Sources
Every number, and where it came from.
The calculators on this site are only worth using if you can check them. This page lists the 41 figures behind them — what each one is right now, when it was verified, and a link to the source that publishes it.
Where a source gives a range, we lean toward the higher end. The estimates are deliberately biased toward over-counting, because the failure people actually regret is under-budgeting a trip.
Road trip and driving
| What we use | Current value | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| National average gas price | $4.09/gal | Aug 28, 2026 | AAA Fuel Prices |
| IRS standard mileage rate | 76.0¢/mi | Jul 1–Dec 31, 2026 | IRS standard mileage rates |
| Wear and tear (non-fuel, per mile) | $0.10/mi | 2025 edition | AAA Your Driving Costs |
| Rental car, per day | $83 | Summer 2026 | CheapCarRental airport survey |
| Mid-trip hotel, per night | $152 | July 2026 | CoStar/STR US hotel performance |
Disney World
| What we use | Current value | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-day, 1-park adult ticket | $119–$209 | Aug 2026 | Disney World official tickets |
| Ticket price used as mid-season average | $160/person/day | Aug 2026 | Touring Plans 2026 ticket table |
| Lightning Lane Multi Pass | $27/person/day | Aug 2026 | Disney Food Blog confirmed prices |
| Park Hopper add-on | $89/ticket | 2026–27 | Touring Plans |
| Value resort, per night | $215 | Jun 2026 | Theme Parks Guide |
| Moderate resort, per night | $350 | Jun 2026 | Theme Parks Guide |
| Deluxe resort, per night | $750 | Jun 2026 | Theme Parks Guide |
Cruise — daily gratuities
| What we use | Current value | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival | $17.00/person/day | Apr 2, 2026 | Carnival official |
| Royal Caribbean | $18.50/person/day | 2026 | Royal Caribbean official FAQ |
| Norwegian (NCL) | $20.00/person/day | 2026 | NCL official FAQ |
| MSC | $17.00/person/day | May 11, 2026 | MSC official service charges |
| Princess | $18.00/person/day | Mar 8, 2026 | Cruise Critic |
| Celebrity | $19.50/person/day | Jul 29, 2026 | USA Today |
| Holland America | $18.00/person/day | Jun 1, 2026 | Deep Arrival |
| Disney Cruise Line | $16.00/person/day | Jun 2026 | Deep Arrival |
| Virgin Voyages | $22.00/person/day | Oct 2025 | Virgin Voyages official FAQ |
Cruise — add-ons
| What we use | Current value | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival CHEERS | $84/person/day | Aug 2026 | Carnival official |
| Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage | $105/person/day | Jun 2026 | Royal Caribbean Blog |
| NCL Unlimited Open Bar | $54/person/day | Jun 2026 | NCL Free at Sea |
| MSC Premium Extra | $86/person/day | Jun 2026 | Deep Arrival |
| Princess Plus | $65/person/day | 2026 | Princess official terms |
| Ship Wi-Fi | $25/device/day | Aug 2026 | eSIM Cruise Wi-Fi survey |
| Shore excursion | $80/person/port | 2026 | Cruise line published excursion pricing |
All-inclusive and destination fees
| What we use | Current value | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quintana Roo Visitax (Cancún / Riviera Maya) | 283–293 MXN (~US$15–18) per person | 2026 | Official Visitax portal |
| Cancún environmental sanitation fee | 83 MXN per room per night | Feb 2026 | Reporte Quintana Roo |
| Jamaica Tourism Enhancement Fee | US$20 air arrival / US$2 cruise | 2026 | Tourism Enhancement Fund |
| Bahamas departure tax | US$23 sea / BS$15 air, plus levies | Aug 2026 | Bahamas Customs |
Points and cards
| What we use | Current value | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | 1.50¢/point (transfer) | Jul 23, 2026 | Frequent Miler Reasonable Redemption Values |
| Amex Membership Rewards | 1.50¢/point (transfer) | Jul 23, 2026 | Frequent Miler RRV |
| Capital One Miles | 1.45¢/point (transfer) | Jul 23, 2026 | Frequent Miler RRV |
| Citi ThankYou | 1.50¢/point (transfer) | Jul 23, 2026 | Frequent Miler RRV |
| World of Hyatt | 1.50¢/point | Jul 23, 2026 | Frequent Miler RRV |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 0.73¢/point | Jul 23, 2026 | Frequent Miler RRV |
| Hilton Honors | 0.41¢/point | Jul 23, 2026 | Frequent Miler RRV |
Airfare and lodging baselines
| What we use | Current value | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| US domestic average round-trip fare | $428 | Q1 2026 | Bureau of Transportation Statistics |
| US average daily hotel rate | $171.74 | July 2026 | CoStar/STR |
What these numbers are not. They are published rates and industry averages, not live quotes. A real booking can land 20% either side of any figure here depending on date, occupancy, and promotion. Use the calculators to triangulate a realistic budget, then confirm with the operator before you book.
How often this changes. The full data set is re-verified quarterly, and sooner when an operator announces a change mid-quarter — five cruise lines raised gratuities during 2026, and each was picked up within weeks. The date on every row above is the date that specific figure was last checked against its source.
Found something wrong? Email chris@vacationmath.co. Corrections get made and the row gets re-dated.