Skipping your daily croissant and large French roast for a couple months probably won’t generate enough savings for a flight to Paris — but a new budgeting tool can show you how far those spending cuts can take you.
The Vacay Valuator, a free calculator from the travel search engine Kayak, asks users to choose from 15 different spending categories — like alcohol, coffee and streaming services — and pick a hypothetical length of time to nix those items from their budget. The calculator then spits out an estimated cost savings based on those inputs, along with some round-trip economy flights in that exact price range.
Kayak, a U.S.-based company, says it released the new feature after finding that 65% of travelers surveyed in the United Kingdom said they’re having difficulty paying for a vacation this year. Eighty-five percent of survey respondents were willing to cut non-essential purchases to fund a trip.
Users can customize some of the criteria, like their departure and arrival locations, when and for how long they want to travel, and whether they want a direct flight. They can also choose from several options for the type of trip they want to take, like “romantic” or “family.”
That said, the calculator is somewhat limited: Users can’t add spending categories outside of the handful that Kayak provides, or adjust for how often they want to abstain from their selected items. (It can tell you how much you’ll save if you stop drinking your daily coffee for three months straight, but not how much you’ll save if you cut down to, say, a few cups of coffee a week.)
The tool’s estimates are also based on average costs, so users who spend more or less on things like gym memberships — which Kayak calculates at about $50 a month — won’t get perfect results.
All said the Vacay Valuator can give you some idea of where to travel by rerouting your spending, but be sure to read the fine print: “Prices, cancellation, and policies may vary.”
Disclaimer
Artificial Intelligence Disclosure & Legal Disclaimer
AI Content Policy.
To provide our readers with timely and comprehensive coverage, South Florida Reporter uses artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in producing certain articles and visual content.
Articles: AI may be used to assist in research, structural drafting, or data analysis. All AI-assisted text is reviewed and edited by our team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our editorial standards.
Images: Any imagery generated or significantly altered by AI is clearly marked with a disclaimer or watermark to distinguish it from traditional photography or editorial illustrations.
General Disclaimer
The information contained in South Florida Reporter is for general information purposes only.
South Florida Reporter assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents of the Service. In no event shall South Florida Reporter be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tort, arising out of or in connection with the use of the Service or the contents of the Service.
The Company reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the contents of the Service at any time without prior notice. The Company does not warrant that the Service is free of viruses or other harmful components.
