Top 6 Overseas Holidays Under $15,000 In 2024/25

With the COVID-19 border lockdowns seeming like a distant memory, the travel bug has hit many Aussies in the past couple of years, with 2024 being no exception. In fact, in a recent survey, 75% of people said they planned to travel just as much, if not more, than they did in 2023, with 35% of Aussies planning to spend more than they had previously.

So pack your bags and don’t forget your toothbrush! This article will explore each continent and the gems you can travel to for under $15,000 (almost!).

For this research to be fair across the board, we have chosen the most popular time to travel to each destination due to special events you can see at that time. We have also outlined a set of criteria for our travellers to follow:

• These trips are for two adults. 
• They are going for a six-night stay.
• They will stay in average accommodation and buy average food (not too high end, but not too budget).
• They will be flying from Sydney, Australia, and taking baggage on the plane.
• We will be focusing on five main expenses to consider when travelling: food, accommodation, flights and attractions.
• Flight price data is taken from Webjet, and travel insurance is from Covermore.
• Accommodation, food and activity prices are taken from Budget Your Trip and Booking.com unless specified otherwise.
• The information is accurate as of 11 July 2024 and is subject to change.

We’re going to make this journey as seamless as possible, start close, and gradually move further away. With that said, our travellers are off! First stop - New Zealand 

All dollar figures in this article are Australian Dollars unless stated otherwise.

On this page:

• Oceania - New Zealand
• Asia - Japan
• South America - Chile
• Europe - Türkiye (Turkey)
• Africa - Cape Town
• North America - Canada
• Antarctica, Antarctica

Originally published by Jemima Kelly in January 2023.

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1. Oceania: New Zealand

Our first stop will be the closest to home. With just a short 3-hour flight, New Zealand is always a great choice for Aussies. 

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), New Zealand is the second most popular international destination for Australian travellers. Whether this is due to the beautiful scenery (who doesn’t love a good scenic landscape), the proximity to home or simply the familiarity of it all, there’s no question that New Zealand is high on many Aussie travellers' lists. 

So, what’s an estimate for the total cost of a trip to Christchurch? The flight dates are January 21st - January 28th (which also takes advantage of the Australia Day public holiday!).

Flights to New Zealand

For two adults flying from Sydney (SYD) to Christchurch (CHC), our travellers could be looking at a total of $1,438 return for a direct flight. Keep in mind the factors that they booked six months in advance and added travel insurance and baggage to the cost. 

The price could differ significantly depending on whether you’re happy to make stops or fly direct and whether you want to go on a more expensive or budget airline. 

Our travellers went with a mid-range airline after using Webjet to compare the major airlines' offerings.

Accommodation in Christchurch

There are lots of accommodation options in Christchurch, from cute little Airbnbs to nicer inner-city hotels. Research shows that the average price ranges between $100-150 per night, depending on the couple's budget and whether they’d rather have additional space.

For this trip, our couple will opt for a mid-range hotel at $125 per night for six days, which will add up to $750 for their journey.

Food in Christchurch

Similar to Aussie dishes, New Zealand's food is strongly based on lamb, fish, seafood, and dairy. Finding fresh produce is not a challenging feat in NZ. 

Depending on what restaurants you choose to dine with, or if you head to the local Countdown and cook a couple of meals yourself, you could spend around $70-$110 a day. 

Our travellers will do both and budget for $90 a day. For six days, this totals $540 each and $1,080 for two.

What to do and see in Christchurch

There’s plenty to keep the couple entertained in Christchurch, with beautiful scenery and so many cute things to see in the town. These activities will include plenty of hiking, museums, art galleries, and exploring. Most of these activities will either be free or cost a maximum of $20.

For a fun day trip, going to Kaikoura for whale watching will cost the couple $736, including lunch and transportation.

So, for the trip, the couple will budget $200, as well as the cost of the whale-watching day trip, making their tourist experience cost around $936.

The total cost of a trip to Christchurch, New Zealand

Keeping in mind that you could go more budget or more high-end on every one of these factors, the typical trip to Christchurch, New Zealand for a couple could cost around $4,204.

Now, onto another top choice for Aussie travellers, Tokyo!

2. Asia: Japan

Our next stop is Asia, the next closest continent. Known for its serenity and rich culture, Japan is a beautiful destination for under $15,000. 

Tokyo is the most popular Japanese travel destination, not just for Aussies but globally. With a host of temples, theme parks, and other fantastic tourist attractions, it’s not hard to imagine why it saw a surge of 87.4% more Aussies travelling there in March 2024 compared to 2019.

