Five Travellers Share How Much Their Last Overseas Trip Really Cost
You can search for the best deals, plan extensively and have your budgeting skills down to a fine art, but knowing how much your next overseas trip will actually cost can be extremely difficult. Almost always, the best advice on costing comes from those who have seen and conquered before us.
Planning your next trip and want a better idea of how much money you should have in the bank? We asked five travellers to share with us how much they spent on their last overseas trip.
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Katie, 28 — USA
Length of time
3.5 weeks
How much did your overseas trip cost?
$10,000
In 2016 I travelled across the US and visiting LA, Palm Springs, New Orleans and New York. I didn’t have a precise budget in place, but spent around $3500 on accomodation and $700 on internal flights before I left.
I was on annual leave, so I basically planned to live off my salary for spending money while I was travelling, and ended up spending a lot more than that. I think in my head I probably imagined the trip would cost about $6k.
Obviously New York is way, WAY more expensive than anywhere else. I lucked out and found a good Airbnb, but honestly that city is ridiculous when it comes to sleeping. There’s just nothing remotely affordable that doesn’t deeply suck. So worth it though.
If I have one savings tip, it’s to book your accomodation early so you can get the better (and cheaper) Airbnbs.
Krissi, 28 — Vietnam
Length of time
Two weeks
How much did your overseas trip cost?
$3400
In June 2015, I travelled from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam over two weeks, with six stops along the way.
I got to do a bunch of stuff, including a traditional homestay in Mai Chau, swimming in the caves at Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and jumping off the top of a boat in Nha Trang. My tour set me back $1600 (including accommodation and some meals). Flights were $800 return and I took $1000 spending money.
Some of the activities we did weren’t included in the tour price, which added a couple of hundred dollars to my “play money” (a lot of tour companies will ask that you pay for additional non-compulsory activities and other tours when you get there as they’re organised through local operators).
Rob, 29 — Europe
Length of time
22 days
How much did your overseas trip cost?
$6000
Last month I did a short trip to Europe with my fiancé. We visited London, Bristol, Venice, Positano and Paris.
I didn’t put together a budget before the trip. My partner and I just gradually booked and paid for the big things (transit and accommodation) in the months before the trip, and split the costs, which made it much easier to spread the impact out. And once that was done, we tried to be conscious of our spending and took turns in paying for stuff.
The exchange rate killed me. London and Paris are both pretty reasonably priced, but we visited some quite expensive parts of Italy during the peak tourist season, and that was where my wallet felt it the most.
If I have one savings tip, it’s that waiters will leave a bread basket on your table with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It’s very nice but it’s NOT FREE. Each basket will cost you a few Euros and they’ll just keep bringing them until you stop eating it, and they won’t ask your permission.
Besides, bread is a non-delicious filler. Don’t waste too much stomach space on it when there’s delicious pizza, pasta and gelato to enjoy.
Bonny, 24 — Southeast Asia
Length of time
Three weeks
How much did your overseas trip cost?
$8,000
January of this year, my mum and I visited Vietnam and Cambodia. We were gone for just three weeks but jam-packed loads of activities in the little time we had.
We flew everywhere – a return international flight and five domestic flights cost me about $3,000. As for accommodation, we stayed at mostly four-star hotels – approximately AU$80 to AU$100 per night, twin share.
I would have stayed in hostels if I weren’t with my mum. Although, in hindsight I’m glad we opted for the better accommodation – the hostels are certainly not as nice as the ones in Europe!
We budgeted for around $50 per day, which was more than enough – everything was ridiculously cheap. This included cabs/tuk tuks, shopping and eating at nice restaurants (we weren’t too game on trying much street food).
The total cost was mainly down to the amount of tours we booked and all the private airport transfers. We did it all very comfortably and in retrospect, could have saved a fair bit staying in cheaper accommodation or being our own tour guides.
Mitch, 28 — United Kingdom
Length of time
A little over two weeks
How much did your overseas trip cost?
$4000
In October of 2014, I spent two weeks in the UK. The first week I was in London, working and staying with family with minimal cost. Then I spent a bit over a week driving through the UK from London to Edinburgh via Bath, Cardiff, Conwy, York and The Lakes District.
I was very much travelling on the cheap, staying with family where I could, opting for super cheap hostels, packing lunches – basically spending as little money as possible. Luckily for my week in London I didn’t have to spend anything on accomodation or breakfast because I was staying with family.
I was really surprised at how cheap accomodation could be. When I was spending around AU$30 per night, I was apprehensive turning up there, thinking it might be unclean, not secure or have a lack of services, but it was clean, efficient and well-run (specifically, the YHA in Conwy)
My savings tip is that if you stagger your bookings in the month leading up to your departure, the impact of the costs is spread out. You’ll be able to more easily keep track of what you’re spending and you’re less likely to return from your holiday with debt.
I would suggest booking all accommodation and transit before you go, and save up whatever you can for food, incidentals and anything you want to buy like souvenirs or clothes.
*Traveller responses have been edited for style and clarity.
(Lead image: Katie Cunningham)
