That's why you put up with plane delays, your children's whining when you speed past a tourist trap and the occasional bout of Montezuma's revenge. Socking away the money before you leave means less financial pain after you return. As a bonus, planning and saving for a vacation can get you in the habit of living on a realistic budget.
Many people save for vacations by placing money in a savings or money market account.
If you belong to a credit union, you might be able to take advantage of a vacation club account. If we drive up to visit family in Maine, it pays for most of the gas and incidental expenses. The prospect of not having to endure high credit card bills at vacation time is the main reason for saving money in a vacation club account. But money set aside in a vacation club account seems less touchable. Subtract how much of the vacation expense you want to charge on your credit cards.