Travel Splurges That Are Worth It
Travel || ||We like to save some money while we’re travelling, I think most people do! Sometimes we stay in cheaper hotels, cook meals ourselves, and take public transit instead of cabs. But there are some experiences that are worth splurging on! I got together with some other travel bloggers to share their favorite travel splurges that are worth it!
In Water Massage At The Blue Lagoon
On a cold October day my Step Mom and I finished our trip to Iceland at the Blue Lagoon. Entrance to the Blue Lagoon could be considered a splurge itself, costing about ISK 6990 (about 66USD). We opted to splurge further and book a 60-minute in water massage. At our appointment time we went over to the area of the lagoon for our massages. We lay on a floating mat that kept our bodies just below the surface in the warm water; they also laid a large heavy towel on top of us to make sure we stayed warm. The massage was a heavenly experience. They massaged our backs, legs, arms and neck, all while we soaked in the warm water. After our treatment we were able to continue floating for a while longer before getting up to relax in the rest of the lagoon. This experience set us back about ISK 16300 or about $155USD. It was worth every penny to end our amazing vacation so relaxed!
Japan’s Ryokan Hotels
With every visit to Japan I would always spurge on at least one traditional Ryokan stay, in hotels that have been built around onsen baths, with waters sourced from surrounding hot springs. But there is more to these hotel stays than the onsite hot springs, as they are more a bundle of awesome Japanese experiences, set in traditional Japanese surroundings, with guestrooms decorated in tatami matting and sliding door partitions, and centred with a shin-height table set with traditional tea ware to swig on high-end green teas. In the wardrobe there will likely be Kimonos/Yukata that can be used for comfort around the hotel, and for visiting the onsite onsens. However, the main draw for me is the food, as traditional multi-course kaiseki feasts will be served in evening times (and maybe again for breakfast) including all sorts of weird and wonderful Japanese dishes. To name a few, there will likely be sushi, sashimi, tempura, and maybe a table barbecue, or a suki-yaki hot-pot. And while you do pay a premium for onsen hotels, the additional individual experiences make them great value for money.
Allan, Live Less Ordinary
Halong Bay Cruise
In 2017 we quit our jobs and decided to travel indefinitely (aka until the money runs out!). We had already decided though, that we were going to have one big splurge at the beginning of our travels: a three day cruise in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay.
We knew that you could get relatively cheap cruises, but like everything else in life, you get what you pay for. Because seeing Halong Bay was on top of both of our bucket lists, we decided to splash out on a decent tour. We didn’t regret it! Those three days on board of the Carina are probably still one of the greatest highlights of our big tour.
It’s such an amazing experience to gently sail through Halong Bay and see the hundreds of incredible beautiful islets floating by. During those three days we kayaked in a breathtaking lagoon, enjoyed daily 9-course meals, explored majestic caves, learned how cultured pearls are grown and just enjoyed the unparalleled beauty of the Halong Bay.
At one point during this cruise had the opportunity to climb a hill on Titop Island. It’s a rather steep climb, but you get rewarded with a one-in-a-lifetime view of the bay, especially if you time it around sunset. This splurge was definitely worth every penny.
Thomas, TripGourmets
Private Villa In Crete
This year, one of my good friends turned 30. Instead of booking a group hostel or crashing at someone’s house, twelve of us got together and splurged on an amazing private villa in Crete. We had a private pool, access to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and a beautiful space to lounge in to recover from hangovers and sunburns. We took advantage of Crete’s natural beauty to climb down into Seitan Limania beach, but we also thoroughly enjoyed the nightlife in the nearby town of Chania. The best part of having a villa instead of a few hotel rooms or something less expensive was that we got to spend our downtime together, in a beautiful setting, with beach views and surrounded by creature comforts. I can’t wait to do it all over again soon.
Stephanie, Sofia Adventures
Private Island In Abu Dhabi
If you really want to splurge when you travel why not overdo it and book a private villa on a private island in Abu Dhabi?
No convinced it is fancy enough? Okay, when it comes to luxury Dubai has it all – but even Abu Dhabi, Dubai’s sister and capital in the United Arab Emirates, knows how to impress with its most beautiful island in the region.
Zaya Nurai Island can only reached via boat from Abu Dhabi and after a 12-minute boat tour you´ll arrive at the secluded and lovely island…it gets even better once you are in your own villa. With your own pool. And with your own beach section.
While there are pools and beach sections for all guests, it is totally fun to have so much privacy to yourself!
So, if you want to splurge and are in the United Arab Emirates, make sure to book a night at this beautiful island! It is not cheap, apparently but definitely worth the money!
