Budgeting for a 3-week remote working trip to Portugal

I’m excitedly planning a three-week stay in Portugal, scheduled for November 2024. The primary aim of this trip is to experience what it’s like to work remotely from Cascais and Lisbon. Additionally, I’m eager to gauge how my mood and energy levels will be affected as I escape the polar night season.

Estimated maximum costs for travelling to Portugal

This trip has been a long-time dream of mine. So I’ve decided to invest in it, aiming for a comfortable travel experience without extravagance. Although not striving for the cheapest possible option, I’m also not opting for luxury. My goal is to create a conducive working environment that enhances my energy levels. I’m funding all expenses personally, this isn’t a work trip covered by my employer; rather, it’s a personal journey towards improving my work-life balance.

Initially, I wanted to estimate the maximum costs of this trip. In this calculation I am assuming I would stay in a hotel and might not find any budget-friendly flights. I aimed to understand the potential costs for traveling solo as well as the expenses if I were to invite my family members to join me for one week.

Upon reviewing this table I realized that the projected expenses exceed what I’m comfortable spending. This journey isn’t a one-time endeavor but a recurring goal I intend to pursue annually and for longer durations in the future. Therefore, I need to find ways to reduce costs and increase savings realistically.

Determining the true cost

I’ll be documenting the actual expenses of the trip here, updating the table regularly until the journey concludes. This will provide a realistic overview of the costs involved.

Situation in February 2024, 9 months before the trip

If you have any questions or ideas concerning this travelling plan, don’t hesitate to comment!

Ps. Check also my previous post about searching for an ideal remote working location and my plan to escape darkness of polar night in the Nordics