The Best Vacation Loans for Epic Travels in 2026

Are you have trouble figuring out how to pay for your dream holiday? With vacation loans, you can borrow money for travel-related expenses, such as airfare, hotel accommodations, and activities. You can also spend less time worrying about funding your vacation and more time having fun during it. When selecting a lender for a vacation loan, compare different options so that you get the lowest interest rate and the best repayment terms possible.

1. LightStream personal loans (Best for low interest rates)

LightStream has some of the best rates for vacation loans; Their starting APR is 6.24 percent for borrowers with exceptional credit when they sign up for autopay. LightStream’s very competitive loan rates will help keep your trip budget realistic by allowing you to borrow money at a lower cost.

The other advantage you receive with LightStream is the Rate Beat Program; if you find a lower rate from a competitor, LightStream will match that rate minus 0.10 percent when you provide LightStream with proof of the competing offer. These two advantages (the Rate Beat Program, no origination fee, and no prepayment penalty) allow LightStream customers to save additional costs on their vacation loan.

Basic Requirements & Terms

Pros & Cons

Partner terms and conditions

Your loan terms, including APR, may differ based on loan purpose, amount, term length, and your credit profile. Lowest rates require excellent credit. At least 27% of approved applicants applying for the lowest rate qualified for the lowest rate available based on data from 10/01/2024 to 12/31/2024. Rate is quoted with AutoPay discount. AutoPay discount is only available prior to loan funding. Rates without AutoPay are 0.50% points higher. Subject to credit approval. Conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice.

Payment example: Monthly payments for a $25,000 loan at 6.49% APR with a term of 3 years would result in 36 monthly payments of $766.11.

Maximum APR for a LightStream loan is 25.79%. Loan terms range from 24 – 240 months depending on the loan type.

2. Upstart personal loans (Best for fast funding)

The online loan provider Upstart enables customers to apply for loans quickly and easily, with a variety of lenders available through its loan marketplace. Customers may receive approval in minutes, and funds may be available in their accounts within one business day if all conditions are met, so customers can quickly take advantage of opportunities for last-minute airfares or travel deals.

Upstart provides a seamless experience with a completely online loan application process that eliminates many common complications associated with filling out paper applications. Furthermore, Upstart does not focus solely on credit scores; in fact, Upstart takes into account additional factors, such as employment history and education, that could assist borrowers in obtaining a loan.

Basic Requirements & Terms

Pros & Cons

3. OneMain Financial personal loans (Best for bad credit)

For those who do not have excellent credit, OneMain Financial may be an option worth considering for their vacation funding. They do not require any minimum credit score, meaning that even if other lenders have said ‘no’, you may still qualify.

There are both secured and unsecured loan options available, providing plenty of flexibility depending on your individual needs. In addition to their lending programs, OneMain Financial also has a large network of over 1,300 locations around the United States, making it easy for people who want to conduct business face-to-face. Interest rates are likely to be higher at OneMain because they are taking on additional risk by dealing with customers with lower credit scores.

Basic Requirements & Terms

Pros & Cons

Partner terms and conditions

• OneMain Disclosures:

Not all applicants will be approved. Loan approval and actual loan terms depend on your ability to meet our credit standards (including a responsible credit history, sufficient income after monthly expenses, and availability of collateral). If approved, not all applicants will qualify for larger loan amounts or most favorable loan terms. Larger loan amounts require a first lien on a motor vehicle no more than ten years old, that meets our value requirements, titled in your name with valid insurance. Loan approval and actual loan terms depend on your state of residence and your ability to meet our credit standards (including a responsible credit history, sufficient income after monthly expenses, and availability of collateral). APRs are generally higher on loans not secured by a vehicle. Highly-qualified applicants may be offered higher loan amounts and/or lower APRs than those shown above. OneMain charges origination fees where allowed by law. Depending on the state where you open your loan, the origination fee may be either a flat amount or a percentage of your loan amount. Flat fee amounts vary by state, ranging from $25 to $500. Percentage-based fees vary by state ranging from 1% to 10% of your loan amount subject to certain state limits on the fee amount. Visit omf.com/loanfees for more information. Loan proceeds cannot be used for postsecondary educational expenses as defined by the CFPB’s Regulation Z such as college, university or vocational expense; for any business or commercial purpose; to purchase cryptocurrency assets, securities, derivatives or other speculative investments; or for gambling or illegal purposes.

Borrowers in these states are subject to these minimum loan sizes: Alabama: $2,100. California: $3,000. Georgia: Unless you are a present customer, $3,100 minimum loan amount. North Dakota: $2,000. Ohio: $2,000. Virginia: $2,600.

Borrowers (other than present customers) in these states are subject to these maximum unsecured loan sizes: North Carolina: $7,500. An unsecured loan is a loan which does not require you to provide collateral (such as a motor vehicle) to the lender.

Example Loan: A $6,000 loan with a 24.99% APR that is repayable in 60 monthly installments would have monthly payments of $176.07.

Time to Fund Loans: Funding within one hour after closing through SpeedFunds must be disbursed to a bank-issued debit card. Disbursement by check or ACH may take up to 1-2 business days after loan closing.

