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- Eunice Mecija, a Taylor Swift fan from the Philippines, shared how she budgeted for the Eras Tour in Singapore.
- Mecija’s trip includes a flight to Malaysia and then a bus ride to Singapore.
- He said it’s worth spending money on the trip since he’s been a Swiftie since he was in elementary school.
This story told is based on a conversation with Eunice Mecija, a 24-year-old graphic artist and Taylor Swift fan from the Philippines. It has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider verified Mecija’s expenses.
I’ve been a Taylor Swift fan for as long as I can remember. When she was in elementary school, my dad and I used to bond over Taylor’s music during car rides. We often bought her pirated burned CDs at a local mall in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, where I live.
I had to follow Taylor from afar. The last time she gave a concert in the Philippines was in 2014 during her Red Tour. So when it was announced that the only stop on Taylor’s Eras Tour in Southeast Asia would be Singapore, I knew missing out on my favorite artist was out of the question. Singapore was one of five countries I traveled to last year and knowing how safe the city-state is influenced my decision to get tickets.
Expense: Ticket to the concert
How much does it cost: $294
My friend’s sister lives in Singapore, so she helped me get a ticket during the pre-sale for United Overseas Bank cardholders. There were more than 1 million people in the virtual line to get tickets.
I managed to buy a category 3 ticket for $294.
Expenses: International transportation – flight and bus.
How much does it cost: $260
The next step was to book flights to Singapore. Direct flights from Manila on airlines such as Singapore Airlines and Scoot were already sold out. I decided to book a flight from Manila to Kuala Lumpur with AirAsia for 14,000 Philippine pesos, or about $250.
To get to Singapore, I booked a round-trip bus ticket from Kuala Lumpur to the city-state for 664 pesos, which is much cheaper than flying there.
Expenses: Accommodation – nine nights
How much it cost: $1,110
I have planned to be in Singapore from March 6 to 9 to see the concert. I also plan to spend three days before and after the concert in the capital of Malaysia. I invited my parents to join me in Kuala Lumpur in the days after the concert.
I booked six nights at a four-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur, which cost 335 Malaysian ringgit, or about $70, per night. In total they amounted to about 420 dollars.
In Singapore, I booked a four-star hotel for 311 Singapore dollars, or about $230, per night. For three nights it cost me $690.
In total, I budgeted a little over $1,600 for this trip. I avoid being too tight on money on vacation as I enjoy some luxuries on my trips. After all, why settle for less when you can treat yourself?
I’m also preparing for another trip to Stockholm for Taylor’s Eras Tour stop there in May. I managed to get the “We Never Go Out of Style” package, which cost 2,625 Swedish Krona, or $250. That includes a reserved room, early entry privileges and VIP perks. Surprisingly, the international tickets were more affordable than typical concert tickets in the Philippines, which can cost upwards of $300 for top categories.
Overall, I feel this trip was worth the splurge. A lot of my friends are Swifties and they were supportive and happy that I could finally see Taylor in person. And I’m excited to enjoy Singapore’s food scene again. I’ve been craving the perfect fish ball noodles for a year now and I can’t wait to feast on it at a local food court.