The major components of any trip are:

• transportation 

• lodging 

• meals 

• entertainment  

Any one of these categories can dominate your budget, depending on the type and length of trip and number of people.  Let's look at each one of these categories below. 

This can be as little as free if you're staying with a friend or relative or house swapping, or quite expensive if you're staying at a resort that charges daily resort fees (usually per person, per day.) 

Occasionally I will splurge and go for the more expensive lodging option. I rarely do this because most of my day is spent sightseeing. That said, the 2-bedroom condo in Cancun (above left) was part of a Buy-One-Get-One week free from Armed Forces Vacation Club. At $150/week, it was a tremendous deal!

The bungalow on Moorea (left) sleeps 4, is directly across the street from Ta'ahiamanu Beach, and has its own jacuzzi. It was a splurge at about $250/night, but well worth it just to meet Sarah, the property's charming and attentive hostess. 

Two sources I have used and can recommend are VRBO (vrbo.com) and Airbnb (https://www.airbnb.com) . Whereas VRBO specializes in high-end entire property bookings, Airbnb has listings for everything from resort properties to entire homes to single rooms in a hosts home, to houseboats, apartments and cabins. (As of this writing i own Airbnb stock, but I do so because I believe they offer a terrific service for both owners and guests.)

Airbnb has over 7 million listings around the world; VRBO has 2 million.  The bungalow in Tahiti (shown right) was rented through VBRO. 

This includes admission to museums, tours, shows, clubs, hot springs, theme or national parks, lift passes, etc.  Basically anything that charges money to see, do, use or enjoy. 

One item that most tend to overlook is the cost of gear rentals. This includes bikes, scuba or snorkeling gear, boogey boards, surfboards, etc.)  It's usually a per item charge, so your costs can really escalate if you're traveling with a family. This is also a consideration in choosing budget accommodations over a resort in which these amenities are included. 

Many attractions have family pricing which allow admission for 2 adults and 2 children for a price that is lower than the price of tickets if purchased individually. 

Many cities have city passes which entitle the cardholder to free entrance to amusement parks, museums, and other attractions. For example, San Diego (my home) has a website called CityPASS.com and sells tickets to Disneyland starting at $66 for Southern California residents. https://www.citypass.com/southern-california. This same website sells advance tickets for Universal Studios, Sea World, Legoland, the San Diego Zoo, and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Savings can be up to 40% and you beat the lines!

****PLEASE NOTE: Due to COVID-19, many theme parks, zoos and museums are requiring advance reservations or ticket purchases to limit the number of visitors. Please visit their individual websites to learn about their policies.

Like lodging, this category will vary widely depending on the type of trip you're planning.  For example, a camping trip in which you are preparing your own meals or opting for grocery store take-outs will be vastly cheaper than eating at a coat & tie restaurant in a major city or the hotel restaurant of a resort. 

Selecting accommodations with a kitchen or even a mini fridge, can add up to huge savings on a 14-day trip. Remember, wherever you go, the locals have to shop somewhere. It's highly unlikely they can afford to pay the prices visitors pay for each meal. By renting a studio or entire property, you shop where the locals shop. 

I did this recently on a 12-day trip to Tahiti, and figure I saved about $150 a day on a trip for two.

Don't like to cook? Consider purchasing heat and serve dinners from the local grocery store. In London, for example, you can get tasty Indian entrées for under $7.  Pair this with vegetables and naan and it makes a great meal. 

Most grocery stores have hot and cold take out foods, so you can purchase slices of quiche or kabobs and rice, and pair it with salads for a complete meal. Or consider take out food you can eat in the comfort of your own room. 

I will usually check into my property, drop off my luggage, check out the cooking facilities, and then head over to the nearest grocery store for essentials.