Being on a shoestring budget doesn’t mean you have to forego the finer things in life — like a well-deserved vacation. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy after all.
However, in order to stay within budget, most people push holidays and vacations to the bottom of their priority list. That’s not necessary smart financial management.
Even one of the world’s richest men, Li Ka-shing advised others to take a break once in a while. “Reward yourself by vacationing at least once a year. Doing so will allow you to accumulate different experiences and recharge so that you continue to have passion in your work. Save RMB 200 (RM 105) every month to be used eventually for a holiday overseas.”
If you plan in advance, you too can afford a vacation, and don’t need to spend a bomb to afford one. With just RM1,500, you can have a fantastic vacation to these destinations:
1) City of smiles, Bangkok
One of the most accessible holiday destinations if you are in Malaysia is Bangkok, Thailand. It’s so convenient to travel there nowadays, you can even plan a weekend trip.
Renowned for its colourful nightlife and fantastic shopping, the capital city of Thailand is the perfect for the city folks. Luckily, it’s possible to take local, public transportation to almost anywhere in Thailand, which means you can save on transportation and spend it elsewhere!
Here is a breakdown of how you can squeeze everything in within you budget:
a) Getting there
Total: RM434.00
b) Accommodation
Total: RM127.60
c) Getting around
You can get a Standard Rabbit card that cost 100 baht, and you can reload credit from 100 baht to 4,000 baht and it’s valid for five years. If you travel to Bangkok frequently, this will makes a lot of sense.
For a 4-day trip, you will probably need 500 baht (RM50.80) credit in your card.
Total: RM50.80
d) Sightseeing
After deducting the flight and accommodation, you still have RM887.60 for sightseeing and shopping. Here are some of the must-visit places and roughly how much you need to visit.
e) Food & drink
Now you have a balance of RM532.35 you can explore the city gastronomically and also enjoy the entertainment that the city has to offer.
2) Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh
Saigon, as it’s still usually known, is far more sprawling and modern compared to Hanoi, and it’s a lively place to visit, especially if you are on a budget. Though prices ten to be slightly higher compared to other places in Vietnam, it is still bargain to visit compared to almost anywhere else in the world.
You may find that you’ll be able to stretch your RM1,500 further in this charming city.
a) Getting there
Total: RM589.00
b) Accommodation
Total: RM117.40
c) Getting around
The best option to commute in Ho Chi Minh City is by taxi. Though it is considerably more expensive than renting a motorcycle or taking a bus, it is much better for your safety and sanity.
Taxis are still reasonably cheap starting at about 12,000 or 14,000 dong (RM1.88 or RM2.20). You can get around with 50,000 dong (RM7.80) for a trip.
It’s safe to allocate about 1,000,000 dong (RM203.90) on transportation.
Total: RM203.90
d) Sightseeing
e) Food & drink
With a balance of RM285.75 you can try out the various food and drinks in the city.
3) Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Yogyakarta is a melting pot of culture and also a shoppers’ paradise for traditional handicrafts and exotic batik prints. Inspire yourself at this beautiful, historical destination. Until today this city continues to produce philosophers, thinkers, master painters and master craftsmen.
Here’s how you can soak up the culture without burning a hole in your pocket:
a) Getting there
Total: RM600.00
b) Accommodation
Total: RM105.95
c) Getting around
In Yogyakarta, you can get around with a taxi, bus or even trishaw. The base fare for a taxi is 6,000Rp (RM1.60) and should not exceed 15,000Rp (RM4.10) during the day.
Estimate about RM85 for transport.
Total: RM85.00
d) Sightseeing
e) Food and drinks
You now have RM338.95 to splurge on food and drinks. And if there’s anything left, you can shop more!
Going on a vacation doesn’t have to result in debt if you plan wisely and stick to it. These are just some vacation destinations you can consider with RM1,500. It’s not that difficult to save up RM1,500 — it’s just RM125 a month!
There are definitely more places you could go to. If you plan the timing of your flight booking and accommodation, you can probably save more. Some of these destinations are always on promotion on certain budget airlines, and you can easily use your credit card to accumulate air miles to redeem a free flight! You just need the right credit card to get started.
