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Personal loan for year-end trip planning to Southeast Asia

Key Takeaways

You can take a personal loan to fulfil your dream of travelling to countries in Southeast Asia.
You must estimate travel costs like flights, hotels, sight-seeing and daytrips, to compute the required loan amount.
You can get an instant travel loan via FIRSTmoney within 10 minutes and conveniently repay it in pocket-friendly EMIs.

13 Jul 2026 by Team FinFIRST

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Southeast Asian (SEA) countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia have long been the favourite international destinations for Indian travellers. These culturally rich nations are some of the most affordable tourist destinations. With rising purchasing power, more Indians are travelling abroad every year, some with the help of travel loans. If you plan to head to Southeast Asia using a travel loan, this guide can help you estimate your travel costs.

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Typical Southeast Asia travel budget from India

While calculating your trip costs, you must consider the following to estimate your travel costs:

Flight expenses: A round-trip would typically cost you anything from ₹18,000–25,000, for most SEA countries.

Hotel costs: A budget or mid-range hotel can cost approximately ₹3,000–6,000 per night, whereas stays at resort-and-spa hotels may range upwards of ₹10,000 per night.

Day trips/sightseeing: These costs are subjective, depending on the activities you choose. Typically, day trips to islands and cultural tourist spots cost around ₹2,000–4,000+.

Other expenses: You must also account for costs like local transportation, food expenses, travel insurance, shopping, etc.

Considering the above expenses, a 7-day trip to most SEA countries can cost approximately ₹60,000–80,000 per person.

Should you use savings or an instant loan for your South East Asia trip?

Whether you should use your savings or get an instant personal loan for travel to SEA depends on your various factors.

The role of savings:

Your savings are your safety cushion, meant to bail you out of tight financial spots. An instant personal loan, however, allows you to fulfil your travel goals, and you can repay the loan in small EMIs.

Preserving liquidity:

Using up your savings for the trip may not be ideal if it reduces your emergency cushion. By taking on a loan, you can preserve your savings and tap into them when unplanned expenses crop up.

Added flexibility:

If you choose to use your savings, you may have to cut corners to stick to a fixed budget. With a personal loan, you can create an itinerary, get a proper estimate, and spend more to make the most of your trip.

How to calculate travel affordability before borrowing

Here’s what you need to do to calculate the cost of your trip and to decide whether it is better to get a travel loan vs tapping into your savings:

Estimate total costs: Shortlist hotels, flights, and activities you plan to do to get an estimate of the total general cost. Also consider expenses like food, public/local transportation, etc.

Check your available savings: If you plan to use your savings for the trip, ensure they remain untouched before your trip, so as not to foil your travel-related expenses.

Compare the gap in your savings: If your savings fall short, calculate how much you need to borrow, so that your debt, and the subsequent interest, remains low.

Calculate the impact of EMIs: You must also compute how you will fit the EMI into your monthly expenses. Your EMIs should not exceed 30%-40% of your monthly income.

Making the decision: Based on your calculations, you can decide whether to borrow or use your savings. Go for the loan only if repayment seems comfortable.

Personal loan for travel: EMI examples

The following table gives you a glimpse into the cost of an IDFC FIRST Bank FIRSTmoney personal loan for travel:

Loan Amount	Tenure	Starting Interest Rate	Approximate Monthly EMI	Approximate Total Interest Paid	Approximate Total Repayment
₹ 75,000	12 months	9.99% p.a.	₹6,594	₹4,128	₹79,128
₹ 1,50,000	24 months	9.99% p.a.	₹6,922	₹16,128	₹1,66,128
₹ 3,00,000	36 months	9.99% p.a.	₹9,677	₹48,372	₹3,48,372

*Actual EMI and interest payment may vary based on offered interest rate, tenure and lender policies.

Benefits of instant loans online for planned travel

You can travel to your dream destinations by opting for an instant loan for travel. Here are some benefits:

Swift loan approval: Instant loans are swiftly disbursed within minutes/hours, allowing you to start booking your trip without delays. For instance, FIRSTmoney by IDFC FIRST Bank offers fund disbursal in 10 minutes.

High-value loan amounts: You can borrow the precise sums you need to pay for travel expenses like flight and hotel bookings, day tours, etc. With FIRSTmoney, you can borrow loan amount from ₹50,000 to 15 lakh, depending on your needs and eligibility.

Untouched savings: The loan helps you preserve your emergency fund, you that you can bank upon them during real emergencies.

Flexible repayment tenures: You can repay the loan in budget-friendly EMIs over tenures lasting from 9 to 60 months.

Paperless application: The entire loan process can be completed digitally, with no paperwork and video KYC facilities.

Borrowing responsibly for holidays

To borrow responsibly is to balance fun with your financial health. You must set clear budgets, weight the benefits of using savings vs borrowing, and ensure you can repay EMIs comfortably. It also helps to choose travel loans with shorter tenures to reduce your interest pay-out.

Remember, the loan is a tool to help you enjoy experiences, and not to over-indulge. This allows you to enjoy your trip without future financial stress.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a personal loan for travel expenses?

Yes, you can. If you are looking for one, consider IDFC FIRST Bank’s FIRSTmoney smart personal loans starting at the lowest interest rates of 9.99% p.a.

How much EMI will I pay on a travel loan?

The EMI you have to pay depends on the amount borrowed, the applicable interest rates, and the repayment tenure. For a ₹1 Lakh personal loan for 5 years, the EMI starts at 2,124 per month.

Is it better to use savings or a loan for a vacation?

Taking a loan may be the better option if you want to preserve your savings for financial emergencies.

What is the best way to finance a holiday?

An instant holiday loan may well be the best way to finance a holiday if you don’t have adequate savings or don’t wish to use your savings to finance a trip.

Can I prepay a travel loan?

Yes, lenders in India permit prepayment or foreclosure on travel loans, but you may have to pay prepayment charges, and comply with other specific loan-related terms and conditions. FIRSTmoney offers zero foreclosure on early closure of your personal loan.

Disclaimer

The contents of this article/infographic/picture/video are meant solely for information purposes. The contents are generic in nature and for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for specific advice in your own circumstances. The information is subject to updation, completion, revision, verification and amendment and the same may change materially. The information is not intended for distribution or use by any person in any jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to law or regulation or would subject IDFC FIRST Bank or its affiliates to any licensing or registration requirements. IDFC FIRST Bank shall not be responsible for any direct/indirect loss or liability incurred by the reader for taking any financial decisions based on the contents and information mentioned. Please consult your financial advisor before making any financial decision.

The features, benefits and offers mentioned in the article are applicable as on the day of publication of this blog and is subject to change without notice. The contents herein are also subject to other product specific terms and conditions and any third party terms and conditions, as applicable. Please refer our website www.idfcfirst.bank.in for latest updates.