Australians' new favourite budget-friendly holiday destinations
Research suggests saving money is more important than ever before for holiday makers, with a surge in the search for more budget friendly destinations.
Research conducted by Skyscanner has revealed Australians remain committed to overseas travel, and are finding alternate, more affordable destinations.
The survey of 1,000 found 97% of Australians are intending to take at least one overseas trip in 2023.
Around a third (33%) of respondents said that they would be looking at destinations where their money would go further, with inflation expected to continue to squeeze budgets.
Skyscanner Australian Travel Expert Jarrod Kris said that 2023 is "set to be a year of discoveries as we see emerging, pocket friendly destinations rise the ranks".
The Skyscanner data also highlighted the emerging trend of holiday makers drawing inspiration from social media.
More than a quarter of respondents said they take holiday inspiration from Facebook (28%) and Instagram (27%).
The most common source of inspiration for Australians was seeing their friends' and families' experiences on social media, with 76% saying they draw holiday ideas from their loved ones' exploits.
Below are the destinations Skyscanner expects to be among the most popular for Australian travellers in 2023.
1. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Many Australians looking for a holiday that gets the most bang for buck will inevitably be drawn to Southeast Asia. Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam all featured in the top ten nations visited by Australians in 2022, according to the ABS.
Skyscanner expects Kuala Lumpur to join these places as one of the most popular destinations for Australians where their money lasts longer. Notable features in Kuala Lumpur include the Petronas Towers - the tallest twin buildings in the world - and the 400 million year old Batu caves.
2. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
One of the more established Southeast Asian destinations, Vietnam has one of the best exchange rates for Australian people, with $1 yielding around 16,000 Vietnamese dong. Skyscanner identified the capital, Ho Chi Minh City, as one of its picks for holiday makers next year.
Named after the revolutionary President and formerly named Saigon, the city is home to numerous cultural attractions, as well as several historical points of interest, both modern and ancient.
3. Zagreb, Croatia
Skyscanner expects Zagreb and Croatia to be the European destination of choice for Australians looking to save.
Research house CEIC reports a steady growth in the number of Australians visiting Croatia in the past decade. One of the less well-travelled cities, Zagreb is still home to the grandiose architecture and culture people often associate with central-to-eastern Europe, without the extortionate cost of living of more famous cities like London and Paris in the west of the continent.
4. Amman, Jordan
When Skyscanner compared the difference in search history from 2019 to 2022, there was a 503% increase in searches for Amman, the capital of Jordan. Skyscanner attributes much of this increase to the aforementioned social media effect.
Holiday makers also do not have to worry about getting the right weather to go to Jordan, with temperatures consistently warm and dry all year round. Amman also is one of the oldest cities in the world, with evidence of civilization dating back to 8000 BC. As more travellers descend on this historic city, and share their experiences with their friends and family, there may be an exponential increase in Australians in Amman in the coming years.
5. Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City was another destination where Skyscanner found a dramatic uptake in interest over the past couple of years. Searches for the Mexican capital were up 525% on 2019.
While some may be put off by the stigma that Mexico is dangerous, Mexico City is outside of the regions the Australian Government warns against travelling. Aussies who venture to Mexico City can experience historic sites like the Teotihuacan Aztec Temple, as well as globally celebrated culture and food.
Advertisement
Looking for a credit card? The comparison table below shows credit card products that offer zero currency conversion fees on purchases.
[$0 Annual Account Fee in First Year with an ANZ Platinum credit card.
*Reverts to standard purchase rate, currently 20.99% p.a. In each subsequent year, standard Annual Account Fee (currently $87) applies. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs, fees and charges apply.
Offer ongoing until further notice.
View balances, transfer money and make payments simply and easily with the ANZ App.
Apple Pay® and Google Pay let you use your compatible Apple® or Android™ device to tap and pay with an eligible ANZ credit card.
$6, 000 Minimum credit limit
Apple Pay, Android Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, ]
[Earn 70, 000 bonus Qantas Points on a new NAB Qantas Rewards Premium Card when you spend $2, 000 on everyday purchases within 60 days of account opening.*
Enjoy a reduced annual card fee (from $295 to $150) for the first year.
Standard Balance Transfer Rate: 0% p.a. for 12 months. 3% BT fee applies. BT reverts to Cash Advance Rate. Minimum monthly repayments required.
NAB may vary or end this offer at any time.
Access to six complimentary insurances when you make an eligible purchase.
Platinum Concierge Service - your own 24 hour, 7 day personal assistant.
Complimentary Qantas Frequent Flyer membership.
Up to 44 days interest free on purchases.
Minimum credit limit $6, 000
Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, ]
[Latitude GO Mastercard® lets you buy now and pay later with a range of Interest Free Payment Plans when you shop with partner retailers, including Harvey Norman, Domayne, Joyce Mayne and thousands of other great stores.
Up to 55 days Interest Free on your everyday purchases.
Late fee $35 Note: Effective from 10th April 2024, the late fee will increase from $35 to $45. Apple Pay, Android Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, ]
[Earn 0.75 Qantas Point for every $1 spent on Card purchases, except spend at government bodies in Australia where you will earn 0.5 Qantas Points per $1 spent.
