Introduction

Hello everyone! I'm super excited to share my travel experiences with you. As a travel enthusiast who has visited over 30 countries, I've recently been getting lots of questions about how to plan travel budgets. Honestly, seeing everyone's interest makes me so excited! Today I'll share all the lessons and experiences I've learned over the years.

I remember how helplessly funny I looked when planning my first trip. Back then, I naively thought traveling was just about booking a flight and packing a bag. When I actually started planning, I discovered there was so much more to learn.

Budget Components

Talking about budgets is truly a love-hate relationship. The love comes from how good budget planning can enhance your travel experience; the hate comes from how limited budgets can sometimes restrict your plans. But don't worry, I'll share all my years of experience with you today.

Transportation Costs

Transportation is definitely a major expense, especially international flight tickets. I remember when I went to Hokkaido last winter, the flight alone cost 3,200. At the time I thought it was so expensive! But when I calculated everything, it was actually worth it.

But transportation isn't just about flights. Once you arrive, you need to consider the cost of getting from the airport to the city. Taking Hokkaido as an example, from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo city center, the JR express costs 1,070 yen (about 55 RMB), and the airport bus costs 1,030 yen (about 53 RMB). And that's just the beginning!

When exploring Sapporo city, subway and bus rides are essential. Sometimes you might want to visit nearby places like Otaru or Hakodate, which requires taking the JR. All told, you should budget at least 2,000-3,000 RMB for local transportation per week. Here's a tip: check if there are any transportation passes or tour passes available - they can often save you quite a bit of money.

I remember once in Osaka, I bought a Kansai Tour Pass and saved at least 1,000 RMB. So when making a budget, make sure to include all of these costs.

Accommodation Choices

Accommodation is truly a tale of tears! My first time in Bali, I saw an ocean view room for just over 300 per night and thought I'd struck gold. But I regretted it the first night - the room had mosquitos and you could hear everything from next door. I couldn't even sleep well.

Since then, I've learned that with accommodation, you get what you pay for. Now when I plan trips, accommodation usually takes up 30%-40% of my total budget. Sounds like a lot? But think about it - when you're in a foreign country, out all day exploring, and return exhausted at night, wouldn't it be awful if you couldn't even get a good night's sleep?

Take Tokyo for example - a business hotel near Ginza will cost at least 1,000-1,500 RMB per night. If you want to save money by staying in a hostel, you can manage with 200-300 RMB. But the difference is huge. Business hotels generally have all the necessary facilities, guaranteed cleanliness, and usually good locations. Hostels are cheaper, but you might have to share bathrooms and climb up and down bunk beds.

Food, Drinks, and Entertainment

This part of the budget is truly the hardest to estimate because everyone's habits and preferences are different. Some people love trying all the local Michelin restaurants, while others prefer street food for its authenticity. So let me share my experience.

First, you must understand the price levels of your destination. For example, in Bangkok, a meal at a street stall might cost 30-40 baht (6-8 RMB). But if you want to eat at a trendy or upscale restaurant, it can easily cost 500-1,000 baht (100-200 RMB) per meal. That's quite a difference, right?

Now I usually budget 2-2.5 times the accommodation cost for these expenses. For example, if accommodation is 1,000 RMB per day, then I prepare 2,000-2,500 RMB for food, drinks, and entertainment. This includes dining, attraction tickets, shopping, etc.

Scientific Planning

Preparation

Choosing the right time can save a lot of money! When I went to Kyoto last November to see the autumn leaves, the flight was nearly double the October price. I later learned that November is Kyoto's peak tourist season because that's when the autumn leaves are most beautiful.

Now I start monitoring flight prices six months in advance. Generally, traveling during off-season means cheaper flights and accommodations. Most importantly, there are fewer people! No long queues, and no worries about hotel availability.

Making Plans

Now I use Excel for budgeting, which feels very clear. Taking my recent 7-day Hokkaido trip planning as an example:

I budgeted 3,500 RMB for round-trip flights. This price seemed reasonable after monitoring price trends for several months. I usually choose red-eye flights - they're a bit tiring but save quite a bit of money.

For accommodation, I'm planning 600 RMB per night, totaling 4,200 RMB for 7 days. This price can get you a decent business hotel in Sapporo with a convenient location.

Local transportation is budgeted at 300 RMB per day, totaling 2,100 RMB for 7 days. This includes airport transfers, subway, buses, and potential JR costs for nearby excursions.

For dining, I budgeted 500 RMB per day, totaling 3,500 RMB for 7 days. Hokkaido is famous for seafood, and I plan to try some locally recommended restaurants, so the budget is a bit higher.

Attraction tickets are calculated at 200 RMB per day, totaling 1,400 RMB for 7 days. Many attractions in Hokkaido are free, but some places like Otaru Music Box Museum and White Lover Factory do charge admission.

Shopping budget is set at 2,000 RMB. Mainly for local specialties like White Lover chocolate and potato chips.

I've reserved 2,500 RMB for other expenses, including insurance and winter clothing. Since it's a winter trip, I might need to buy some warm clothes.

This brings the total budget to around 19,200 RMB. Seems like a lot? But think about it - this is for 7 days in Hokkaido! The budget includes everything necessary and won't limit the travel experience due to insufficient funds.

Execution Control

Honestly, shopping and dining are the easiest categories to exceed budget. Sometimes you want to try delicious food or buy interesting things you see. So now I use a budgeting app and record each day's expenses every evening.

This has two benefits: first, you can immediately see if you're over budget and adjust other expenses if needed; second, these records provide reference for future trips. For example, I now know roughly how much a regular ramen costs in Japan or how much a UNIQLO jacket costs.

Conclusion

Travel budgets truly vary from person to person. Some people enjoy hostels and street food for the experience; others prefer five-star hotels and Michelin restaurants for the ambiance. The key is understanding your financial capacity and travel desires.

I think the most important thing is not letting a small budget affect your travel experience, nor letting a large budget create too much pressure. Finding a balance point and making travel enjoyable is what matters most.

If you want to know detailed budgets for specific destinations, just let me know! Price differences between places can be huge. For example, Tokyo and Bangkok budgets are completely different concepts, and Hanoi and Singapore have vastly different cost levels.

Finally, I hope my experiences can help those preparing to travel. Remember, travel isn't just about sightseeing, it's a lifestyle. Plan your budget well and make every trip more meaningful!