Budgeting Your International Travel

There are plenty of things to consider when planning an international trip for business or pleasure. There’s the flight, accommodations, any items needed to power electronics, what to pack, and who will look over the house and the pets during the trip. These items are necessary, but they don’t constitute the biggest portion of an international trip — a budget. Like a domestic journey, one outside of the country requires a review of the expenses that will be accumulated by various preparations. Without the necessary funds a trip may not happen or needed cash won’t be available. In order to help get ready for this type of trip, here are a few budgetary items to consider.

Passports — A passport is required to travel as far away as Europe and Asia and as near as Canada and Mexico. Thing is, obtaining this legal document is not free. In addition to the cost of the needed photo, the amount a person pays to process the passport depends on how fast it’s needed. The standard fee for a six-week turnaround runs about $135 for application and execution fees. Add on $60 if the passport needs to be expedited. More information on passport fees is found at the U.S. Department of State website.

Immunizations — Not all international trips require mandatory immunizations, but they should be consider in trips to tropical areas and those where the sanitary conditions are not the best. What these extra injections cost depends on the health care company you use and their policies. Best bet is to contact a primary physician first to determine if immunizations are needed, then contact the health care organization to see what’s covered. There may be some out-of-pocket costs that need to be added to the budget.

Travel Insurance — Losing your luggage or getting sick on a domestic trip is a hassle. Having the same thing happen on an international journey can be devastating. This is why travel insurance may need to be added as a budget expense. This type of temporary insurance can assist in covering costs for lost luggage and any medical expenses that aren’t covered in an international destination by the health insurance company. Another benefit to this insurance is the ability to get some form of reimbursement for an interrupted trip or situation where one is canceled due to weather or potential terrorist attack. The website Top Ten Reviews has a comprehensive list of travel insurance companies and their benefits.

Money Exchange — There’s a very good chance an American dollar bill will not equal a dollar in your destination. These days, it may cost you more than a dollar to get an international equivalent. Exchange rates do change on a weekly basis, meaning it can be difficult to budget for this type of expense. To cover the necessary bases, put one-and-a-half times the money you think you’ll need for the trip into the budget. In addition, perform some initial research on how much dining and hotels cost in the location where you’re headed.