4. SoFi personal loans (Best for high loan limit)

If you are preparing for a an extended holiday, and want to fund this trip, SoFi is also an excellent opportunity through its large loan offering of $100,000. Their loan limit is higher than many other lenders – therefore providing consumers with the ability to consolidate multiple loans into one to fund a larger or more extravagant vacation.

In addition to their high loan amounts, SoFi has some very unique features like no origination fees as well as flexible repayment periods that range from 24 months to 7 years which allows consumers to customize their loan repayments to fit their financial situation. However, in order to take advantage of these low-interest, flexible repayment options and maximum loan amounts, consumers typically need to possess excellent creditworthiness.

Basic Requirements & Terms

Pros & Cons

Partner terms and conditions

Fixed rates from 8.99% APR to 35.49% APR. APR reflects the 0.25% autopay discount and a 0.25% direct deposit discount. SoFi Platform personal loans are made either by SoFi Bank, N.A. or, Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. SoFi may receive compensation if you take out a loan originated by Cross River Bank. These rate ranges are current as of 04/24/25 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See SoFi Personal Loan eligibility details at https://www.sofi.com/eligibility-criteria/#eligibility-personal. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, income, and other factors. Loan amounts range from $5,000– $100,000. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 9.99% of your loan amount for Cross River Bank originated loans which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive and for SoFi Bank originated loans have an origination fee of 0%-7%, will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive. Autopay: The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi. Direct Deposit Discount: To be eligible to receive an additional (0.25%) interest rate reduction on your Personal Loan (your “Loan”), you must set up Direct deposit with a SoFi Checking and Savings account offered by SoFi Bank, N.A., or enroll in SoFi Plusby paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee, all within 30 days of the funding of your Loan. Once eligible, you will receive this discount during periods in which you have enabled Direct Deposit to an eligible Direct Deposit Account in accordance with SoFi’s reasonable procedures and requirements to be determined at SoFi’s sole discretion, or during periods in which SoFi successfully receives payment of the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee. This discount will be lost during periods in which SoFi determines you have turned off Direct Deposit to your Checking and Savings account or in which you have not paid for the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee. You are not required to enroll in Direct Deposit or to pay the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee to receive a Loan.

5. Upgrade personal loans (Best for long repayment period)

Want to take your time paying off that vacation? Upgrade provides loan terms up to 84 months; therefore, by extending your repayment term out for 7 years you will lower your monthly payments and therefore allow you to be more financially responsible. By offering an extended loan repayment period, Upgrade can help support you on larger trips that typically would have higher monthly payments.

Upgrade also provides loans for various credit score(s) so you can be assured that regardless of your current credit rating, you will likely qualify. The online application is very easy, and as soon as you are approved you can receive your funds almost immediately, allowing you to make travel arrangements immediately!

Basic Requirements & Terms

Pros & Cons

Partner terms and conditions

Personal loans made through Upgrade feature Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) of 7.99%-35.99%. All personal loans have a 1.85% to 9.99% origination fee, which is deducted from the loan proceeds. Lowest rates require Autopay and paying off a portion of existing debt directly. Loans feature repayment terms of 24 to 84 months. For example, if you receive a $10,000 loan with a 36-month term and a 17.59% APR (which includes a 13.94% yearly interest rate and a 5% one-time origination fee), you would receive $9,500 in your account and would have a required monthly payment of $341.48. Over the life of the loan, your payments would total $12,293.46. The APR on your loan may be higher or lower and your loan offers may not have multiple term lengths available. Actual rate depends on credit score, credit usage history, loan term, and other factors. Late payments or subsequent charges and fees may increase the cost of your fixed rate loan. There is no fee or penalty for repaying a loan early. Personal loans issued by Upgrade’s bank partners.

6. LendingClub personal loans (Best for joint applications)

LendingClub offers the option for borrowers to apply jointly for their loan, which can be useful particularly when you are going to be traveling with a partner or family member. The fact that an applicant has a co-borrower with a solid credit score may help increase the likelihood that they will be accepted for a loan and also help the applicant obtain more favorable terms (such as a lower interest rate) and/or more money than they would have been able to get alone.

When applying for a loan through LendingClub, both applicants complete the same application form and provide their personal information. LendingClub looks at the two applicants together to determine their credit worthiness as a unit. This process will allow an applicant to finance their trip more easily and affordably even if he or she does not have a strong credit rating.

Basic Requirements & Terms

Pros & Cons

How we picked the best providers

We put together this list of the most reputable lenders that provide vacation loans to consumers by conducting an extensive evaluation of multiple personal loan companies. We evaluated these lenders based on multiple key criteria that are important to consumers, including interest rates, fees, loan amounts, repayment periods and eligibility criteria. We also collected consumer feedback on these loan products from Reputable Organizations (the Better Business Bureau) and independent review sites to gain insight into the actual experiences of borrowers.

How to prequalify for a vacation loan

The process of getting prequalified for a vacation loan is fast and easy. But, it doesn’t affect your credit score. Follow these steps to get started:

• Identify your travel budget. How much will you spend on your holiday? Include flights, hotels, food, and things to do while you’re away. With this number, you can figure out what size loan you need.

