When anyone decides to go on vacation, the first thought is usually about the budget. I see many questions on groups where people ask for holiday recommendations and they mention the budget, e.g. 2000 euro for a single person/couple/family of four etc. This budget usually means transport and accommodation, however there are other important expenses that should be taken into consideration.

I will divide them into two categories, before and during vacation time. This post will cover the expenses before leaving and there will be a separate one with what you should consider adding to your budget during your holiday.

Before vacation:

1. Travel documents (passports)
   If you are traveling for the first time abroad or outside the European Union (for EU citizens), first thing is to have the passport issued for every member of the family. In my country it would be around 200 euros for a family of 4.
   If you already have a passport, make sure it is in validity date and it meets the requirements imposed by your destination country, such as minimum 3 or 6 months. If your passport expires in December 2026, our holiday is in August 2026 and the country requires minimum 6 months of validity, you will have to renew it before going on vacation. Pay special attention to children’s passports, as theirs have a shorter validity period. Otherwise, you will be denied boarding. If the check-in or passport control officer overlooks this part, you will be denied entry in the country of destination ☹
2. Visa or any pre-approved travel authorization (ESTA, ETA, etc) for all family members
   Some countries (USA, Australia, South Africa, etc) require a valid visa for certain citizens and it must be obtained from their embassies after you pay a visa fee. Therefore, if it’s your first time visiting these countries, add some hundreds of dollars to your pre-vacation budget. For example, a USA visa for a family of 3 would be around 550 dollars.
   Schengen Visa – it has to be renewed, if you plan to visit the Schengen area several times during a calendar year
   Transit Visa – especially for self-transfer at airports, when you leave the transit area, go through immigration, collect your luggage and drop it off again at the check-in desk
   ESTA/ETA – when you visit for the first time a country with this requirement or if the previous one has expired.
3. Travel insurance for everyone
   Unless you are an EU citizen and have a European Health Card which covers emergencies in public hospitals and clinics inside EU, a travel insurance is mandatory. Some countries require it to be shown upon arrival, at passport control and for some visas, such as the Schengen one, it is a mandatory requirement for the application. The insurance must cover hospitalization, medical care and repatriation (including the most unfortunate event)
4. A specific amount of money in your bank account and/or on credit cards, usually above 1000$ or euro, to prove that you have the financial means to support yourself and your family during your stay. This amount or even more, must be proven with a printed bank statement.
5. Tickets to most popular tourist attractions or day passes
   Entry to some tourist attractions must be booked in advance and usually you book your flights and accommodation after you manage to find an available slot for visiting. This is mostly because access is limited to a specific number of people per day or it can only be visited with a guided tour and the group is limited to 20 people per hour, for example Machu Picchu, The Last Supper by DaVinci in Milan, Hal Saflieni Hypogeum in Malta and Anne Frank house in Amsterdam
   Other attractions must be also booked in advance, as they are extremely popular and very busy especially in the tourist season. For some, online tickets are the only available method. This list includes but is not limited to: Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell (Barcelona), Vatican Museums, Colosseum (Rome), Louvre and Versailles (France), Auschwitz-Birkenau (Poland), Museum of the future and Burj Kalifa (Dubai), Galleria della Accademia, Palazzo Vecchio, Galleria Uffizi and Florence Duomo (Florence), Basilica San Marco (Venice), Sintra Palaces (Sintra, Portugal).
   Day passes for theme parks or any other children related entertainment: Disneyland, Gardaland, Legoland, Sea World, etc
6. Vaccines and malaria prevention treatment for all members, including children
   Some countries, especially those in the tropical areas, require some vaccinations before entering their territory. These must be recorded in the International Certificate of Vaccination (the yellow booklet) and must be presented at the check-in desk when you depart from your home country and at passport control upon arrival. IMPORTANT: you will be denied boarding or entry if you do not have the certificate in countries where vaccination is required!
   These vaccines include yellow fever, hepatitis A (especially in countries where public hygiene is almost nonexistent), typhoid fever, hepatitis B and diphtheria – tetanus, rabies and cholera (the last 2 depend on your destination and the type of activities you will perform there). Even in countries with free healthcare, such as EU countries, these are not free, as they are considered personal expenses. You can have them at public clinics, but you will have to pay for them.
7. Have an emergency budget, separate from the one allocated for your vacation.
   Have a specific amount in your bank account for unexpected situations, such as transportation to and from the airport by taxi or transfer in case of a public transport strike, OTC medication for inconveniences such as mild food poisoning, sunburn, heatstroke, unplanned day trips, etc
8. Enough funds on your credit card for vehicle rental deposit
9. International driver’s license, if requested
10. Proper clothing, shoes and other things
    If you plan to visit a country or region with a specific climate, proper clothing and shoes must be added to your suitcase. Some might be worn just during this visit, some might be used later, but you cannot go to meet Santa in Lapland in December wearing running shoes and a jumper where there are -30˚C or -22F. For a week in Madeira or the Azores you need hiking shoes and raincoats.
    Other possible expenses for a couple or family with children: strong mosquito repellents, sunscreen with at least SPF30, plug adapters or converters, power banks, motion sickness remedies, waterproof backpacks or bags.

As you can see, the vacation budget is not only what we spend on cocktails, tapas and fridge magnets 🙂