How does it cost to fly to america

How does it cost to fly to america

Our trip to the USA was one of my favourite travel experiences to date. During our three-month stay we took an epic autumn road trip through New England, visited mighty Niagara Falls and hit up the bright lights of New York City, Philadelphia and Washington DC. We ate plenty of delicious food, stayed in some amazing places and took on all kinds of activities, from boat trips and ghost walks to historical tours and museum visits. So, how much did it cost us to travel for three months in America?

Looking for more travel cost posts? Then here are a few you may like:

How much does it cost to travel America in 2018?

We visited the USA back in 2015 and all our cost breakdowns below reflect that, but we’ve worked out that it would cost around £1,222 extra to do this trip in 2018. Based on our research:

Airbnb prices have gone up since 2015, if we stayed in the same/similar places this year we’d have to spend £555 more than we did in 2015. Activity prices have gone up slightly, by a combined total of around £110.

Transport has increased significantly. Car hire has gone up from £850 in 2015 to £1,090 in 2018 for 58 days. Fuel prices have also risen and we’d have to spend an extra £304 to travel the same distance now.

When it comes to food, the pound isn’t looking so good against the dollar in 2018, it’s fallen about 11%, which means that even if food prices haven’t changed since 2015, we’d still be paying an extra £227 for food.

How much does it Cost to Travel America?

Are you thinking about visiting the USA? Take a look at our America costs below to help you budget and save for your trip. You can also read our complete New England Fall Foliage Guide here. This includes tips on where and when to see the best foliage, what to eat, which festivals to visit, how much our fall trip to New England cost and our favourite destinations.

Food Costs in America

Initially, we planned to save money on food in the USA by cooking meals in our Airbnb accommodation, as we did in Australia and New Zealand. We realised pretty quickly though that eating out or getting takeaway in the USA is often cheaper than buying all the groceries to cook with, so we didn’t cook as often as planned.

We found food portions in America were large so we could share meals to save money, we also spent less by looking for restaurant deals on Groupon and visiting cheap food markets like Faneuil Hall in Boston where you could get a bread bowl of clam chowder for about £6. We fell in love with Wholefoods Market, where we picked up low-cost healthy meals to take-away for dinner, like salads or macaroni cheese for around £5.

Our favourite meal to eat out was breakfast/brunch. We loved searching out local diners and cafes where we could buy huge, cheap meals of eggs, homefries, bowls of granola and stacks of pancakes. I lost count of how many blueberry pancakes we ate during our stay in America. These meals tended to cost around £6 per person and kept us full for most of the day.

Dinner was a more expensive meal to eat out, but we managed this by sharing large portions or ordering side plates instead; occasionally we splurged, especially on seafood dinners in Maine. We barely drink alcohol anymore so we saved money there but we did spend £90 on cups of tea while travelling in America!

USA Activity and Entertainment Prices

Although we did everything we wanted to – and more – while we were in America, our activity costs were much less than expected. In fact, based on per day costs, they were nearly eight times cheaper than our activity costs in New Zealand and more than two and a half times cheaper than Australia. Our most expensive activities were taking a Stephen King tour of Bangor in Maine, checking out the view of New York City from the Top of the Rock, whale watching in Gloucester and going to a Red Socks baseball game at Fenway Park.

One of the reasons we spent so little is that many activities in America were free, including excellent historical walking tours led by park rangers in Boston along the Freedom and Black Heritage trails. We also took free tours of the State Houses in Boston and Providence and the Capitol Building in DC as well as student-led tours of Harvard and Yale University. We happened to visit Salem on a day when there was free entry to the Friendship Boat and Customs House and we made full use of all the free Smithsonian museums in DC. Generous Airbnb hosts also allowed us to use bikes to cycle in Cape Cod and a kayak in New Hampshire; we also did a fair bit of free hiking in New England.

We managed to save money by booking discount tickets for attractions through Groupon, including our whale watching trip, visit to the Mark Twain House, Boston Tea Party museum and National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and the 9/11 Tribute Center in New York City. Even when we did pay full price for activities they usually weren’t too expensive and cost on average £20 for two people.

Transport Costs in America

For this USA costs post we’re focusing solely on money spent during our time in America, so we haven’t included the cost of our flights to and from the country. Obviously flight prices vary depending on where you are in the world; we flew return from London to New York for £893 for two people through Norwegian Air.

We love the freedom of travelling by car and our two-month road trip through New England was the best I’ve ever taken. Despite covering so much ground our transport costs for the USA were very reasonable; nearly £10 cheaper per day than transport costs in Australia and £4 cheaper than New Zealand. We got a great online deal for our eight-week car hire in New England, which cost us just £854 and US gas (petrol) price are so cheap, between £0.35 and £0.44 per litre, that we spent just £238 in fuel over two months.

During the last month of our trip we travelled without a car in Philadelphia, DC and New York City. To save money we booked incredibly cheap tickets in advance through Megabus and Goto Bus, although we found public transport within cities pretty expensive, totalling £163.

