While my colleague Leonie has focused on writing about budgeting for a college student’s summer holidays, I decided to create some sample budgets to show how to save for vacation as an “adult”. Unlike the budgets of my colleague, these examples are aimed at more “adult” vacationers with a slightly larger budget – but also more expenses.
I’m going to offer three flavors of budget. One for the big spenders we’ll call the ”Budget Buster,” one for the slightly less extravagant called the ”Modest Traveler”, and one for the penny pinchers we’ll call the “Budget Punisher”. My sample budgets assume that the traveler is starting somewhere outside a major European city.
The travel expenses will be guesses that approximate the probable cost of reaching these locations or ones like them. My imaginary traveler is someone starting in Germany.
The Budget Buster
This holiday is truly a budget annihilation machine. No expense is spared, within reason. For ground rules, we’ll assume an ability to save at least 6000 EUR for a full two week holiday.
The Budget Buster
| Accomodations | 13 Nights at 125 EUR | 1625 EUR |
| Travel | Air Tickets: 600 x 2 | 1200 EUR |
| Restaurants | 7 Meals out at 100 EUR | 700 EUR |
| Eat-in | 35 Meals at 20 EUR | 700 EUR |
| Spending Cash | 14 Days at 100/day | 1400 EUR |
| Other Expenses | Medical, insurance, etc. | 375 EUR |
The Lux Holiday:
This enchanting trip starts with a gorgeous tiny house located in Nea Skioni on the island of Chalkidiki, Greece, on the coast of the Aegean sea. It’s perfect for two people for a romantic getaway. Convenient to a local pub and other village amenities, this tiny home has everything you need to feel right at home for 2 weeks on the beach.
Luxury isn’t cheap! This budget buster really stands apart for the cost of transportation and your stay in this designer home. Still, you’re looking for the best on a reasonable enough budget.
The Modest Traveler
Not quite ready to shell out 6000 Euros for your next two week getaway? We’ve got you covered. This more modest holiday is for 10 days, and we’ll target a 4000 Euro budget.
The Modest Holiday Budget:
| Accomodations | 10 Nights at 77 EUR | 770 EUR |
| Travel | Train Tickets x2 | 400 EUR |
| Restaurants | 7 Meals out at 100 EUR | 700 EUR |
| Eat-in | 14 Meals at 20 EUR | 280 EUR |
| Spending Cash | 10 Days at 100/day | 1000 EUR |
| Other Expenses | Medical, insurance, etc. | 375 EUR |
By choosing a slightly more humble destination, in this case the town of Climbach in Le Gran Est of France not far from Strasbourg, we save money on vacation both on our accommodations and travel expenses. The shorter duration also allows us to maintain a fairly rich mix of restaurant meals and eating in, along with plenty of spending money which will go far in the local economy. Plus, this is France we’re talking about; you’re going to find great food wherever you go.
This lovely converted barn cottage provides everything you need for a modest holiday in a quiet French village near the German border, and for a total of 3525 Euros, this 10 day holiday is a steal.
The Budget Punisher
Ah yes. We’ve all been there. Unexpected expenses have limited your holiday options to the grim and the grimmer.
But not to worry. For every budget there is a solution, and the penny pincher is no different.
The Penny Pinching Budget::
| Accomodations | 10 Nights at 63 EUR | 630 EUR |
| Travel | Train Tickets x2 | 200 EUR |
| Restaurants | 3 Meals out at 50 EUR | 150 EUR |
| Eat-in | 18 Meals at 20 EUR | 360 EUR |
| Spending Cash | 10 Days at 50/day | 500 EUR |
| Other Expenses | Medical, insurance, etc. | 375 EUR |
This penny saving holiday will cost you just 2215 Euros, for 10 nights on the beautiful Island of Reugen, Germany. You won’t be having massive and expensive meals every day, but you’ll be enjoying the mild weather of the Baltic Sea coast, as well as the warm hospitality of locals from Reugen, known for their East German charm.
Save for vacation 2022
One of the things that constantly surprises me when I make sample budgets is the cost of food and daily expenses. Planning for daily expenses is one of the budget killers that most travelers underestimate. Spending and food typically cost at least ⅓ of your total vacation budget, and if you don’t carefully plan, this can easily become ⅔ or more.
That’s why it’s really important to set up a saving plan and a budget before taking your next trip, and then work hard on limiting your daily spending to something you can afford.
Some pro tips for vacationing like a budget pro:
- Take out your daily spending money in cash each day, and stick to it. If you don’t spend it all, roll it over to the next day as a reward.
- Plan to cook for yourself at least 2 meals a day. This can easily cut your food budget in half.
- Visit off-season: many popular seasonal destinations have excellent discounts for off-season bookings.
- Ask hotels or Airbnb hosts for discounts: while most guests don’t try, most hosts and hotel managers are willing to offer modest discounts for longer (more than a week) stays. It never hurts to ask!