1. Do your research
Holiday budget planning should ideally start a year or more ahead of your trip, giving you time to determine all the costs, look for ways of reducing expenses, and save enough to turn your plans into a reality. Step one: use a consolidator app like Skyscanner (skyscanner.net) to assess the cost of flights, accommodations and car rentals and to determine which time of year is the most cost-effective for reaching your destination. This handy app gathers airfares and trip combinations from multiple sources, and can show you comparisons between flights at different times of the year.
While you're at it, you can determine the cost and availability of accommodation: check for discounted prices on hotel sites (like booking.com) and compare what's possible through Airbnb. There are websites (such as numbeo.com) that can tell you the average price of everyday goods and services in countries and cities around the world. Check out their various 'cost of living' indexes to get a sense of how affordable a specific place is and if it makes financial sense to visit.
2. Build an accurate budget
Use these initial cost evaluations to work out an itinerary, and then use that to create an itemised, day-by-day budget. Remember to include everything, from airport transfers to restaurant tips, gift purchases, sightseeing and entertainment.
Also, make sure that you add any activities that make the destination unique - the last thing you want to do while on holiday is impose restrictions on what you're able to do simply because they're unaccounted for in your budget. You may never have the opportunity to visit the same destination again, so make the most of the time you have there.
3. Don't miss the in-between expenses
Esta historia es de la edición December 2023 de Living space.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición December 2023 de Living space.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
'Tis the season to upcycle
From handmade adornments to uses for everyday items, we've unwrapped a box full of creative ideas to refresh your festive season decorating. Trust us, yule love them all.
Less is MORE
So many people are considering life without alcohol that the notion has been given a name: sober-curious. We find out what you can do to help lower your current alcohol consumption.
Up in smoke
Darrel Bristow-Bovey discovers that letting go isn't always easy (or entirely painless).
HAPPY AFFORDABLE HOLIDAYS!
Whether it's quality time with family or me-time on a beach, a vacation is good for the soul but it shouldn't break the bank! Use these eight tips to make sure yours doesn't.
WISH WE WERE HERE
You can eat with your eyes, so why not travel that way, too? Captivating, unexpected and inspiring these destinations should be on every decor-lover's bucket list...
WELCOME, 2024!
Get a head start on styling your space for the new year with our forecast of what's to come. Hint: you're going to be a natural...
LIFE THROUGH THE LENS
Travel photographer, writer and editor Anton Crone has many years of exploring Africa's backroads under his belt. Christi Nortier asks him what makes a place one-of-a-kind.
INNER-CITY ISLANDS
The birds and the bees need safe, green spaces to survive and thrive in the urban jungle. Here's how you can help...
BEYOND THE BUNCH
From wreaths to posies, flowers are a quick and easy way to light up a room and all you need is a store-bought bunch (or two) and a touch of creativity.
IT'S ON THE HOUSE
Household insurance: two words that strike fear (and confusion) into the hearts of South African homeowners. But don't panic! Here's everything you need to know...