Tips for Planning a Long Vacation

The logistics are different than for a short getaway, but by wisely planning a long vacation, you can make a lengthy trip doable and wonderfully memorable. Laura Petrecca of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance offers tips.

If you’ve been dreaming of a month-long beachside retreat or a six-week bike tour through Europe, start planning your itinerary. It’s easier – and more affordable – than ever to take a long vacation.

Extended travel is no longer the domain of the rich and famous or recent college grads. Thanks to the ease of international communications, flexible work arrangements, and sophisticated trip-planning tools, long-duration getaways are becoming more accessible. By taking a month or more to travel, you may enjoy a host of benefits, such as broadening your perspective, enhancing your language skills and deepening your knowledge of different cultures.

“It’s one of the few opportunities to unplug, reflect, and see how others live,” says Elliott Appel, a certified financial planner and the founder of Kindness Financial Planning, based in Madison, Wisconsin, who recently returned from seven weeks exploring Australia and New Zealand.

Kip Patrick, an avid traveler who has visited more than 100 countries – often for long stays – says his excursions have enriched both his everyday life and his global advocacy and communications role at the United Nations Foundation. “Traveling helps develop empathy,” he says. It brings about “a better understanding of cultures, people, and situations that otherwise you may never experience or see.”

Planning a long vacation

Ready to leave home and do some exploring yourself? Here’s a guide on how to prepare.

Focus on your vacation goals

Envision your first night back home after an extended vacation. What would have made the trip ideal? Think through the climate, food, culture, activities, and cost. Would it be adventurous or relaxing? Luxurious or rugged? Would you have traveled to a mountain or beach? Both? Neither?

If you plan to journey with others, such as a partner or group of friends, it’s helpful for each of you to list the elements of an ideal trip. Then, compare results. For extended travels through Tanzania, Madagascar, Borneo, and other destinations in Africa and Asia, Patrick and his wife, Liz Zipse, each made a wish list of the places they most wanted to see and the adventures they most wanted to have. “Luckily, the lists were pretty similar,” Patrick says.

Once you have a clear idea of the type of travel that appeals to you, make a shortlist of potential destinations. In addition to dream areas and activities, consider adding some more-economical choices and cheap vacation alternatives. For instance, if relaxing in the Maldives is your ultimate desire, you could also put less-expensive Costa Rica on your list. Or, in planning a long vacation, you could opt for four weeks exploring Sonoma and Napa Valley in California – and checking out great wine club memberships – instead of spending a month visiting Italian wineries.

Crunch some numbers for your trip

Research the costs associated with each of your choices to see which best fits into your budget. Factor in the cost of transportation, lodging, meals, activities, and shopping. Also account for the exchange rate if you’re traveling to a location that doesn’t use the U.S. dollar as its currency (of course, it helps if you go to a place where the dollar is strong).

Then add 10% to 20% to your total as a buffer, says Derek DiManno, a certified financial planner and founder of Flagship Asset Services, a financial planning firm based in Towson, Maryland. He recommends using a spreadsheet to keep track of your estimated expenses.

“A short trip can be easy to budget for,” he says. “A longer trip can lead to higher varying costs. Be exhaustive. It’s better to overestimate costs and have a surplus than to underestimate and scramble to cut back.”

While you’re away, you’ll likely still have to pay your regular monthly bills for such items as utilities, cable, and mortgage or rent, says Spenser Liszt, a CFP who traveled extensively in his former career as a professional musician, so you have to consider that when making a budget for vacation.

“Plan your cash flow accordingly to cover expenses incurred at home while you are away,” he says. Also, factor in extra costs that you may incur for, say, pet or home sitters, yard maintenance, or a home-monitoring system.

Check your destination’s entry requirements

If you’re traveling internationally, you’ll need to do some extra homework. It’s important to check the rules regarding passport expiration for your destination, as many countries require that a passport is valid for a certain number of months beyond the date of entry, and know how long it takes to renew your passport. You may also need to apply for a traditional visa or an electronic one (also called an e-visa.)

Government websites, your airline, and online travel forums can provide helpful information. A great starting point is the U.S. embassy’s website, www.usembassy.gov, which has a searchable database to get information about different countries. The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control can provide health-related data. Make sure to cross-reference any information that you find to ensure it’s accurate and current.

How to control your vacation costs

The earlier you start planning a long vacation, the more choices you’ll have when it comes to flights, accommodations, and tickets to in-demand events and attractions. To maximize potential savings, try to be flexible with your travel dates and times. “You can save money by traveling on less-popular days,” says Appel. When he traveled to Australia, where hotels in big cities tend to be more expensive on weekends, he visited Sydney during the week.

You can also cut costs and more easily get into sought-after restaurants and attractions if you travel during less-popular periods. For instance, you can opt to travel during the “shoulder season,” the weeks between peak and off-peak travel. This approach not only saves money but helps you to avoid crowds and get more of a chance to interact with locals. Just make sure that your preferred destinations or activities will be open during your travel period.

Travel websites such as Kayak and Google Flights let you track flight prices so you can take advantage if the price of your flight drops. Just type in your home airport and destination airport, pick the flights that suit your schedule, and set a price-tracking alert.

Laura Petrecca is a contributing writer at Kiplinger Personal Finance magazine. For more on this and similar money topics, visit Kiplinger.com.

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