Revolut, the global fintech company with more than 55 million customers worldwide, recently conducted a survey with research company YouGov on a representative sample of 1,000+ Singaporeans aged 18-65+. The survey revealed that Singaporeans are ramping up their travel plans in 2025 — with more trips, more destinations, and more flexibility through workations. But despite the enthusiasm, financial anxiety remains high – especially when it comes to unexpected travel costs.
1 in 4 Singaporeans Taken or Plan to Take 3 or More Holidays in 2025
The data shows that over 25% of Singaporeans have taken or plan to take at least three leisure trips in 2025 — while more than half have either taken or are planning one or two holidays. The travel bug is clearly back.
Top travel destinations for 2025 include a mix of regional favourites and long-haul spots. The 10 most popular destinations for Singaporeans in 2025 include:
- Malaysia (43%)
- Japan (36%)
- China (30%)
- Taiwan (26%)
- Thailand (24%)
- Australia (21%)
- South Korea (20%)
- Hong Kong, Macau, New Zealand, Indonesia, the United Kingdom (15%)
- Vietnam (14%)
- United States (12%)
These closely mirror the destinations where Singaporeans spent the most in 2024, according to findings from Revolut’s inaugural Global Travel Spending Report which shows the top 10 countries with the highest international spending by Singaporeans are Malaysia (17%), Japan (15%), South Korea (9%), United Kingdom (6%), Thailand (6%), Australia (6%), United States (5%), France (4%), Indonesia (4%) and Italy (3%).
While this signals continuity in destination preferences, Revolut data for 2024 also shows a rising interest in newer destinations. Spending in destinations such as Brazil and Peru have
catapulted in the last year, with spending in both destinations up 24% and 34% respectively.
Additionally, spending in holiday destinations like Sri Lanka has surged — up 55% year-on-year — as more Singaporeans seek fresh, off-the-beaten-path experiences.
Notably, outbound travel is led by 25–44-year-olds, who account for 59% of all international spending. Their evolving preferences are reshaping where — and how — Singaporeans choose to travel.
Travel Yes, Luxury No: Most Singaporeans Say ‘Not Yet’ to High-End Holidays
Singaporeans are travelling more, but not necessarily in luxury. The vast majority (89%) allocate less than 30% of their travel budget to luxury experiences. Only 1% of respondents allocate 71-100% of their travel to luxury experiences, suggesting a more grounded and value-conscious approach where high-end travel remains an occasional indulgence rather than a regular practice for most Singaporeans.
Most respondents blend mid-range and budget options, reflecting a more intentional and diverse approach to travel spending.
- Budget travel allocation is diverse: 46% of respondents dedicate just 0-30% of their travel to budget options, while 17% allocate 71-100% of their travels to budget-friendly trips.
- Mid-range travel shows similar patterns: 43% of respondents allocate 0-30% of their travel to mid-range experiences, while 23% dedicate 71-100% of their trips to this balanced category.
This value-conscious mindset is echoed in actual spending data from Revolut’s 2024 Global Spending Report. Spending patterns abroad are experience-driven, with shopping (33%) leading all categories—a testament to Singaporeans’ affinity for fashion, luxury, and retail
tourism. Restaurants (24%) come second, showing strong interest in culinary experiences.
Categories like travel (10%), health (10%), and groceries (11%) round out essential and wellness-related expenditures, while entertainment (3%) and services (2%) remain smaller but stable contributors.
Workations Hold Steady, But Uncertainty Creeps In
Despite potential return-to-office mandates in some companies, according to the survey, a significant portion of workers maintain the flexibility to work while traveling. Approximately a third (30%) of respondents are taking or planning to take workations in 2025, similar to 2024.
However, workations remain far from mainstream. Roughly two-thirds of Singaporeans say they either don’t travel overseas for workations or are unsure if they will. Notably, the share of respondents selecting ‘don’t know’ has tripled from 2% in 2024 to 6% in 2025. While still a minority, this shift may point to growing uncertainty around future travel or workplace flexibility — potentially reflecting economic factors, evolving employer policies, or personal decision-making still in flux.
Top Financial Concern Abroad? The Costs You Don’t See Coming
The biggest financial concern when travelling? It’s not currency conversion or airport prices — it’s the unexpected. According to the survey:
- 47% of Singaporeans cite unexpected expenses or emergencies as their top financial concern
- 38% worry about card fraud or security risks
- 38% fear overspending
- 37% are concerned about hidden costs like taxes, tips, or baggage fees
- 36% are worried about high exchange rates, while 30% dread foreign transaction fees
Even in a digital-first economy:
- 17% face limited bank access abroad
- 17% struggle to track expenses in real time
- 17% worry about the affordability of travel insurance
- 12% cite difficulty managing group expenses
Only 10% of respondents say they have no financial concerns at all when travelling — highlighting the continued demand for transparent, secure, and seamless cross-border money management.
“Revolut was founded on the belief that money shouldn’t get in the way of exploring the world,” said Ashley Thomas, Head of Strategy & Operations at Revolut Singapore. “From real exchange rates with no hidden fees, to multi-currency wallets, instant spend alerts and on-the-go fraud protection, we’ve built tools that help travellers move smarter, safer, and with total control. As work and life become more global, Revolut is uniquely positioned to support this next chapter — wherever the journey leads.”
How Revolut Empowers Smarter, Safer, More Connected Travel
- Security-first experience controls – In case of a misplaced card or any suspicious transactions, Revolut users can instantly freeze their card in-app. Revolut also offers a unique feature called single-use virtual disposable cards which can be used at physical stores as well as online. The card details disappear after one transaction, protecting users from fraud. Up to 5 disposable cards can be generated daily.
- Budgeting tools, all in real-time – Revolut offers several budgeting tools that can help users keep track of their spending. Set spend limits, track by category, receive alerts, and monitor every transaction live — giving travellers complete oversight of their expenses.
- No hidden FX fees, competitive exchange rates – Revolut enables users to exchange currencies at competitive exchange rates. Users can spend in over 200 countries worldwide without any foreign exchange fees[1] and store up to 39 currencies in their Revolut wallet. These include the most recently added Chinese Yuan (CNY) and Vietnamese Dong (VND). Users can exchange currencies in-app at favourable rates, hold them for future trips, and maximise savings with automatic stop and limit orders — no manual monitoring needed.
- Managing group expenses – With Revolut’s Group Bills feature, users can keep track of group expenses (even if they’re paid across multiple different currencies) and either instantly settle them directly within the app, or at the end of a trip.
- eSIMs – Travellers can stay connected in over 100 countries with a Revolut eSIM—no physical SIM cards required. Simply activate a data plan in-app, enjoy instant internet access, track usage, and top up on the go without unexpected roaming charges. Dual SIM support lets users keep their local number active while using their eSIM for data, giving modern travellers the best of both worlds.
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