Boujee Budget Travel

April 2025 was a reminder that budget travel isn’t about perfection—it’s about making smart choices, staying flexible, and still having experiences worth remembering. This month included one international trip and one easy road trip, both very different but equally memorable (and wallet-conscious)

🌴 Cancún, Mexico — Short but Sweet International Escape (2 Nights)

Originally planned: 4 nights

Actual stay: 2 nights

Total spent (cash + miles): ~$1,465 + 17,000 miles

This trip was meant to be a longer all-inclusive beach escape, but sometimes life has other plans. Even with an early return, the trip still proved how reward miles and all-inclusive resorts can stretch your travel budget.

Budget Breakdown

• Roundtrip airport shuttle: $77.92

• Delta reward flight to Cancún: $48.13 + 17,000 miles

• Return flight on Southwest (early change): $390.81

• All-inclusive resort (Iberostar Selection Coral Cancún): $887.05 for my share

• Meals while traveling: $14.29

• Tips: $40

• Souvenirs: $7

Why It Still Worked

Staying at an adults-only all-inclusive resort meant once we arrived, spending basically stopped. All meals, snacks, and drinks were included, which kept daily costs at zero except for tips. We spent our short stay exactly how a beach vacation should be spent: lounging by the pool, swimming in the ocean, reading on the beach, and eating our way through the resort’s restaurants.

While it was disappointing to cut the trip short, this experience reinforced two budget travel lessons:

1. Miles are invaluable for international trips.

2. All-inclusives can actually be cost-effective when you want a true unplugged vacation.

A make-up trip is definitely in the future.

Budget tip: Using miles for at least one leg of an international flight can make even last-minute changes more manageable.

🚗 Las Cruces, New Mexico — Birthday Road Trip with Friends (2 Nights)

Total spent: ~$363

After returning home, it was back on the road for a completely different kind of trip—a low-cost, high-fun birthday weekend in Las Cruces.

Budget Breakdown

• Airbnb (my share): $105.46

• Restaurants: $165.63

• Groceries: $91.49

Why It Worked

Road trips are one of the easiest ways to travel on a budget, especially with a group. Splitting an Airbnb kept lodging affordable, and groceries helped balance out restaurant meals. The weekend was filled with simple but meaningful activities: playing games at the rental, browsing a local farmers market, and exploring historic Old Mesilla.

No packed itinerary, no expensive attractions—just quality time with friends.

Budget tip: Mixing groceries with dining out is an easy way to save without feeling deprived.

Final Thoughts: Budget Travel Is About Adaptability

April was proof that budget travel doesn’t mean everything goes exactly as planned. Sometimes trips are shortened, flights change, or plans shift—but smart booking choices make those moments easier to handle.

From an international beach escape powered by miles to a simple New Mexico road trip filled with laughter, both adventures showed that memories don’t depend on how much you spend—only how you travel.