USA Accommodation Prices

The quality of our Airbnb accommodation was incredibly good on the whole and we stayed with some lovely hosts. Our cheapest stay was in a wood cabin in Maine, which cost just £27.80 per day, while our most expensive was a self-contained apartment in Boothbay Harbor which cost £51 per day. We did end up losing £30 in cancellation fees for changing several bookings, but we also got £27 Airbnb credit when a host cancelled our booking at the last minute.

Our accommodation costs below are based on 87 days, although 10 of those were spent with Andrew’s relatives in New York City who generously let us stay for free. If you’ve never used Airbnb before, you can get £25 free credit to spend on the site if you sign up using this link.

Miscellaneous Costs

As usual, we had some miscellaneous travel costs for America, including toiletries and laundry expenses (these were lower than normal as we had laundry facilities in most places we stayed). As the weather cooled down I had to buy some warm boots and a coat and we also spent money on gifts for family.

Our Total USA Costs

We thought America was great value for money; food, transport and activity costs were very reasonably priced and although accommodation can be expensive, we avoided high prices by using Airbnb. The table below shows the final amount we spent in the USA over 87 days, which came to a total of £6,993.10 for two people, or £80.38 per day. We’ve excluded the £893 price of our flights to and from the USA from these costs, but if you add them on, our per day total comes out at £90.64 and our total costs rise to £7,886.10. So, how much does it cost to travel America? Quite a lot! Is it worth it? Oh yeah! We loved our trip and often talk about returning, although next time we’ll probably check out the west coast.

Comparison of travel costs per day and per month

Overall, the USA worked out to be the cheapest western country we’ve travelled in and living costs there are certainly less expensive than the UK. This table shows the cost of travelling in the USA compared with more expensive western countries, New Zealand and Australia and the next cheapest countries we’ve been to, Malaysia and Taiwan.

What do you think of our America travel costs?

How much does it cost to fly a dog to America?

How much does it cost to fly a dog internationally?

How much does it cost to fly a dog in cargo?

How can I fly my dog to USA?

The only mandatory requirement in order for your dog to travel to the USA, is that they must have a health check to ensure they are healthy enough to fly. However, we also strongly recommend that your dog gets vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days before they go to the USA.

How stressful is flying for dogs?

Think about it: Flying can be a stressful experience for your dog. It removes them from comfortable and familiar surroundings, then forces them into a situation with loud noises, bright lights, thousands of people, changes in air pressure and cabin temperature, and a limited ability to use the bathroom.

Can I ship a dog on a plane?

Carry on or transport your pet. Depending on animal breed and size, they can travel as a carry-on or be transported through American Airlines Cargo. Carry-on pets are limited to cats and dogs that meet the size, age and destination requirements.

Can you ship a dog through FedEx?

FedEx Express does not accept live-animal shipments as part of its regular-scheduled service and does not transport household pets such as dogs, cats, birds and hamsters.

What airlines allow big dogs?

Which Airlines Allow You to Fly with Large Dogs? Most airlines will accommodate your pet in one way or another. Some of the better, more cost-effective airlines include Air Canada, Air France, American, Delta, Emirates, Hawaiian, Lufthansa, Sun Country, Swiss International and WestJet.

Can I take my dog on holiday to USA?

NO: Dog is not allowed to enter the United States. If you attempt to import your dog into the United States, the dog will be denied entry and returned to the country of departure at your expense. See What Your Dog Needs to Enter the United States.

What paperwork do I need to bring a dog to USA?

CDC does not require general certificates of health for pets for entry into the United States. However, health certificates may be required for entry into some states or may be required by airlines.

Does dog need passport to enter US?

You probably have a plan for your own passport, but your animal companion needs one too. All pets traveling to and from the United States need a passport.

How do I fly my dog internationally?

How To – Steps for Flying Internationally with a Dog

Do dogs ears hurt on planes?

Just like humans, a dog’s ears are vulnerable to high altitudes. Flying can cause mild pain for your dog if it has trouble equalizing its ears. Luckily, the dog’s outer ear canal equalizes pressure in the dog’s ear naturally, so if your dog’s ears hurt during the flight, it will pass within a few minutes.

How do dogs go to the bathroom on a plane?

Dogs must go to the bathroom inside their carrier. This is true for pets that travel in-cabin or in the hold, and even on cargo flights. Service dogs (and sometimes emotional support animals) are often the exception. They may be allowed to use the airplane’s bathroom.

Are plane rides bad for dogs?

Veterinarians have found that the risks of sedating a pet for travel far outweigh the benefits. Flying can be stressful for pets, but sedation increases the risk of breathing and vascular problems. This is why airlines no longer accept sedated dogs onboard their aircraft.

How do you get a dog on a plane for free 2021?

Federal regulations allow a legitimate emotional support animal, whether it be a dog, a cat, a pot-bellied pig or even a miniature horse in one case, to travel on airplanes in the cabin with the owner, outside of a carrier, and for free if the owner has proper documentation, which means a letter from a doctor or other …

How safe is it to fly a dog in cargo?

