There’s a question I find myself asking quite often when travelling:

“Is this actually worth the money?”

It’s a fair question. After all, travel can be expensive. Flights, hotels, food, transfers, excursions, coffees ☕️… you absolutely didn’t need but somehow bought anyway… it all adds up.

And yet, sometimes you find yourself looking back at a trip and thinking, “I’m so glad I spent that money, but also not sure that was worth it.”

So perhaps the real question isn’t how much does it cost?

Perhaps it’s: 

What am I getting in return?

The £50 Question

Imagine you have £50 to spare.

You could spend it on a meal out, a new top, a few drinks, or perhaps something you’ve had your eye on for weeks.

Or you could put that £50 towards a day trip somewhere you’ve never been.

Neither choice is wrong. We all enjoy different things.

But there’s something interesting about spending money on an experience. Long after the receipt has disappeared, you might still remember the little café you found, the view you weren’t expecting, the conversation you had with a stranger, or the fact that you somehow managed to get completely lost and still ended up having a brilliant day.

That £50 might have bought you a thing.

Or it might have bought you a story.

But Bigger Isn’t Always Better

Of course, this doesn’t mean we should throw our wallets at every travel experience with a fancy brochure.

Some things simply aren’t worth the price.

£300 for an excursion that involves six hours on a coach, two hours queuing and fifteen minutes actually seeing the thing you came for?

Perhaps not.

£40 for a small local food tour woth a local where you discover places you’d never have found yourself?

Now we’re talking.

The price tag doesn’t necessarily tell you the value.

Where Does Your Money Actually Go?

This is where I think travel gets interesting.

Sometimes spending a little more can make a huge difference.

A better-located hotel might mean you’re able to walk everywhere instead of spending money on taxis.

Paying a little extra for a convenient flight time might give you an entire extra day at your destination and not arriving in the dark and panicking about checking in.

An extra night in a place you love might mean you don’t have to rush through it.

And occasionally, spending less can be the best decision of all.

Do you really need the hotel with the rooftop infinity pool if you’re going to be out exploring from breakfast until midnight?

Maybe the slightly cheaper room in a great location is the better choice.

It’s not about spending more. It’s about spending wisely.

The Experience Calculator

I have a very unofficial way of looking at travel spending.

Before spending money, ask yourself:

Will I remember this?

If the answer is probably no, perhaps think twice.

Then ask:

Will this make the trip easier, better or more memorable?

If the answer is yes, it might be worth it.

And finally:

Will I still be talking about this in five years?

That’s usually where things get interesting.

Because sometimes the answer is absolutely yes.

The sunset cruise.

The tiny restaurant you stumbled across.

The ridiculous road trip.

The train journey through spectacular scenery.

The concert you nearly didn’t buy tickets for.

The extra night you decided to stay.

Those are the moments that can become part of the story.

The unexpected thunderstorm. 

Or visiting for a significant event.

Experiences Don’t Have to Be Expensive

And this is probably the most important bit.

You don’t need thousands of pounds to create great travel memories.

Some of the best experiences cost very little (and yes i know some quite rightly don’t).

Walking through an unfamiliar neighbourhood.

Finding a local bakery.

Taking a train simply because the scenery looks interesting.

Sitting somewhere beautiful with a coffee.

Watching the sun come up.

Having a conversation with someone you’ve never met before.

Getting lost. Although perhaps getting really lost should come with a small budget for a taxi.

The point is that experience isn’t measured by the price tag.

So… What Is It Worth?

I don’t think there’s a universal answer.

For one person, £200 spent on a once-in-a-lifetime excursion might be money extremely well spent.

For someone else, that same £200 might buy three days of exploring, eating locally and discovering somewhere new.

Travel is personal.

Your budget is personal.

And what becomes a treasured memory is personal too.

So perhaps the best way to look at Money vs Experience isn’t to ask which one wins.

It’s to ask:

“What can I turn this money into?”

Because £500 sitting in your bank account is £500.

But £500 turned into a weekend you’ll still be talking about ten years from now?

Priceless.

And sometimes, the best travel decision you can make is simply to spend a little less on the things you’ll forget…

…and a little more on the things you’ll remember.