Date: Current Amount in Savings: $ Amount in Savings NOT to Use on Trip: -$ Amount to Save Prior to Trip: +$ Total Budget for Trip: =$

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1 Make the trip fit your budget, not the other way around. Date: Current Amount in Savings: $ Amount in Savings NOT to Use on Trip: -$ Amount to Save Prior to Trip: +$ Total Budget for Trip: =$ Budget It. STEP 1: Determine what you are comfortable spending. STEP 2: Create a Monthly Savings Plan (if necessary). STEP 3: Use the table below to begin making your projected budget costs. STEP 4: Complete the Dreamer s Page...with a side of realism and priority. STEP 5: Use the Complete Budget Breakdown to keep track of your budget throughout the process. Set a realistic budget for your travels based on what you currently have in savings and am willing to spend, or how much you plan on saving every month prior to the trip to make up your budget. I do not recommend taking trips solely on credit or with money you don t have. Travel is an investment, but don t make it a financial headache. Monthly Savings P lan: (Prior to trip savings goal)$ / (months until trip)= $ (Amount to save each month) Plan of Action for Monthly Savings Plan: Small things add up. What can you go without to help contribute to the trip savings fund? Would you prefer dining out weekly in your hometown, or splurging on a truly unforgettable meal during your travels? What Projected Cost Actual Cost What Projected Cost Actual Cost Roundtrip Airline Ticket Other Airline Tickets Rail Tickets Bus Tickets Can Rental Car Rental fees (gas, tolls) Metro Passes Boat/Ferry Tickets Taxi Costs Airport parking/shuttle Baggage/other trans. fees Lodging Parking/ other lodging fees Food Drink (Alcohol) Activities/Entrance fees Tour tickets Travel Insurance Souvenirs Passports/Travel docs. Credit/Debit fees Child care Pet care Cell phone charges Luggage Misc. Expenses

2 Dreamer s Page Your budget and itinerary will be built off of one another. Start by knowing how much you have to spend on the entire trip and then once you get a feel for what you want to see and do, you can complete the other aspects of your budget. When do you plan on taking the trip? Seasons greatly determine pricing, so make sure to research this before making a definitive choice if you are on a budget. How many days will your trip be? Be realistic if you are traveling to several destinations or have a long flight. Overcrowding your itinerary will not make your trip more fun. Do you prefer a sightseeing trip with a lot of travel, relaxing-stay-in-one-place trip, or a mixture of both? When visualizing your trip, what do you see? What are you really excited about? What do you want to focus on? (Cuisine, sightseeing, relaxing, adventure, etc.)

3 ...with a side of realism and priority PRIORITY LIST: Rank anything that costs money or time. If it s a top priority, make sure you have the budget to support it. Destinations Attractions Experiences Tours Souvenirs/Gifts I ll be happy to see/experience this on my return trip:

4 Transportation: Roundtrip Airfare To/From: (Including fees & taxes) Airfare within Trip: Bus Fare: C omplete Budget Breakdown Baggage Fees: Airport Parking: To/From: Baggage Fee: To/From: Baggage Fee: To/From: Baggage Fee: Train Fare: To/From: To/From: To/From: To/From To/From: To/From: To/From: To/From This will be your biggest expense category so it s important to do thorough research as it will have the most impact on your budget and itinerary. Book airline travel (domestic) 45 days out & (international) 60 days out. Being flexible with flight time and date could save you the most money. Use Skyscanner.com to compare hundreds of flights for the best deal. Consider all means of travel, you ll notice major price differences.

5 Bus/Ferry: Car Rental: Transportation C ontinued: To/From: To/From: To/From: To/From: Refueling Fees: Gas: Add 15% for tolls and other car expenses Transportation/Metro Passes: To/From: To/From: To/From: Taxi Fare: (specifically if using to/from airport) To/From: To/From: To/From: Additional Transportation Expenses:

6 You have a lot of control over spending in this category. Lodgings range greatly in price, Lodging: so find what works for your budget including: budget hotels, B&Bs, hostels, apartments, and home exchanges. Be sure to read the fine print to see if taxes and fees are already factored into the cost, or will be added at the time of payment. Also, if paying online in a foreign currency, most credit cards will charge you transaction fees. Location Number of Nights Name Estimated Cost Actual Cost Totals Additional Lodging Expenses

7 Activities & Entertainment The priority ranking you did for activities and entertainment will be key, not only to make sure you don t overcrowd your itinerary, but also to keep costs down. Sightseeing with entrance prices can get expensive, so read reviews and determine if it is really worth your time and money. Use this spreadsheet to include everything from entrance fees to tour tickets. What Where Estimated Cost Actual Cost Totals

8 Food & Alcohol The amount spent in these categories will vary greatly person to person. If you re looking for a cuisine driven trip, then this will most likely be an expensive category. On the other hand, you can save a lot of money in this area by combining breakfast and lunch, finding lodging that includes breakfast, eating at café s, cooking whenever possible, and bringing snacks with you. Day Cost: Breakfast Cost: Lunch Cost: Dinner Cost: Snacks Cost: Alcohol Total Cost

9 Additional Expenses These are the expenses you may not think of initially, or maybe you have more to add. Remember, the expenses for things like pet care while you re away and souvenirs from your trip can add up quickly, so they should always be captured in the full trip budget. Travel Insurance: Passports/Travel Documents: Credit/Debit Card fees: Child Care: Pet Care: Cell Phone Charges: Luggage: Misc. Expenses: Totals