• Research lenders. Find lenders that offer vacation loans or personal loans that have flexible terms and relative interest rates.

• Gather all necessary financial information. You should have basic info (income, employment, credit history) so that lenders can verify who you are and how much you earn. The more accurate your information, the less hassle you will encounter when trying to get a loan.

• Use lenders’ prequalification options. Most lenders give you the ability to check estimated interest rates and repayment terms through an online application. They also have prequalification options available in their loan marketplaces where you can view several loan offers at once.

• Compare multiple loan offers. Look at the interest rates, fees, and repayment terms from various lenders in order to determine what works best for your vacation.

It takes minutes to pre-qualify with more than one lender online, which will show you your potential rate and amount, allowing you to secure the financing for your vacation while only affecting your credit score minimally.

What is a vacation loan?

A vacation loan is generally an unsecured personal loan that you can utilize to finance your vacation expenses. There are some companies such as Uplift that let you secure the funds for your trip at the time of purchasing the trip. However, most times the funds need to be secured prior to booking your travel arrangements (flights, hotels, etc.).

A majority of vacation loans are offered through local banks and credit unions; however, many online lenders have a much faster process for approval so they may be a better fit for someone with tight deadlines.

Are vacation loans a good idea?

The situation will determine whether taking out vacation loans is appropriate or not. An unexpected trip and the inability to cover the costs out of pocket may warrant taking out a vacation loan to pay for previous expenses or as a way to finance a timeshare. If planning in advance, it’s advisable to hold off on taking out a loan and instead save up for the trip.

Vacation Loan Pros & Cons

Can I get a vacation loan with bad credit?

A vacation loan is available to people with impaired credit ratings. A vacation loan may be acquired from Uplift, a provider of vacation loans, which offers loans for travel and has made it their practice, to make loans to borrowers who have defective credit ratings.

Having a poor credit rating will generally restrict the maximum loan amount available to you, as lenders typically require that your credit report demonstrates an acceptable creditworthiness, at least a 670 or better status rating, in order to qualify for the best vacation loan programs offered by them.

How else can I pay for a vacation?

Before you take out a loan, consider these alternatives.

Save up

The least expensive way to finance your vacation is to plan in advance and save up. However, you must allow yourself sufficient time before booking airfare; how much time is required is entirely dependent upon your available budget and the total amount you are attempting to meet. If this is your first time saving toward a goal, the following techniques might help you.

• Take advantage of a high-interest savings account. A high-interest savings account accumulates interest, which will help you to grow your savings more rapidly (but, there are also some disadvantages). You will want to have one set up for long-term vacations as opposed to short-term holidays, for example, if you were wanting to take an overseas holiday in years to come.
• Establish an online piggy bank. Online piggy banks work like regular savings accounts, but they can be much simpler to operate. Simply specify your savings goal and then input the amount you intend to contribute toward your piggy bank each day, week or month, and let it all just happen automatically.
• Build a travel budget. While you are busy putting away the funds, you should also use this opportunity to formulate a travel budget. Food and tours (sightseeing) and entrance fees must be factored into your travel budget, as well as airfare/car rental expenses.

Credit card

The advantages of a travel credit card include access to airport lounges, free insurance policies, and frequent flyer awards as well as being able to get a 0% introductory Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for more than a year so that you can finance your expenses on an interest-free basis until you find a way to pay it off.

You will normally require at least good-quality credit to be able to qualify for a competitive offer. You should also expect to see your interest rates go up after the introductory promotional period expires, sometimes exceeding the amount you would pay on a personal loan, and have to pay an annual fee. Additionally, if you travel outside the US, then you may be required to pay additional fees for foreign transactions.

Vacation package financing

Many vacation package companies give you several payment options for your holiday. Disney has many ways to finance your trip, including savings accounts, reward cards, loans, etc., to help you pay for your holiday.

These financings provide additional benefits or discounts that may not be available otherwise; however, they are not necessarily always cheaper than other options.

Layaway program

A layaway plan is another way of prepaying for travel by allowing you to pay for your trip with a one-time deposit. However, with a layaway plan, you’ll usually need to pay a one-time service fee rather than the typical loan interest rate. It’s important to note that a layaway plan might actually come out to be cheaper than a traditional loan. Also, unlike with a traditional loan, you may qualify for a layaway plan regardless of your credit score. In order to use this type of program, you will still need to save money to cover the cost of your upcoming trip ahead of time.

Crowdfunding

Suppose your trip is of extraordinary significance to you—for example, by attempting to scale Mount Everest, or travelling overseas to teach English—consider running a crowdfunding campaign on social media to secure financial support as an alternative option for obtaining money for your trip. Alternatively, you could also solicit donations from people close to you directly rather than relying on traditional forms of gift giving, such as holidays or birthdays.

Personal line of credit

Lines of credit offer a flexible way of obtaining cash whenever you need it. However, lines of credit tend to have lower limits than personal loans and usually charge lower interest than credit cards. Nevertheless, lines of credit are not as frequent as personal loans.

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