- Eunice Mecija, a Taylor Swift fan from the Philippines, shared how she budgeted for the Eras Singapore tour.
- Mecija's trip includes a flight to Malaysia and then a bus trip to Singapore.
- She said it was worth splurging on the trip because she's been a Swiftie since she was in elementary school.
This story as told is based on a conversation with Eunice Mecija, a 24-year-old graphic designer and Taylor Swift fan from the Philippines. It has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider verified Mecija's spending.
I was a Taylor Swift fan for as long as I can remember. When I was in elementary school, my dad and I used to bond over Taylor's music on car rides. We often bought pirated CDs from him burned 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 at Philippines it was in 2014 during his red tour. So when it was announced that Taylor's only stopover in Southeast Asia was in Singapore, I knew missing 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: Concert ticket
How much does it cost: $294
My friend's sister lives in Singapore, so she helped me find a ticket during the presale for cardholders with United Overseas Bank. There was more than a million people in the virtual queue to collect tickets.
I managed to purchase a category 3 ticket for $294.
Expense: 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 carriers like Singapore Airlines And Scooter were already exhausted. I decided to book a flight from Manila to Kuala Lumpur with AirAsia instead 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 taking a flight there.
Expense: Accommodation – nine nights
How much does it cost: $1,110
I plan to be in Singapore from March 6th to 9th to attend the concert. I also plan to spend three days before and after the concert in the Malaysian capital. I invited my parents to join me in Kuala Lumpur in the days following the concert.
I booked six nights in a four-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur, which cost 335 Malaysian ringgits, or about $70, per night. That was about $420 total.
In Singapore, I booked a four-star hotel for S$311, 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 cash-strapped during vacations because I enjoy a certain luxury while traveling. After all, why settle for less when you can treat yourself a little?
I am 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 crowns, or $250. This includes reserved standing room, early entry privileges and VIP benefits. Surprisingly, the international tickets were more affordable than typical concert tickets in the Philippines, which can cost over $300 for the top categories.
Overall, I feel like it was definitely worth splurging on this trip. A lot of my friends are Swifties, and they've been supportive and happy that I'll finally get to see Taylor in person. And I'm delighted to indulge in Singapore's food scene again. I wanted to perfect fishball noodles for a year and I can't wait to have a feast at a local food court.