We know everyone loves a European summer (or winter), but new data shows that destinations in South East Asia are the best value for Aussie travellers.
While most travellers often look for the cheapest flights when booking a trip away, most forget to factor local costs of accommodation, food and transportation that can turn a cheap-value holiday skyrocketing into a budget-breaking nightmare.
Imagine scoring a cheap flight to Singapore only to find out you need around $300 a day to survive there.
Luckily, skyscanner.com.au did some research for all you budget-breakers out there – comparing prices for flights as well as the average daily costs you will encounter (like, you know, food) while on holiday.
Kuala Lumpur was revealed as the most budget-friendly destination for Aussies this year, with a five-day trip, including flights and common amenities (food, accommodation and travel) costing a little over $800. Repeat, including flights.
Phuket and Bangkok are also amongst the top dollar-saving destinations this year, with estimated costs totaling $880 and $1,060 respectively. However, Singapore was found to be the most expensive destination at $2,209 – almost three times the cost of a trip to Kuala Lumpur.
The research shows how important it is to factor in all costs for a holiday – and take advantage of that high Aussie dollar of course.
For example, while Christchurch may be the cheapest to fly to since the average flight fare is $432, the total trip (for 5 days) will cost $1,177 due to expenses estimated at $149 per day.
Similarly, while the average flights to Phuket and Singapore cost a similar amount, the difference between the daily costs in each city is $260 – making Singapore a hell of a lot more expensive to visit than Phuket.
If you’re confused, this useful little graph should clear things up a bit:
Skycanner’s data also found that return flights to popular holiday destinations are 15 per cent cheaper than last year! That means Aussies visiting these destinations can save an average of $134 – that’s nine plates of smashed avo on toast (or a deposit on a two bedroom).
$134 also adds up to 55 cups of coffee – but only in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, home of the cheapest cappuccino. So if you’re a coffee enthusiast Vietnam is perfect if you don’t want to break the bank.
Emily Callahan, Principal Growth Manager at Skyscanner Australia & New Zealand, said that Aussie travellers can save a bundle compared to 2016 – but should think about more than just the flights.
“While Aussies should take advantage of these lower fares, we recommend factoring the costs of common holiday expenses when deciding which destination to visit to avoid any nasty surprises.
“With this research, value-conscious travellers can get the best deals possible and identify destinations to visit to upsize their dollar,” she said.
