Bon voyage, savings account. 

Answer: $3,940

Question:

• What expenses besides flights and lodging might add to the total cost of a summer vacation?
• How might someone plan a summer trip while spending less than this average?

• If a traveler put their trip on a credit card and didn't pay off the balance right away, how would the true cost of the vacation change?

Here are the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the numbers (NerdWallet):

"Nearly half of Americans (45%) plan to take a vacation in summer 2026 that requires a flight and/or paid lodging, like a hotel or vacation rental stay, according to NerdWallet’s annual summer travel survey. They expect to spend $3,940, on average, for these summer travel costs. That’s more than 120 million travelers spending over $475 billion on flights and lodging."

About the Author

Dave Martin

Dave joins NGPF with 15 years of teaching experience in math and computer science. After joining the New York City Teaching Fellows program and earning a Master's degree in Education from Pace University, his teaching career has taken him to New York, New Jersey and a summer in the north of Ghana. Dave firmly believes that financial literacy is vital to creating well-rounded students that are prepared for a complex and highly competitive world. During what free time two young daughters will allow, Dave enjoys video games, Dungeons & Dragons, cooking, gardening, and taking naps.