These are the countries where your Aussie dollar will go furthest in 2026
Travel isn't cheap - but it's one of those things that's always worth the money.
And if you're smart about where you go and what you do, it's not that hard to have a budget-friendly vacation without having to miss out on anything good.
The first major step is choosing the right destination. This is where currency data can really help.
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Many Asian countries - like Japan - have favourable exchange rates. Getty
If you want your money to go far while you're travelling, set your sights on Asia.
Not only are many Asian countries already relatively cheap for Australians to visit, but they're also places where our Aussie dollar is strengthening against the local currency.
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Where will the Aussie dollar go the furthest?
Tristan Dakin, ANZ Country Manager at Wise, tells 9Travel that the Australian Dollar is particularly strong at the moment in Japan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Indonesia.
New Zealand is also getting cheaper for Aussies - Tristan says that the Aussie dollar has risen almost 8 per cent against the NZ Dollar over the past two years.
"This is quite rare by historical standards," says Tristan, "meaning it could be a smart time to hop across the ditch."
Now is a good time to head to NZ. Getty
Japan has been a popular spot for Aussie tourists, with over a million of us visiting the island nation in the past year.
But according to data, Vietnam is also on the up. On Wise, total card spending volumes in Vietnamese Dong was up 85 per cent last year.
"Japan, Vietnam and Sri Lanka are now amongst the fastest growing in terms of their appeal to Aussie tourists, but this shouldn't come as a surprise, considering how much further the Aussie dollar is stretching there when compared to last year," says Tristan.
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A beach trip to Vietnam could be on the cards. Getty
How to avoid ATM fees
Wise data from last year revealed that Vietnam is the most expensive place to get cash out, with an average transaction costing 27.1 per cent. That's not including the exchange fees you had to pay first.
So if you withdraw $100, you might lose more than $20 in fees.
To soften the blow, avoid random ATMs on street corners and in convenience stores. Look for bank-operated ATMs as they often offer clearer fee disclosures.
And be sure to select the local currency rather than AUD when withdrawing cash, to avoid higher mark-up rates.
Always pay in local currency. Getty
How to make your money go further while travelling
When you're converting money, keep an eye out for hidden fees.
"Major banks will often advertise foreign exchange services as 'fee free', while hiding the true cost in a markup that's much higher than the rate you would see on Google," advises Tristan.
Losing 3 to 5 per cent on conversion fees doesn't sound like much, but when it applies to your whole holiday budget, you're talking hundreds of dollars.
On the Wise app - and other online banking apps - you can set up rate alerts and auto conversion. This lets you monitor a chosen currency pair (eg AUD and Yen), and exchange your dollars as soon as your target is hit.
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