideal trip dates and use them for research purposes if possible. Many vacation destinations have a high season, a low season, and a shoulder season, so prices can vary greatly depending on the time of year. Once you’ve clearly established your savings goals, it’s time to create a vacation budget.
Create a Budget
You’ll need to think about your current finances and how much you can afford to save each month to budget for a bucket list vacation. It’s helpful to look at your fixed expenses to determine how much flexible money you have. Think about small ways you can save, such as canceling a membership you don’t often use, cutting back on streaming services, eliminating your daily Starbucks run, and more.
You’ll have to make some sacrifices along the way when it comes to affording your bucket list vacation. Saving must be a major priority when investing in a trip. Not only do you need to afford the logistical aspects of the vacation, but you want to have enough spending money to thoroughly enjoy yourself once you reach your destination. You can enjoy every aspect of your trip without breaking the bank if you create a budget and stick to it.
Consider the Logistics
Some places are harder to get to than others. Hence, the cost of transportation and logistics will be higher. For instance, you’ll have to travel to a somewhat remote location to get a great view if you’re interested in the ultimate northern lights experience. Since transportation is such a large expense when traveling, it’s key to compare airfare, train tickets, or bus passes.
It’s unwise to book the first airfare you find. Instead, take some time to explore other options, including different dates and times, to see if you can save a significant amount of money. In general, filter your transportation search to show the cheapest tickets. Then, you can pick the route that works best with your schedule.
Affording your bucket list travel destination requires some careful planning and financial discipline. However, with the right mindset and a realistic budget, you can achieve your travel dreams. Enjoy every moment, wherever you’re headed. You’ve worked hard and you deserve it!