A new report reveals the countries that Australian luxury travellers are eyeing for their 2026 getaways.
But even among the world's top luxury hotspots, the cost of a holiday can differ sharply. So what can value-conscious travellers expect to spend if one of these destinations is on their bucket list?
Japan, Italy, Greece, Croatia and Fiji topped the list from the 2026 Virtuoso Luxe Report, which surveyed 300 of the Virtuoso luxury travel network's advisers in Australia and New Zealand.
"We've really got two clear types of travellers in the Australian market at the moment — high-end luxury, and then those people that are seeking value," Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) CEO Dean Long told SBS News.
For the broader travelling population, Indonesia, New Zealand, Japan, the United States and Thailand were the top outbound destinations this year, according to the ATIA's latest trends report.
Japan, Italy, Greece, Croatia and Fiji topped the list from the 2026 Virtuoso Luxe Report, which surveyed 300 of the Virtuoso luxury travel network's advisers in Australia and New Zealand.
Japan
Japan, which has surged in popularity across the travel market in recent years, will remain a hotspot for Australians in 2026, Long said, in part because of favourable exchange rates.
"You can really make the Aussie dollar go very far," he said. "People are taking these opportunities now to really make the most of their time to get to Japan."
Japan topped Virtuoso's list for the first time this year, according to Greg Treasure, general manager of the luxury travel network for Australia and New Zealand.
Japan has become one of the hottest destinations for Australian travellers in recent years. Popular year-round, it draws tourists for ski season, Tokyo's city scene, Kyoto's stunning cherry blossom season, and many other attractions. Source: Getty / Francesco Riccardo Iacomino
Airfares: Return airfares from Sydney to Tokyo start at around $700 if you're willing to make a stopover en route, or $1,100 for a direct journey, according to live Google Flights fares for next year.
Japan is popular year-round, but in the popular cherry blossom season in March and April, many direct flights cost upwards of $1,500 return.
Accommodation: For a 3-star room in Tokyo, expect to spend at least $85 per night for a couple in April, during Japan's peak spring season. Prices on Booking.com start from around $60 in January, which is winter time in Japan.
Food: A meal at an inexpensive restaurant in Tokyo can range from about $7.80 to $14.60, according to the Numbeo global cost of living database. On average, a coffee will set you back around $4.90 and a beer around $5.80, the crowdsourced database suggests.
Italy
While Italy will always be popular, Treasure said, price pressures, overtourism and crowding have put many travellers off European destinations in recent years.
The Colosseum is one of Rome's biggest drawcards, along with its food, history, culture and iconic landmarks. Source: Getty / Dave G Kelly
Accommodation: For a 3-star hotel in Rome in February, prices start from around $80 a night. In July, during the European summer, rooms in this bracket start from about $120.
Food: A meal at an inexpensive restaurant can range from about $21 to $44, according to the Numbeo cost of living database. A cappuccino might range between $2.10 and $4.40, while a beer might set you back around $8.80 on average.
Greece
There's long been a high level of interest for Australian travellers to Italy and Greece, Long said, and he doesn't expect that to change — but "we aren't expecting to see any significant growth" to those destinations this year across the broader Australian market.
Athens, with the world-famous Acropolis perched on a hilltop, also serves as a gateway to Greece's iconic islands, including Santorini. Source: Getty / nantonov
Accommodation: The cheapest rooms in the winter months start from around $40 a night for 3-star hotels and apartments on Booking.com. Prices start from about $60 a night in the summer peak season.
Food: The average cost of a meal at a budget-friendly restaurant is $26.60, according to the Numbeo database. A beer typically costs $8.80 on average, while a cappuccino goes for around $6.50.
Croatia
Travel to Croatia has become more expensive, Treasure explained, amid soaring popularity.
"We are seeing that there is a little bit of price pressure coming on Croatia now," he told SBS News. "Everyone hears about it, [it] becomes the next trend, and it gets really busy really quickly."
Dubrovnik in Croatia exploded in popularity after it was used as a filming location for the hit Game of Thrones TV show. Source: Getty / Nico De Pasquale Photography
Accommodation: The cheapest 3-star rooms on Booking.com for Dubrovnik in July start at about $140 a night. In February, that drops to about $75 a night.
Food: Expect to pay $26.60 on average for a meal at a reasonably-priced restaurant in Dubrovnik, according to Numbeo. A beer is estimated to cost around $12.40, while a cappuccino is around $6.35.
Fiji
Fiji is geographically the closest of the five destinations to Australia, making it the cheapest to fly to.
It was among the first international destinations to reopen for Australian travellers after the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought "exponential growth" in its popularity, Long explained.
That's brought with it a "very high price point" for accommodation.
"When we're comparing similar resort experiences to other destinations, it's really become far more challenging for Fiji to compete," Long said.
Fiji's Denarau Island, located around a 20-minute drive from Nadi International Airport, is home to a variety of major resorts. Source: Getty / Westend61
Accommodation: On Denarau Island, the resort destination closest to Nadi, 3-star accommodation starts at about $200 a night. For resort accommodation, prices start from around $400 in June and $250 in February, during the wet season.
Food: A meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs around $6.60 on average, according to Numbeo data. A beer will set you back $3.80, while a cappuccino is on average $5.10.
Note: Airfares were sourced via Google Flights live fares for 2026. Accommodation prices were based on searches conducted on Booking.com. All prices represent a range and are subject to change.
Share
