The realities and challenges of running a business, building a successful career, and the routine of college work can sometimes seem like too much work. And as you know, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!” Right?
At some point, we all need time off work to unwind, reflect on our achievements, and refocus on future goals. That’s what vacations and holidays are meant for. And what can be better than a restorative spring break!
But taking a spring break isn’t cheap. Budget Your Trip reveals that the cost of getting away for a weeklong spring break can easily hit $1,572 per traveler. If you’re going with the whole family, that can run into thousands of dollars.
Thus, you need to plan your spring travel budget well, lest finances become a hurdle, and take the “fun out of the sun.” If you don’t have enough money saved up, you can travel with the best personal loans from fintech lenders.
How to budget and prepare for a spring break
You don’t have to break the bank to travel. Therefore, you need to balance the realities of your bank account with your desire to jet off to your favorite destination. Here are some tips to help you plan and budget wisely.
1-. Create a budget
How much can you afford? That’s critical because every travel destination has its price tag. You can either let your budget determine your destination or have your destination dictate your budget.
Either way, creating a budget is vital because it helps you nail your costs and avoid overspending. What was meant to be a fun and adventurous break can turn out to be a nightmare of frustrations, embarrassment, and unending hassles if you run out of money miles away from home.
Here’s a list of major costs to include in your spring travel budget:
- Transportation
- Accommodation
- Meals & entertainment
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Taxi money
You should also estimate miscellaneous costs like tips, checked baggage fees, or sales and hotel taxes. Again, unexpected costs tend to rear their ugly end during vacations. To avoid surprises, add an extra 10%-15% to your estimated budget for on-site emergencies. It’s better to have extra cash than run out of money.
2-. Start saving early
Though you can cover your travel costs with a personal loan, having personal savings is vital because you won’t need to borrow more than you can afford. After all, taking a spring break isn’t a basic need or an emergency but a discretionary expense. As you know, it isn’t wise to go into debt for discretionary spending.
To avoid the hassles of finding a pile of money at the last minute, start packing travel dollars in your traveling category early enough. For instance, you can decide to set aside $20, $50, or $100 per week. The choice is yours, but make sure you’re saving.
3-. Shop around
With a little poking around, you can avoid bearing the full brunt of traveling costs, thanks to technology and travel websites. You can score discounted travel deals and packages online from travel websites. They partner with airlines, travel companies, and top travel destinations in the world to offer all manner of travel coupons and promotions on hotels, airlines, and car rentals.
Here’s a good place to bring your kids on board to help with the research. Let them use their smartphones to scour travel websites and come up with all manner of deals in a different destination.
4-. Consider a road trip
You should also weigh the economies of flying vs. driving. If you’ve chosen a drivable destination, why not make the journey part of the adventure? Roadside attractions and regular stops along the way may turn out to be more adventurous than expected.
It’s also an excellent option when taking a family vacation or when traveling with a group of friends. You can avoid expensive air tickets by splitting the cost of transportation.
5-. Avoid crowded spring break destinations
Well-known spring destinations like Florida, Dominican Republic, and Hawaii attract many visitors. Thus, the cost of everything from air tickets to hotel rooms skyrockets. There’s also the element of time cost. You’ll be forced to wait in line for sightseeing at parks and restaurant meals if you visit crowded destinations.
That extra money and time can be spent having more fun if you choose a low-key spring break destination.
Financial options to travel wherever you want
Finally, you’ll need money to cover your traveling expenses. To that end, there seem to be two options when it comes to financing your travel costs.
-Personal savings
Financial experts maintain that it isn’t a wise discretion to go into debt for discretionary expenses, like traveling. Thus, your best option is to have enough cash saved up to cover your spring “beach week” expenses.
But traveling is a major expense, and not so many people can afford to fund such one-time costs out of pocket. That’s where the best personal loans come in!
-Personal loans
As the name goes, personal loans are meant for personal use. You can use the money for anything, including traveling, home improvement, consolidating debt, or even starting a business.
And the good thing is, personal loans are easier to obtain. As long as you have a stable income and a good to excellent credit score, you won’t have any problems getting a vacation loan to fund your spring break expenses.
Should you get a personal loan for spring break?
If you need to top up your cash reserve, you can do so with a personal loan. Just make sure you only borrow what you can afford to repay comfortably to avoid sinking into debt.
You can get a personal loan from a bank or credit union, but if you have a fair credit score and need money quickly, consider accessing the best personal loans from reputable, trustworthy online lenders. Visit the link in the intro section to learn more about some of these loan options.
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