Traveling is fun and fulfilling. It promises entertainment and education, and the excitement of the unknown. Among the major pitfalls you may encounter when about to or during are the expenses you never thought would crop up. At the end of the day, you wonder if all that fun was actually worth that much money. If only you had prepared for it.

Embarking on a journey - and we mean literally, a trip out of the country - entails a whole lot of preparation. It's not an instant decision you can make, especially if this is about giving yourself a break that you deserve and has been long overdue. You check out your options, find the best places to be and do reasonable scheduling (considering work and other commitments that you are tied to).

One daunting task for any traveler is having money to spend for the adventure. The bigger challenge is raising enough for it.

For anyone who has been around the globe vacationing or exploring for a worthwhile me-time, it takes careful planning to be able to get by financially each day. It's a foreign land, after all, and you have only yourself and perhaps your travel companions to rely on. Unless you have family, friends or people you know whom you can readily turn to in case you run out of money, you will need to really save up for it.

A common advice offered by savvy travelers who know how critical spending can break the entire plan is to open a dedicated travel account. If you are really serious about your plans, you need to have money for it. Simply committing to save for your trip is likely to get you nowhere, given the many day-to-day expenses you have, regardless of your lifestyle. Just as you have an emergency fund, set up a travel account where the money intended for your travel expenses will directly go.

With a travel account, you are also able to easily track your travel expenses, particularly when you are booking flights and accommodation and purchasing travel items. It works like a guarantee that the money you have set aside will not be spent for something else, and you can monitor the cost of your trip too.

Part of the money that your travel account should have should be those on your change jar. Yes, drop your spare change on a large jar and take it to the bank. This is best for families who are planning to travel together. Even the kids can pitch in some of their loose change, and be able to contribute to the cause while realizing the value of saving money in the process.

With that travel account already in place, you will have to work harder than you already do. This is a great trip that you are planning for you or with your loved ones, so make sure money will not be a problem. For now, while in the process of saving up for it, revisit your monthly expenses and find out the best areas where you can cut back. Prefer to cook than eat out. Walk home from work instead of taking the bus. Clear your closet and do a garage sale. Quit the night partying (where you can't help but spend) and watch a movie at home instead.

Purchasing durable travel essentials and gears may often mean picking the best and most trusted brands, which consequently means spending more for them. The trick, according to travel enthusiasts, is to plan ahead and make a list of the things you will need for the trip. Sit down and compute the costs you expect for buying these essentials. Watch out for price-cut promos for travel products, and grab every opportunity to get those discounts. Of course, there's always the option to find alternatives, but because this is about getting all your stuff completely safe in foreign places, you have to have the best of these bags or gears.