Travel financing 2026 – compare loans for a holiday or long-haul destination
Compare travel financing options: consumer loan, credit card and revolving credit. Long-haul, honeymoon, Interrail or family holiday – free comparison and saving tips.
Loan calculator
Try how much the loan costs per month. The result is indicative.
Example: When the loan amount is —, the interest rate is — and the repayment period is —, the monthly payment is —, total loan cost is — and the total amount to be repaid is —.
Finns make about 8 million trips annually (Statistics Finland 2024) – most 3 – 7 day destinations in Southern Europe. The biggest travel budgets go to honeymoons, long-haul destinations (Asia, USA, Australia) and family holidays. Comparing travel financing typically saves €150 – €800 over the loan lifecycle – the difference vs. credit card instalment can be even bigger.
Common destinations and typical budgets in 2026
Trip price depends on destination, trip length and accommodation level. Below are typical per-person prices in 2026 from Finnish tour operators (Tjäreborg, Aurinkomatkat, Apollomatkat, Kilroy).
Long-haul (Asia, Southeast Asia)
Popular Finnish long-haul destinations: Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka. 2 – 3 week tours through Finnish tour operators. Popular operators: Tjäreborg, Aurinkomatkat.
- Thailand 2 wk (all-inclusive) 2 000 – 3 500 € / hlö
- Vietnam tour 2 wk 2 500 – 4 000 € / hlö
- Sri Lanka 10 days 2 200 – 3 500 € / hlö
- Bali 2 wk (accommodation + flights) 2 500 – 4 500 € / hlö
USA and America
Long distances and expensive flights make USA trips the most expensive from Finland. Roadtrip-type (car rental + hotels) or organised tours (New York, California, Hawaii).
- New York + Miami 10 days 2 800 – 4 500 € / hlö
- Los Angeles + Las Vegas + Grand Canyon 2 wk 3 500 – 5 500 € / hlö
- Hawaii islands 2 wk 4 500 – 7 500 € / hlö
- Canada (Vancouver + Rockies) 2 wk 4 000 – 6 500 € / hlö
Honeymoon (premium)
Finns spend on average €4,000 – €8,000/couple on honeymoons. Most popular destinations: Maldives, Hawaii islands, Seychelles, Bali, Santorini, California.
- Maldives 10 days (over-water bungalow) 6 000 – 12 000 € / pariskunta
- Seychelles 10 days 7 000 – 13 000 € / pariskunta
- Bali + Maldives 2 wk 5 500 – 10 000 € / pariskunta
- Santorini + Crete 10 days 3 500 – 6 000 € / pariskunta
Australia, New Zealand, South America
The furthest destinations, typically 3 – 6 week tours. A big investment whose financing with a loan is common.
- Australia 3 wk (Sydney + Great Barrier Reef) 5 500 – 9 000 € / hlö
- New Zealand 3 wk (South + North Island) 6 000 – 10 000 € / hlö
- Peru + Bolivia (Machu Picchu) 3 wk 4 500 – 7 500 € / hlö
- South Africa safari 2 wk 4 000 – 7 000 € / hlö
Interrail and Europe trips
Popular option for a long Europe trip among youth and adults. Interrail pass + accommodations + food.
- Interrail 2 wk (2 people, hostels) 1 500 – 2 500 € / hlö
- Interrail 4 wk (1 person, budget travel) 2 500 – 4 000 € / hlö
- Italy 2 wk (Florence + Rome + Amalfi) 2 000 – 3 500 € / hlö
- Iceland 10 days (car rental + accommodation) 2 500 – 4 500 € / hlö
Total cost: €8,000 honeymoon financing
Example of financing a 10-day Maldives honeymoon (over-water bungalow + business-class flights). Comparison of the three most common financing forms.
| Consumer loan (Lainafy comparison, APR 9.4 %) | ~€9,400 total cost over 3 yr |
| Credit card (instalment, APR 18 %) | ~€10,300 total cost over 3 yr |
| Revolving credit (APR 15 %) | ~€9,800 total cost over 3 yr |
| Cash from savings (0 % interest) | €8,000 total cost |
| Total investment | ~€900 saving vs. credit card |
Honeymoon and big holidays are worth financing with a consumer loan instead of a credit card. Credit card instalment APR is typically 15 – 24 %, which is 5 – 15 pp more expensive than a consumer loan. Loyalty benefits (Finnair Plus, Aurinkomatkat) can however make the credit card competitive if you pay off the loan within 1 – 2 months.
