Australians' new favourite budget-friendly holiday destinations

Research conducted by Skyscanner has revealed Australians remain committed to overseas travel, and are finding alternate, more affordable destinations.

The survey of 1,000 found 97% of Australians are intending to take at least one overseas trip in 2023.

Around a third (33%) of respondents said that they would be looking at destinations where their money would go further, with inflation expected to continue to squeeze budgets.

Skyscanner Australian Travel Expert Jarrod Kris said that 2023 is "set to be a year of discoveries as we see emerging, pocket friendly destinations rise the ranks".

The Skyscanner data also highlighted the emerging trend of holiday makers drawing inspiration from social media.

More than a quarter of respondents said they take holiday inspiration from Facebook (28%) and Instagram (27%).

The most common source of inspiration for Australians was seeing their friends' and families' experiences on social media, with 76% saying they draw holiday ideas from their loved ones' exploits.

Below are the destinations Skyscanner expects to be among the most popular for Australian travellers in 2023.

1. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Many Australians looking for a holiday that gets the most bang for buck will inevitably be drawn to Southeast Asia. Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam all featured in the top ten nations visited by Australians in 2022, according to the ABS.

Skyscanner expects Kuala Lumpur to join these places as one of the most popular destinations for Australians where their money lasts longer. Notable features in Kuala Lumpur include the Petronas Towers - the tallest twin buildings in the world - and the 400 million year old Batu caves.

2. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

One of the more established Southeast Asian destinations, Vietnam has one of the best exchange rates for Australian people, with $1 yielding around 16,000 Vietnamese dong. Skyscanner identified the capital, Ho Chi Minh City, as one of its picks for holiday makers next year.

Named after the revolutionary President and formerly named Saigon, the city is home to numerous cultural attractions, as well as several historical points of interest, both modern and ancient.

3. Zagreb, Croatia

Skyscanner expects Zagreb and Croatia to be the European destination of choice for Australians looking to save.

Research house CEIC reports a steady growth in the number of Australians visiting Croatia in the past decade. One of the less well-travelled cities, Zagreb is still home to the grandiose architecture and culture people often associate with central-to-eastern Europe, without the extortionate cost of living of more famous cities like London and Paris in the west of the continent.

4. Amman, Jordan

When Skyscanner compared the difference in search history from 2019 to 2022, there was a 503% increase in searches for Amman, the capital of Jordan. Skyscanner attributes much of this increase to the aforementioned social media effect.

Holiday makers also do not have to worry about getting the right weather to go to Jordan, with temperatures consistently warm and dry all year round. Amman also is one of the oldest cities in the world, with evidence of civilization dating back to 8000 BC. As more travellers descend on this historic city, and share their experiences with their friends and family, there may be an exponential increase in Australians in Amman in the coming years.

5. Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City was another destination where Skyscanner found a dramatic uptake in interest over the past couple of years. Searches for the Mexican capital were up 525% on 2019.

While some may be put off by the stigma that Mexico is dangerous, Mexico City is outside of the regions the Australian Government warns against travelling. Aussies who venture to Mexico City can experience historic sites like the Teotihuacan Aztec Temple, as well as globally celebrated culture and food.

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Header image by Link Hoang, Kuala Lumpur picture by Esmonde Young, Ho Chi Minh by Peter Nguyen, Zagreb by Maja Vujic, Amman by Hisham Zayadneh, Mexico City by Bhargava Marripatti, all on Unsplash