According to the DOT’s newly released annual report, just over half a million pets flew in cargo in 2016. Of those animals, 26 died and 22 were injured, an incident rate of less than 1 per 10,000 pets. Nine deaths and 14 injuries occurred on United flights, a rate double that of the U.S. industry.

Can a pet fly unaccompanied?

The short answer is: Yes, and in fact it’s not uncommon. But as always, policies vary from carrier to carrier, and either way it’s going to require some legwork and cash on the pet owner’s part. Most major carriers operate separate cargo services alongside their passenger business.

What is the average cost to ship a dog?

Can I buy a seat for my large dog on a plane?

You can’t buy an extra seat for your dog. Traveling with a dog this way, essentially as carry-on luggage, usually incurs a lower fee than if it travels in the belly of the plane. And by the way, a pet in its carrier counts as your carry-on bag.

Can I buy a seat for my dog on an airplane 2021?

How to Buy a Seat for your Dog on a Plane. As far as we are aware, the only airlines that will allow passengers to buy plane tickets for their dogs to have a seat are United and Jet Blue. Jet Blue state that passengers are only permitted to fly with one dog in-cabin.

Can large dogs fly first class?

Even if you are willing to pay a first class fare for your pup, unfortunately the same rule applies: no large dogs. In fact, most airlines prohibit dogs in first class entirely. The only exception we are aware of is Lufthansa which allows small dogs and cats in business class on certain transatlantic flights.

How do I fly my dog from UK to USA?

Airlines that carry pets will require that they have a health check to ensure that they are fit and healthy to fly. You will need to obtain a veterinary certificate from a registered vet. You should check with the airline that your pet is flying with whether they have any additional requirements.

Which airline allows dogs in cabin?

Comparing airline pet policies

Are dogs quarantined when entering the US?

Quarantine for pets is not required by most U.S. states and territories; however, Hawaii and Guam do have quarantine requirements for pet dogs and cats being imported into the United States. Pets excluded from entry into the United States must be sent back to the country of origin.

Can I bring my dog to USA 2022?

Effective June 10, 2022, import eligibility for all dogs (pets and dogs intended for resale/adoption) from high-risk rabies countries will expand and allow import options for dogs vaccinated for rabies in the U.S. as well as in foreign countries provided the dogs meet the requirements outlined on the CDC’s website.

How long does a pet passport last?

The passports are valid for life as long as you keep up to date with your pet’s rabies vaccination. A rabies booster vaccination is required every 3 years.

How much is a pet passport USA?

What do I need to fly with my dog?

Most airlines require a valid health certificate for travel completed by your veterinarian in order for your dog to fly with you. Be sure all relevant vaccinations are up to date and be sure to have your dog’s rabies vaccination certificate handy when traveling.

Does my dog have to quarantine if I travel?

Most popular countries for people to travel to with their dogs don’t require quarantine. This includes most of Europe (including the United Kingdom, which previously had a long quarantine period), the United States (except for Hawaii and the territory of Guam), Canada and Mexico.

How much does international pet shipping cost?

Is it safe to fly dogs internationally?

And there are some important safety considerations when planning an international trip with your dog. Fortunately, most dogs are able to travel just fine — and after the stress of travel and a short adjustment period, they settle happily into their new location whether a full relocation or a vacation.

How much does it cost to ship a dog from UK to USA?

Pet shipping costs

Where do dogs pee at the airport?

According to Mercury News, major air hubs are building pet relief facilities inside of the airports where dogs can physically use an actual bathroom. The paw-print marked door even has a fire hydrant behind it. A doggie bag dispenser and a hose are also available for travelers to use in the 70-foot-square room.

What can I give my dog to sleep while traveling?

Dramamine, Bonine, and Antivert are over-the-counter human antihistamines that can be purchased in many stores, and even some gas stations. Not only will they stop motion sickness, but they can also sedate your pup to help ease their anxiety while in the car.

Can dogs go deaf from flying?

It doesn’t happen with every dog, but they’re as sensitive to changing air pressure as much as we are. When a plane climbs or descends quickly the air pressure changes rapidly, too, and the ear can’t balance the pressure in time. That’s when you get that stuffy sensation in the ears.

What happens to dogs on long haul flights?

On long haul flights it is likely that your dog will be contained within their crate for many hours at a time. As a result, it is kind to permit your dog to get used to their new surroundings in plenty of time.

When should I stop feeding my dog before a flight?

If you’re traveling by plane

When flying with a dog or cat, it’s best to refrain from feeding them for 4-6 hours before flying. This will cut down on your pet’s need to go to the bathroom while in the air.

What airline is best for pets?

Alaska Airlines leads the pack to edge out Hawaiian and American Airlines, which tied for second place. Frontier and Southwest are solid options for your pets, with more pet-friendly policies than Spirit, JetBlue and Delta. United is the least pet-friendly airline according to our analysis.

How cold is it in the cargo hold of a plane?

The cargo hold is pressurized and temperature controlled, with the temp usually at about 20 degrees colder than the cabin (at altitude).

Where do they put dogs on planes?

