Average Cost for a Holiday to Popular Vacation Spots for Kiwis in 2025

The holiday season brings excitement, but expenses can spiral fast. Between flights, accommodation, activities, and unexpected costs, holiday costs in 2025 can strain your budget for months afterward.

It takes smart planning and realistic expectations about what destinations actually cost. We’ve broken down the real numbers for four popular Kiwi destinations and mapped out how to budget properly without sacrificing the experience.

Understanding Your Starting Point

Before you get lost in travel blogs and hotel photos, take a hard look at your bank account. Knowing what you can actually afford prevents that sinking feeling when credit card bills arrive weeks after you’ve unpacked.

Get honest about these key areas:

• Check your current savings balance
• Review your monthly income – does it stay consistent or jump around?
• Add up your standard living expenses each month 
• Find out how much disposable income you have left after expenses
• Look ahead for upcoming costs like insurance payments, vehicle registration, or family celebrations
• Consider other financial priorities – are you putting money toward a house deposit or a new car?
• Calculate what’s left after covering your regular bills

Your available cash tells only part of the story. Maybe you’ve got $5,000 saved, but your income drops during winter months and your car insurance renews in two weeks. That affects how much you should realistically spend on travel.

Using a simple spreadsheet through Excel or Google Sheets helps you track spending patterns over time. You’ll notice where money disappears each month and figure out how much you can genuinely put toward a holiday without derailing other plans.

Figure Out Average Cost of an International Trip

Once you know what you can afford, it’s time to research what your dream destination will actually set you back. Breaking costs into categories helps you spot where money goes and where you might save a bit.

Battling the Rising Costs of a Flight Ticket

Start here because airfares often eats the biggest chunk of your budget. Start with Google Flights, SkyScanner or Kiwi. These let you set up price alerts for specific routes. You’ll get notifications when fares drop, which beats checking manually every day. 

Flying midweek or during off-peak times can save hundreds per ticket on international flights. Budget carriers like Jetstar and Ryanair get hammered in reviews, but they’re not inherently bad – you just need to understand their model. They offer bare-bones base fares, then charge for everything else. Bring only carry-on luggage, skip the seat selection, and pack your own snacks. For a family of four, those savings multiply fast.

Look at the total journey time too; sometimes a cheaper flight means an extra stopover that’ll cost you meals and possibly a night’s accommodation.

Route	Flight Type	Price Range (NZD, per person)	Total for Family of 4 (NZD)	Source
Auckland → Sydney	Direct	$430 – $590	$1,720 – $2,360	Kiwi.com
Auckland → Denpasar (Bali)	With stopover	$944 – $991	$3,776 – $3,964	Kiwi.com
Auckland → London	With stopover	$2,088 – $2,802	$8,352 – $11,208	Kiwi.com
Auckland → Los Angeles	Direct or with stopover	$1,488 – $1,902	$5,952 – $7,608	Kiwi.com

Accommodation Costs in Bali & Other Vacation Destinations

Read reviews carefully to see what’s actually included, and what costs extra. A hotel with free breakfast might cost $20 more per night but saves you $100+ daily on morning meals for four people.

Check cancellation policies too, because plans change and you don’t want to lose your deposit.

Price Comparison Table for 3-Star Hotel Costs for Family of 4 – December 2025

The price ranges shown represent:

• Mid: Mid-range budget 3-star properties in less central locations with basic amenities
• High End: Well-rated 3-star hotels in desirable areas with better facilities and services

All prices are for the total 7-night stay and include standard room rates before additional taxes and fees.

Country	7-Night Price Range	Per Day or Night	Source	Breakfast	Pool
Bali, Indonesia	$490 – $840	$70 – $120	Booking.com, Expedia	Often included	Usually included
Los Angeles, USA	$840 – $1,330	$120 – $190	Booking.com, Expedia	Rarely included	Common
Sydney, Australia	$980 – $1,540 (USD)<br>AUD $1,510 – $2,380	$140 – $220 (USD)<br>AUD $216 – $340	Booking.com, Budget Your Trip	Sometimes included	Sometimes included
London, UK	$1,120 – $1,610 (USD)<br>£875 – £1,260	$160 – $230 (USD)<br>£125 – £180	Booking.com, Expedia	Rarely included	Rarely included

 **Accommodation for 2 adults and 2 children in one room, 7 nights (December 2025)

Tips When Choosing Hotel Accommodation

Best Value: Bali offers exceptional value at approximately half the cost of other overseas destinations, with most properties including breakfast buffets and pool facilities as standard amenities.

Most Expensive: London, being in Europe, commands the highest rates during December, with limited family room availability and most amenities charged separately. 

Seasonal Impact:

Important Factors that Affect Average Spend on Hotel Rooms

• Family Room Availability: Sydney and London have fewer true “family rooms” compared to US properties. Many require booking connecting rooms or apartments instead.
• Hidden Costs: Add 15-35% to base rates for taxes, fees, and parking. Los Angeles hotels often charge $15-40/night for parking plus resort fees.
• Breakfast Costs: Where breakfast isn’t included, expect to pay:
  • Bali: $5-10 per person
  • Los Angeles: $15-25 per person
  • Sydney: AUD $15-30 per person
  • London: £10-15 per person

• Pool Amenities: Bali and Los Angeles 3-star hotels commonly feature pools. Sydney properties occasionally have pools. London 3-star hotels rarely include pool facilities.
• Booking Recommendation: Reserve 2-3 months in advance for Sydney and Bali (peak season), 60-90 days ahead for London and Los Angeles for best availability and rates.

Pro Tip: Check Airbnb or campsites for comparable properties for longer trips like a two-week vacation. Doing so can save you a huge chunk in daily costs like food, since most Airbnbs have their own kitchen. 

