October 7, 2024

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Swifty from the Philippines spends $1,600 to buy concert tickets in Singapore, extended vacation

Swifty from the Philippines spends ,600 to buy concert tickets in Singapore, extended vacation

Eunice Misija traveled to Singapore to attend the only Taylor Swift concert in the region.
Don Arnold/TAS24/Getty Images/Courtesy of Eunice Misiga

  • Eunice Misiga, a Taylor Swift fan from the Philippines, shared how she budgeted for the Eras Tour in Singapore.
  • Misia's itinerary includes a flight to Malaysia, then a bus trip to Singapore.
  • She said it was worth showing off on the trip because she's been Swifty since she was in elementary school.

This narrated story is based on a conversation with Eunice Misega, 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 fan of Taylor Swift for as long as I can remember. When I was in elementary school, my father and I would connect to Taylor's music on car rides. We often bought her burned CDs from a local mall in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, where I live.

I had to follow Taylor from afar. The last time she performed a concert in the Philippines was in 2014 during her Red Tour. So when it was announced that Taylor's only stop for the Eras tour in Southeast Asia was in Singapore, I knew missing my favorite artist was out of the question. Singapore was one of the five countries I traveled to last year, and knowing how safe this city is influenced my decision to secure tickets.

Taylor Swift's 2014 Red Tour made several stops in Southeast Asia.
Nikki Loh/TASS/Getty Images

Expenses: concert ticket

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How much it costs: $294

My friend's sister lives in Singapore, so she helped me get a ticket during the pre-sale for cardholders at United Overseas Bank. There were more than a million people in the virtual line to get tickets.

I was able to purchase a Class 3 ticket for $294.

Expenses: International transportation – flight and buses

How much does it cost: $260

The next step was to book flights to Singapore. Direct flights from Manila have already been sold out on airlines such as Singapore Airlines and Scoot. 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 costs: $1,110

I planned to be in Singapore from March 6th to 9th for the ceremony. 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 ceremony.

I booked six nights at a four-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur, costing 335 Malaysian ringgit, or about $70 per night. That totaled about $420.

Mecija has been a fan of Taylor Swift since she was in elementary school.
Courtesy of Eunice Misiga

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 just over $1,600 for this trip. I avoid being aggressive about spending money on vacations because I enjoy some luxuries on my travels. After all, why settle for less when you can pamper yourself a little?

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I'm also gearing up for another trip to Stockholm for Taylor's Eras Tour stop there in May. I was able to get the “We Never Go Out of Style” package, which costs 2,625 Swedish krona, or $250. This includes reserved standing room, early bird privileges and VIP privileges. Surprisingly, international tickets were less expensive than typical concert tickets in the Philippines, which can cost more than $300 for the best categories.

Overall, I feel like it was worth it to splurge on this trip. Many of my friends are Swifties, and they were supportive and happy that I finally got to see Taylor in person. And I'm excited to immerse myself in Singapore's food scene again. I've been wanting the perfect fishball pasta for a year and can't wait to feast at my local food hall.