Pets may be shipped as cargo if unaccompanied, and many airline cargo departments employ specialists in the movement of animals. Animals must always be shipped in pressurized holds. Some airlines allow the kennel to be carried in the passenger cabin as carry-on luggage if it fits under the seat.

How much does it cost to fly a dog in cargo?

How much does it cost to fly a dog internationally?

How can I ship my dog?

You have 4 primary methods for shipping your dog: auto, ground shipping, airlines, and a professional shipping service.
By Air

Does FedEx ship dogs?

FedEx Express does not accept live-animal shipments as part of its regular-scheduled service and does not transport household pets such as dogs, cats, birds and hamsters.

Is it safe to ship a dog?

With careful planning and when the right choices are made, transporting a puppy by plane or vehicle can both be safe options. When shipping puppies or traveling with other young pets, extra steps need to be taken to ensure their safety.

How do you fly a large dog 2021?

Dogs usually need to be 20 lbs or less to fly with you inside the plane. As Checked Bags: The majority of airlines allow crated dogs to fly as checked bags. This means you will bring your dog’s crate to check-in like your other baggage, and he or she will be weighing and transported like the rest of the plane’s bags.

Can my large dog fly with me?

Flying with a large dog in the cabin is currently not allowed by any airline, for obvious reasons. Dogs are only allowed to travel with you as carry-on luggage if they weigh not more than 20lbs. And still, they have to be carried inside an airline-approved carrier that fits under the seat.

Can an emotional support dog sit on your lap on a plane?

Service and support animals are expected to be seated in the floor space below a passenger’s seat or seated in a passenger’s lap. An ESA can be placed on the aircraft floor or on the customer’s lap (provided the animal is no larger than a child under the age of two). Animals will need to remain on the floor.

Can I buy a seat for my dog on United Airlines?

United Airlines allows with small Dogs, Cats and Rabbits In-Cabin. Pets must remain inside their pet carrier underneath the seat in front your seat You can buy the seat adjacent to yours and bring an additional carrier with another Dog, Cat or Rabbit. Only 1 adult cat or dog is allowed in each carrier.

How to Fly Cheap in South America: Budget Airlines & Airline Passes (Updated 2022)

O ne thing people often don’t know about South America is that despite its overall cheapness, flights are surprisingly expensive here. Low-cost carriers do exist, as do inter-country air passes, but don’t expect RyanAir or AirAsia prices when flying from one country to the next. Error fares are possible, but are typically from the USA only.

If you want to cover a lot of ground quickly, group tours can be cost-wise as they include flights, activities, and accomodation. A single group tour as opposed to a series of cross-continental flights can at times be less pricey, since budget flights aren’t really “budget” here.

Still, reasonable flights in South America can be found if you know where to look for them. Here’s how!

Psst: planning a visit to Machu Picchu? Check our ultimate Machu Picchu travel guide, plus our article how to buy entrance tickets. Want to check out Uyuni’s jaw-dropping salt flats? Check our other guide here.

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How to find cheap flights in South America:

1. Identify the low-cost airlines of your destination(s)

Hopefully our list below of budget airlines by country will prove useful, as knowing these and where to find them is important! In terms of flying into South America, the major global airlines include LAN, TAME, and Avianca. Some low-cost carriers that do international flights into South America include Spirit Airlines (to/from U.S.), Viva Colombia (to/from U.S.), Surinam Airways (flies to Europe), and Santa Barbara Airlines (to/from U.S.).

2. Look for flights on a broad search engine

Skyscanner is what we personally use and recommend for wide-scale searches on flights. Skyscanner now includes budget airlines, so this should be a comprehensive search. Our other flight-booking hacks can be found here.

3. Identify the cheapest dates to fly

Work your itinerary around the cheapest flight dates, as these can vary wildly even within a single month. In Skyscanner this can be done by selecting “Entire month” under the date box, revealing the prices for each day that month (this can also help you stumble on error fares).

4. Sign up for a credit card with a huge points bonus for South America

Signing up for a travel rewards credit card is one of the easiest ways to pay for most or even all of your flight. Credit card issuers are constantly offering massive points bonuses simply for signing up and hitting the minimum spend, and you can redeem your points for flights with many airlines servicing South America.

American Express® Gold Card

The annual fee is worth it when you’re strategic with the points, but another option is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, offering a 60,000 points sign-up bonus worth $750. You can then convert these points to a partner airline that flies to South America like United, or book directly through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. With no foreign transaction fees, 3x points on dining, and 2x points on travel purchases worldwide, it’s a great all around travel card to have.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

5. Keep in the know-how of airline sales

You can do this by following budget airlines of your intended destination(s) on social media or e-newsletters, then plan accordingly as sales arise.

6. Consider getting a South America air pass

Airline passes are another way to snag affordable flights within South America. The major downfall is that they are few and far between. We list & explore all of the air passes below, which tend to be geographically limited. Take note that South American air passes often require you to fly into the continent or country on particular airlines. Be sure to consider this when booking your inbound flight!

