5 money-draining mistakes travelers make when planning a vacation
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This story was originally published on Jan. 25, 2025, and has been updated.
Budget travel does not have to be what many of us had the privilege of doing in our early 20s — staying in a hostel, scrounging for cheap eats or maybe even sleeping in a train station.
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You can have satisfying experiences without draining your bank account or compromising on safety or quality, say travel experts. You'll just need to avoid a few common financial mistakes — and let go of the luxury travel images you keep seeing on social media.
"We have Champagne dreams and beer budgets," says Crissy Whalin of Single Mom Budget Travel. So, let's "come back to planet Earth and explore it in a way that's realistic."
Whether you're planning a quick weekend getaway or a big trip abroad, this guide will help you check your assumptions about b
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