What travel budgeting strategies does Paul RYKEN suggest for different types of trips?

Then adjust by trip type:

1. Short family holiday (e.g. Gold Coast):

   1. Research rough daily costs for each category using tools like Numbeo, Lonely Planet, Budget Your Trip, or my destination cost guides
   2. Total it up, divide by days until departure to get a daily savings target (e.g. NZD 60/day)
   3. Set an automatic transfer into a separate “travel” account

2. Long-term or multi-country travel:

   1. Use the same categories but plan per country, as prices vary dramatically (e.g. Belize vs Mexico/Guatemala)
   2. Stay flexible so you can shift time to cheaper countries if needed
   3. Track spending as you go so you can correct course early

3. Tighter budgets (any trip type):

   1. Reduce costs by:

      1. Travelling off-peak and being flexible with dates/routes (using tools like Google Flights, Skyscanner, Busbud, 12Go, Rome2Rio)
      2. Choosing self-catered accommodation and cooking most meals
      3. Prioritising free/low-cost experiences (walks, hikes, free museum days, self-guided city exploration)
   2. At home: cut day-to-day expenses, earn a bit extra (side shifts, selling unused stuff), and delay the trip if necessary rather than going into debt

Would you like me to walk through a sample budget for a specific trip you’re planning?