Arzo, Arzo Travels
Niagara Falls Helicopter Tour
When I was in Niagara Falls, I splurged on a helicopter ride. Of course, you can see the Falls on several other more budget-friendly attractions like a boat tour, the Cave of the Winds, and Journey Behind the Falls, but I felt like flying over Niagara was something I just had to do. The flight was only 12 minutes long, but the aerial view of the Whirlpool Rapids, Rainbow Bridge and of course Niagara Falls were spectacular. The pilot circled over the Canadian Falls so that everyone in the helicopter got an amazing view. My helicopter ride over Niagara Falls was a special experience that I will always remember.
Anisa, Two Traveling Texans
Golf At St. Andrews
The hubster and I had a destination wedding in England. While most Americans tend to want destination weddings in tropical paradises, we opted to have ours amongst the rolling history-filled hills of the English countryside. I knew that I wanted to utilize our wedding location to my advantage when I got him his wedding gift. The hubster is an avid golfer and after our wedding, we were heading to Scotland for a mini-moon of sorts with friends. Who could win Wife of the Year and get her husband a round at St. Andrews? This gal.
With all the prestige that surrounds a round of golf at St. Andrews, I figured it would be tough to get a reservation. But it ended up being very easy to book online. With seven courses open to the public, you have plenty of options depending on your dates. I opted to book him and our friend at the Castle Course with sweeping views of the sea and the city of St. Andrew’s. The cost was £240GBP ($320USD) for two people which included a caddy…and lifetime of memories with one big item checked off the bucket list! Score! (Not Fore!)
Caroline, Not Your Average Gal
Snorkel In The Silfra Fissure
It may seem silly to pay $169 to snorkel in 3 degree Celsius water, but it definitely is worth it. The Silfra Fissure in Iceland is a crack between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. People can snorkel or scuba dive in this technically “no man’s land” for an otherworldly experience. Silfra Fissure is the only place in the world that you can do this and boasts to have the clearest water in the world. The water is so pure that you can drink it and can see through it for hundreds of meters. I shiver thinking about this experience. Not only because of the nearly-freezing water temperature but because it was so spectacular. Looking back, the investment was pennies compared to the fortune of memories that were made.
Martha, Quirky Globetrotter
Custom Perfume In France
When we travel, we enjoy splurging on things that we can take home with us to commemorate our travels. While in Paris, we went on a unique tour of the Fragonard Parfumeur! After learning all about the history and making of perfume, we had the chance to purchase some Fragonard perfume! Fragonard Parfumeur a luxury perfume brand based in France, so we couldn’t help ourselves. We decided to splurge on a custom gift box of five perfumes. Not only was it worth it in the moment, but it was an investment that we could continue to enjoy even after we returned home. Since we got five perfumes in our gift box, we decided to give them as gifts to our loved ones. Every time we wear our perfume, we think about the memories we made in France!
Pam and Kathrine, Everywhere Forward
Private Sunrise Tour in Tikal, Guatemala
It really wasn’t expensive at all, much less from a European point of view, but we had just arrived to Central America and had next to nothing in our pockets, as our main goal was to volunteer there. We knew we would not be sleeping in hotels or eating in restaurants but visiting Tikal was something we could not pass, being one of the most important ruins in the world. The entry fee only was GTQ150. We made some friends on the bus from Mexico to Guatemala and we all decided to get a tour which would include seeing the sunrise from the top of a pyramid and a guided tour through the huge land Tikal covered. We paid GTQ125 each for the guide and surprise! An extra GTQ100 to enter before 6am. However, walking through the jungle among howler monkeys, climbing up the pyramid in the dark and seeing the sunbeams appear in the horizon in absolute silence, feeling on top of the world… it was worth it. Our guide was amazing as well, and we enjoyed every second of our tour! I can’t think of a best start for a year in Guatemala!
Alba, Waddling In The Wild
Kayaking and Boat Cruise In New Zealand
One of my biggest but most worthwhile travel splurges was on a kayaking and boat cruise around Milford Sound, New Zealand. I’m usually big on budgeting when I travel, opting to save the pennies wherever possible. However, this was totally worth it.
Milford Sound is one of the most incredible places I’ve ever visited…ever. Situated on the south western side of South Island, it is a lost and unique world entirely distinct from other parts of the country. Here, giant cliff faces descend dramatically into open water, waterfalls cascade in torrents around every corner and you feel utterly dwarfed by the environment.
It is a nature in all its glory; the scale of which is something to behold.
Which is why kayaking around it was so remarkable. The peace and quiet was somehow juxtaposed with the enormity of the place; as if my mind couldn’t compute how something so colossal could be so fantastically quiet. It seemed we were the only ones there- except for the seals that gallivanted around our boats. To get on the cruise ship later in the day and explore even further only added to the immensity of the experience.
For a budget traveller, it was $200 well spent.
