How much does it cost to go abroad?

If you’re dreaming of sitting by the pool or lying down on a sunlounger on the beach, then you need to know how much it's going to cost. 

In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know - from the cost of flights and travel insurance to the best options for holiday money. 

Plus, I’ll also reveal tips for ways to save money and help stretch your holiday budget even further. 

How much does it cost to go on holiday abroad?

It really depends on where you go, how long for and what type of accommodation you want to stay in. 

For example, flights from the UK to Europe usually cost between £60 to £150 return, according to Kayak. 

Whereas a long-haul flight from London to a destination in North America or Asia averages around £500 to £1,000. 

In terms of accommodation, self-catering is the cheapest option. For example, in Spain you can get a self-catering cottage or apartment for around £50 to £150 per night. 

It can work out to be more cost-effective to book a package holiday which includes flights and accommodation, for example, Jet2 says the average price of a week-long stay in Europe is around £900 per person. This works out as £128 per night. 

There are a number of different options for accommodation, from self-catering to half-board and all-inclusive. It’s worth doing some research about local prices to think about whether you want to save money by booking self-catering. This is good if you prefer to cook your own meals, and perhaps you could have just one or two dinners out. 

Some holidaymakers prefer to book an all-inclusive holiday because they find it good value for money, as all of your food and drinks are included. While others find it a useful way to manage their budget, as they don’t have to worry about additional spending once they arrive at their accommodation - but it’s worth taking time to think about what suits you best before you book. 

An all-inclusive package will usually cost around 15-30% more than self-catering, but it is possible to find deals which mean it works out similar in price if you’re able to shop around. 

You should always compare the prices of booking as a package holiday or separately. If you book a package deal, then you should get ATOL protection, which is useful if anything goes wrong (such as the airline going bust), as you will get your money back or have your flight home arranged. 

Use our holiday budget calculator to work out how much you want to spend. 

How to get the cheapest baggage costs?

Never pay for luggage at the airport. Paying for your baggage online is always cheaper. 

Baggage costs vary by airline, which can make it very difficult to compare costs. 

For example, on Ryanair small personal bags are free, while a pre-booked 10kg bag costs from £9.49 to £44.99 each way. While a pre-booked 20kg bag costs £18.99 to £49.99 each way. At the airport you could pay £59.99 to check a bag in if you’re not pre-booked. 

While under-seat bags are free on easyHet, standard hold bags (23kg) cost between £9.49 to £50 one-way. 

On most airlines you can share the total baggage allowance across all the bags, but it’s worth checking before you travel. For example, you could have paid for 4 x 10kg bags - but you could take 2 x 20kg suitcases. 

You can use our baggage allowance checker to check for your airline. 

Use Icelolly.com to compare package holiday costs or SkyScanner to compare flights. 

Get travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday

The most ideal time to buy travel insurance is as soon as you book your holiday. It should cover you in case you need medical care while abroad, as well as cancellations and lost baggage or passports. It costs from as little as £3.50. 

If you get ill on holiday and don’t have cover, then you could end up with a huge bill. For example, a holidaymaker who needed medical treatment in Spain following a fall needed emergency medical repatriation back to the UK, and the cost was £124,000.

And another individual was handed a £67,000 bill when they needed medical treatment in the Canary Islands for a lung condition.

In general, you should aim for £2 million medical cover in Europe and £5-£10 million in the USA and the rest of the world, £3,000 for cancellation, £1,500 for baggage and £2 million for personal liability. 

Looking to save money? It’s worth comparing travel insurance quotes before buying a policy.

How to get the best deal on holiday money

Before you go away on holiday, work out a budget for spending and then think about whether you want to take cash or use your card. 

It’s always good to have a small amount of cash in the local currency to pay for taxi rides or for an emergency. 

It’s always worth checking if there are fees for using your credit or debit card abroad. 

Compare holiday money rather than buying it from the airport foreign exchange, as you’ll get a much better rate. You can either pick them up or buy online and get the cash delivered. 

There are a number of debit cards which are good for using abroad. For example, Starling Bank is free to spend and withdraw cash (up to £300 per day) while abroad. 

Chase Bank also offers fee-free spending and withdrawals worldwide - up to a max of £1,500 per month. 

While Monzo offers free spending worldwide and withdrawals in the EEA up to £200 are free, this is limited to every 30 days, before a 3% fee applies. 

Four must-do checks before you book a holiday

There are also a few hidden extra costs that you’ll want to avoid before booking a holiday:

• Check visa entry requirements to see what you’ll need before you travel

• Find out if you need to pay tourist tax at your hotel or airport

• Check to see if you need any vaccinations

• Book your travel or airport packing in advance

Read our holiday checklist before you pack to make sure you have everything you need.

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