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Vacations are a big part of American life, but they can come with a price tag, and increasingly, a real financial trade-off. Each person's circumstances differ, with some opting for domestic trips while others venture abroad, and some facing the added cost of traveling as a family. For some, this may mean going into debt just to afford a getaway.
To understand what's actually driving the cost of a trip, how long it takes to save for one, and how many people are turning to credit to afford it, a survey on behalf of Self Financial surveyed 1,884 U.S. adults, including those who had vacationed within the last 12 months.
The average vacation cost among respondents who have vacationed in the last 12 months is $2,250, according to a survey conducted on behalf of Self Financial. The survey results showed that the average trip lasted around 7 nights, which works out to roughly $321 per night.
Most vacations actually cost far less than the $2,250 headline figure, with a small share of big-spending trips pulling the average upward. Spending was heavily concentrated at the lower end: 14% of respondents spent under $500 on their most recent vacation, and a further 23% spent between $500 and $999, meaning more than a third of U.S. adults surveyed took a vacation for under $1,000 total.
Spending picked up from there, with more than a third of respondents (36%) spending between $1,000 and $2,999, and a further fifth (20%) spending $3,000-$4,999. Only a small share spent $5,000 or more, underlining just how much the higher end pulls the average up beyond what most people actually paid.
| How much respondents spent on their last vacation | |
|---|---|
| Vacation Spend | Percentage of Respondents (%) |
| Under $500 | 14% |
| $500–$999 | 23% |
| $1,000–$1,999 | 18% |
| $2,000–$2,999 | 18% |
| $3,000–$4,999 | 20% |
| $5,000–$7,499 | 4% |
| $7,500–$9,999 | 2% |
| $10,000+ | 0.4% |
To calculate the average spend in each category, we worked out a weighted average based on respondents' answers, then compared each category's average to the overall average vacation cost ($2,250) to find its share of total spend.
| Vacation Cost Breakdown | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Average Spend | Percentage of Total Trip Cost (%) |
| Accommodation | $640 | 28.4% |
| Food & Dining | $578 | 25.7% |
| Flights/Transportation | $559 | 24.8% |
| Activities/Entertainment | $279 | 12.4% |
| Shopping/Souvenirs | $146 | 6.5% |
| Other/Unaccounted | $48 | 2.1% |
These percentages reflect what respondents reported spending in each category, calculated as a share of the overall average vacation cost from a separate question; the remaining 2% is unaccounted for and may reflect other expenses not captured within these categories, such as travel insurance, tips, or incidentals.
Accommodation is the single biggest cost on a vacation, making up 28.4% of total spend, closely followed by food and dining (25.7%) and flights or transportation (24.8%). Together, these three costs account for the vast majority of what people spend on a trip. Activities and entertainment make up a much smaller share (12.4%), while shopping and souvenirs are the smallest cost of all, at just 6.5% of the average trip. The remaining 2.1% is unaccounted for and may reflect other expenses not captured within these categories, such as travel insurance, tips, or incidentals.
Accommodation was the single biggest cost of the average vacation, and spending here varied widely. Around 1 in 7 respondents (15%) paid nothing at all, having stayed with family or friends, while spending was otherwise fairly evenly spread from under $200 up to $1,999, with each of those bands accounting for roughly a fifth of respondents. Only a small minority (3%) spent $2,000 or more on accommodation alone.
| Cost of Accommodation | |
|---|---|
| Spend | Percentage of Respondents (%) |
| $0 (stayed with family/friends/gifted) | 15% |
| Under $200 | 19% |
| $200–$499 | 22% |
| $500–$999 | 20% |
| $1,000–$1,999 | 21% |
| $2,000–$3,999 | 3% |
| $4,000+ | 0.1% |
Food and dining spending was fairly evenly distributed, with the majority of respondents (around 65%) spending between $100 and $999 on food throughout their trip. Very few (just 1%) spent $2,000 or more, suggesting that even on pricier vacations, food rarely becomes a runaway cost the way accommodation or transportation can.
