Planning a solo trip can be a daunting task, especially for first timers. From the itinerary of the trip to scheduling the time off of work to finding someone to take care of your cat when you go, there is a lot to consider to ensure everything goes smoothly. I’ve offered some tips in the past to avoid tourist traps and some travel safety tips, but today I am going to cover the most essential part of a successful trip: the budget.

When it comes down to it, the foundation for any successful vacation is the budget that forms the skeleton of the trip. You don’t need to be rich to travel the world, as long as you are informed on the cost of the vacation and plan accordingly. By doing something as simple as saving a small amount of money each month, any vacation can be in your grasp!

Factor in the cost of traveling in Canada

Alongside the saving stage of trip planning, it is important to pay attention to factors such as cost of living, and luckily, Canada has quite a few affordable cities, like Montreal, Nova Scotia, and even Vancouver (when planned correctly). Activity prices can vary depending on destination, as well as by season. Ensuring that you know when the peak seasons are, and aren’t can make a big difference in affordability. I also recommend taking a look at area maps before you arrive, so you can plan transportation accordingly. Nothing feels worse than taking a cab to a destination you easily could have taken a scenic walk to, and it’s a needless burden on your budget too!

Check out the infographic below

Every vacation is different, but there are some static rules when drafting up that initial travelling budget. This infographic from the resources section of the Loan & Go website has a nice breakdown of some things to consider during the destination choice phase of your trip.