We all think about our spending money before booking our vacation, but how much does the average vacation cost? A lot of factors are involved but on average, a vacation for a family of four will set you back a whopping $4,580. So, what different factors do we need to consider when budgeting our family trip away? Our vacation spending statistics explore travel spend by age, hotel costs, average spending statistics as well as entertainment costs to help you plan your next vacation.

Explore our Top Vacation Spending Statistics below…

• 44% of American family’s vacation budget is spent traveling to and from their destination.
• $33 is spent daily by American families due to their reliance on restaurants.
• $3,251 is the average budget for a 12-night international vacation.
• Annually, 2% of the average American budget is spent on vacation spending.
• $4,580 is the vacation cost for a family of 4.
• 33% of millennials are willing to spend $5000 or more on a vacation.
• $95 billion was spent in cafes, restaurants, and bars whilst traveling in 2021.
• Every day whilst traveling $27 is spent in restaurants and $6 is spent on food prepared themselves.
• $150 is the average cost for accommodation for a 4-night domestic trip whereas for an international vacation it is $683.
• 9% of a traveler’s budget is spent on entertainment, around $52 on average for a domestic trip.

Domestic trips are typically a cheaper alternative to international trips as you can stay with family and friends. Domestic vacations should be considered if you are trying to save money, for example, $150 is the average cost of a 4-night domestic trip whereas it is $683 for an international vacation. Traveling to and from the chosen destination is where 44% of an American family’s vacation budget goes, so you can rapidly reduce your costs by traveling within your own country. For more helpful vacation spending statistics take a look at our editor’s top picks below.

The average vacation cost for one person is around $1,145, however, this is dependent on a variety of different factors such as the duration of a trip, the timing of the vacation, and so on. These factors need to be considered but on average the average vacation cost is around the $1,200 mark.

• Annually, 2% of the average American budget is spent on vacation spending. However, it can be around 8-9%.
• Vacation spending statistics show that the average vacation cost for one person is around $1,145.
• $4,580 is the average cost of a family vacation (for 4 people).
• $1,607 is the average cost of a vacation in the Midwest. This increases to $1,943 in the south and further increases to $2,078 in the Northeast. The most expensive spend is on holidays in the West which are around $2,265.
• $581 is the average cost of a 4-day trip within the U.S.
• American vacation statistics demonstrate that on average American families spend $144 a day.
• $6,716 is the average cost of a Disney vacation for a family of four.

For a 4-night domestic vacation, the average costs are:

• $224 is spent on transport.
• $354 is the average cost of a domestic round-trip flight.
• $155 is spent on drinks and food.
• $150 is spent on accommodation.
• $52 is spent on entertainment.

For a 10-night international vacation, the average costs are:

• $3,250 is the average cost of a 12-13-night international trip.
• $250-$272 is spent every evening.
• $1,755 is spent on transport.
• $1,368 is the average cost of flights for an international round trip.
• $293 is spent on entertainment.
• $520 is spent on food and drinks.
• $683 is spent on accommodation.

Millennials typically plan their vacations responsibly and intend to spend around $4,400 on travel overall. There are different travel spends depending on age, for example, Generation X’s budget is around $5,400 and Baby Boomers intend to spend $6,600 on trips every year.

• 33% of millennials are willing to spend $5000 or more on a vacation.
• Baby boomers spend $6,600 on travel and take 4-5 vacations a year.
• Millennials are also a generation that travels a lot as they take 35 days of trips a year. Generation Z comes close after as they take 29 days a year.
• More millennials are working to save for a vacation – CHART
• Research shows that millennials intend to take around five vacations a year and three of these are international.
• According to Travelport, millennials are more likely to spend more money on vacations than any other generation.
• $5,400 was the average a Gen-Xer would on travel in 2021
• Baby boomers spend around $6,600 on travel.
• 25% of a Gen-Xers’ budget is spent on flights, this is more than any other age group.
• Gen-Xers’ are more likely to consider other places to stay and spend less on hotels compared to other generations.

A vacation food budget is very important especially since groceries cost more in touristy locations, so on average, it will cost an adult $60 and a child $45 overall which is around $10 a day. Beverages can be rather pricey, especially if they are alcoholic, so a basic budget is around $35-$50 a day for adults and around half of this for kids.

• $95 billion was spent in cafes, restaurants, and bars whilst traveling in 2021
• $33 is the daily average spent on food on trips within the U.S.
• $132 is spent daily on food for a family of 4 (not including alcohol, tips, and snacks). 80% of this is spent in restaurants. The cost of food for a week on vacation can easily rack up.
• Every day whilst traveling $27 is spent in restaurants and $6 is spent on food prepared themselves.
• The average cost of food per day while traveling internationally is $35 a day, 90% of this is spent devoted to restaurant meals.
• $108 is the average spend on food at restaurants for a 4-day domestic trip.
• The average cost of food per day on a road trip is around $24 if they decide to prepare food to take with them.
• The average cost of food when traveling can add up especially when considering alcohol. 16% of an American’s budget for an international trip is spent on food and alcohol, whereas for domestic trips it is around 27%.
• $378 is the average cost for food in restaurants for a 12-night international vacation.
• 12% of Americans state that they purchase alcohol whilst on vacation.
• 18% of travelers buy drinks and restaurants when traveling both internationally and domestically.
• $75 for an adult and $28 for a child is the average daily cost of eating at Disney Land (U.S.)
• The average cost of food per person on vacation in Hawaii is about $100 per day.

Within the United States, the average hotel price per person per night is $103. If two people are sharing a double room, the average price is $206. A lot of people stay with family and friends when traveling domestically as only 42% pay for accommodation when traveling within their country.

• $150 is the average cost of hotels for a four-night domestic trip and it is sound $683 for an international vacation.
• 60% of people who travel internationally pay for accommodation.
• The average cost of accommodation per person per year is $2,158.
• Accommodation and lodging account for 26% of total travel expenditures for domestic trips and 21% for international trips.
• The average daily rate of hotels in the U.S. is $99.12 as of September 2020. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this dropped 24.5% from the previous year.
• $45-$100 is the average motel cost per night.
• $160.47 is the average daily rate for an Airbnb rental.
• $262 is the average cost of a hotel in New York per night whereas in Las Vegas you can expect to pay $127.
• $151 is the average hotel price in the UK and it is the most popular destination for Americans.

Cultural experiences and special activities are important on vacation. The average budget for vacation and entertainment is around 9% which is around $52 on average for domestic trips. Whereas the average cost for entertainment internationally is $293.

• In 2021, $43 billion was spent on entertainment whilst traveling.
• On average, holidaymakers will spend $293 on entertainment abroad.
• $180 is spent annually by those who often watch athletic events on vacation.
• $640 is spent annually by those who like to play sports such as gold on vacation.
• $541 is spent on average on movies and other admissions.
• $180 is typically spent on tickets to sporting events.
• $250 is the average cost of other recreational activities.
• $250 is the average cost of entertainment services.
• $105 is the average cost of an adult day ticket to Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.
• A multi-day pass for Disney’s theme parks can lower the overall cost by around $62 per day for an adult.
• Museum tickets can cost anything between $0-$25.
• A museum pass in Paris can be a good investment as you can gain access to more than 50 museums for less than 12-21 euros (depending on how many days it covers)

Shockingly millennials are willing to spend more than $5000 or more on a vacation despite having the least money. Holidaymakers are hunting for experiences and are not willing to hold back on costs for a moment away from reality. Between accommodation, airfare, entertainment, and spending money it is clear how easy it is to spend thousands on a vacation.