| Cost of Food on Vacation | |
|---|---|
| Spend | Percentage of Respondents (%) |
| Under $100 | 16% |
| $100–$249 | 22% |
| $250–$499 | 22% |
| $500–$999 | 21% |
| $1,000–$1,999 | 18% |
| $2,000+ | 1% |
Transportation costs were similarly spread out, with the largest share of respondents (23%) spending $500–$999, closely followed by those spending $200–$499 (22%). Notably, 15% paid nothing at all for transportation, likely reflecting road trips or short domestic journeys, while spending $2,000 or more was rare, at under 1% of respondents.
| Cost of Vacation Flights & Transport | |
|---|---|
| Spend | Percentage of Respondents (%) |
| $0 (no transport cost) | 15% |
| Under $200 | 21% |
| $200–$499 | 22% |
| $500–$999 | 23% |
| $1,000–$1,999 | 19% |
| $2,000+ | 0.4% |
Activities and entertainment costs were lower than the other main categories, with a quarter of respondents (25%) spending $100–$249, and the vast majority (81%) spending under $500. Only a small fraction (1%) spent $1,000 or more, reinforcing that activities are typically a smaller, more discretionary slice of the overall vacation budget.
| Cost of Entertainment on Vacation | |
|---|---|
| Spend | Percentage of Respondents (%) |
| $0 | 16% |
| Under $100 | 20% |
| $100–$249 | 25% |
| $250–$499 | 21% |
| $500–$999 | 18% |
| $1,000+ | 1% |
Shopping and souvenirs made up the smallest share of vacation spending overall, though it wasn't negligible with over a quarter of respondents (28%) spending $50–$149 in this category, and a further 16% spent $300 or more. Still, 16% spent nothing at all here, reinforcing that shopping is the most optional line item in the average vacation budget, easy to cut back on when money's tight, but still a meaningful cost for many travelers.
| Cost of Shopping on Vacation | |
|---|---|
| Spend | Percentage of Respondents (%) |
| $0 | 16% |
| Under $50 | 19% |
| $50–$149 | 28% |
| $150–$299 | 21% |
| $300+ | 16% |
Those who stayed domestic-only spent an average of $2,522, more than those who traveled internationally only, who spent an average of $2,006. Those who split their time between both landed in the middle, spending an average of $2,142. For context, those that vacationed domestic, internationally, or both, averaged a 7-day vacation.
This preference for staying closer to home is largely driven by cost. According to YouGov's US International Traveler Outlook 2026, rising prices internationally are prompting more Americans to opt for domestic trips to save money. [1] YouGov. "Americans Pull Back on Global Travel Heading Into 2026." Accessed August 4, 2026. https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/53736-americans-pull-back-on-global-travel-heading-into-2026
But the survey results on behalf of Self Financial suggest that assumption doesn't always hold. Domestic-only trips averaged more than trips taken in other countries, showing that staying closer to home doesn't guarantee a cheaper vacation.
| Domestic vs abroad average costs | |
|---|---|
| Trip Type | Average Spend |
| Domestic only | $2,522 |
| Both domestic & abroad | $2,142 |
| Abroad only | $2,006 |
According to survey results, those who traveled in the last year spent more when opting solely for an all-inclusive package. Something that seems counter-productive, yet some respondents may prefer the organization and ease of booking everything in one place. All-inclusive packages averaged a spending of $2,492 compared to $1,991 by those who have recently vacationed.
According to National Traveller, what's actually included under an "all-inclusive" label can vary significantly between resorts, and travelers increasingly report paying more than expected once extra fees, upgrades, and excursions are factored in on top of the advertised price. [2] National Traveller. "All-Inclusive Resorts That Are Actually Worth the Price Tag in 2026." Accessed August 4, 2026. https://www.nationaltraveller.com/all-inclusive-resorts-that-are-actually-worth-the-price-tag-in-2026/
| All-inclusive vs pay-as-you-go costs | |
|---|---|
| Booking Style | Average Spend |
| All-inclusive package | $2,492 |
| A mix of both | $2,252 |
| Paid separately (a la carte) | $1,991 |
Among respondents who had taken a vacation in the last 12 months, the average estimated time to save for that trip was 6.5 months.
