It’s too expensive for me to go on vacation to the United States…

I’ve always wanted to do this—at least once in my life. Maybe when I retire and finally have more free time. Right now, it’s just too expensive for me to take a vacation in the United States. I’ve made plans, looked for cheaper routes… but it’s tough. Plane tickets for a family of four cost around $8,000. Renting a car for three weeks or a month adds another $2,000. That’s already $10,000. Then there’s food, gas, entertainment, and accommodation—probably another $10,000 on top of that.

I’m writing this because one of my friends from the States is coming to Europe at the end of the month, and it got me thinking. I opened Google Maps to see what a road trip across America might look like if I wanted to visit all my friends there. According to the route, I’d fly from Bucharest to New York, where my first friend lives. From there, I’d rent a car and begin my American road trip:

New York → Buffalo → Ann Arbor → Chicago → Seattle → Reno → Oakland → San Jose → Atlanta → and finally back to New York, where I’d fly home.

In total, it would be over 7,000 miles. Clearly, I don’t have the money for such a trip right now—but it’s something I’d love to do someday: a journey across the United States to visit all my friends who live there.

So, in conclusion—what kind of budget should I plan for a trip like this? So, for now I can’t afford this trip. I need to start making money for it…