Sure, it’s pricier than an ordinary vacation… but it’s all worth it to see a musical icon, right?
When Taylor Swift announcedthe Eras Tour , I was confident I could get tickets . Initially , I was haywire .
I spent hours trying to get ticket for the US leg of the tour , with no achiever . But when Eras Tour dates were announced in South America , I think this would be my fortune . After all , I ’m adigital nomadwho spends around seven months of the year on the southern continent . But yet again , I was ineffective to get tickets .
I finally made it go on during thetour ’s European leg . Somehow , I secure four VIP floor tickets for theEdinburghshow this June and make up one’s mind to make a whole trip out of it . I dropped my cat Isabelle off with my parents in North Carolina the hebdomad before the show . Then I fly toLondon , spent two nights there , took the train to Edinburgh , hit upDublin , and finally ended by relocate toMadrid . During the slip , I met up with a range of friends , do it cost - in force to share lodgment and food expenses .
Design by Maitane Romagosa for Thrillist
The Eras Tour was awe-inspiring , but not every part of the head trip was a achiever . MyAirbnbin London did not have incline water , so I had to relocate to a hotel for my second Nox . This considerably mess with my budget , so the Price for this portion of the trip were much higher than initially expected . I ’m still in talks with Airbnb to see what they will cover .
Here ’s a breakdown of what I expend on a trip to London , Edinburgh , and Dublin to go to the Eras Tour .
About the traveler
Job : Freelance WriterAnnual salary:$61,000 - 80,000 per yearLocation of residence : WorldwideAge:25
About the vacation
Where : England , Scotland , and IrelandHow long : Nine daysPlanned Budget:$2,000
Upfront costs
Flights:$552.53 . I booked three one - means flight of stairs . The first , from Raleigh , North Carolina to London , be me 20,750Avios , plus $ 232.80 in taxes and fees . I pay an extra $ 181.45 to select a window seat with extra legroom . The second trajectory took me from Edinburgh ( which I traveled to by train ) to Dublin . It would ’ve cost $ 156.16 , but I applied part of my annual locomotion reference from my Capital One Venture X , so I paid just $ 15.04 out of sack . in the end , I ended my trip by flying from Dublin to Madrid for $ 123.24 .
Rental car:$129.23 . My parents go in Wilmington , North Carolina , but my flight was two hours away in Raleigh . I hold a rental cable car for the afternoon for $ 129.23 , including throttle .
Train tickets:$112.24 . I bought a train ticket from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh for £ 87.90 ( $ 112.24 ) .
Hotels / lodging:$990.44 . I paid $ 277.76 for a London Airbnb , but have been refunded $ 107.38 ( so far ) , as the Airbnb did n’t have go urine . The hotel where we relocated follow this disaster cost £ 333 ( $ 394.37 ) per person for one dark . I had a more successful Airbnb stay in Edinburgh , where I paid 225.91 € ( $ 241.68 ) for three nights . In Dublin , I paid 172 € ( $ 184.01 ) for two night in a hotel .
Relevant prior expenses:$518.17 . I buy a “ Karma Is My Boyfriend - Front Standing Left ” dignitary ticket to the Taylor Swift concert in Edinburgh , which was £ 349 ( $ 450.21 ) . After the quickness fee , transaction fee , venue fee , and PayPal transaction fee , the ticket cost was a morsel higher : $ 518.17 .
Day by day
Day 1 - Monday
Total monetary value : $ 141.00My mom spend me off at the airport in Wilmington to pick up my rental automobile , and then I drive straight to the airport in Raleigh without incur any additional charge . I devote American Airlines $ 100 for my overweight grip and went through certificate . I did n’t have access to a lounge at this airport , so I blend to a restaurant to kill fourth dimension before my flight . I bought two beers and an appetizer ( $ 41 ) before boarding the plane to London .
Day 2 - Tuesday
Total monetary value : $ 226.14I arrive in London around 7:10 am . After cash in one’s chips through in-migration and collecting my suitcase , I made my room into the metropolis . There ’s a train from Heathrow to Central London , so I buy an Oyster card ( which covers caravan and vacuum tube ride ) for £ 7 and loaded it with £ 30 ( $ 47.40 total ) . The string ride be approximately £ 13 ( $ 16.49 ) , so I had heap of leftover funds on the Oyster card for all my travel throughout London over the next few days .
Once I catch to my Airbnb , I relaxed briefly before my friend arrived . A pair of hours subsequently , I took the tube to the Tower of London , where I had a enlistment with some other ally . My tag be £ 34.80 ( $ 44.14 ) . After the term of enlistment , I hopped back on the tube-shaped structure to meet some other booster for a recent good afternoon teatime . The tea experience , including top , cost £ 70 ( $ 89 ) and was worth every penny . It included one savory and onesweettower , plus a full pot of tea per soul . After tea , we walk and met up with the group for karaoke , which be £ 18 ( $ 22.80 ) per person and include a deglutition .
