Your teenager is planning a big trip! It’s an exciting time. They’ll have new experiences and see amazing sights that will remain in their memory for a lifetime. Your role is to help them plan their adventure to perfection. And the first step in this process is teaching your child how to budget for their trip expenses. Our team has years of experience operating summer travel courses for high school credits. To help guide you, we’ll provide our budgeting tips for effective money management.
First, Review the Planning Expenses
The first item on your budgeting agenda is to consider the expenses involved in planning the trip. These are the costs your teenager will incur before reaching the destination. They include the following:
- Vaccinations
Research whether your teenager must update their vaccinations before they take their trip. Countries across Africa and some European nations require that visitors have an updated vaccination card with them when they travel. The rules and regulations regarding travel are continually being updated as we face the COVID pandemic. So, analyze the requirements before your teen books their trip. (All students and staff participating in a Global Summers Academy program must provide proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19.)
- Passport and Visas
Make sure your teen has a valid passport. Their passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the return date of their trip. Some countries do not allow entrants with less than 6 months left on their passport. Your teen may also require a visa to visit the destination, so make sure you review the visa rules carefully (Global Summers Academy will arrange any visas, if required, for Canadian passport holders).
- Luggage
Does your teenager have the required luggage for the trip? You might have already considered suitcases. But what about additional luggage requirements? The luggage needs will depend on the type of activities planned for the trip. For example, if your teenager will be trekking through the rainforest, they’ll need quality hiking gear. They may also need a money belt to keep their cash safe while they travel.
- Transportation
Check the inclusions in the price of the trip. Trips organized through their school may already include all transportation costs. But make sure you consider additional transportation fees that might apply once they arrive at their destination. For example, they might make a day trip by train or bus, which requires booking in advance.
Next, Analyze Their Trip Expenses
So the planning stages have been reviewed and the costs for the preparation have been taken into consideration. Next, you should speak with your teen about the expenses they’ll need while on the trip. These expenses may include:
- Food and Drink
Take into consideration the local food pricing when setting a food and drinks budget. And assess all meal requirements. Some school travel programs include all meal costs as part of the trip price. But this might not include snacks and meals on visits to nearby areas.
- Souvenirs
Your teen will likely want to buy souvenirs on their trip, so ensure that they add this to their trip budget. It’s a good idea to make a list of potential souvenirs now so that you can evaluate the costs with them to prevent overspending.
- Emergency Funds
Whether it’s a visit to the hospital or an issue with their personal belongings, your teen may require emergency funds for the trip. Make sure your teen has enough money to cover them should they need to spend a little extra at short notice.
Give Them Room to Splurge
While your teen must make room for each of the budget items we’ve highlighted, you should also give them the freedom to splurge a little on their trip. Whether it’s that must-have item from a local market or a restaurant meal with friends, they’ll feel better when they’re able to live in the moment as they enjoy their trip of a lifetime.
A Few Quick Tips
Before your teenager sets off to their destination, have them keep in mind the following budgetary tips:
Set a Daily Spending Limit
Setting a daily spending limit is the best way to control trip spending. Your teen should track exactly how much they spend on each item and then ensure they stick to a daily budget. This tracking process will ensure they don’t find themselves with two days to go on their trip and no money left.
Make Communication a Priority
Whether your teen is travelling with a school group or friends, ensure they understand that communicating with you at specific points of the trip is a priority. This commitment to communication can help ensure you can guide them if they experience any issues while they travel. Whether it’s buying international calling cards or using an international SIM card in their cell phone, ensure they have the resources to communicate with those back home as they travel.
Focus on Experiences
While souvenirs might provide some joy for those at home, there’s no substitute for experience when enjoying a trip. Ensure that your teen understands the value of new experiences and that they keep that in mind when planning their trip.
Global Summers Academy Offers Summer Courses for High School Credits
We’re now offering a full range of summer courses for high school credits to give your teenager the best foundation for success. To learn more about our program options credit offerings, call Global Summers Academy at 1.844.357.2621 or contact us here.
