Budgeting trips home and visitors from abroad

Key rules

• Peak months: July, August, Easter and Christmas are the most expensive times to fly.
• Cheapest months: Autumn, winter outside the holidays, and spring usually give the lowest fares.
• Long-haul routes: Flights to North America and Latin America cost much more than European ones and rise sharply in summer and at Christmas.
• Hosting: Price one visitor per day, multiply by visitors and days, then add a buffer.

Fares and local prices change, so check current prices for your own route and city before fixing your budget.

Budget travel home as a yearly line

Treat trips home as a fixed yearly cost, not a surprise. Decide how many return trips you want each year, multiply by a realistic fare for your route and season, and add the total to your budget.

What drives the price of a flight

Three things matter most: where you fly, when you fly and how early you book.

• Europe and the UK: These are the cheapest routes, often served by low-cost airlines. They also swing the most between low and peak season, so the month you pick changes the budget a lot.
• North America and Latin America: These cost much more than European routes. Fares rise sharply in summer and at Christmas.
• Cheapest months: Autumn, winter outside the holidays, and spring.
• Most expensive months: July, August, Easter and Christmas.

Book ahead and compare dates on a fare-comparison site. Fares change often, so check current prices for your own route before you fix a number. If you must travel at Christmas or in August, budget the peak fare. Then treat anything cheaper as a saving.

Budget for visitors

Hosting is easier to plan if you price one visitor for one day, then scale up.

1. Estimate the extra food. Start with your own weekly grocery spend, then add a few restaurant meals. A menú del día, a fixed-price lunch, is the cheap way to eat out.
2. Add local transport tickets or passes.
3. Add paid activities you expect to do together.
4. Add a small amount for extra utilities: air conditioning, heating and water.
5. Multiply the daily total by the number of visitors and days, then add a buffer.

Costs run higher in big tourist cities and in summer. Check prices in your own city and adjust the daily figure.

Put it together

Add up your yearly flights and your expected visits, using the peak-season figure for any trip that falls in July, August, Easter or Christmas. Divide by twelve to get a monthly amount you can set aside. The questions below cover timing and routes in more detail.

Frequently asked questions

When is the cheapest time to fly home?

The cheapest time to fly home is autumn, winter outside the holidays, or spring.

Which routes change most in price between seasons?

Routes within Europe and to the UK swing most between low season and peak, because low-cost carriers serve them. Flights to North America and Latin America cost much more all year and rise sharply in summer and at Christmas. Budget the peak price for any trip you cannot move.

How do I work out the cost of hosting a visitor?

Add a per-visitor, per-day amount for each expected visit. Count extra food (your usual groceries plus a few restaurant meals, with a menú del día as the cheap lunch), local transport, paid activities and a little extra for air conditioning, heating and water.

Does hosting cost more in some places or seasons?

Yes, hosting costs more in big tourist cities and in summer, so use a higher daily amount for those visits. Check local prices in your own city and adjust.