Travel financing options in Finland
Travel financing requirements
- Regular income – at least €1,500/mo net
- Clean credit record
- Age at least 20 – 23 years
- Total debt assessment: new instalment + other loans ≤ 40 % of net income
- For revolving credit usually regular employment income (fixed-term contracts not always accepted)
How to apply for travel financing – 6 steps
- Determine total trip budget: flights + accommodation + daily allowance (excursions, food, souvenirs) + possible baggage overage. For big trips reserve a 15 – 20 % buffer.
- Check travel insurance – usually extra €20 – €60/person/trip. Can be included in the loan.
- Compare 3 – 5 lender consumer loan offers on Lainafy. Compare the effective annual rate.
- Also compare credit card instalment and possibly tour operator instalment – a consumer loan is usually cheapest.
- Accept the best financing offer, sign the loan agreement electronically.
- Money in account within 1 – 2 business days. Book the trip and pay directly from the account (or with credit card security benefits if you pay off soon).
Case example: Sanni and Mika's Maldives honeymoon – €9,500
Sanni and Mika were a 32-year-old couple who married in June and wanted a Maldives honeymoon. Total budget for a 10-day trip (over-water bungalow + business-class flights + excursions): €9,500. Combined savings €3,000. Financing need €6,500.
- Own capital (wedding gifts + savings)
- 3 000 €
- Consumer loan (3 yr, APR 8.4 %)
- 6 500 €
- Monthly instalment
- ~€205/mo
- Total cost 3 yr
- ~€7,400
Result: Sanni and Mika's total saving vs. credit card instalment was ~€500 over 3 yr. The honeymoon happened as dreamed and the loan was paid off in 2.5 years.
The most common mistakes in travel financing
- Using credit card instalment without comparison – credit card APR 15 – 24 % is typically 5 – 15 pp more expensive than a consumer loan.
- Not getting travel insurance – small cost (€20 – €60/person) but big protection for unexpected events (illness, trip cancellation).
- Taking the longest possible period for the lowest instalment – for a single trip the loan should be max 3 – 5 years.
- Underestimating total trip costs – flights are only about 40 – 50 % of the total budget. Daily allowances, excursions, food and "city extras" are easily 30 – 40 %.
- Not using tour operator early-booking discounts – booking 6 – 12 months ahead often saves 20 – 30 %.
- Taking travel financing when you could save with a few months of saving – €1,000/mo saving = €6,000 in half a year. Big long-haul trips are worth planning early.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth financing a trip with a loan?
Depends on the situation. If the trip is a one-off big project (honeymoon, long-haul, family holiday), a consumer loan is a practical way to split costs over 2 – 4 years. Recurring trips are not worth financing with a loan – then a savings plan or loyalty benefits are a better solution.
What is the best travel financing option?
For big trips (over €3,000): consumer loan from Lainafy (APR 6 – 12 %). For small (under €3,000): credit card (if paying off within 1 – 2 months) or short consumer loan. Loyalty benefits (Finnair Plus, Nordea Gold) can offset the higher credit card rate if you travel often.
Can I also finance the travel insurance?
Yes. Consumer loans are not restricted to a specific purpose – the loan can cover flights and accommodation plus travel insurance (€20 – €60/person/trip) and daily allowances.
How quickly do I get travel financing?
Consumer loan decision from several lenders the same day, money in account within 1 – 2 business days. So you have time to book the trip within a week of the application.
Is it better to book early or late?
Early (6 – 12 months ahead) is usually 20 – 30 % cheaper than last-minute booking. Exception: sun trip last-minute offers can be very cheap (Tjäreborg, Aurinkomatkat). For long-haul destinations definitely early booking.
What is the best repayment period for a travel loan?
Usually 2 – 4 years. For a one-off trip the loan should not be longer than the use time (trip + good memories). For an €8,000 honeymoon 3 years is a typical compromise (instalment ~€250).
Can I pay off the travel loan early?
Yes. Finnish consumer protection law guarantees the right to early repayment for loans under €10,000 without fees. Highly recommended – every month less saves interest.
Is credit card instalment the safest way to book a trip?
Credit card security benefits are handy (chargeback if the tour operator goes bankrupt, car rental deposit etc.), so a small portion of the trip is worth paying with a credit card even when you take a separate consumer loan. You get user protection and security benefits without paying credit card interest.
See also other financing options
Compare travel financing offers
Compare 3 – 5 most competitive Finnish lenders with a single application. Free and anonymous.