Holiday Spending Money Calculator
Work out how much cash and card money to take abroad — by destination, trip length, board basis and travel style — plus the smartest ways to spend it.
Tell us about your trip
All food and drink out of pocket
Estimates use typical UK holiday-money spend per adult per day at your destination — food and drink not covered by your board, local transport, activities and sundries. Children are counted at 60% of an adult's spend. Flights, accommodation and transfers are excluded (they're usually already paid for).
How much spending money per day?
Typical spending money per adult per day on a self-catering or room-only basis — covering food and drink, local transport, activities and sundries. Half board roughly halves these figures, and all-inclusive reduces them to around a quarter.
| Destination | Budget | Comfortable | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | £20 | £30 | £55 |
| Bulgaria | £20 | £30 | £55 |
| Thailand | £25 | £35 | £65 |
| Portugal / Algarve | £30 | £45 | £85 |
| Spain (mainland) | £35 | £50 | £95 |
| Greece | £35 | £50 | £95 |
| Canary Islands | £35 | £50 | £95 |
| Croatia | £35 | £55 | £105 |
| Balearics (Mallorca) | £40 | £60 | £115 |
| France | £40 | £65 | £125 |
| Italy | £40 | £65 | £125 |
| Ibiza | £55 | £85 | £160 |
| Caribbean | £60 | £90 | £170 |
| Dubai / UAE | £60 | £90 | £170 |
| USA — Florida | £60 | £95 | £180 |
| USA — New York | £70 | £110 | £210 |
Per adult per day, self-catering basis. Children typically spend about 60% of an adult.
Board basis changes everything
How much of the "full" daily budget you'll actually need, depending on what's already included in the price of your holiday.
- Self-catering / room only100%
Every meal and drink out of pocket
- Bed & breakfast85%
Skip the lunch spend until midday
- Half board55%
Just lunch, drinks and snacks to find
- Full board40%
Drinks and extras still add up
- All-inclusive25%
Tips, excursions and souvenirs mostly
What your budget covers
- Food & drink — about 45%. The biggest slice on anything less than full board. Local restaurants away from the strip are usually far better value.
- Activities & excursions — about 25%. Waterparks, boat trips, entry fees, beach clubs. Book direct rather than through the rep.
- Local transport — about 15%. Buses, taxis, metro, scooter hire. Airport transfers are usually already paid for.
- Shopping & sundries — about 15%. Souvenirs, suncream you forgot, laundry, tips.
Stretch your holiday money further
The biggest wins cost nothing — they're about how you pay, not how much you take.
- 1
Spend on a fee-free card
High-street debit cards typically add a 2.75–3% foreign transaction fee plus ATM charges. Fee-free cards (Chase, Monzo, Starling and similar) save you roughly £30 on every £1,000 spent abroad.
- 2
Always pay in local currency
When a shop, restaurant or ATM offers to charge you in pounds, decline it. The "convenience" of dynamic currency conversion routinely costs 4–8% more.
- 3
Pre-order your travel money
Online rates for collection or home delivery beat the high street, and both are far better than the airport. Compare rates a few days before departure.
- 4
Do a supermarket run on day one
Water, snacks, suncream and breakfast basics from a local supermarket cost a fraction of hotel shop or mini-bar prices.
- 5
Eat the set lunch
The menú del día in Spain, prato do dia in Portugal or tourist menu elsewhere is usually the best-value meal of the day — often half the price of dinner.
- 6
Book trips direct
Hotel rep excursions carry a hefty mark-up. The same boat trip or day tour is usually 20–40% cheaper booked with a local operator or direct online.
- 7
Sort roaming before you fly
EU roaming is free on most UK plans again, but outside Europe data charges can be brutal. A travel eSIM is usually the cheapest option.
- 8
Keep a small emergency float
Tuck £50–£100 somewhere separate from your main wallet. It covers a lost card, a taxi when the bus doesn’t turn up, or a pharmacy visit.
Spending money FAQs
How much spending money do I need for a week in Spain?+
For a comfortable self-catering trip, budget around £50 per adult per day — roughly £350 per adult or £700 for a couple for the week. A family of four should allow £900 to £1,100. Bed & breakfast knocks about 15% off, and all-inclusive trips need far less.
How much spending money do I need on an all-inclusive holiday?+
Much less than you think — meals and most drinks are covered. Around £10 to £20 per person per day is typical for tips, excursions, souvenirs and the odd meal out, so roughly £100 to £250 for a couple on a one-week trip depending on the destination.
Is it better to take cash or use a card on holiday?+
A mix works best: around 30% cash for tips, markets, taxis and small cafés, with the rest on a fee-free travel card. Whatever you use, always choose to pay in the local currency — sterling conversion offers hide a poor exchange rate.
How much spending money should a family of four take?+
Count each child at roughly 60% of an adult's spend. For a week in a mid-priced destination like Spain or Greece, a family of four typically needs £900 to £1,200 self-catering — less with breakfast included, and a fraction of that all-inclusive.
When is the best time to buy travel money?+
Never leave it to the airport — bureaux de change there offer some of the worst rates on the high street. Pre-order online for collection or home delivery for a noticeably better rate, and buy a few days before you travel.
What does "spending money" actually cover?+
Everything you pay for once you arrive — food and drink not covered by your board, local transport, activities and excursions, tips, shopping and sundries. Flights, accommodation and airport transfers are normally booked and paid in advance.
This calculator provides estimates for budgeting only. Actual costs vary by resort, season, exchange rates and personal habits — the low–high range is a sensible planning band. Exchange-rate figures are indicative; check live rates before you buy currency.