Pay no annual Card fee for up to 4 Supplementary Cards so you can earn more Qantas Points.
Eligible for use with Google Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay
Apple Pay, Android Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, ]
[Receive 80, 000 bonus Amplify Points When you apply for a new Amplify Platinum credit card and spend at least $3, 000 on eligible purchases made with the card within 90 days of card approval.
0% p.a. interest on balance transfers for 15 months when requested at card application. 1% balance transfer fee applies if you make a balance transfer. The variable cash advance rate will apply after this promotional period. New cards only.
Apply by 30 November 2021.
Enjoy uncapped points earning potential and double points earned on international spend (overseas merchants).
Complimentary insurance covers if you pay for your travel costs with your Amplify Platinum card before you leave Australia, as set out in the policy.
24/7 Concierge.
Add an additional cardholder at no extra cost.
Apple Pay, Android Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, ]
[The convenience of Visa payWave allowing you to make purchases under $100 in seconds by holding your card against the payWave terminal.
A low rate of 12.74% p.a. on retail purchases.
Exclusive Visa Entertainment offers.
Suncorp Clear Options Standard Credit Card Introductory offer of 0% p.a. for 20 months on balance transfers applies. Your total Balance Transfers may not exceed 80% of your Credit Limit. The 0% p.a. interest rate will apply to balances transferred with this offer, and the balance transfer fee, for a period of 20 months. The 20 months promotional period commences when the Balance Transfer is processed, and you must make the Balance Transfer request within the first 3 months from approval to receive this offer. This offer is valid until 28 August 2024.
Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, ]
All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product.
By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of November 13, 2024. View disclaimer.
Header image by Link Hoang, Kuala Lumpur picture by Esmonde Young, Ho Chi Minh by Peter Nguyen, Zagreb by Maja Vujic, Amman by Hisham Zayadneh, Mexico City by Bhargava Marripatti, all on Unsplash
Savings.com.au provides general information and comparison services to help you make informed financial decisions. We do not cover every product or provider in the market. Our service is free to you because we receive compensation from product providers for sponsored placements, advertisements, and referrals. Importantly, these commercial relationships do not influence our editorial integrity.
At Savings.com.au, we are passionate about helping Australians make informed financial decisions. Our dedicated editorial team works tirelessly to provide you with accurate, relevant, and unbiased information. We pride ourselves on maintaining a strict separation between our editorial and commercial teams, ensuring that the content you read is based purely on merit and not influenced by commercial interests.
Learn more about our commitment to editorial integrity in our Editorial Guidelines.
Our service is free for you, thanks to support from our partners through sponsored placements, ads, and referrals. We earn compensation by promoting products, referring you, or when you click on a product link. You might also see ads in emails, sponsored content, or directly on our site.
We strive to cover a broad range of products, providers, and services; however, we do not cover the entire market. Products in our comparison tables are sorted based on various factors, including product features, interest rates, fees, popularity, and commercial arrangements.
Some products will be marked as promoted, featured or sponsored and may appear prominently in the tables regardless of their attributes.
Additionally, certain products may present forms designed to refer you to associated companies (e.g. our mortgage broker partner) who may be able to assist you with products from the brand you selected. We may receive a fee for this referral.
You can customise your search using our sorting and filtering tools to prioritise what matters most to you, although we do not compare all features and some results associated with commercial arrangements may still appear.
For home loans, the base criteria include a $400,000 loan amount over 30 years. For car loans, the base criteria include a $30,000 loan over 5 years. For personal loans, the base criteria include a $20,000 loan over 5 years. These rates are only examples and may not include all fees and charges.
*The Comparison rate is based on a $150,000 loan over 25 years. Warning: this comparison rate is true only for this example and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate.
Monthly repayment figures are estimates that exclude fees. These estimates are based on the advertised rates for the specified term and loan amount. Actual repayments will depend on your circumstances and interest rate changes.
Monthly repayments, once the base criteria are altered by the user, will be based on the selected products’ advertised rates and determined by the loan amount, repayment type, loan term and LVR as input by the user/you.
Savings.com.au is proudly part of the InfoChoice Group, which includes InfoChoice.com.au, YourMortgage.com.au, YourInvestmentPropertyMag.com.au, and PerformanceDrive.com.au. The InfoChoice Group is associated with the Firstmac Group.
We may include products and services from loans.com.au, CarLoans.com.au, OnlineAuto.com.au, and YourMortgageBroker Pty Ltd, all associated with the Firstmac Group. Importantly, these brands are treated like any other commercial partner.
The information provided by Savings.com.au is general in nature and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation, or needs. We recommend seeking independent financial advice before making any financial decisions. Before acquiring any financial product, obtain and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Target Market Determination (TMD), and any other offer documents.
Rates and product information should be confirmed with the relevant credit provider. For more information, read Savings.com.au’s Financial Services and Credit Guide (FSCG).
Denise Raward
Emma Duffy
Harrison Astbury
William Jolly