That average, though, masks a wide spread of experiences. Saving times varied considerably from person to person, with no single answer dominating. Just over 15% said it took them less than a month to save enough, likely reflecting shorter, lower-cost trips or those funded from existing savings rather than a dedicated saving period. At the other end of the scale, a notable 21% said it took them over 12 months, showing that for a meaningful share of travelers, saving for a vacation is a genuinely long-term financial goal rather than a quick, short-term one.
| How Long it Takes to Save for Vacation | |
|---|---|
| Time to Save | Percentage of Respondents (%) |
| Less than 1 month | 16% |
| 1–3 months | 23% |
| 4–6 months | 24% |
| 7–12 months | 17% |
| Over 12 months | 21% |
Costs can vary depending on a person’s circumstances, this can be down to expenses such as travel insurance, a study on the average cost of travel insurance revealed that it costs an average of $53 for a single person but this becomes more expensive depending on age and whether you’re single or traveling with a family.
Taking children on vacation can make things pricey, over half (53.7%) of those who went on vacation in the last 12 months took at least one child away with them, while many took more than one, averaging 2.7 children per family trip. Bringing children on vacation is only becoming more common. Family trips in the U.S. have grown from around 300 million in 2017 to 376 million today, with over 100 million Americans now taking a family vacation each year. [3] TravelPulse. "Family Travel Continues to Grow." Accessed August 4, 2026. https://travelpulse.com/news/features/family-travel-continues-to-grow.html
Results from those surveyed who had recently vacationed and traveled with children revealed that, bringing a child or children added an average of $318 to the total cost of the trip.
The survey asked respondents who traveled in the last year how much they spent and after breaking those results into with and without children, there were some differences between both groups.
Families with children were more likely to pay more on average, with more people with children spending in the $5,000-$10,000 categories, though the discrepancies were small (9% vs 5.2%).
Those without children were more likely to spend under $500 with 16% saying they spent within that range compared to 13% from those with children, although there were more families with children that spent between $500-$999 (26% vs 19%).
| Vacation Costs With vs Without Children Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vacation Spend | With Children | Without Children |
| Under $500 | 13% | 16% |
| $500–$999 | 26% | 19% |
| $1,000–$1,999 | 17% | 19% |
| $2,000–$2,999 | 18% | 18% |
| $3,000–$4,999 | 19% | 22% |
| $5,000–$7,499 | 5% | 3% |
| $7,500–$9,999 | 3% | 2% |
| $10,000+ | 1% | 0.2% |
Most respondents used a combination of methods to fund their most recent vacation, rather than relying on a single payment source. Savings (88.6%) and regular income (84.1%) were the two most common ways people paid, closely followed by credit cards, with 72.8% saying they paid their card off in full, and a notable 68.5% saying they carried a balance. Since respondents could select more than one option, it's likely many combined several of these methods, for example, using savings to cover part of the cost while putting the rest on a credit card. Buy Now, Pay Later, personal loans, and gifted trips were all far less common, each selected by fewer than 2% of respondents.
| Methods to Pay for Vacations | |
|---|---|
| Payment Method | Percentage of Respondents (%) |
| Savings | 88.6% |
| Regular income | 84.1% |
| Credit card, paid off in full | 72.8% |
| Credit card, carried a balance | 68.5% |
| Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) | 1.7% |
| Personal loan | 1.6% |
| Someone else paid / gift | 0.9% |
Data note: respondents could select all payment methods that applied, so figures do not add up to 100%.
Over half of those surveyed who vacationed in the last 12 months (57.2%) said they underestimated how much they'd actually need to save compared to the real cost of their trip. Below, we look at how much people typically set aside each month, the savings methods they rely on, and the biggest barriers standing in the way of saving for a trip.
