A message from ATB Financial:
From time to time, we explore how different people manage the costs of travel — in ways that fit their budgets, lifestyles, and vacation goals. In each dispatch from The Passport, we break down trip costs, but also share tips for picking the right destination, managing surprise excursion expenses, and finding the right moments to splurge a little.
Dave Lieske, a photographer and videographer from Calgary, headed to Nicaragua on $1,500. Read more to find out how he stayed on budget by flying into a nearby airport, chose local food over tourist food, and found peace with unplugging (instead of trying to do it all).
The trip
- Where did you go: San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua
- Where did you fly from: Calgary, Alberta
- Length of flight: Four-hour flight to Houston, three-hour layover, 3.5-hour flight to Liberia, Costa Rica
- Length of trip: 12 days
- Total trip cost: $1,557
- What were the approximate trip expenses?
- Flight: $519
- Stay: $650
- Food: $276
- Activity: I didn't go on any excursions.
What were the highlights?
This is one of the first vacations I've ever gone on where I came back relaxed. I purposely went on this trip being okay not seeing every corner of the country or photographing every sunrise or sunset. I took a break from my phone, social media, and emails, and spent most days walking around town without headphones, journaling on our rooftop patio, having hour-long conversations in a café, and sitting on the beach with a book.
Read on to learn more about what he saw and ate, and how he managed to have a great time without spending a lot of money.
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