Weekend Trip Planner: the calculation logic (Omni-level)

A good weekend plan answers two questions: “How much will this cost?” and “What’s the simplest schedule that still feels fun?” This calculator uses a transparent budget model: it adds up the big categories (transport, lodging, food, activities), then applies an optional buffer percentage for “weekend surprise costs” (snacks, parking, tips, last-minute tickets, etc.).

You choose the number of nights (1–3). The tool assumes days = nights + 1. For example, 2 nights typically means 3 days (Fri, Sat, Sun). That matters because food and activities are usually “per day” expenses.

The planner supports four transport modes:

• Drive: It estimates fuel using:
  Fuel cost = (roundtrip miles ÷ MPG) × gas price. Roundtrip miles = one-way miles × 2.
• Flight: It uses a simple estimate:
  Flight cost = flight per person × travelers.
• Train/Bus: Treat it like a flat “local transport total” if you want, or put the ticket estimate into “local transit/parking” as a total amount.
• Mixed: If you’re unsure, you can leave distance/flight blank and just use the “local transit/parking” total as a placeholder.

Then it adds local transit/parking to handle parking fees, metros, rideshares, tolls, or “airport to hotel” costs. For a weekend trip, this line item is often the sneaky budget killer.

Lodging is treated as a total cost for the whole group: Lodging total = lodging per night × nights. If you’re splitting an Airbnb, this is the easiest way to budget. If everyone books separately, you can still estimate a group total (or only include your own cost).

Food is the most “variable” category, so the planner uses a clean estimate: Food total = food per person per day × travelers × days. This is intentionally simple: you can include coffee, snacks, and one paid meal — or keep it low if you’re cooking.

Activities are estimated as a group total per day: Activities total = activities per day × days. It’s perfect for tickets, rentals, tours, museum admissions, and “we will definitely do this” plans.

After the base total is calculated, the tool applies your buffer percentage: Total with buffer = base total × (1 + buffer%/100). Many weekend trips feel expensive because the “small” purchases stack quickly. A 10% buffer makes your plan more realistic and prevents awkward money conversations later.

Finally: Per person = total with buffer ÷ travelers. This is the number that helps a friend quickly decide “yes / no” without asking 12 questions.

The Vibe Score is a playful 0–100 indicator that blends: (a) how balanced the plan is (buffer included), (b) whether you included lodging + food (two essentials), and (c) whether transportation inputs look reasonable. It’s designed for fun sharing — not as a serious travel recommendation engine.

Weekend trip examples (quick sanity checks)

• One-way miles: 180 → roundtrip = 360
• MPG: 28, gas: $3.49 → fuel ≈ (360/28)×3.49 ≈ $44.9
• Lodging: $180/night × 2 = $360
• Food: $45/person/day × 4 × 3 days = $540
• Activities: $70/day × 3 = $210
• Local transit/parking: $60
• Base ≈ $1,214.9 → with 10% buffer ≈ $1,336.4
• Per person ≈ $334

• Flight: $220/person × 2 = $440
• Lodging: $220/night × 2 = $440
• Food: $65/person/day × 2 × 3 = $390
• Activities: $80/day × 3 = $240
• Local transit: $90
• Base = $1,600 → with 15% buffer = $1,840
• Per person = $920

The point of these examples isn’t “perfect accuracy” — it’s fast clarity. A weekend plan works when everyone agrees on the budget range before you book.

How the itinerary + packing checklist is generated

Once you calculate, the tool generates a simple weekend schedule with “blocks” (morning / afternoon / night). This is intentional: strict schedules break easily, but blocks keep everyone aligned.

• Balanced: One big activity per day + flexible meals.
• Relax: More downtime blocks and fewer “must-do” items.
• Adventure: Earlier mornings + 2 activity blocks on Saturday.
• City + food: museum/shops + evening dinner focus.
• Nature escape: hike/outdoor blocks + earlier nights.

The packing list is style-based and covers essentials (IDs, chargers, meds), plus optional adds (swimsuit, hiking shoes, layers). It’s not meant to replace a full packing app — it’s meant to be “good enough” for a weekend.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need exact prices?

  No — estimates are fine. The goal is a realistic range so you can decide quickly.

• Should lodging be “per person” or “total”?

  This tool assumes lodging is a group total per night (best for Airbnbs/hotels split).

• What buffer should I use?

  10% is a strong default. Use 15–20% if you expect lots of spontaneous spending, paid parking, or “we’ll just Uber” behavior.

• Can I plan a day trip?

  Yes: pick 1 night and set lodging to $0 if you’re not staying overnight. The “days” model still works.

• Does this tool book anything for me?

  No. It’s a planning calculator only — no booking and no external integrations.