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How much do the best bucket list destinations really cost to visit?

How many times have you felt the pull of wanderlust, the urge to book a once-in-a-lifetime holiday, only to learn your bank balance could only get you halfway there?

Well, we’re here to help Brits scratch that travel itch – all while being as cost-effective as possible.

Take a look below where we’ve costed up some of the most popular bucket list destinations in the world, ranking each according to their affordability. It’s time for you to find the cheapest dream holiday locations this summer.

How did we calculate the costs?

Flights

Using Flight Finder, flight costs were based on a week-long trip from 10 June 2023 to 17 June 2023. London was used as the departure location for all bucket list destinations, with Flight Finder’s 'Best' price being used in our calculations.

Accommodation

Accommodation costs were based on the same period of time (10 June 2023 to 17 June 2023) in the city closest to the bucket list attraction, finding the average price for the top five results in Trivago’s 'Price & Recommended’ search results.

Meals

The cost of food was based on TripAdvisor data, finding the average cost of the top five restaurants in each location’s 'Moderately Priced’ section. That average meal price was then multiplied by 21, representing the meals required for a week’s stay.

Admission

The cost of admission to our chosen bucket list destinations was either based on tickets for tourist attractions or tours of natural wonders, converted into GBP from the local currency. This gave us a simple way to compare the price of visiting these popular attractions.


How much does it cost for a bucket list holiday?

Cheapest bucket list destination: Prague Castle, Czech Republic

The largest ancient castle in the world is also the cheapest destination to tick off your bucket list. This stunning structure is an icon of Czech culture, with its towering spires synonymous with the Prague skyline. A visit to Prague Castle and a week-long stay in the Czech capital will only set you back £898 for flights, food, accommodation, and admission to the castle grounds.

Cheapest bucket list destination for flights: Prague Castle, Czech Republic

If you’re looking for the cheapest possible flight to a bucket list holiday destination, then Prague Castle once again shows its value for money. A return flight to the Czech capital only costs £51, which is cheaper than a return train fare from Manchester to London!

Cheapest bucket list destination for accommodation: Borobudur, Indonesia

While the 20-hour flight to Yogyakarta in Indonesia will set you back around £1,000, you can find some real bargains on accommodation when you are exploring the temple of Borobudur. Our research revealed that a seven-day hotel stay in Yogyakarta costs an average of £37 – that’s less than the cost of the weekly food shop!

Cheapest bucket list destination for food: Bagan, Myanmar

For those who love to explore new and exciting locales via their stomach, the ancient city of Bagan in Myanmar offers the cheapest eats. A week of sampling the local cuisine in Mandalay only costs £168, according to our research, granting the energy you need for a holiday exploring a stunning bucket list attraction.


How can I save money when travelling to bucket list destinations?

No matter where you go, whether you want to collect a camera roll of the Colosseum or have always dreamt of the view atop the Eiffel Tower, travelling across the world is an expensive endeavour.

So, to turn your holiday-of-a-lifetime into a reality, our experts have provided a list of money-saving tips that will help stretch your travel budget even further.


6 reasons to take out a holiday loan for your travel plans

Want to set your travel plans in motion but aren’t sure if you’ve got the budget? Now is a good time to consider taking out a holiday loan with Novuna Personal Finance. This finance option allows you to spread the cost of a dream holiday over several fixed-rated monthly payments.

If you want to find out more about why you should consider a personal loan for your travel plans, continue reading below.

1. Top up your budget to enjoy five-star experiences

With a holiday loan, you don’t have to settle for the holiday that fits the amount you’ve got already saved up – you’re free to enjoy the very height of luxury! Why not use a loan to top-up your funds? This can enable you to upgrade to first class on your flights, or book into an opulent five star hotel to really make your once-in-a-lifetime trip one to remember.

2. Book your dream holiday sooner

Why wait until next summer to realise your dream travel plans? If you take out a holiday loan, you could be scaling Mount Fuji or exploring Machu Picchu within a matter of weeks, without needing to wait for your savings to grow. Ideal for both impromptu travellers or those planning to jet off on a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

3. Extend your exciting travel plans

A week in the Brazilian sun sounds amazing, right? Well, how about two weeks instead? A holiday loan gives you greater flexibility by giving you a more manageable way to spread the costs. You can choose how much money you want to borrow and how long you’ll need to pay off the loan, helping you to keep monthly repayments affordable.

4. Experience everything each location has to offer

While bucket list attractions are often the reason why travellers pack their suitcases in the summer, there’s so much more you can explore in each location. By taking out a holiday loan, you don’t need to pick and choose the experiences that fit into your budget. You can go all out and see everything that you could possibly fit into your stay!

5. Reduce your holiday spending stresses

Going on holiday is a time to kick back and relax, but travelling on a tight budget can be a stressful experience as it requires you to keep a close eye on your finances. A loan removes this stress as you'll already have the money you need sorted. As our loans are fixed-rate, your payments will be the same amount every month, helping you to manage your ongoing outgoings too.

6. Ultimate flexibility when spending your money

It's entirely up to you how you use your holiday loan. You don't have to spend the money on a specific trip or itinerary. You could choose to use your loan to book several small city breaks or one big adventure. You could even use some of the money to top-up your holiday wardrobe or to cover those little extras like roaming charges or travel insurance.

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A loan of £7,500 over 5 years: rate of interest 6.9% (fixed), 6.9% APR Representative, monthly repayment of £147.44, total repayment of £8846.40

Remember, the rate you are offered may vary due to personal circumstances and loan amount, the majority of our customers receive the advertised rate. However, if you complete an application directly via the Novuna Personal Finance website and are given a higher APR, we guarantee that you'll never pay more than £244.09 per month with our maximum 34.9% APR Representative when you borrow £7,500 over 5 years*.

The maximum APR you could be offered when you borrow other loan values is 36.4%*. All loans are subject to status.

*Only for applications carried out directly via the Novuna Personal Finance website

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Novuna Personal Finance is a brand of Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC. Other brands under which we trade include Novuna Consumer Finance, Novuna Vehicle Solutions, Novuna Business Finance and Novuna Business Cash Flow.