We’ve chosen to travel in March, as this is the perfect time to see the cherry blossoms in bloom, which is why it is such a popular travel time. The dates are the 4th—11th of March.

Flights to Japan

For two adults flying from Sydney (SYD) to Tokyo Haneda (HND), our travellers could be looking at a total of $2730 return for a direct flight. Keep in mind that they booked eight months in advance and added travel insurance and baggage to the cost.

Accommodation in Tokyo 

With March being a busier time to visit due to the surge of tourists for the cherry blossoms, plus the weather begins to warm up after the chilly winter months. So hotel prices could see around a 24% increase. The couple could be looking at around $90-170 per night, depending on the location and quality of the hotel.

For this trip, the couple has opted for a hotel around $140 to stay as close to the inner city as possible. This means that for six nights, they are paying about $840 for their accommodation.

Food in Tokyo

Japan is famous for its cuisines, and in Tokyo, you can get just about anything, from sushi to ramen to karaage and so much more. There are so many different options it could be hard to choose! There are also 7-11s around every corner with cheap snacks if the couple wanted to budget some of their meals.

We’re allotting a little extra money for one night for the couple to do a sushi-making class (which can be classed as both an activity and a meal!), which will set the couple back $180 total. The total food allocation for the week will be around $60 each a day, totalling around $900 for the week for both of them.

What to do and see in Tokyo

Tokyo is a city bursting at the seams with different things to do, from temples to Mt Fuji to shopping to Disneyland! Also, with the time of year we’ve chosen to travel, take in those beautiful cherry blossoms. There are also lots of different festivals happening around that time as well.

Most day trips cost around $100-200, including transportation. Temples and museums cost closer to $15-20.

With so many things to do every day, a week won’t be hard to fill. Accounting for day trips and transport, allotting $100-$150 each per day for activities should be plenty. This means that for the six days, they’ll be spending around $1,500 for the trip.

The total cost of a trip to Tokyo, Japan

Bearing in mind that you could go more budget or more high-end on every one of these factors, the typical trip to Tokyo, Japan for a couple could cost around $5,970.

Next, a little Latin infusion - South America!

3. South America: Chile

With it being one of the only locations in South America you can directly fly to from Australia, Santiago in Chile is the perfect next stop. With culture spilling out of every sector, food to die for and plenty to see and do, we’re excited to add this Latin flare to our itinerary.

We’ve chosen to travel in November for the summertime as it’s a perfect time for wine touring and beach trips. The dates are the 4th November - 13th November.

Flights to Chile

Flights to South America aren’t cheap due to the lack of options available. For two adults flying from Sydney (SYD) to Santiago (SCL), our travellers could be looking at a total of $4938 return for a direct flight that only takes 14 hours. Keep in mind the factors that they booked four months in advance and added travel insurance and baggage to the cost.

Accommodation in Santiago

Accommodation can often be very cheap in Chile. You can get a nice, mid-range, inner-city hotel in Santiago for around $50-110 AUD a night. So, if this couple were to go middle of this range, they could be looking at around $80 a night for their accommodation, equalling $480 for the six nights.

Food in Santiago

Known for their empanadas and completos (which is a Chilian style hot-dog), getting some cheap, easy lunches is a must. From as little as $2-4 for lunch, there’s plenty of budget for sweet treats and to sample the excellent seafood for dinner. On average, the couple could spend as little as $15 each on food for the whole day, making the total food budget around $90 for the trip!

What to do and see in Santiago

There’s plenty to see and do in Santiago and the surrounding areas, and most of the activities are very cheap. Most of the museums and galleries are only around $5-20AUD. They can also take in the views with the cable car for as little as $4 for a ticket. There are also plenty of markets and shopping spots to keep them busy.

For one of the days in Santiago, the couple will be going on a wine tour. This trip will include visiting three different vineyards and sampling some of Santiago's best. This day trip includes lunch and transportation and will set the couple back $454. November is also a great time of year to visit the Andes, which is another day trip a couple might do.

With the remaining days having a daily budget of around $50, the couple will be spending $704 for their trip’s activity budget.

The total cost of a trip to Santiago, Chile

Considering that you could go more budget or more high-end on every one of these factors, splurge at more fine-dining restaurants, and add another day trip if wanted, the typical trip to Santiago, Chile, for a couple could cost around $6,213.

Up next, a little European flare - Istanbul!

