Holiday budget calculator

• Avoid overspending. A budget can help you avoid spending more than you can afford. For example, without a budget, you might book a hotel that's too expensive and then struggle to pay other holiday costs.
• Prioritise what matters. Maybe you want to splurge on a guided tour, or you want to have a fancy dinner. A budget can help you decide what you want to set money aside for.
• Handle unexpected expenses. Planning ahead can allow you to save money for unexpected expenses you might not have thought of, like vaccinations.
• Cover overlooked costs. It can be easy to forget to budget for smaller expenses like tips or gifts. That's why including them in a budget can help to prevent costly surprises.
• Manage exchange rates and fees. Budgeting can help prepare you for any fees you may get for using credit cards abroad, or when converting currency.

Once the flights are booked, it can be easy to want to switch into holiday mode. But, to make your holiday as enjoyable as possible, it's important to consider other essentials.

These include things like:

• Travel insurance. It's generally not a legal requirement. But, the right policy could cover you for unexpected situations, like medical emergencies. But, in Cuba, it's an entry requirement.


• Spending money. You'll need spending money to cover daily expenses like meals, drinks, and activities. Having a clear idea of how much you'll need will help prevent you from running out of money during the trip.


• Transport. This includes local transport you might need to get around while on holiday. As well as transport to and from the airport.


• Accommodation. For a comfortable experience, you'll need to make sure you've booked accommodation, whether it's a hotel, hostel, villa or you're on a camping holiday.


• Travel documents. Make sure you have all necessary travel documents, like your passport. Depending on where you're going, you might need a visa, such as an ETIAS or an ESTA.


• Packing essentials. Don't forget the basics like your clothing, toiletries, and any medication you may need.


• Tech gear. This includes devices like your phone, charger, camera, and adapters. Make sure you bring along all the necessary gadgets to stay connected while you're away from home. If you're planning on taking these with you, you may want to consider travel insurance with gadget cover.

Tip: want some more help on what to pack? Read our holiday checklist guide.

The cost of travel insurance can vary depending on personal circumstances. This includes age, pre-existing medical conditions, and where you're going.

To give you an idea of what to expect, here are 3 example travel insurance quote prices for various destinations:

What affects the price of travel insurance?

There's a few different things that can affect the price of travel insurance:

• Pre-existing medical conditions: insurance might be more expensive for those with pre-existing medical conditions. It's important to declare these conditions to avoid invalidating cover.
• Destination: depending on where you're travelling, your policy might be more expensive. For example, travel insurance for the Caribbean or the USA could cost more than European travel insurance.
• Age: the price of a policy can vary based on age, with travellers aged over 50 often facing higher costs.
• Insurance type: different policies can have different costs. For instance:

Single-trip travel insurance: this type of policy covers one trip, from the time you leave your home until you return. These can be more affordable for infrequent travelers.

Multi-trip travel insurance: They can offer savings to those who travel frequently. For example, a multi-trip policy for a 30-year-old with no medical conditions can be as cheap as £9.15¹. But, a worldwide travel insurance can be more expensive than European policies. This is because healthcare can be more expensive outside of the EU.

Cruise insurance: If you plan on going on a cruise, you can get tailored cover with cruise travel insurance. This type of insurance is typically more expensive than standard travel insurance, as cruises carry their own risks. To give you an idea, a 1 week European cruise policy for a 30 year old with no medical conditions could cost £10.93².

Business travel insurance: this type of insurance might cost more than standard travel insurance. This is because It can cover business losses, along with things that normal travel insurance tends to cover. For example, a 1 week business policy for a 30-year-old with no medical conditions could cost £10.90³.

¹The cheapest price for annual multi-trip travel insurance. Based on 1 adult aged 30, with no pre-existing medical conditions.  Confused.com data, April 2026.
²The cheapest price for a single-trip travel insurance policy with cruise cover added. Based on 1 adult aged 30 with no pre-existing medical conditions, travelling to Spain for 1 week. Confused.com data, April 2026.
³The cheapest price for a single-trip travel insurance policy with business cover added. Based on 1 adult aged 30 with no pre-existing medical conditions, travelling to Spain for 1 week. Confused.com data, April 2026.

Set your budget by using our calculator

Begin your holiday planning by using our budget calculator. It helps you estimate all your expenses, from flights and accommodation to smaller costs like transfers.

This way, you'll have a good idea of how much you'll need for your holiday.

Saving up for a holiday doesn't need to feel overwhelming.

In fact, why don't you consider setting aside a small amount each month?

Instead of trying to get your money together in one go, you can gradually build up your holiday fund instead.

Look for accommodation that allows you to pay closer to your departure date

When booking, consider options that let you pay closer to your departure day.

This will give you more time to save up, and can help you manage your finances better in the run-up to your trip.

Plus, it can be useful if your plans change unexpectedly.

Avoid busy times (school holidays)

Consider planning your holiday during off-peak times.

Traveling outside of school holidays often means lower prices for flights and accommodation.

And, did you know that this is a great way to avoid the crowds too?

Book flights and accommodation separately

Booking your flights and accommodation separately can be a great way to find the best deals.

Package holidays can be more expensive than booking each trip component separately.

This approach can also allow you to take advantage of special offers or discounts. Yay!

But this depends on the holiday provider you're booking with. So, it could be worth shopping around to see what savings are on offer.