Travel does not have to be expensive, and to prove it I decided to show a transparent look into my total cost for a trip to the Azores, Portugal.
One of the biggest excuses that people have as to why they can’t travel is, of course, the cost. Travel is painted to be this grand image that involves all-inclusive resorts, luxurious dinners, and big excursions. While those things are certainly nice, it doesn’t have to be that way at all. Being conscious about your expenses and prioritizing what is important to you can still give you a great vacation! I dug up some old emails, receipts, and credit card statements to show you my all-in costs for spending 2 days and 2 nights in Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal.
All amounts are in USD, and I traveled in June 2018.
Read More: How to Spend a Weekend on São Miguel, Azores
Airfare – $399.81
With no surprise, airfare comes in first as being the largest up front cost. However, utilizing points and miles can certainly help drive this cost down quite substantially. I took a redeye from NYC to Ponta Delgada on a Friday and landed early on Saturday morning. I had all day Saturday and Sunday to explore, and I took an early flight back on Monday morning (and went straight to the office- a story for another time).
Airbnb – $184.72
Coming in second place, and about 1/4 of my total costs for the trip is accommodations (no surprise here either). Costs of Airbnbs ranged around the city, but I chose to go with this middle of the road option for $82/night. Although there were certainly cheaper options out there that would have help cut costs, but I was drawn to the balcony and separate living space so much that the cost was worth it to me.
Whale Watching Tour – $45.00
One of the things that the Azores are famous for! There were several options for whale watching, some as small as the dinghy pictured above, and others on large ships carrying hundreds of people. The former didn’t make me feel incredibly safe and the latter made me feel like I was engaging in mass tourism. Therefore, I chose to go with Moby Dick Tours. About thirty of us boarded an old wooden fishing boat for 4 full hours of dolphin and whale watching! With the exception of the horrific sunburn I got on my legs, it was an amazing time and I would do it again in a heartbeat. The tour cost $40.00 and I gave a $5.00 gratuity on my way out.
Full Day Island Tour – $80.23
Some of the best money I spent on the island! With my limited time and so much to see, I decided to book a full day island tour that stopped at all the highlights. Since it was an 8 hour tour, they provided both breakfast and lunch which was such a bonus! Six of us hopped into a sprinter van and spent the day cruising up mountains, along shorelines, and down into craters. The tour cost $70.23 and I gave my guide a $10 gratuity at the end.
Food – $53.00
Given their remote location being 1,000 miles from mainland Portugal, I expected everything in the Azores to be expensive. How wrong I was! Food there was surprisingly cheap and incredibly satisfying. I dug up old credit card statements to find the amounts below, rounded to the nearest whole number for ease.
- Breakfast upon arrival – $5
Muffin, fruit cup, and a cappuccino at a cafe - Snacks for the day – $7
Picked up various snacks to eat throughout the day at a convenience store - Dinner – $15
Chicken, rice, french fries, mineral water, and an ice cream sundae for dessert. - Breakfast Day 2 – $0
Granola bars and water were provided on my island tour - Lunch – $0
A huge buffet of local dishes was provided on my island tour - Snacks – $7
Some snacks after my island tour. - Dinner – $12
Burger, fries, and a drink - Breakfast Day 3 (airport) – $7
Muffin and bottled water
Souvenirs – $10.00
I’m not huge on souvenirs. Most shops tend to only sell overpriced Made in China knick-knacks. I would rather choose to instead remember my trips through photos and videos that I take. I do however usually like to get one small thing like a magnet or a postcard to tuck into my bag (because space is always a concern as well). On this trip, I got a small magnet that sits proudly on my refrigerator at home, as well as a small scarf. The scarf was as much of a practical purchase as it was a small indulgence. I had forgotten something to cover up with on the plane and needed something to put on me on the way home. Plus, it’s pretty cute and I wear it frequently!
Total Cost – $772.76
For less than $800 all in, I was able to escape NYC for a weekend and explore the entire island of São Miguel! There are even so many more ways to make this number lower! Using points and miles for flights or finding a cheaper room (or using points for those as well) would have saved hundreds of dollars more. Travel absolutely does not have to be expensive- and here’s the proof!
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