While I was at karaoke , my admirer call to let me recognise the water in the Airbnb had stopped act upon , so I took the tubing back home to endeavor to solve the payoff . I popped into the market entrepot for boozing and snacks to enjoy while forebode Airbnb Support subsequently that nighttime , which be £ 18 ( $ 22.80 ) . Then , I spent the rest of the dark on the phone before falling asleep searching for somewhere else to delay .
Photos by Harrison Pierce
Day 3 - Wednesday
Total price : $ 45.62With no resolution from Airbnb , we walked across the street to get a room at a Marriott . I spent the Clarence Day work from the hotel , so I did n’t have the opportunity to explore the metropolis . That night , I took the underground from Marylebone to Clapham to meet two friends for pasta . We spent £ 36 ( $ 45.62 ) per person , which was very reasonable for the quality of the food . After dinner , we took the subway system back to fundamental London . At this point , it was dingy , so we could savor the sight of Big Ben and the London Eye lit up . After walking around for a while , I took the tube back to my hotel and went to bottom too soon .
Day 4 - Thursday
Total cost : $ 69.38Our gearing from Kings Cross to Edinburgh departed at 11 am , so we direct the tube to the wagon train station and pose on board . The journeying was a little over four hour , so we bribe umber and H2O on the train for £ 6.60 ( $ 8.37 ) . Once we arrived in Edinburgh , we decided to take an Uber to the Airbnb because it was low-priced — just £ 6.18 ( $ 7.91 ) per person . After we were fall into our Airbnb , we walk across the street to get fish and scrap for ( £ 14 , or $ 17.79 ) .
Hunger gratify , we submit the train for £ 3.85 ( $ 4.87 ) roundtrip to the stadium to find fault up our VIP boxes . Since we do n’t live in the UK , they were n’t mail to us , but we were thrilled to be able to get them before the show . Once back from the arena , the four other people in our group had get , so the eight of us went to a gin mill nearby and crunch on some mackintosh and cheese with snare and tonics , where I spend £ 12 ( $ 15.22 ) . After dinner party , we stopped by the food market shop , where I expend another £ 12 ( $ 15.22 ) on some water and snacks to bring while we waitress in line for the concert . We spent the rest of the Nox hanging out at the Airbnb before go to layer early to breathe up for concert day .
Day 5 - Friday
full cost : $ 37.21When I arouse up , I walked to a cafe nearby and bribe some coffee , spending £ 7 ( $ 8.84 ) . I walked back to the Airbnb and started getting ready for the show . Although our whole group had eight masses , four of us were in the VIP department on the floor , while the other four were in the lower bowl , so we did n’t see each other on concert day . By the clock time the four VIPs finished stupefy ready and taking pictures , we run away out of clock time to get lunch . Instead , we grabbed a bunch of snacks and took the tram for another £ 3.85 ( $ 4.87 ) to get to the stadium around 2 Prime Minister . Our tickets provided early first appearance at 3 phase modulation , so we hung out until we were allow in and ended up giving away some of our snacks that we could n’t convey inside the arena — a great way to make some Friend and trade friendship bracelet .
Once in the area , we claim our smirch in the third rowing from the roadblock at the center diamond . It was exactly where we want to be , so we were thrilled . We had three hours to kill at this tip before Paramore took the degree , so we made friends with those around us . One somebody in our grouping purchase us all Warren E. Burger , which was a saving blessing for such a long day stand around .
Paramore started at 6 pm and performed for 45 minutes . Taylor Swift took the stagecoach at 7:15 pm and do nonstop until around 10:30 . Although this stumble cost much more than I typically spend on vacation , this operation made it all worth it — It was unfeignedly incredible .
Photos by Harrison Pierce
We had tram tag after the show , but the line for the tram was not moving . We waited about 30 min before walking to an open street to call an Uber . It cost about £ 5.91 ( $ 7.50 ) per person , but we would ’ve pay any amount of money to get out of the cold and be able to model down . To end the night , we order a bunch of food on Uber Eats , spend £ 12.62 ( $ 16 ) per individual .
Day 6 - Saturday
Total cost : $ 118.43I’m not sure how Taylor Swift can do for multiple sidereal day in a wrangle , because we were all worn-out after watching the show . But since this was our only full day in Edinburgh , we sire up and made the most of it . I paid £ 3.15 ( $ 4 ) for a coffee berry and then £ 3.85 ( $ 4.87 ) for the trolley car to Edinburgh Castle . entering to the castle costs £ 19.50 ( $ 24.90 ) , and you may easily pass an entire day there . We took our time and explore every nook and cranny , working up an appetite . After the rook , we take the air down the Royal Mile to a nearby restaurant , where I buzz off some traditional Scottish nutrient and a gin and pop , spending £ 23.50 ( $ 29.71 ) .
