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 BUDGET
Below are detailed accounts for pre-trip expenses,
international transportation, and country by country expenses.
These costs are for TWO PEOPLE, unless otherwise specified.

PRE-TRIP EXPENSES


 
ITEM COST
CLOTHING  (inc. boots and all clothes bought specifically for the trip.) $430.13
COMPUTER  (includes extra RAM, extra battery, and cord.) $1114.99
DIGITAL CAMERA (inc. extra 8MB memory card and warranty) $541.52
MEDICAL  (includes all vaccinations and prescriptions) $798.93
MISCELLANEOUS (inc. mosquito net, wedding rings, travel towels, etc) $305.17
INSURANCE (medical for two people for six months.) $1008.00
STORAGE  (10 months) $755.26
PASSPORTS AND VISAS $140.51
WEB SITE (domain name reg., web hosting fees, ISP access, and iPass access charges for 8/98-6/99.) $918.06
. .
TOTAL $6012.57

INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION


 
 
Airfare .
LA-Hawaii-Fiji-New Zealand-Australia-Bali-Kuala Lumpur 3029.00 (1514.50 p.p.)
Bangkok-Kathmandu-Bangkok 763.06 (381.53 pp) 
Bangkok-Hong Kong-Taiwan-Bangkok 735.00 (367.50 pp)
Bangkok-London 714.04 (357.02 pp) 
Geneva-NY-LA  gift from David's Parents      0.00
Total Air Tickets 5241.10 (2620.55 p.p.)
. .
Bus Tickets .
London-Amsterdam  102.63  (51.31 pp)
. .
Train Tickets .
Leiden-Paris  134.19  (67.09 pp) 
. .
Car Lease Puegeot/ Europe 90 days  2100.00 (23.33/day) 
. .
TOTAL  7577.92 (3788.96 p.p.)

COUNTRY BY COUNTRY EXPENSES

COUNTRY BUDGETED EXPENSE ACTUAL EXPENSE
HAWAII 
$2,000
$1,840.61
FIJI  $1,500 $931.38
NEW ZEALAND  $3,000  $2,533.83
AUSTRALIA  $2,500  $2,028.60 
BALI, INDONESIA  $1,000  $457.43
MALAYSIA   $750  $443.23 
THAILAND part 1     $2,000   $2,048.17 
NEPAL  $2250 $1,493.61 
THAILAND PART 2  $300.00  $392.42 
H.K./CHINA/MACAO   $2,000.00    $2,522.39 
TAIWAN    $300.00       $55.13
THAILAND PART 3     $540.00    $521.31
LONDON      $1,000.00   $951.19
HOLLAND  $500.00  $360.74
FRANCE    $1,400.00   $1,259.09
SPAIN  $600.00  $475.38
PORTUGAL   $700.00    $671.57
SPAIN/MOROCCO  $800.00  $1,006.65
FRANCE  $400.00  $398.54
ITALY/TUSCANY  $1,600.00 $1,312.89
ITALY/SICILY   $1,000.00   $1,557.63
SWITZERLAND $2000.00 $1423.22
. . .
TOTAL    $28,140.00  $24685.01

HAWAII, KAUAI: August 29- September 3, 1998


 
 
Lodging     (Honolulu Holiday Inn, Sheraton Kauai)  968.33 
Food  508.28
Phone  10.00 
Snorkel Rental  20.00 
Transportation  (gas + rental car)  314.00 
Misc.    (postcards, etc.)  20.00
. .
TOTAL 1840.61
 (368.12/ day or 184.06/ day per person)
 .
* Note; if we had this to do again, we probably would not have started the trip with such an expensive week and instead, gone straight to Fiji.
 

FIJI: September 5-12, 1998


 
 
Lodging and PADI SCUBA Certification Package (7 nights) 731.38
Food  157.75 
Departure Tax  20.00 
Misc. (beach trip, postcards, stamps)  22.25 
. .
Total 931.38
 (133.05 day or 66.52/day per person) 
 .
 * Fiji would have been much less expensive without the PADI certification, but it was worth it.

NEW ZEALAND: September 12-October 3, 1998

Motorhome Rental (14 days) plus Ferry crossing  936.21
Gas 120.63 
Food  566.38 
Lodging (inc. Auckland, Christchurch, and campsites)  443.06 
Departure tax  20.00 
Milford Sound Day Tour  98.89 
Misc. (inc. stamps, postcards, pharmacy, phone, parking etc, box home)  276.66
last day in NZ 52.00
Theft  20.00 
. .
TOTAL 2533.83
 ( 120.65/day or 60.32/day per person) 
 .
 *The motorhome was an excellent way to see New Zealand, and affordable in the off season, May-October. Beware, in the high season (their summer) the price doubles.
AUSTRALIA: October 3-16, 1998