4. Europe: Türkiye

Our next stop is a trip to Europe. A hidden gem along the Mediterranean shores, Türkiye (formerly known as Turkey) is a country beaming with culture, food and amazing things to do. One of the most popular things you might not even realise is in Türkiye is the famous hot air ballooning (pictured above). This is a perfect thing to add to your bucket list!

We’ve chosen to travel in March, which is the perfect time to see the iconic hot air balloons. The dates are the 4th—14th of March.

Flights to Türkiye

For two adults flying from Sydney (SYD) to Istanbul (Sabiha Gokcen Airport) (SAW), our travellers could be looking at a total of $4272 return. Keep in mind the factors that they booked eight months in advance and added travel insurance and baggage to the cost.

Accommodation in Istanbul

Accommodation is known to be one of the priciest parts of a trip to Istanbul, with 3-star hotels costing an average of $73 per night and 4-star hotels costing around $125 per night. 

With the two-day trip to see the hot air balloons on the itinerary, we’ll exclude that one night’s accommodation from the cost.

For the purpose of their trip, the couple will go in the middle and settle for $100 per night for the five nights, putting their accommodation cost at $500 for the trip.

Food in Istanbul

Known for being the birthplace of the doner kebab, Türkiye offers many yummy cuisines, from Turkish pizza to Köfte and so much more. It’s also known for sweet delicacies like Baklava and Boza. 

According to the Istanbul Airport guide, the average cost for a day of food in Istanbul is 200 Turkish Lira, which is roughly $9 Australian dollars. So, if both people keep to this budget for the week, plus maybe some fun snacks or drinks, the couple could spend less than $200 AUD for their trip.

What to do and see in Istanbul

There are plenty of things to see in Istanbul. The major experience they’ll have is going on a hot-air balloon ride. The package selected includes domestic flights to Cappadocia, one night's accommodation, and a chance to go out in the hot-air balloons. This package will set the couple back $2,614. However, if they were feeling less brave and only wanted to see the balloons, it would be $1,619.

For the rest of their trip, they can visit museums, art galleries and more for minimal cost (sometimes even free!), meaning that they could set aside around $50 a day for the other four days for other sightseeing.

The total cost of a trip to Istanbul, Türkiye

Considering that the hot air balloon experience accounts for over a third of the cost of this trip, it could cost significantly less without it or for a lesser package. For example, a couple on this type of trip to Istanbul, Türkiye, could spend around $7,587.

Next destination - Cape Town!

5. Africa: Cape Town

Our next stop is the sunny shores of Africa. Known for its wide open plains and stunning beaches, Africa can be a beautiful vacation destination. Cape Town is one of the most popular travel destinations. With its safari retreats, beaches, and endless culture, it’s a great place to vacation if you love seeing animals in their natural habitat.

We’ve chosen to travel in October as this is the perfect time to enjoy the sunshine without being in the super hot summer, which is what makes it such a popular travel time. Our chosen dates are the 16th October - 25th October.

Flights to Cape Town

For two adults flying from Sydney (SYD) to Cape Town Intl (CPT), our travellers could be looking at a total of $4,439 return for the quickest flight. Keep in mind the factors that they booked three months in advance and added travel insurance and baggage to the cost.

Accommodation in Cape Town

The couple will be doing an overnight safari during this trip, so they will only need accommodation for five nights. Looking at the average costs, they could spend between $50-130 a night for a mid-high-range hotel. With Cape Town being so close to the water, there are plenty of budget waterfront hotels available as well.

For this trip, they’ve opted for an inner-city studio apartment, which will cost them around $450 for five nights.

Food in Cape Town

Known for having a diverse culinary twist within their cuisine, you can expect to find lots of comfort foods while visiting Cape Town, including curries, seafood and plenty of sweet treats. Be sure to check out biltong, a dried cured meat, and koeksisters, a syrupy, braided doughnut. You’ll be sure to have a satisfied stomach for the stay.

The food budget for this trip is probably no more than $60 per day for the couple. This, including the meals covered during the safari trip, makes their weekly cost around $250.

What to do and see in Cape Town

There are lots of fun things to do in Cape Town. We recommend bringing your comfy shoes as there’s plenty of walking to do and lookouts to see. There’s a cable car that’ll take you to the Table Mountains. There are also the vibrant colours of the city centre to wander through, as well as markets, beach trips, and the luxury shopping district of The V&A Waterfront.

The budget for these trips will cost around $50 per person per activity (dependent on whether they succumb to the luxury shopping). Most of this will be for transport costs and entry fees.

