Planning the travel budget

In short: Those who plan a budget before the trip keep costs under control. This includes travel, accommodation, food, activities, insurance and a buffer.

In more detail: As a rule of thumb, a buffer of about 10 to 15 percent for the unforeseen applies.

In detail

• Main items: Transport, accommodation, meals, admissions, insurance (reiseversicherungen-ueberblick).
• Price differences: Countries and seasons differ greatly; off-season often saves a lot.
• Daily budget: Set a sum per day and note expenses (haushaltsbuch).
• Booking early: Flights and accommodation cheaper, but watch for flexible rates.
• Paying: Compare card fees and exchange rates (bezahlen-im-ausland).
• Phone: Avoid roaming costs (roaming-und-mobilfunk-im-ausland).
• Saving: Self-catering, free sights, local transport tickets.
• Emergency fund: Keep a reserve for emergencies (notfall-im-ausland).