- 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.
Expenses: concert ticket
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.
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?
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 tickets for traditional concerts 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.
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