- Eunice Mesija, a Taylor Swift fan from the Philippines, shared how she budgeted for her Elas tour in Singapore.
- Meshiha's trip included a flight to Malaysia and then a bus trip to Singapore.
- She's been a Swiftie fan since elementary school, so she said this trip was worth the splurge.
This told story is based on conversations with Eunice Mesija, a 24-year-old graphic artist and Taylor Swift fan from the Philippines. Edited for length and clarity. Business Insider confirmed her Mecija spending.
I've been a Taylor Swift fan for as long as I can remember. When I was in elementary school, my dad and I would bond while listening to Taylor music during car rides. We often bought her burnt bootleg CDs at local shopping malls in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, where I live.
I had to follow Taylor from a distance. The last time she performed in concert in the Philippines was in 2014 during her Red Tour. So when it was announced that Singapore would be the stop on Taylor's only Elas tour in Southeast Asia, I knew it was out of the question to miss out on my favorite artist. Singapore was one of her five countries I traveled to last year and knowing how safe this city-state is influenced my decision to secure a ticket.
Cost: concert ticket
Price: $294
My friend's sister lives in Singapore and helped her get tickets during United Overseas Bank's pre-sale for cardholders. More than 1 million people gathered in a virtual line to get tickets.
I was able to purchase a Category 3 ticket for $294.
Costs: International transportation costs – planes and buses
How much did it cost: $260
The next step was to book a flight to Singapore. Direct flights from Manila on airlines such as Singapore Airlines and Scoot have already sold out. Instead, I decided to book a flight from Manila to Kuala Lumpur on 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. This is much cheaper than flying.
Cost: Accommodation – 9 nights
Cost: $1,110
I'm planning to go to Singapore from March 6th to 9th to see the concert. They will also be spending three days in the Malaysian capital before and after the concert. A few days after the concert, I invited my parents to Kuala Lumpur.
I booked a 4-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur for 6 nights and it cost MYR 335 per night, or about $70. Total came to about $420.
In Singapore, we booked a 4-star hotel for 311 Singapore dollars a night, or about $230. It cost us $690 for 3 nights.
Our total budget for this trip was just over $1,600. I enjoy luxuries when I travel, so I try not to worry too much about money while on vacation. After all, why settle for less when you can treat yourself a little?
I'm also preparing for another trip to Stockholm to join Taylor's Elas Tour in Stockholm in May. I managed to get the “We Never Go Out of Style” package. The price was 2,625 Swedish kronor, or $250. This includes reserved standing room seating, early admission benefits, and VIP benefits. Surprisingly, international tickets were more affordable than typical concert tickets in the Philippines, which cost over $300 in the highest category.
Overall, I feel it was definitely worth the splurge on this trip. Many of my friends are Swifties and they were so supportive and happy that I was able to meet Taylor in person. And I'm excited to be able to enjoy Singapore's food scene once again. I've been craving the perfect fish ball noodle for the past year here. I can't wait to feast at the local food court.