Basically, you should first consider if an air pass works out to be cheaper for your itinerary. Often air passes in South America do not equate to savings (but if you have several flights, it potentially can). Details on how to determine the cost-effectiveness of this are explored at the final part of this article.

Budget airlines in South America (by country)

We’ve updated this list as of 2019, but the most comprehensive way to identify current budget airlines is to conduct a search on Skyscanner. That being said, some of the smaller charter airlines may require booking via phone, and thus may not be listed. It’s good to do a broad search first, then cross-check and see if any airlines were missed in the search. Here are the most current airlines to date:

Argentina

Budget airlines in Argentina are basically nil. If heading down to Patagonia, LADE has great prices, but a limited schedule. This small airline operated by the military, though English is limited with booking (you may wish to use a Spanish speaker such as your accommodation reception to help you out).

Bolivia

Bolivia’s airlines aren’t advertised as low-cost carriers per se, but prices here tend to be some of the lowest on the continent. In fact, particular routes are only serviced by the lower-cost carriers. This is the case for the 45-minute flight between La Paz and Uyuni (where the salt flats are), which is only accessible via Amaszonas and BOA. Here are Bolivia’s low-cost airlines:

Brazil

The incredible Iguazu Falls

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Chile

Budget airlines in Chile are limited but its best one, Sky Airline, does a number of affordable routes in this stretched-out country. Discounted fares tend to book up quickly during sales, so it’s advised to monitor deals via stalking their site or social media like Facebook.

Colombia

Kogi children in front of their village.

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Colombia has a couple of budget airlines. By South American standards, flights within the country are quite reasonable.

Ecuador

Ecuador does not have any official budget airlines. If flying to Galapagos, it’s advised to book ahead for cheap flights. Guayaquil and Quito are the two mainland airports to fly from (we’ve got other cheap Galapagos tips here).

Guyana

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Peru’s airlines are quite reasonably priced by South American standards, and neighbouring countries like Bolivia or Ecuador can be flown to quite affordably. Planning a trip to Machu Picchu? Check our comprehensive cheap guide here.

Suriname

» data-image-caption data-medium-file=»https://thriftynomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/sunset-484501_1920-300×200.jpg» data-large-file=»https://thriftynomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/sunset-484501_1920-1024×683.jpg» src=»https://thriftynomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/sunset-484501_1920-150×150.jpg» alt=»Suriname» width=»150″ height=»150″ data-lazy-srcset=»https://thriftynomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/sunset-484501_1920-150×150.jpg 150w, https://thriftynomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/sunset-484501_1920-125×125.jpg 125w» data-lazy-sizes=»(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px» data-lazy-src=»https://thriftynomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/sunset-484501_1920-150×150.jpg?is-pending-load=1″ srcset=»data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7″>Another lesser-visited country on the list, this teeny sun-soaked country has a couple of reasonable airlines, including Surinam Airways, which does cross-continental flights to Europe.

Uruguay

» data-image-caption data-medium-file=»https://thriftynomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/canelones-91226_1920-300×200.jpg» data-large-file=»https://thriftynomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/canelones-91226_1920-1024×683.jpg» src=»https://thriftynomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/canelones-91226_1920-150×150.jpg» alt=»Uruguay» width=»150″ height=»150″ data-lazy-srcset=»https://thriftynomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/canelones-91226_1920-150×150.jpg 150w, https://thriftynomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/canelones-91226_1920-125×125.jpg 125w» data-lazy-sizes=»(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px» data-lazy-src=»https://thriftynomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/canelones-91226_1920-150×150.jpg?is-pending-load=1″ srcset=»data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7″>Not much is on offer in terms of low-cost carries in Uruguay, but the following offer charter and national flights within the country:

Venezuela

The greatest assortment of budget airlines is found in Venezuala. Given its location, several Venezuelan airlines also offer flights to the Carribbean and the United States, a major plus for those flying in from there.

These are all of the budget and low-cost airlines (that we know of!) for countries around South America. See one missing here? Let us know so we can keep the info current for other travellers. Now, onto airline passes in South America!

Airline passes in South America

South American airline passes provide a set number of flights within the continent or a single country for a flat rate. Here’s a quick overview of the airpasses available. For details on each including how to book, read on below!

Oneworld Alliance South America Pass

GOL South America Pass

Oneworld Alliance South America Airpass Pricing & Booking

To calculate the distance between your two destinations, use Oneworld’s route calculator (take note, it gives distances in km by default so be careful when comparing zone pricing if you’re looking at miles or kms).

Booking

The Oneworld Alliance South America airpass can only be booked via phone. This is troublesome as few staff are familiar with it. To begin, call the Oneworld airline that you would fly into South America on (e.g. American Airlines from the USA, Qantas from Australia, etc. – see full list here of airlines under “How to book“). Next, when ready to purchase, you must choose your flight times and dates on the spot. You could look up flights (write down flight #s) ahead of time and relay this when booking, but this offers no guarantee of getting a certain flight.

Country-Specific Air Passes in South America

At the moment, Brazil is the only country that offers air passes. Fortunately, it has not just one air pass, but three! Azul, GOL, and TAM each offer their own passes that work within Brazil. Here’s a quick breakdown of each.