 
Food  363.60 
Lodging( inc. 4 days Rex Hotel plus hostels)  305.02
Transportation ( inc. Flight Sydney-Cairns $450.00)  547.21
Diving  (3 day live aboard, 10 dives, meals, & accommodations) 387.87
Tour to Daintree Rainforest (transport.& accommodations) 155.15 
Misc. (souvenirs, laundry, sightseeing, etc.) 220.54 
Postage and Cards (inc. mailing 2 packages home) 49.27
. .
TOTAL 2028.66
  (156.05/day or 78.02/day pp) 
 .
 *We would have spent much less money here with better planning. We only allowed ourselves 2 weeks and underestimated the distance from Sydney to Cairns. Inexpensive transportation (bus) would take too long so the only option was to fly, adding on $450.
BALI, INDONESIA: October 17-27, 1998

 
 
Food  109.24 
Lodging 171.58 
Transport  15.51 
Misc.  26.24 
Souvenirs 48.33 
Cooking Classes (2 classes each) 48.71 
Massages  (2 each) 25.00
Departure Tax  12.82 
. .
TOTAL 457.43 
(45.74/ day or 22.87/day per person) 
 .
 *Hard to spend less here, everything was so cheap!
MALAYSIA: October 27-November 1, 1998


Lodging  ( inc.3 days Hotel Equatorial)  168.15
Transportation (inc. train from KL to Thailand) 64.15 
Food 120.80 
Misc.  60.86
Postage (inc. box sent home) 29.27 
. .
TOTAL 443.23
(88.64/day or 44.32/day per person) 
 .

THAILAND: November 1-30, 1998


 
 
Lodging  561.11
Food  407.02 
Diving (4 dives for D, 3 dives for K) 136.11 
Transportation (taxis and trains) 224.91 
Internet Cafes  42.27
Village Trek  ( food, accom. and transport included, 3 days)  219.44
Departure Tax 27.77 
Newspapers  11.11
Misc  (pharm., clothing, books, laundry)  204.69
XMAS (inc. gifts, packing, postage for 2 boxes home)  192.52
Phone  21.22 
. .
TOTAL 2048.17
(68.27/day, 34.13/day per person) 
 .
 *Could have spent less by staying on Khao San Road in Bangkok, but it would have been too damaging on the psyche. The Chiang Mai trek could have been done for less, but the experience would not have been the same. We did not budget for Christmas, and 50% of that cost was for the postage on the two boxes we sent home!
NEPAL Dec. 1-25, 1998


Trek (11 days)* 735.44 
Food  256.37 
Hotels 288.11 
Misc.  100.13 
Transportation  24.60 
Additional clothing/gifts/ souvinirs 58.66 
Departure Tax  30.30 
. .
TOTAL 1493.61 
(59.74/day, 29.87/day per person) 
 .
* Trek Costs for 2 people, 11 days:
Permits and fees: 50.70,  Clothes:92.12, Flights:136.00, Bus and Taxi: 21.21
Airport tax: 6.06, Food: 190.58, Rentals: 9.84, Accommodation: 23.93
Porter and Guide: 205.00

THAILAND Dec. 25-30, 1998


 
 
Hotel 145.83
Taxis  14.03 
Food  113.52 
Misc. 59.05 
Departure Tax  27.77 
Wine (gift)  32.22 
. .
TOTAL 392.42 
(78.48/day  39.24/day per person) 
 .

 

HONG KONG AND CHINA  Dec. 30, 1998-Jan. 14, 1999


Hong Kong .
Transportation  126.67 
Food  361.06 
Hotel  444.15 
Misc.  126.40 
Doctor  164.93 
Total for Hong Kong 1223.21
. .
Beijing Tour: 4 days, 3 nts, RT flight, food, hotel, sightseeing  for 2 .
Tour  1148.05
Chinese Visas  33.76
Misc  64.93
Extra food/hotel charges  52.43 
Total Tour cost for 2 1299.18 
. .
Total  2522.39
(168.15/day or 84.07/day per person) 
 .
 * Here again, high costs were a result of poor planning. Too much time in expensive Hong Kong and not enough time to travel China on our own. The tour was expensive, but a good value and Beijing was amazing.

TAIWAN  JAN.14, 1999- JAN. 20,1999

 
 
Stayed with Family 55.13 

THAILAND Jan.20-29, 1999

Transportation  74.40 
Food  124.72 
Lodging  194.32 
Sightseeing 14.86 
Phone  8.21 
Departure tax  27.02 
Misc.  (inc. pharmacy, massage, book, laundry, etc.)  77.78
. .
TOTAL 521.31
(57.92/day or 28.96pp) 
 .

