International travel is on the rise among Indians but with ongoing geopolitical tensions hiking airfares, hotel prices, and foreign exchange costs, it has also become increasingly tricky to pick the right destination that aligns with your wallet.
In order to make the decision simpler, I enlisted the help of ChatGPT to compare international destinations for a vegetarian traveller between three of the most popular choices among Indian tourists: Dubai, Singapore, and Thailand.
The brief for the chatbot was simple. It had to make a choice between the three destinations on a budget of just under ₹75,000 while factoring in all the expenses, including flights, visas, hotels, food, transport, and sightseeing.
Before we move ahead to what the chatbot said, let's first take a look at the prompt, which you can tinker with according to your specific use case.
Prompt:
TL;DR: Compare Dubai, Singapore, and Thailand for a first-time Indian traveller from Delhi planning a 5-night solo trip.
Compare Dubai, Singapore, and Thailand for a first-time Indian traveller from Delhi planning a 5-night solo trip.
Total budget cap: ₹75,000 (including flights, visa, hotel, food, transport, and sightseeing)
Preference for convenience, safety, and ease of travel
Budget-conscious but comfortable travel style (clean hotels, public transport, key attractions)
Calculate the total realistic cost of a 5-night trip for each destination, including:
Can you actually do it under ₹75,000?
Is a ₹75,000 budget realistic?
What compromises would be required?
What type of traveller would enjoy the trip at this budget?
What would need to be skipped to stay within budget?
For each destination, identify:
Months to avoid due to crowds, rain, or high prices
For each destination, estimate:
Best destination under ₹75,000 overall
Destination that delivers the strongest "I'm abroad" experience
Be analytical, show the maths behind all estimates, use realistic 2026 pricing assumptions, and clearly explain why one destination wins over the others.
What ChatGPT said?
TL;DR: The AI also told me about the hidden expenses that I could encounter in all three destinations, including airport transfers, tourist taxes, SIM cards, travel insurance, and foreign exchange charges.
The AI also told me about the hidden expenses that I could encounter in all three destinations, including airport transfers, tourist taxes, SIM cards, travel insurance, and foreign exchange charges.
It also noted that Dubai had the highest hidden costs among the three destinations due to tourism taxes and generally higher on-ground expenses.
How much would it cost to travel to each country?
TL;DR: ChatGPT estimated that a five-night trip to Dubai would cost around ₹70,000 if I skipped the expensive attractions in the city, including premium experiences near Burj Khalifa.
ChatGPT estimated that a five-night trip to Dubai would cost around ₹70,000 if I skipped the expensive attractions in the city, including premium experiences near Burj Khalifa.
Meanwhile, Thailand turned out to be the cheapest of the lot, with ChatGPT estimating that a five-night Bangkok-focused trip could cost around ₹43,500, including flights, hotels, food, transport, and sightseeing.
"Even after adding a day trip, a better hotel, and shopping, you can still remain below ₹75,000," the chatbot noted.
Meanwhile, a visit to Singapore, it estimated, would cost about ₹65,000 if I relied heavily on public transport and avoided premium experiences like Universal Studios and rooftop dining.
Best time to travel
TL;DR: ChatGPT also outlined the ideal travel seasons for each destination, stating that Dubai is most comfortable between November and March.
ChatGPT also outlined the ideal travel seasons for each destination, stating that Dubai is most comfortable between November and March. However, this being the peak season can also push up prices for hotels and attractions.
Singapore, it said, can be visited throughout the year thanks to its tropical climate, although February to April is generally considered one of the best periods.
For Thailand, it said travellers would get the best value between November and February when temperatures are cooler and humidity is lower.
Best time to book tickets:
TL;DR: The chatbot warned while Dubai fares are usually predictable, Singapore and Thailand fares fluctuate aggressively during holiday periods
The chatbot warned while Dubai fares are usually predictable, Singapore and Thailand fares fluctuate aggressively during holiday periods
The final verdict:
TL;DR: “You get the most complete holiday without constantly watching your spending,” the chatbot stated.
“You get the most complete holiday without constantly watching your spending,” the chatbot stated.
Second on the list was Singapore because of its convenience, safety, and ease of navigation, especially for first-time travellers.
Inevitably, Dubai came third, with the chatbot noting that while it delivered the biggest "wow factor" through its skyline, luxury atmosphere, and futuristic architecture, it also left travellers with the tightest budget margin.
Curated by Aisha Patel