Visit Argentina Air Pass

Avianca Air Pass

Azul Brazil Airpass

GOL Brazil Airpass

Should I buy a South America air pass?

The short answer here is, it depends. Some passes offer better value than others, but it really depends on your itinerary and the lump sum cost of all your flights based on your searches. Here’s a few important factors to consider when deciding if an air pass is cost-effective for your trip:

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Jen is a five-foot-short fireball with an itch for adventure. Besides travel, her shameless vices include wine-fuelled nights with good company, road trips to remote places, and squealing at adorable elderly dogs. (Also: COFFEE!).

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We’re Jen and Ted, former partners turned friends with a passion to inspire affordable travel. 8 years ago we ditched our jobs, sold everything & pursued a life outside the 9-5 bubble. We learned travel doesn’t have to be pricey, and created this blog to prove it. We haven’t looked back since!

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How Much Does It Cost to Visit All 50 States?

This is a guest post by fellow Intentional Travelers, Alyssa and Heath Padgett. This young couple embarked on an epic U.S. road trip in 2014 to film their documentary, Hourly America. If you’re curious about how to visit all 50 states in America, this post will start you out with a 48 state road trip cost and give you travel tips to make it happen.

This post covers:
– 48 State road trip budget breakdown
– Total cost of driving 48 States
– 50 State budget (including flights to Hawaii & Alaska)
– Road trip budget travel tips
– How to save money on food, lodging, gas, and more

A few months before our wedding day, Heath and I found ourselves dreaming of a 48-state road trip, wondering how we could afford such a lifestyle. We wanted to live each day freely, able to travel, write, and live an adventure. No cubicles, no bosses, no 9 to 5 grind.

Unfortunately, we were two engaged kids who just quit their jobs and could in no way afford the lifestyle we imagined for ourselves.

But then Heath sent an email, found us a sponsor, and two weeks later found the perfect RV for our first home. We created a GoFundMe campaign to raise enough money to get us started on the road and suddenly, we were counting down the days to the grand adventure instead of the wedding day!

Four days after the rainy wedding, my newlywed husband and I started driving west and didn’t stop our tour of the country for the next 200 days.

When we eventually returned home to Texas, we asked our close friends and family if they expected us to finish. Most of them said no. They expected us to quit or stop somewhere along the way and come home. After all, seven months on the road isn’t exactly all glamorous, easy travel–especially for your honeymoon!

But despite our doubts and everyone else’s, we’ve now visited all lower 48 states exploring national parks, big cities, and every small town in between for total of 18,280 miles of America. And yes, we also flew to Alaska and Hawaii the following winter thanks to our sponsor company, Snagajob.

Now without further ado, I’d like to share you with you the cost of travel. Our finalized financial records for 200 days on the road. How much do you think it costs to pay for 18K miles of gasoline?

How Much Does It Cost To Visit All 50 States?

Gas: $6,593.57

This is my favorite stat of our travel. It cost us approximately 36 cents per mile of travel across the country.

Since we travel with our kitchen, we try to always eat in to save money. Our meals for two people cost an average of $10.26 a day, and includes 3 square meals a day plus our daily bowl of popcorn.

Oh, Planet Fitness. More than giving us a chance to exercise, Pfit always gave us a warm, luxurious shower on the road. The membership to the nationwide gym costs us $43 a month and boasts spacious showers and massages chairs. (This number also includes the yearly membership fee).

This number makes me want to cry! Since our phone plan began days before our wedding, this number includes all of those ridiculous startup fees that come with any new phone plan.

Oh the sweet taste of Starbucks’ lattes and fresh chips and queso! Heath and I largely avoid eating out, but sometimes you just need to take a night off.

Most of these expenses are from our first month on the road where we undoubtedly spent the most money overall and from our time in New York City, where we stayed in a hotel (courtesy of Snagajob) and ate out every meal.

Other costs:

Wedding costs, Christmas gifts, Spotify, insurance, tickets, and one overdraft fee–we didn’t have any other big ticket expenses, but lots of small purchases along the way.

That’s an average of spending $2600 a month, or more importantly, roughly $1.00 per mile of travel.

Want to test out RV travel?

Outdoorsy is like Airbnb for RVs. It’s where RV owners rent out their RVs when they’re not using them.

We also made money on the road from various tips Heath made on his jobs and through the kindness of business owners on the road.

By our final two months, we were breaking even financially and getting close to making more money than we spent.

Those are our final costs for 200 days, 48 states, and a lifetime of memories all in one honeymoon.

Now, we hope to pay off all 27K of student loan debt in the next as soon as possible by continuing to live in an RV.

UPDATE:

How to Travel Full-Time Without Busting Your Budget

Let’s take another look at travel budgets in an RV. The following was originally written in December 2014.

Every night we slept in our tempurpedic bed, woke up with coffee, and witnessed some of America’s most beautiful sights. We haven’t been exactly “roughing it.”

These are a few of the things we did during the month of October:

In comparison to the typical American Vacation:

Now we’re able to see America, all of America, and our dollar is being stretched four times what we spent during one week on vacation.