For their trip, the couple will be opting to go on a safari to get the chance to see all the wildlife Africa has to offer up close and personal! Bearing in mind this is a two-day trip including overnight accommodation, transportation, and a full day of food, it is definitely something to get excited for. It will cost $1,173 for them both for the two days.

Including the safari and the $100-a-day budget for the other four days, the cost for activities in Cape Town will be around $1,573.

The total cost of a trip to Cape Town, Africa

Considering the couple had included an indulgent two-day safari trip and a larger hotel option, everything else was more budget-friendly. For this trip to Cape Town, Africa, the couple would spend around $6,712.

Our next destination is a bucket list dream - Canada!

6. North America: Canada

A bucket list destination if ever there was one, we travel across to Canada as our North American option. We’re continuing our journey by visiting arguably one of the most beautiful natural wonders in the world, the Northern Lights. This trip will take us to Whitehorse, Yukon, for a tranquil stay. Perfect for a couples getaway.

We’ve chosen to travel in January, as this is the perfect time to see the stunning Northern Lights. The dates selected are 19th January—29th January (also making the most of that public holiday!).

Flights to Canada

For two adults flying from Sydney (SYD) to Vancouver (YVR), our travellers could be looking at a total of $4,123 return. Keep in mind the factors that they booked six months in advance and added travel insurance and baggage to the cost.

Accommodation in Whitehorse

Once landing in Vancouver, there is a package option that includes transport from the airport to Whitehorse, where the couple will be staying. This package includes five nights in Whitehorse. For the package experience, domestic flights and accommodation are included, as well as activities. The package selected costs $6,685 for the couple.

Food in Whitehorse

With the time of year our couple is going, comfort food will be a must in the chilly conditions. Luckily for them, Canada is known for an assortment of warming foods. From poutine to soups to both sweet and savoury pies, there’s plenty for everyone.

With the average meal prices being very similar to Australia, the couple can expect to spend around $60-100 a day for food.

What to do and see in Whitehorse

Obviously, the main thing to see on this trip will be the Northern lights. They recommend staying where you can see them for at least four days to get the best chance of seeing them. The package selected gives you optimal time with other activities included.

While you have the nights to explore the Aurora lights, there is plenty to do around the city during the day. The couple can check out the local history and take a dip in the hot springs. The tour also provides either dog sledding or a snowmobile tour as fun extra options.

The total cost of a trip to Whitehorse, Canada

Considering things like direct flights and package stays, which could drastically vary the cost of this trip, a typical trip to Whitehorse, Canada, for a couple could cost around $11,408.

Next and final destination - Antarctica!

7. Antarctica, Antarctica (Obviously).

Look, we really did try to find a vacation under $15,000 on every continent. However, with flights already being over $20,000 before you even start, it appears to be impossible for this final stop. However, we said every continent, so here’s a realistic cost analysis of what you could be spending for six nights amongst the penguins and the icebergs.

We’ve chosen to travel in January as this is one of the two dates available on the voyage we found that was as close to budget as possible. The dates are the 12th—25th of January.

Flights to Antarctica

To fly to Antarctica for the trip we’ve selected, it takes two adults flying from Sydney (SYD) to Ushuaia (USH), then travelling from Punta Arenas (PUQ) For the trip we’ve selected, it takes two adults to fly to Antarctica. They would fly from Sydney (SYD) to Ushuaia (USH) and then travel from Punta Arenas (PUQ) back to Sydney. Our travellers could be looking at a total of $22,407 return, with over four days of travel.

Accommodation in Antarctica

For this trip, it seems the only real way to see Antarctica is to do some form of a cruise. The one we’ve selected is a 6-day cruise, which will cost around $8,948 per person. The couple will be collected from the airport and dropped off at the end and get a small cabin on the ship.

Food in Antarctica

The luckiest part about a cruise or other package being the only choice for a holiday like this is that all food and drinks will be provided for the entirety of the trip. So once booked, food is all sorted, other than snacks at the airport!

What to do and see in Antarctica

During this six-day cruise, there will be many chilly day trips where they’ll get to see all sorts of things, like penguins and whales, as well as other historical landmarks on the way. It would definitely be a change from the hot January we normally get and would be a once-in-a-lifetime exploration. Just make sure to pack your thermals!

The total cost of a trip to Antarctica

Considering that this is very much a quick and budget-friendly way to do it in every one of these factors, this trip to Antarctica for the couple could cost around $40,303. Yikes!

We’ve reached the end of our trip.

Thanks for flying with us as we explored some amazing and unique destinations you can visit for (mostly) under $15,000. All the best for your future travels!

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