Danny, Coddiwomp
Boutique Hotel In Costa Rica
Budget backpacking is the only way we’ve ever travelled. It enables us to travel for longer more often, and we love how it gets us out amongst the locals. But, we do indulge in the occasional splurge! We’ve even treated ourselves to a stay at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai.
Our most recent splurge though, was in Jaco Costa Rica. We’d been backpacking through Central America for months, travelling on chicken buses and enduring daily cold showers. When we realised our thirtieth wedding anniversary was upon us. It was time to treat ourselves to some hot water.
So, we booked ourselves into the Oceano Boutique Hotel and Gallery choosing a luxury suite with a fully equipped kitchen. It cost four times the amount we’d been paying for accommodation, but it was so worth it. Not just because of the hot water, fridge, comfy bed and swimming pool. But because we all deserve to treat ourselves and relax in a little or a lot, of luxury sometimes.
Audrey, Gumnuts Abroad
Whale Watching In New Zealand
Going whale watching has always been on my bucket list. When we were in New Zealand I realised there was a chance to go on a whale watching tour as we were headed to Kaikoura, a popular destination for whale watching. We looked into the costs and it is definitely a splurge for us at $150 NZD per adult and $60NZD for kids. However, we saw from reviews that Whale Watch Kaikoura is a great tour company and they are incredibly good at finding the whales and making your tour as comfortable as possible. Of course, they can’t guarantee that you will definitely see a whale but your chances are good.
Myself and my 10-year-old went out on a sunny, clear day in November and were feeling nervous and excited. After a slightly choppy 45 min boat ride we reached the area where a whale had been spotted earlier. Luckily for us a sperm whale had come up to breathe just as we arrived and we were able to see it in all it’s glory for 15 minutes and then watch it dive back under! It was really incredible and to top it off a pod of dolphins came to the boat on the way back and we spent another 15 minutes watching them play around us.
We don’t often splurge on our travels but this time it was money well spent.
Suewan, Round The World Families
Naghol Land Diving, Vanuatu
Naghol Land Diving in Vanuatu is one of the most unique and off the beaten track travel splurges you’ll come across. Getting from Port Vila to Pentecot Island where Nagol Land Diving is held will cost you $150 each way. Entrance to Naghol Land Diving is a further $120. Then you’ll have to stay a few night on the island as flights only land once every three days. Oh, and a 4WD taxi from your guesthouse to the Land Diving site will cost upwards of $50 per person, and take you down some of the worst quality roads you’ve ever seen in your life.
However, it is all worth it when you stand at the base of a 30m tall wooden structure deep in the jungle, which men jump off with vines tied to their legs, and collide with the ground below. As you watch on, with the tribal chants ringing through the jungle, you will forever be impressed with this travel splurge.
Josh, The Lost Passport
Wine and Tapas Tour in Barcelona
Since Barcelona is known for its amazing food, I knew a food tour would be an important part of our upcoming trip. I researched my options and discovered a company called Devour Barcelona. All of their reviews were excellent, but the price was more than I usually pay for a food tour. After much deliberation I decided to book their Wine and Tapas Tour. At almost $100 a person, this was definitely a splurge. On the night of our tour we arrived at the first location and discovered there would be only four of us participating–definitely a bonus. Led by our charming guide, Dom, the evening was so much fun. After three hours of great conversation, delicious tapas, and plenty of wine, I knew I had made the right decision. What makes a food tour great is the combination of good food and a deeper appreciation of the local culture. This splurge definitely delivered on both parts.
Wendy www.EmptyNestersHitTheRoad.com
Private Guide In Santorini
We try to be very careful with money during our travels. If you cut back in some places where it doesn’t seem that big of a deal for you, the money you free up can go towards something that feels extra special. For example, I don’t care that much about food so I scrimp on that wherever I can! The money we save there goes towards the splurge! Sometimes a splurge is SO worth it.
Often, our splurge on a trip is a private guide. We take a look at all the sites we’ll see and choose one to explore with the help of a local private guide. With a private guide, the pace is completely up to you. We buzz through things that don’t interest us and linger where we find something fascinating. We love getting to have all our questions answered and have a really in depth experience. On the Greek island of Santorini, we chose a private guide for the ancient ruins of Akrotiri. She gave us some detailed information and pointed out subtle things in the ruins I would have missed otherwise. It was an opportunity of a lifetime and a worthwhile splurge!!
Natalie, The Educational Tourist
What do you think? Have you ever splurged on something while you were traveling that was totally worth it? Let me know in the comments!
One response to “Travel Splurges That Are Worth It”
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There you share many places to traveling in there. I like to traveling . I like to going some adventure. First time I see this places all first time. I will try to go there. Thanks for share.