Pension-friendly travel destinations

Do you see lots of your friends travelling around and wonder how you can do it on a measly pension? It’s actually achievable with a bit of prior planning!

It’s a myth that travel has to be expensive – we’ve found 8 destinations in Australia and abroad that will cost very little. When will you go?

The below information is based on saving $100 a fortnight of your pension. This is doable if you spend:

• $200 rent or mortgage a week
• $100 food a fortnight
• $50 entertainment
• $50 medical

= <$100 left over per fortnight

1. Vietnam

Cost of return airfare for one person (ex Sydney): $520 via Air Asia X

Flight time: 8.5 hours to Kuala Lumper, 2 hours to Ho Chi Minh

Spending money needed for 7 days: $200

Average cost of a night in an OK hotel: $15 x 7 = $105

Average cost of a meal in Ho Chi Minh: $2.50 x 28 = $70

Time to save on pension: $895 = 18 weeks (9 fortnights)

2. Bali

Cost of return airfare for one person (ex Sydney): $450 via Jetstar

Flight time: 6 hours non-stop

Spending money needed for 7 days: $250

Average cost of a night in an OK hotel: $15 x 7 = $105

Average cost of a meal in Denpasar: $2.50 x 28 = $70

Time to save on pension: $875 = 17.5 weeks (8 fortnights)

3. Sri Lanka

Cost of return airfare for one person (ex Sydney): $680 via Air Asia X

Flight time: 8.5 hours to Kuala Lumper, 3.5 hours to Colombo

Spending money needed for 7 days: $200

Average cost of a night in an OK hotel: $23 x 7 = $161

Average cost of a meal in Colombo: $2.35 x 28 = $65.80

Time to save on pension: $1100 = 22 weeks (11 fortnights)

4. New Zealand

Cost of return airfare for one person (ex Sydney): $320 via Virgin Australia

Flight time: 3 hours

Spending money needed for 7 days: $300

Average cost of a night in an OK hotel: $46 x 7 = $322

Average cost of a meal in Auckland: $12 x 21 = $252

Time to save on pension: $1200 = 24 weeks (12 fortnights)

5. Tasmania

Cost of return airfare for one person (ex Sydney): $161 via Jetstar

Flight time: 1 hr 55 min

Spending money needed for 7 days: $300

Average cost of a night in an OK hotel: $62 x 7 = $434

Average cost of a meal in Hobart: $15 x 21 = $315

Time to save on pension: $1200 = 24 weeks (12 fortnights)

6. Los Angeles

Cost of return airfare for one person (ex Sydney): $960 via Delta

Flight time: 14 hours

Spending money needed for 7 days: $600

Average cost of a night in an OK hotel: $90 x 7 = $630

Average cost of a meal in Hollywood: $11 x 21 = $231

Time to save on pension: $2421 = 48 weeks (24 fortnights)

Tell us: where would you go?