Lago di Braies

I keep getting questions about how much budget needed when we want to travel to Europe. And I keep saying “it depends”.

There’s never be a standard of how much budget needed for everyone, as everyone has their own standard of traveling.

Before we go there and answer how much budget we need to travel, let’s take a look of 7 components to be consider when you’re arranging your travel plan.

I’m an employee, so I don’t have much flexibility on the period and time to travel so it’s better to plan my traveling ahead. Plus, I can manage how to save my money by doing so.

In a sequence, here’s 7 things to prepare your travel plan:

1. Destination

I think this is the most important part and the first thing needs to be done.

Destination will impacting the whole budget plan. Traveling to US will be different compared to Japan. Traveling international and domestic also makes a significant difference.

Imagine where you want to go for your holiday. Do you need a passport for that? Or maybe a visa? When I know where to go already, I immediately check the price for transportation and visa (if I need one).

Tips: Planning your holiday in advance could help you to find some good deals in a travel fair, or a cheaper price. Book a year or 6 months early, because price usually getting higher close to your departure period

2. Period

After knowing your destination, decide how long you would like to spend some days there.

For me, I usually plan a 12 days period when I’m traveling to Europe (include commuting time); 6 days to Japan and around 3 to 5 days when I’m traveling around Indonesia.

Tips: Traveling can be tiring as well, so plan your period time wisely. Traveling too long will drained out your energy.

3. How many countries/cities/places you want to visit

I can visit maximum 4 countries on a single trip to Europe, or 2 countries if I want to explore specific destination. For Japan, I usually stick to 2 or 3 places, and go to one destination only when I travel domestically.

Why this matter? Because it will impact your transportation cost, travel time and your energy. Believe me, getting sick while traveling is no fun :)

Tips: Some people would try to squeeze their itineraries in a short time. It’s not wrong, but for some consideration you would like to enjoy the destination and not only ticking off the checklist, right?

4. Transportation (between the countries or cities, and in the city)

After knowing which countries/cities you want to visit, find a price for the transportation to move from one place to another.

It also applies when you arranging transportation in the city.

Tips: go to www.rome2rio.com or Google Maps, put all your destination in it to see whether you commute efficiently. Going back and forth would impact your budget. Find a route where you can go around the clock or reverse. Do the linear route if you can find cheaper transportation for that (ex: arriving in Paris, departing from Munich; etc)

Also, daily pass or any kind of pass is not necessarily effective and efficient for me, so I usually check my itinerary through both site and see which one is a better deal for me: the transport pass, a deposit card or a one-way ticket)

5. Accommodation

Know how to go to one place between the destinations already, I usually find the accommodation first before arranging how I can commute in the city. Because you can’t find a way to get to your destination if you don’t know where to start, right?

Tips: Find a place in one or two station away from the center or central station. It makes you easier to commute (and cheaper). Also, reserving accommodation in advance will give you a better deal.

6. Itinerary

Finally, find some place you want to visit. Is it required an entrance fee? Do you need to book your place in advance? Or is it just a free park?

Plan your meals budget as well. In Europe, I usually prepare EUR 60 for a day just to eat, while in fact I don’t use that much. In Japan, I prepared JPY 2500 – JPY 3000 just for the meal.

What’s important too is prepare your budget for shopping, whether you’re using credit card or cash.

Tips: Remember, cash or credit card is just a payment method and not additional budget. Make sure you got all the money needed stored in your saving account, then pay with cash or credit card.

I personally spare EUR 100/JPY 10.000 or equivalent each day for meals, snacks and to buy souvenirs (exclude specific items I want to buy, and entrance fee for attractions)

7. Budget

If you already prepare the early 6 points I mentioned before, I think now you know how much budget you need :D

Tips: I would strongly suggest to to buy insurance and spare some money for urgent event. Because when you travel, you’ll never know what you might encounter.