This post is a full breakdown with the honest numbers behind my winter travels.
TL;DR:
I spent $3,533.28 on travel between January and March of 2026. That total spanned 2 completed trips to California and Florida, as well as flights for another trip that’s scheduled in May. This total keeps me on track for my budget of allocating 20% of my annual income for travel.
Category Breakdown: Flights - $3,003.78 | Food & Drink - $449.78 | Souvenirs $33.06
Quarterly Total: $3,533.28
The Trips
This quarter, I completed two different trips: San Francisco, CA, in January with my partner Dave and then Southwest Florida in March for a friend’s birthday.
During Q1, I also booked the flights for my birthday trip to Phoenix, AZ, which will take place in Q2.
My San Francisco trip was a mix of personal time and work. My Southwest Florida trip was fully personal.
The Breakdown
Flights — $3,003.78
I purchased three roundtrip flights this quarter, two of which included the airfare for my partner, as well.
He later paid me back for his airfare, but I leverage travel credit cards to get miles and points to subsidize future travel. As such, I’m the primary “booker” in our relationship.
My San Francisco flights cost $402.16 for my airfare alone. Florida airfare for both me and my partner came to a total of $904.00. Arizona came in at $1,697.62, and that total includes both me and my partner.
Our Arizona flights were nearly half of my total travel spend for this quarter. I was happy to pay extra for the convenience of direct flights because my parents graciously offered to cover the accommodation for us. (Thanks Mom & Dad!)
The Recap:
My flights to San Francisco — $402.16
Flights to Florida with Dave — $904.00
Flights to Arizona with Dave — $1,697.62
Souvenirs — $33.06
Adorable side-note: My grandmother loves collecting fridge magnets so I usually grab her one from my travels.
I spent about $5 on her San Francisco magnet.
I found another grandma-approved magnet as well as some coasters for my new house at the Ringling Museum in Florida. Dave and I loved exploring the museum with our friends before they dropped us at the airport so this was the perfect way to preserve the memory of our trip (and earn some granddaughter points).
Grandma’s magnet · San Francisco — $4.72
Ringling Museum souvenirs · Florida — $33.06
Food & Drink — $449.78
Dave and I ate and drank our way through San Francisco so that trip makes up the bulk of this category. The biggest single spend came from our two rounds of craft cocktails at Alchemist Bar & Lounge near Bayside. The rest was a mix of coffee stops and casual meals spread across a few days.
I also spent around $140 on groceries during the Florida trip because I cooked one dinner for the whole crew and donated some bevvies to our communal cooler.
Dim sum at Great Eastern Restaurant · San Francisco — $56.00
Coffees at San Fran airport — $19.26
Mason Diner breakfast · San Francisco — $62.17
Flywheel Coffee · San Francisco — $10.27
Mexican Coke · San Francisco — $5.43
Drinks at Harlan Records · San Francisco — $37.00
Cocktails at Alchemist Bar & Lounge · San Francisco — $65.09
Compton’s Coffee House · San Francisco — $7.50
Brioche Cafe · San Francisco — $43.72
Groceries · Florida — $138.34
The Honest Part
Was this quarter of travel worth it?
Two or three trips per quarter feels just right. In an ideal world, I’m going on one domestic or international trip per month. That might sound extreme, but travel is a top priority for me, and that pace feels manageable with my current workload and responsibilities. I do assume that I’ll travel less and less in the next two quarters, though, because….
I’M GETTING MARRIED IN SEPTEMBER!
I’m so excited to solidify my love for Dave with our ceremony (and subsequently dance my head off). I’m sure that finalizing the Big Day will leave very little free time for travel. But come October? I’ll get right back to it.
How does this fit in with my financial goals?
I follow the 50/30/20 budgeting rule, with 50% of my income going towards my needs like housing and food; 30% for wants, including a 20% allocation for travel; and the final 20% for financial goals like savings, investments, and paying off my student loans. This general rule works really well for my lifestyle.
What would I do differently?
Nothing.
I love traveling, eating good food, and spending quality time with the people I love.
What’s next?
Q2 is already off to an amazing start!
I spent the last two weekends adventuring around West Virginia. Next month will bring even more fun adventures before I turn my focus to finalizing the details for our wedding. <3
Stay tuned for more travel blogs and next quarter’s financial review!
Enjoyed this post? There's a whole lot more waiting for you!
Subscribe to my Substack for travel tips, inspirational essays, ethical travel takes, and real talk about freelancing finances, all delivered straight to your inbox.
No spam. Just stories.