Exploring the Future of Australian Luxury Travel: Top Destinations and Estimated Costs for 2026

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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.

According to the latest report from the ATIA, this year’s most popular international destinations for travelers are Indonesia, New Zealand, Japan, the United States, and Thailand.

A graphic showing the top 10 hotspots for Australian and New Zealand luxury travellers in 2026.

The 2026 Virtuoso Luxe Report highlighted Japan, Italy, Greece, Croatia, and Fiji as the preferred choices for luxury travelers, based on a survey of 300 advisers from the Virtuoso luxury travel network in Australia and New Zealand.

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.”

Interestingly, some destinations drawing in luxury tourists aren’t necessarily the priciest. Thinking of visiting one? Here’s a glimpse of the expected expenses.

Bright signs and lights in a busy city street.

Japan has claimed the top spot on Virtuoso’s list this year, as noted by Greg Treasure, the head of the luxury travel network in Australia and New Zealand.

In recent years, Japan has rapidly become a favored destination for Australian tourists. It offers year-round appeal, from its ski season to Tokyo’s vibrant city life and Kyoto’s breathtaking cherry blossoms.

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

Airfare: Return airfares from Sydney to Rome in February, the off-season, can range from around $1,175 for journeys with two or more stops to $1,375 for those with only one layover. In the peak summer season, many flights cost at least $2,000 return, though some cheaper deals do exist.

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.

View of Athens including the Acropolis, with purple bougainvillea flowers in bloom.

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

Airfare: Return airfares from Sydney to Athens start from around $1,130 in the European winter and shoulder seasons next year. In the European summer months, flights generally start at around $1,550.

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.”

Aerial view of an old coastal town featuring buildings with red tile roofs.

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

Airfares: Flights from Sydney to Dubrovnik, one of Croatia’s most popular tourist hubs, typically include two or more stopovers, which can make fares a bit pricier than those to some other European destinations. In February, the off-season, return flights start from around $1,840. That starting price goes up to roughly $1,940 in July, a peak travel month.

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.

Chapel by the beach with white sand and tropical palm trees.

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

Airfares: Flights to Nadi International Airport in June, during the popular dry season, start from about $560 for a round trip. Prices are fairly consistent throughout the year.

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.