If you’re thinking about doing some long-term traveling, this will be a great introduction while planning your trip.

Saving Money on: Food while traveling

Total spent on food during month of October: $403.61

The first area we really cut back on is eating out, this is one of the largest expenses for most people while traveling. During the month of October, we limited meals out to 41 bucks. Most of those costs are quick cups of coffee or a shared meal. Because my wife is gluten-free, we have an extra incentive to stay at home and cook instead of going out.

Always eating “in” looks like this:

Most meals you can cook in a home you can cook in an RV. The point is, we don’t skimp on eating well and we spend very little for our meals.

Saving Money on: Lodging

Average nightly spend: 14.62

Saving money on: Fitness and Entertainment

Gym membership total for two people: 43.40 a month

Why is all of this important?

Well, one luxury you miss out on while traveling in an RV is a great shower. If for no other reason, our membership to “P-Fit” allows us to have an awesome shower. We also can get a decent work out in on a semi-regular basis, which is often a struggle during travel, and they have free access to massage chairs and this heavenly device called a Hydro-Bed. For us, Planet Fitness is more than a gym, it’s a familiar place when you’re in a new city where you’re guaranteed a hot shower, a massage chair, and free tootsie rolls.

Note: We are not paid to endorse Planet Fitness—their massage chairs are just that life changing.

Seeing national parks, in my opinion, is a better way to travel than simply going from city to city. Once you pay your way into the park you can do a lot of activities for free. Hiking, swimming, and sight seeing are some of our favorite parts of traveling. Plus, the beauty you find is stunning.

Saving money on: Gas

This is by far going to be your largest expense while traveling across America, hands down. There isn’t much way around spending a lot of money on gas. However, there are some things you can do.

These are a few of the areas where we save the most money while traveling. I hope they were helpful and you can work them into your travel life whether you’re another full time RV’er or someone dreaming of roadtripping across the country!

Tell us what you think! Were you surprised by any of these numbers for travel to all 50 states? Share your thoughts and questions in comments below.

A Little RTW Budget… How Much Does it Cost to Travel the World for a Year? (2022)

Last updated on June 18, 2022

When I left on my first round the world trip, I asked veteran travelers a key question: How much does it cost to travel around the world? It was the single biggest factor impacting my trip length and destinations, and the number of things that impact a long-term travel budget are far different than a two-week European vacation. Estimates varied wildly, and knowing where my own around the world trip would fall in that spectrum was a great unknown. I had no idea how long my travel savings, my freelance income, and travel blogging to would keep me on the road, so over that first year, I tracked every single dollar I spent while traveling.

Let’s dive into a very detailed breakdown of what it costs to actually travel around the world for one-year trip—the hard costs associated with around the world travel, and the factors that most dramatically impact your travel budget. I’ve included some notes on the impact of the Covid pandemic on costs—from the dramatic inflation hitting the U.S. and the UK to increased costs to test for Covid at the borders, your costs are going to be higher if you travel in 2022, and likely into 2023 as well.

Table of Contents

How Much Does Traveling the World Cost?

My Personal Round the World Trip

Then I decided to keep traveling. I’ve been on the road since 2008, still “traveling” as of 2022 (the Covid pandemic but a damper on that, of course), although from my homebase in Barcelona, Spain.

In the years since I originally posted my cost breakdown for world travel, other backpackers have loved the precise and meticulous details of just how much I spent throughout a year of active world travel. And even with rising global food costs a decade later, people still travel on similar budgets—yes, so many elements impact travel costs that you can still travel the world for the same price as a trip 14 years ago (more on how that’s possible later).

Let’s dive into the good stuff. The following tables and charts further outline my around the world trip costs including the country-by-country expenses and budget.

Just want the cold hard costs? Navigate my Google spreadsheet by the countries listed at the bottom of my full World Travel Budget.

My Total Costs to Travel the World for a Year

In the above category breakdowns, consider:

Budget of Daily & Total Costs Per Country

Don’t forget to check out my well-loved Travel Planning Resources.

And consider using the blank, formatted spreadsheet to log your own RTW travel budget (this is a Google Spreadsheet, either save a copy of this to your own Google drive for editing, or download as an excel file!).

How to Much Will YOUR Dream Trip Cost?

Finding a way to travel the world is a mental obstacle as much as a financial one. Every situation is different, but I believe that if you truly prioritize travel, then it’s possible to plan and execute an around the world trip. The problem is, there’s crappy information out there about how to make it happen—just as many bloggers don’t really share straight costs to travel the world. Many bloggers have shared posts with a handful of tips about how much they saved for their dream trip, but they don’t break down how they arrived at that final figure. You may read this information and see my budget, but it leaves you wondering if your own world travels would cost the same.

For that reason, I wrote two entire guides to address your current hurdle. One is about creating a realistic anticipated budget for your trip. The other is about saving for world travel.