Of those surveyed, respondents who had recently traveled set aside a modest amount, with almost all of those who had saved towards their most recent trip (99.1%) saying that they saved less than $500 per month for their vacation and over half (51.6%) saving less than $100 per month.
| How Much Respondents Save for Vacation | |
|---|---|
| Monthly Savings Amount | Percentage of Respondents (%) |
| Under $50/month | 25.1% |
| $50–$99/month | 26.5% |
| $100–$249/month | 22.1% |
| $250–$499/month | 25.5% |
| $500+/month | 0.9% |
Competing financial priorities were by far the biggest barrier to saving, cited by a third of respondents, ahead of irregular income and a general lack of savings prioritization. Notably, having no dedicated savings method was also a factor for nearly 15%, suggesting that structure, not just money, plays a role in how well people save.
| Biggest Barriers to Saving for Vacation | |
|---|---|
| Barrier | Percentage of Respondents (%) |
| Competing financial priorities (debt, bills, other savings goals) | 33% |
| Irregular income | 18% |
| I don't prioritize vacations | 17.3% |
| Low income overall | 16.1% |
| No dedicated savings account/method | 14.9% |
| Other | 0.8% |
Over half of all those surveyed (51.9%) said they have gone into debt to afford a vacation. Among those who recently traveled (last 12 months) and used a credit card, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), or a loan to help cover the cost, the average amount of debt left over once they returned was $718. That amount could potentially rise depending on the interest fees and other charges attached to the borrowing option. BNPL isn’t always interest-free and comes with its own risks such as encouraging impulse buying and potential late fees, possibly without the benefit of building a user’s credit score. [4] Charles Schwab. "5 Risks of Buy Now, Pay Later." Accessed August 4, 2026. https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/5-risks-buy-now-pay-later Borrowing with or without the opportunity to build credit comes with risks.
| How Much Debt From the Vacation Was Left Over | |
|---|---|
| Debt Amount | Percentage of Respondents |
| Under $250 | 24% |
| $250–$499 | 26.7% |
| $500–$999 | 26% |
| $1,000–$1,999 | 20.6% |
| $2,000–$3,999 | 2.5% |
| $4,000+ | 0.2% |
Vacation expenses continued once the trip was over, with debt being paid off over time. One-third (33.1%) of those who have been in debt from a vacation before said that their most recent vacation will take one to three months to pay off the debt and 25.9% said that it will take less than a month to pay it off.
Almost all (98.6%) of those in debt said that they will settle the debt balance within a year.
| How Long Respondents Think It Will Take to Pay Off Vacation Debt | |
|---|---|
| Time to Pay Off | Percentage of Respondents (%) |
| Less than 1 month | 25.9% |
| 1–3 months | 33.1% |
| 4–6 months | 22.5% |
| 7–12 months | 17.1% |
| Over 12 months | 1.4% |
Although most didn’t go into debt for longer than a year, just over half (50.6%) of those who went into debt said that they regretted a vacation-related purchase due to the debt it created. Managing debt is important, and understanding the impact of it helps avoid common mistakes once returning from vacation.
More than half of parents (52.3%) who went into debt for a vacation said that they went into debt because of the cost of taking children on the trip with them.
| Parents in Debt vs Not In Debt from Vacation Spending | |
|---|---|
| Reason for Debt | Percentage of Respondents (%) |
| Yes, only went into debt because of children | 52.3% |
| No, would have gone into debt either way | 47.7% |
A survey of 1,884 adults was carried out in July 2026 on behalf of Self Financial to find out about vacation spending, saving habits, and the use of credit or Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services to fund travel.
Respondents self-identified as follows:
Gender:
Age Group:
Employment Status:
Written on November 6, 2026
Self is a venture-backed startup that helps people build credit and savings.
Self does not provide financial advice. The content on this page provides general consumer information and is not intended for legal, financial, or regulatory guidance. The content presented does not reflect the view of Self's issuing partner banks. Although this information may include references to third-party resources or content, Self does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of this third-party information. Any Self product links are advertisements for Self products. Please consider the date of publishing for Self’s original content and any affiliated content to best understand their contexts. All trademarks and brand names belong to their respective owners and do not represent endorsements of any kind.
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