Revolut recently conducted a survey with research company YouGov on a representative sample of 1,000+ Australians aged 18-65+. The survey has revealed that Aussies are ramping up their travel plans in 2025 — with more trips, more destinations, and more flexibility through workcations. Despite the enthusiasm, financial anxiety remains high, especially when it comes to exchange rates and unexpected travel costs.
More than a Quarter of Australians are Taking 3 or More Holidays in 2025
The data shows that over a quarter (28 per cent) of Australians plan to take at least 3 or more leisure trips in 2025 — while 61 per cent are planning one or two holidays, signalling that despite rising costs, Aussie wanderlust remains relatively high.
Top travel destinations for 2025 include a mix of regional favourites and long-haul spots. The 10 most popular destinations for Aussie’s in 2025 include:
Australia (49 per cent)
United Kingdom (26 per cent)
New Zealand (25 per cent)
United States (23 per cent)
Canada (19 per cent)
Japan (18 per cent)
France (16 per cent)
Italy (15 per cent)
Singapore (14 per cent)
Germany (13 per cent)
These closely mirror the destinations where Australians spent the most in 2024, according to findings from Revolut’s inaugural Global Travel Spending Report. These top 10 countries account for 64 per cent of all travel spend in 2024: United Kingdom (12 per cent), Japan (8 per cent), the United States (8 per cent), Italy (7 per cent), Ireland (6 per cent), France (6 per cent), Spain (5 per cent), Indonesia (4 per cent), Greece (4 per cent) and New Zealand (3 per cent).
While this signals continuity in destination preferences, Revolut data for 2024 highlights that Aussies are seeking out cheaper and culturally rich destinations, including Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam, and South Korea, that are closer to home. Traditional European destinations have experienced major spending declines, with North America has also taking a hit, with USA (-22 per cent) and Canada (-28 per cent) both falling out of favour. High costs, weaker exchange rates, and long travel times are likely culprits.
As cost-of-living pressures continue to mount, it appears that younger Australians are still prioritising international travel, with Millennials accounting for 31 per cent of total international spend in 2024. This is followed by the 35–44 group (20 per cent), and two equally strong cohorts—18–24 and 45–54, both at 15 per cent. While older age groups are travelling less, younger and mid-life travellers are clearly steering the shift toward Asia-Pacific
Travel Yes, Luxury No: Most Australians Say ‘Not Yet’ to High-End Holidays
Australians are travelling more, but not necessarily in luxury. The vast majority (73 per cent) allocate less than 30 per cent of their travel budget to luxury experiences. Only 3 per cent of respondents allocate 71-100% of their travel to luxury experiences, suggesting a more grounded and value-conscious approach where high-end travel remains an occasional indulgence rather than a regular practice for most Australians as cost of living pressures continue to strain household budgets.
Most respondents blend mid-range and budget options, reflecting a more intentional and diverse approach to travel spending.
Budget travel allocation is diverse: 49 per cent of respondents dedicate just 0-30 per cent of their travel to budget options, while 16 per cent allocate 71-100 per cent of their travels to budget-friendly trips.
Mid-range travel shows similar patterns: 53 per cent of respondents allocate 0-30 per cent of their travel to mid-range experiences, while 16 per cent dedicate 71-100 per cent of their trips to this balanced category.
This value-conscious mindset is echoed in actual spending data from Revolut’s 2024 Global Spending Report. Spending patterns abroad are experience-driven, with Aussie’s abroad prioritising dining (30 per cent) and shopping (22 per cent) making up over half of total international spending, highlighting a desire for new culinary experiences and retail purchases despite a weaker Aussie dollar. Categories like groceries (11 per cent), travel (10 per cent), and transport (8 per cent) round out essential expenditures, while entertainment (3 per cent) and services (3 per cent) remain smaller but stable contributors.
Workcations Hold Steady, But Uncertainty Creeps In
Following an increase in return-to-office mandates in some companies, according to the survey, only a small portion of workers maintain the flexibility to work while traveling. Only around two thirds (34 per cent) of respondents are taking or planning to take workcations in 2025, holding steady from 2024 (34 per cent).
However, workcations remain far from mainstream. More than half (62 per cent) of Australians say they either don’t travel overseas for workcations or are unsure if they will. Notably, the share of respondents selecting ‘don’t know’ has almost doubled from 3 per cent in 2024 to 5 per cent in 2025. While still a minority, this shift may point to growing uncertainty around future travel or workplace flexibility — potentially reflecting economic factors, evolving employer policies, or personal decision-making still in flux.
Top Financial Concern Abroad? The Costs You Don’t See Coming
The biggest financial concern when travelling? It’s not currency conversion or airport prices — it’s the unexpected. According to the survey:
Australians cited high currency exchange rates (41 per cent) and unexpected expenses and emergencies (41 per cent) as their top travel concerns
35 per cent are concerned about hidden costs like taxes, tips, or baggage fees
33 per cent worry about card fraud and security risks
30 per cent dread transaction fees
29 per cent fear overspending beyond planned budgets
Higher amongst younger Australians: 18-24 (38 per cent) and 25-34 (35 per cent)
28 per cent worry about the affordability of travel insurance
27 per cent are concerned about hidden costs like taxes, tips, or baggage fees
Even in a digital-first economy:
19 per cent face limited bank access abroad
15 per cent struggle to track expenses in real time
9 per cent cite difficulty managing group expenses
Only 15 per cent of respondents say they have no financial concerns at all when travelling — highlighting the continued demand for transparent, secure, and seamless cross-border money management.
“Revolut was founded on the belief that money shouldn’t get in the way of exploring the world,” said Charlie Short, Head of Growth APAC, Revolut. “From real time exchange rates, to multi-currency wallets, instant spend alerts and on-the-go fraud protection, we’ve built tools that help travellers move smarter, safer, and with total control. As work and life become more global, Revolut is uniquely positioned to support this next chapter — wherever the journey leads.”
How Revolut Empowers Smarter, Safer, More Connected Travel
Budgeting tools, all in real-time – Revolut offers several budgeting tools that can help users keep track of their spending. Set spend limits, track by category, receive alerts, and monitor every transaction live, giving travellers complete oversight of their expenses.
Managing group expenses – With Revolut’s Group Bills feature, users can keep track of group expenses (even if they’re paid across multiple different currencies) and either instantly settle them directly within the app or at the end of a trip.
eSIMs – Travellers can stay connected in over 100 countries with a Revolut eSIM—no physical SIM cards required. Simply activate a data plan in-app, enjoy instant internet access, track usage, and top up on the go without unexpected roaming charges. Dual SIM support lets users keep their local number active while using their eSIM for data, giving modern travellers the best of both worlds.
No surprise fees, competitive FX rates – Revolut enables users to exchange currencies at competitive exchange rates. Users can spend in over 200 countries worldwide and store up to 39 currencies in their Revolut wallet. These include the most recently added Chinese Yuan (CNY) and Vietnamese Dong (VND). Users can exchange currencies in-app at favourable rates, hold them for future trips, and maximise savings with automatic stop and limit orders — no manual monitoring needed.
Security-first experience controls – In case of a misplaced card or any suspicious transactions, Revolut users can instantly freeze their card in-app. Revolut also offers a unique feature called single-use virtual disposable cards which can be used at physical stores as well as online. The card details disappear after one transaction, protecting users from fraud. Up to 5 disposable cards can be generated daily.