BUDGET

How much will your dream trip cost? I wrote this guide to specifically answer the most common question I was emailed by readers: how much will a specific route/itinerary costs. In it, I share comprehensive and thoroughly practical advice about understanding trip budgets and understanding your own style of travel. The guide is a full treatise on how to estimate what your dream trip will cost and it includes case studies from other long-term travelers who tracked their trip budgets. I’ve spent eight years on the road, and nearly that long talking with with other travelers about how they budget for travel. Using the aggregate of their knowledge and experience, I’ve outlined a road-map to taking a long-term trip. I wrote this guide to empower travelers and travel dreamers anywhere in the world with the tools to plan their trip. The guide breaks down average traveling costs for the world’s most traveled destinations, which you can use with the fully customizable Trip Budget Worksheet to create an accurate anticipated budget for your dream trip. Available on Kindle, ePub, and PDF.

SAVE

True wealth is having the freedom to do what you want with your life. Many travel dreamers get waylaid by the financial side of life. If you’re new to personal finance, or lost about how to start saving for a big goal, this book distills hard-learned information into easily actionable steps specifically targeted at giving travel dreamers tools to become financially literate. This book provides a thorough deep-dive into the principles of saving money, common obstacles, overcoming debt, and the tenets of strong personal finance. It offers a streamlined process to create substantial changes in your financial life. If money is your primary obstacle to leaving on a long-term trip, this guide breaks down exactly the shifts you can make to change your financial situation. Many travelers look at my adventures and experiences these past 12 years that I’ve traveled and they dream of also traveling through the cultures, stories, and conversations. This guide gives you the tools to move the needle from dreaming to doing. Available on Amazon Kindle or as a PDF bundle with the budget book.

How to Decide on Your Final World Travel Budget?

Travel was my bootcamp for life. My around the world trip was the single best investment in both my personal growth and my career. Throughout life we are presented with a series of choices—each has the ability to help us create the life we dream of living. I am forever glad I chose to travel our beautiful world.

Creating an accurate anticipated budget for your world tour is an important step—you certainly don’t want to plan for a year but run out of funds in month eight! Each person has different goals, a unique trip itinerary, and differing travel styles. These factors can create significant differences in the total cost of a round the world trip.

Assess How Much You’ve Saved for World Travel

A round the world trip is not as expensive as you assume. Most anyone reading this post has the ability to save for travel if it’s a true priority. My family is quite poor and I put myself through college with merit-based scholarships. Instead of counting on help from family, I budgeted for the trip, and I traveled with the budget I had—not the one I wish I had.

Before leaving, I purged everything I owned and saved ruthlessly in the countdown months. When calculating if I could afford my trip around the world, I even accounted for my student-loan and medical credit debt repayments (because yes, I was actually in a fair bit of debt). I took on side-hustles to sock away money. And then I worked on freelance SEO remotely for the entire year.

Decide Your Route & Speed Around the World

Determine the Types of Countries You’ll Visit

If You’ll Eat Local Food, Street Foods, & Shop in Markets

How you eat on your travels impacts your bottom line. Eat locally from mom and pop restaurants, and sample eats from street food stalls. Contrary to many assumptions from first glance, these locations are perfectly safe so long as you adhere to a few standard food safety practices. Local food is a window into the culture, so dig deep and eat like the locals, asking the vendors questions and learning more about each country’s food peculiarities. Also, when traveling in Western countries, shop for groceries and prepare your own breakfast at the very least.

Read: How to Eat Street Food Without Getting Sick and buy the Food Traveler’s Handbook to learn even more about safely enjoying street eats

Factoring Covid and the Pandemic into you Round the World Trip

The fact is, although we all hoped that 2021 would turn the corner on the pandemic, that just hasn’t been the case. While there is every hope 2022 will mark a fresh start, even once wealthier and Western countries have moved on, this will not be the case in vast swathes of the rest of the world. Vaccine iniquities and underdeveloped healthcare systems mean that many countries will continue to struggle to wrangle Covid throughout 2022, and likely into 2023 as well. If you’re planning world travels, that means you should be prepared for additional obstacles at the border, as well as increased costs to test or meet Covid requirements. What might this look like:

In short, assess the trip you have planned, and read up on Covid policies. Where you choose to travel should likely remain fluid once you set out so you can adapt on the road.

The bottom line: Understand your route, travel style, and goals before you can develop an accurate anticipated budget for travel.

Recommended Next Steps

It’s easy to see the numbers, be inspired for a bit and then never take action. If you’re actively planning your RTW—fantastic! My site and those of my friends contain every essential resource you need to plan world travel. If you’re currently working, studying, or just dreaming of traveling, I have resources for you as well. And if you want a second look at those spreadsheets, visit my full RTW budget as a Google Document that will open in your browser. Or head to the free blank spreadsheet to track your own expenses as you travel around the world. You can save an editable copy of these to your own Google Drive, or download for your own use.

Eight Steps of Planning a World Trip

Resources & Further Research

World Travel Budgets

Books to Read First

On-the-Road Travel Resources

Working on the Road

I truly believe that world travel is possible for most people. When and how is unique to each person, but by prioritizing and planning travel, you can make an around the world trip possible.