The world has opened up again and that means that travel and holidays are now back on the cards. The chance to take a holiday and travel with friends or family is something that can start to embrace again.

This year there’s a sense that we may be approaching something that resembles normality. Of course, Covid has far from gone, but things are different. The world has opened up again and that means that travel and holidays are now back on the cards. The chance to take a holiday and travel with friends or family is something that can start to embrace again.

When you travel with family or friends, there tends to be one thing that people feel a little uncomfortable discussing: the holiday budget. The reality is that our bank balances all vary and not everyone can stretch quite as far as someone else. The thing is, if you take the time to prepare before your holiday, you can do away with fears over budgeting. The steps that we’re going to cover mean that money while travelling with friends or family, need never cause you an issue again.

Have an honest conversation

When it comes to travelling with family or friends for a holiday, the easiest way to deal with a holiday budget is to be honest. Yes, you’ve agreed to go away together, but if you have any concerns about just how much you can spend, the time to discuss this is before you arrive.

An honest conversation before your holiday means that everyone is clear with where they stand. When it comes to arriving, there is no longer a need for any feelings of discomfort, embarrassment, or tension. With your holiday budget out in the open, you can ensure that you’re feeling relaxed from start to finish.

Compromise on activities

Any holiday is likely to involve some sort of activity. It could be as simple as relaxing on a beach, visiting a famous landmark, or attending a concert. These activities are things that again need to be discussed before your holiday begins. If everyone is open and honest, you can create a list of what are ‘must to dos’ and what are ‘nice to dos’.

When everyone is aware of the plans, they can set their holiday budget to try and accommodate these. Where a particular activity is simply too expensive for one party, this planning means that they’re not just suddenly put on the spot where they feel pressured into going along. Everyone knows each other’s expectations, and limitations, before the holiday even begins.

Seek out free activities

When you travel with friends or family, it’s worth remembering that not everything has to eat into your holiday budget. Most places that you can visit will have activities that are free of charge or at least low cost. That’s not to say that you should avoid the types of paid-for activities we’ve mentioned above: it just means that, as a group, you can work towards a healthy balance.

You can look at activities such as relaxing on a beach, enjoying a walk around stunning countryside, or even taking in local art. You can also save money by utilising public transport rather than automatically opting for a taxi when travelling anywhere on your holiday.

Take a break

Okay, so you travel with family or friends because you’re looking at spending some quality time together. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to be joined at the hip 24/7. For one thing, a little time apart can do wonders for your relationship as it removes any sense of tension or strain. For another, it means that each party can be free to enjoy what they want to.

It could be that the party with the larger holiday budget can use this time to embark on some of the more expensive activities. Those with a more conservative budget will probably experience a sense of relief as they have some time where there’s no need to keep spending. This allows your party to rejoin with a sense of togetherness as everyone has had the chance to do what they want to do.

Bills don’t need to be split 50/50

If you travel with friends or family, one of the biggest expenses can be dining out. Meals and drinks can soon add up and can soon make a serious dent in your holiday budget. The thing is, when we eat out with friends and family, there seems to be some unwritten rule that we’ll split the bill down the middle. Doing this is not always the best course of action if you’re watching your spend.

It may well be that you have a lesser appetite than a friend. You may not be into the same kinds of food and drink. It could well be that your favourite tipple is much cheaper than your friends. If that’s the case, why would you want to split a bill? This is one of those things that needs to be agreed upon in advance so that no one is put on the spot.

Consider your accommodation

Your holiday is all about time together and making special memories. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to say under the same roof. If you’re looking at managing your holiday budget you can make some great savings by seeking out alternative accommodation.

By booking into a hostel, or a hotel with not quite so many stars, you can reduce your spend, but still have a great holiday experience.

Remember your relationships

Just remember that this holiday was planned because you’re close to family and friends. If you fail to talk about your holiday budget there’s a good chance that tensions will build and that relationships will suffer.

Everything that we’ve discussed all links back to two things: honesty and planning. If you can nail both of these before your holiday begins, you can be sure that not only are you going to have a great time but also that, when you return home, your relationships are still intact. No holiday is worth losing a relationship over and you have the power to ensure that never happens.