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:
= <$100 left over per fortnight
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)