After lunch , we walked to Victoria Street , which is famous for being the birthplace of Harry Potter . I bought a perfume from a local store for £ 15 ( $ 19.23 ) . I also buy a 100 % woollen coin purse from Harris Tweed for another £ 15 ( $ 19.23 ) . Then , we took the tram back home and rested for a bit .
To round out our trip to Edinburgh , we walked to Port of Leith Distillery , where we did a tasting of dissimilar Scotch whiskeys and snacks ( £ 13 , or $ 16.49 ) and then walked back home , packing up before an early flight the follow morning time . There were plenty of leftovers from the various meal of the last two Clarence Day , so we munch on those before bottom .
Photos by Harrison Pierce
Day 7 - Sunday
full monetary value : $ 96.38Four of us were head to Dublin after Edinburgh , while the other four split up and returned home . We call an Uber XL to the aerodrome around 6 am for £ 8.65 ( $ 10.98 ) . At the aerodrome , I paid £ 10 ( $ 12.81 ) to increase the allowed weight of my base . After security , we proceed to the waiting room for breakfast before boarding our flight . The flight was short , just a footling over an minute . Once we get in , we called an Uber to get to our hotel for 9.73 € ( $ 10.61 ) per person . It was still early , and we could n’t suss out in , so we drop our bags in the repositing elbow room and went out for dejeuner . The pothouse was just two block from the hotel , and I got a hot chicken sandwich with a Guinness for 23.50 € ( $ 25.15 ) .
After luncheon , we got settled in the room , then decrease at peace for a number , still tired from the show and feeling a piffling under the weather . Then , we take an Uber for 4.4 € ( $ 4.74 ) to the famous Temple Bar Pub . It was extremely crowded , so we only stayed for a couple of songs before walking to a different pub . We have a couple of shareable platters and spent 26 € ( $ 27.83 ) , then demand an Uber back to the hotel for 3.95 € ( $ 4.26 ) .
Day 8 - Monday
full cost : $ 73.06I was behind on work and spent the daybreak catch up . I bought a couple of coffee berry and a annoyance gold chocolat at a nearby cafe for ( 11.50 € , or $ 12.77 ) and worked as much as I could until 3:15 , when I had schedule atour of the Guinness Storehouse(20 € , or $ 21.40 ) . I took an Uber there for 8.80 € ( $ 9.48 ) . We paid an additional 2 € ( $ 2.14 ) for the selfie experience that print your face on a pint of Guinness , which was a worthy disbursement .
After the turn , we walked back to the hotel to freshen up and then to the Church , a pub located in an old duomo . We spent 23.76 € ( $ 25.42 ) per person for shareable plate of lamb stew , calamari , and braise bacon with mashed potatoes — all passing delicious .
After dinner party , we walk along the river and ended up very far off from our hotel . At that level , we were too threadbare to walk the whole path back , so we took the tram home ( 1.75 € , or $ 1.85 ) .
Photos by Harrison Pierce
Day 9 - Tuesday
Total cost : $ 65.77We originate our final day of the trip by checking out of our hotel , store our baggage , and take the air to get brunch . This was one of the only repast of this leg of the trip that was n’t portion out , so I spent 19.50 € ( $ 20.82 ) on a breakfast sandwich , hash browns , and coffee berry . After brunch , we walk around for a bit before give back to the hotel so my champion could catch her trajectory back to the US . I walked around a nearby park for a couple of hour , then returned to the hotel to grab my luggage .
My two protagonist pass an extra nighttime in Dublin and book a different hotel . I took an Uber with them to the new hotel for 4.66 € ( $ 5 ) , as my flight of stairs was n’t departing until that evening . We hung out at the hotel for a bit , and then I caught the Aircoach bus from the hotel to the airport for 8 € ( $ 8.63 ) . I paid Ryanair an additional 30 € ( $ 31.32 ) to be able to bring a carry - on , which made my checked suitcase luminousness enough not to be charged . After protection , I went to the lounge and got dinner before board my flight and heading to Madrid , wash up but execute from an incredible nine - twenty-four hours journeying .
How it all broke down
Upfront and travel costs:$2,302.61Costs from the week:$872.99Final total:$3,175.60How much I spend liken to my original budget:$1,175.60 over budget
Photos by Harrison Pierce
Photos by Harrison Pierce
Photos by Harrison Pierce
Photos by Harrison Pierce
Photos by Harrison Pierce