ENGLAND Jan. 29-Feb. 4, 1999


 
 
Lodging  404.06 
Food 227.62 
Transportation  59.66 
Stonehenge Tour + Sightseeing  156.64 
Misc. (inc. Laundry, clothing, luggage storage)  75.03
Phone/Internet  28.18 
. .
Total 951.19 
(135.88/day, 67.94/day pp) 
 .
 * Costs here were a huge shock coming from Asia. Accommodations are outrageously expensive, even in the youth hostels. The entire UK was too expensive for us to stay and travel.
HOLLAND Feb.5-14, 1999
Lodging stayed with friend, Mark Moritz  0.00
Food  145.18 
Transportation 68.65
Sightseeing  33.16
Misc.  (inc.: newspapers, toilets, coffee, phone, clothes, book,)  113.75
. .
Total  360.74 
(40.08/day or 20.04/day pp) 
 .
 *Holland is very expensive and we would have spent at least $50 a day more if we had to pay for accommodations.
FRANCE  Feb. 14-24, 1999
Lodging  414.00 
Food  476.00 
Transportation  (metro, gas, tolls)  124.48 
Phone and Internet  36.58 
Sightseeing  32.41 
Postage (sent box home) 51.72 
Books/ Maps/ Newspapers  37.58 
Misc. (toilets, laundry)  12.10 
Clothing-K  17.22
Shopping Necessities (shampoo etc, hardware, cooler)   57.00 
. .
Total  1259.09
(125.90/day or 62.95 pp) 
 .
 *If driving through France, a good place to save money is to stay in the inexpensive motels along the major highways.

SPAIN Feb. 24-March 2, 1999

Lodging  177.06 
Food  158.28 
Transportation  (gas/ tolls/ parking)  62.56
Phone  21.93 
Misc. (laundry, newspapers, haircut-D)  21.23 
Purchases  (music tapes, Beret-D)  31.66
Sightseeing  2.66
. .
Total  475.38
(79.23/day or 39.61pp)
 .
 *Saved money on food by always ordering the menu del dia whenever possible.
PORTUGAL  March 2-March 9, 1999
Lodging  201.38 
Food  (inc 2 btls Port and 2 btls Ginga) 287.40
Transportation  (gas, parking, tolls)  98.06
Phone 16.11
Traffic Ticket-D  55.55 
Newspapers  4.16
Misc.  8.91
. .
Total 671.57 
(95.93/day or 47.96 pp )
 .

SPAIN and MOROCCO March 9-March 17, 1999

Lodging  230.13 
Food  247.78 
Transportation  170.85 
Phone  4.60
Newspapers 7.95 
Books  21.02
Sightseeing  22.25 
Misc.  30.26 
Shoes-K  34.76
Morocco Tour (we later got back $40 from the tour company) 237.05 
. .
TOTAL  1006.65
(125.83/day or 62.91pp)
 .
 *The Moroccan tour was a waste of time. Better to do a day trip, or go with more time to travel around the rest of the country.
FRANCE March 17-March 21, 1999
Lodging (stayed 3 nights with a friend) 26.94
Food  224.29 
Transportation (gas, tolls, parking) 97.67 
Phone  10.16 
Skiing-D  28.81 
Misc  10.67 
. .
TOTAL  398.54
(99.63/day or 49.81pp)
 .

ITALY/ TUSCANY  March 21-April 5, 1999


Lodging  (1 night hotel +14 nights rental in Poppi)  536.51
Transpiration  111.01 
Food  504.71 
Newspapers/Books/Map  71.91 
Misc.  (toilets, cutting board, cigar, batteries, note paper)  16.40
Phone  .11 
Sightseeing 23.93
Clothing  48.31 
. .
TOTAL 1312.89
 (82.05/day or 41.02/day p.p.) 
 .

ITALY/SICILY/AMALFI April 6-April 15, 1999


Lodging (7 nights, not incl. 1 night on ferry +1 night on Mom's Amex) 489.44
Food  483.50 
Transportation (incl. gas, tolls, ferry Palermo/Naples 149.94)  494.77
Phone  14.44
Sightseeing  18.11 
Misc.  12.94 
Gifts  23.88 
Clothing  10.55
Newspapers  10.00 
. .
TOTAL 1557.63 
(155.76/day or 77.88 day/p.p.) 
 .
 *Accommodations in Italy are very expensive on the whole, plus we stayed on the Amalfi coast in a nice hotel for our last two nights.

 Switzerland April 15-May 20, 1999

Food 985.30
Newspapers 26.95
Skiing-D 11.83
Transportation (gas and road tax) 82.02
Clothing 126.25
Postage (sent home BIG box) 77.02
Misc. 113.85
. .
TOTAL 1423.22
(41.85/day or 20.92 day/p.p)
 .
 *Luckily, we did not have to pay for lodging our entire 35 days in Switzerland or we would have wound up bankrupt. Food costs are 90% from the grocery store and we cooked every meal ourselves (and it was still expensive!).
 
 
 
 
PRE-TRIP TOTAL  6,012.57 
(3,006.29 p.p.)
INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION TOTAL  7,577.92
(3,788.96 p.p)
COUNTRY BY COUNTRY TOTAL (9 months) 24685.01
(12,342.50 p.p.)
. .
GRAND TOTAL 38,275.50
(19,137.75 p.p.)
                           
 
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 last updated on August 8, 1999