Getting Around

This category catches people off guard. Will you rent a car, use taxis, or rely on public transport? In Bali, hiring a scooter or driver costs far less than constant taxi rides. Los Angeles practically demands a rental car, which means factoring in fuel and parking fees. Sydney has decent public transport, and a weekly pass might cover your family cheaper than multiple Uber trips. London’s Oyster card offers better value than buying individual Tube tickets.

Food and Drink

Count your travel days and multiply by three meals minimum. Add snacks because kids get hungry at inconvenient times. Check average restaurant prices in your destination. We’ve included a comparison above showing the massive range from $5 meals in Bali to $25 in Los Angeles before tips.

Don’t forget that US prices need an extra 25-30% added for tax and tips, while Bali prices are final. Breakfast matters too if your hotel doesn’t include it.

Average Price for Meals at Mid-Range Restaurants

Per person, per meal

Location	Average Cost	Tips & Taxes
Bali, Indonesia	$5 – $10	Prices as shown. No tips or additional taxes.
Los Angeles, USA	$20 – $25	Add 15-20% tip + 9-10% sales tax (total 24-30% extra)
Sydney, Australia	$20 – $30<br>(AUD $30 – $46)	Prices include 10% GST. No tipping required.
London, UK	$18 – $25<br>(£14 – £19)	Prices as shown. 10-12.5% service charge sometimes added.

Daily food budget for a family of 4 for 3 meals:

• Bali $60-120
• Los Angeles $300-375 
•  Sydney $240-360
• London $216-300

Activities and Entertainment

List what you want to do, then price each activity. Theme park tickets, museum entries, beach equipment rentals, and tour bookings add up quickly. Some cities offer attraction passes that bundle popular sites at a discount. Research whether kids get reduced rates or free entry at certain ages. Book popular activities ahead online. They’re often cheaper than buying tickets at the gate.

Souvenirs and Shopping

Set a realistic amount for this category and stick to it. Decide beforehand whether you’ll buy gifts for friends and family back home or just personal keepsakes. Airport shops charge premium prices, so do your souvenir shopping before you get there. Remember that luggage weight limits apply on the return journey; those extra fees for overweight bags can wipe out any bargains you found.

Building In Your Safety Net

You can plan every detail down to the last dollar, but travel has a way of throwing curveballs. Your phone takes a swim in the hotel pool. You miss a connection and need an unexpected night’s accommodation. The kids spot something they absolutely must have in a souvenir shop. These things happen, and they’re less stressful when you’ve planned for them.

Add a buffer to your total estimated costs. Some travelers use a percentage, maybe 10-15% of the overall budget. Others prefer setting aside a fixed amount, like $500 or $1,000, depending on the trip length and destination. Your comfort level with risk should guide this decision. Heading somewhere remote where help costs more? Bump up that buffer. Traveling with young kids who might get sick? You’ll want extra cushion.

This isn’t money you hope to spend. It’s insurance against the unexpected that lets you handle problems without panicking or reaching for the credit card. If you don’t use it, it goes straight back into savings when you return home.

Destination	Estimated Insurance Cost (NZD per person)
Sydney	$25 – $60
Bali / Denpasar	$87 – $125
London	$120 – $200
Los Angeles (USA)	$92.89 – $154.27

Notice how Sydney costs less? That’s because Australia and NZ have a reciprocal healthcare agreement. You’ll still pay for some services, but emergency care won’t bankrupt you. The US sits at the other end. Medical care there is expensive without insurance. A broken arm could cost thousands. London falls in the middle, though you’ll want coverage for trip cancellations given how much flights cost.

For a family of four heading to Los Angeles, you’re looking at roughly $370-$617 in added travel costs for insurance. That feels steep until you compare it to potential medical bills or losing $5,000 in non-refundable bookings.

Buy insurance when you book your trip, not the week before you leave. Many policies only cover cancellations if you purchased within a certain timeframe of making your initial booking.

Smart Strategies for Budget Friendly Holidays in 2025

Saving for a big trip doesn’t happen overnight, but small changes now add up to significant savings by departure day. Here’s how to make it easier.

Put Money Aside Now 

Open a dedicated savings account now, even if you haven’t booked your next trip. Most banks let you nickname accounts, so call it “Bali 2025” or whatever keeps you motivated. Set up automatic transfers from your main account, even $50 a week becomes $2,600 over a year. You won’t miss money that moves automatically, and watching that balance grow makes the trip feel real.

The earlier you start, the less it hurts. Saving $3,000 over six months means finding $500 monthly. Stretch that to twelve months, and you only need $250. The math is simple, but the psychological difference is huge.

Tap Into Your Points

Check your credit card rewards and Airpoints balance before booking anything. Those points sitting unused could cover flights or knock hundreds off accommodation costs. Airpoints work particularly well for domestic travel or trips to Australia, while credit card rewards often convert to travel vouchers with multiple airlines.

Compare the value though. Sometimes points give you better bang for your buck on flights than hotels, or vice versa. Calculate what you’d pay in cash versus what the points would cover.

Try Holiday Loans

Some families use holiday loans to spread costs over time rather than saving upfront. This can work if you’re disciplined about repayments and the interest rate is reasonable. You take the trip now and pay it off over the following months. It’s certainly better than using credit cards with high interest rates.

The downside? You’ll be paying interest on top of the trip cost, and you’ll still be making payments long after you’ve unpacked. If unexpected expenses pop up after you return, those loan repayments might strain your budget. Only consider this if you’ve got a stable income and you’re confident you can handle the monthly payments without stress.

If timing matters, maybe it’s a milestone birthday or limited-time opportunity, a holiday loan beats putting everything on a high-interest credit card.