5 tips to plan your trip and not blow your budget

You can not wait to take a vacation and start researching destinations to make that incredible trip. The first step is to always research the prices of transportation, tickets and accommodation to evaluate what fits in the budget. And we know that planning and organization are key elements for perfect vacations, after all nobody wants to go back to the routine worried about credit card, right?

At MetLife, we believe that traveling is good for health. That's why we have prepared a guide with 5 tips to get you to know the place of your dreams without going red.

1- Search carefully the price of the tickets.

Whether for national or international destinations, start your research in advance, preferably months before the trip. You should also be aware of promotional opportunities and seasons.

One great suggestion is to use websites and price tracking platforms. They help you find cheaper tickets to your destination and send email alerts about price increases or falls.

Also pay attention to one detail: service charges. Always check the difference in value between the airline's direct site and the site that aggregates the ticket options of different airlines. That way you can get rid of any additional fees that these websites charge.

2- Set an expense limit 

Traveling is always an enriching experience that turns into stories to tell the rest of our lives. And in the excitement of the trip, we often spend things that were not planned. So set a limit for your expenses.

In your projection, include transportation, lodging, food, tours and shopping. One tip is to set a daily limit. That way, if you decided to meet that expensive restaurant in one day, you already know you'll have to save on the other to make up for the extra expense. 

3 - Write down your expenses, or save all notes

Your travel financial planning depends largely on one factor: control. So if you've set a daily spending limit, it's important for you to be clear about your expenses. For this, nothing better than to write down or keep the notes of everything that you spend.

From the memory of the family, to that incredible dinner: control everything. At the end of the day you will see how much you spent and whether you need to make any adjustments at the next day's limit.

4- Separate a value for the contingencies

We understand that unforeseen events can happen. Whether they are good or bad, reserve an additional amount as stipulated, but if you control to use it only if it is really necessary.

And if you do not have unplanned expenses, save that money and start planning the next trip.

5 - Keep an eye on the free activities

Taking guided tours and visiting the most famous attractions on the site are great programs, but you can have a lot of fun and have enriching experiences on a trip without spending anything or almost nothing. Most cities have street shows, municipal markets, parks and museums with free programming on a weekday.

Find out what the destination has to offer and get in touch with locals or employees of the hotel or hostel you are staying at. They can give you precious tips!