Calculating Expenses for a Journey

For experienced travelers, being overly frugal isn't the top priority, as you might miss out on many local delicacies or worthwhile experiences.

Here's the spending planning experience to prepare the budget before the trip of Pham Quang Tuan – a 25-year-old solo backpacker.

There are 2 items you need to spend on a journey:

Fixed Expenses

Airfare: This amount equals whatever you have to save, however, the downside is that your flight might be delayed or have layovers.

Train, Bus Tickets: This is also money you need to save if you want your trip to be as economical as possible.

Entrance Tickets: This is a difficult expense to save on because it's specifically regulated in each place. Never consider sneaking in as the fines could be much higher than the ticket price.

Incidental Expenses

Accommodation: There are various options available, but you shouldn't sleep rough, especially when traveling abroad. You can sleep at the airport if absolutely necessary, such as when your flight arrives at 11 pm and you have an early flight the next day. There are also cheap hotel options, shared rooms, or rented homestays. To calculate the fee, opt for the most basic type with a single bed and a toilet.

Food: These are the two most likely expenses to arise, even if you choose restaurants, large eateries, or markets/street food. Therefore, to budget for your trip, consider how much foreign food will fill you up, then add an extra amount for additional snacks.

Incidental Expenses: This fund is used as needed, such as tipping service staff or giving money to street performers...

How to Reference Budgetary Items

– Utilize Google's features for searches (incognito window). You can be in Vietnam and still book accommodations in Europe by visiting hotel booking websites.

– Use English keywords to search for what you need to learn.

– To find out the prices of restaurants, go to Tripadvisor, enter the location you want to explore, and then select a restaurant.

– After calculating the amount for each spending category per day, multiply it by the number of days you plan to stay to estimate the total amount you'll need to spend.

– These are the most basic items. Additionally, you need to add a contingency fund, roughly one and a half times the estimated amount.

– When traveling abroad, remember to bring your visa card and instruct your friends or family to assist when necessary.

According to Vnexpress

***

Reference: Mytour Travel Handbook