By Louis Costello
1st May 2025
If it were up to most of us, we’d spend 365 days of the year chasing the sun, sailing through the skies, skiing through the snow and resting our heads on as many hotel pillows as humanly possible.
And while finances tend to put a hitch in those year-long travel plans, we can still look forward to those precious holidays and not break the bank.
Through a combination of cost-cutting techniques and selective use of annual leave, you can increase the number of holidays you go on in your lifetime without sending your miscellaneous bills through the roof.
Below, we’ve curated the low-stakes tips and high-reward ALDI Holidays deals to scoop up in 2025. Six days in Bali for less than $1,700? Sold.
Exactly five essentials are required for every holiday: passport (for overseas holidays), luggage, phone, wallet, and a water bottle.
You might have noticed the curious price of water and ready-made sandwiches tucked away in every airport convenience store, and that’s purely by design; few people think to pack an empty water bottle to make the most of the free—and occasionally fridge-temperature—water in most airports around the world.
And while a $7 bottle of water might seem like a small price to pay, these purchases can add up over days and weeks of adventuring. Packing an empty water bottle adds little to the weight limit, and it sets you up for a hydrated holiday—free of charge.
Additionally, half the fun of venturing to a new city is inspecting the snack situation at the local supermarket. Find a balance that works for you (and your wallet) between eating out at nice restaurants and trying the much more affordable cuisine that locals buy daily. You haven’t lived until you’ve watched a machine cut a loaf of bread for you at a German ALDI.
There are way more enjoyable aspects of a holiday than sitting down to crunch numbers, but future you will be thankful you did.
The upside of mapping out a budget and organising accommodation, transport, insurance, and flights with plenty of lead-up time is that you’ll be able to understand how much money you can spend on the fun, non-essential treats. Being prepared can be the difference between scooping up a $10 train ride or a $200 taxi to your hotel.
Ask around in your friendship group, and find who uses frequent-flyer points and everyday deals like their life depends on it. Once you’ve found them, get them to teach you everything they know so you can start spending and saving across everyday purchases for the next big adventure.
Some of us pack the bare essentials for a holiday, while the remaining 95% of us pack 30 pairs of underwear and 17 jackets for a two-day interstate vacation.
An effective way to avoid overpacking (and therefore overpaying if your luggage exceeds the weight limit) is to start with luggage. Opt for a reasonably sized check-in bag and carry-on luggage that has been built to meet airport standards. From there, stick to your staples and craft a capsule wardrobe that’s both versatile and simple.
Play it smart, and you might just have room to bring back a few unexpected gems from a spontaneous New York thrift store haul. Skip the excess baggage fees by posting anything that won’t fit, and treat yourself to a little surprise delivery once you’re home.
Travellers who are open to anything tend to find bargains upon bargains. Naturally, it’s not always possible to ‘go with the flow’ when it comes to destinations—you may be visiting your sister in London, and she simply won’t meet you halfway in Vietnam, for instance—but if you plan to simply get away for a retreat, keep your options open.
Keep your eyes on the flight and travel sites; new deals present themselves at every turn, so it’s simply a matter of reacting fast to these deals and being open-minded. Speaking of…
Put it in your calendar, outline your diary in red circles: the first of every month is your time to strike.
ALDI Holidays releases new travel deals on the first of every month through a wide range of flexible and customisable holiday packages. Whether you’re after laid-back relaxation or an adventure-packed escape, ALDI Holidays offers exclusive tours, getaways, and cruises—each bundled with extra perks to help you make the most of your vacay.
Here’s what to book before it's gone.
Spend your days eating fresh, free buffet breakfasts against the backdrop of a shimmering ocean, unwind with spa credits where professionals tease out the tension, and venture along Fiji’s coast to your heart’s content. This package includes flights, a VIP concierge, and two complimentary dinners.
If you have kids, they eat, play and stay for free, proving that affordable family holidays aren’t necessarily a thing of the past.
THE DETAILS:
Package: Shangri-La Yanuca Island, Fiji
Price: $1,699 pp
Flights included? Yes
Dates: July 2025 – March 2026
Head here for more details.
Explore Bali’s thriving west coast with your very own personal driver before cooling off with a free daily cocktail. In the late afternoon, grab your favourite thriller novel (the cheesier, the better) and spend hours watching the sun disappear behind the horizon in a display of dazzling purples and reds.
THE DETAILS:
Package: Pullman Bali Legian Beach, Bali
Price: $1,299 pp
Flights included? Yes
Dates: May 2025 – March 2026
Head here for more details. 
Japan has some of the most sought-after slopes in the world. This package—featuring a five-day lift pass, daily breakfast, and a day tour to see snow monkeys up close and personal—is a snow bunny’s dream come true.
For a local alternative, the five-night Stillwell Hotel Charlotte Pass Ski Package here in Australia fulfills your skiing desires for $999 per person.
THE DETAILS:
Package: Phoenix Hotel Hakuba Ski Package
Price: $4,699 pp
Flights included? Yes
Dates: February – March 2026
Head here for more details.
Hand-selected hotels, futurist fashion, and historic palaces await you on this 11-day whirlwind trip around South Korea. Journey through Seoul and introduce your taste buds to flavours yet to reach Australian shores, and stock up on the highly praised Kbeauty products that continue to take the world by storm. This travel package covers all its bases, as you’ll round out your tour in Jeju Island, home to stunning beaches that feel a million miles away from the real world.
Plus, as a bonus, you’ll return from your holiday with a keen insight into how Kimchi’s made—while knowing how to make it yourself.
THE DETAILS:
Package: 11-Day Enchanting South Korea with Jeju Island
Price: $2,999 pp
Flights included? Yes
Dates: November 2025 – October 2026
Head here for more details. 
Spend three delightfully warm evenings feasting on tapas and sangria in the heart of Barcelona before setting sail on a seven-night Mediterranean cruise. The all-inclusive beverage package is sure to entice you as you’re whisked along the Amalfi Coast, Italy and more of Europe’s finest coastal gems.
THE DETAILS:
Package: Spain, Italy, France and Beyond
Price: $4,999 pp
Flights included? Yes
Dates: 15 May, 2026
Head here for more details.
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by ALDI Holidays and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.
Image: Supplied.
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