10 best places TO travel ON A budget

Updated: 02/08/20 | February 8th, 2020

The world is full of economical destinations, and it doesn’t require much effort to find them. No matter what continent, there are always places you can check out on a budget — even countries we think of as expensive are quite budget-friendly if you know certain suggestions and tricks.

No destination is really ever “too expensive.”

After 12 years as a prudent budget traveler and, because of the release of my new book, today I want to talk about my favorite budget travel destinations.

These destinations are my favorite countries and regions for getting the most value for your money, meeting friendly locals and travelers, eating well, and having fun.

If you’re wanting to travel on a low budget and wondering where you ought to go, here are the 10 best and most affordable places to travel internationally:

1. Fiji

Most of us think of Pacific Island destinations as expensive destinations filled with high priced resorts, food, and services. However, that’s not always the case. Fiji, unlike its expensive island neighbors and sharp marketing by Fiji water, is actually relatively low-cost to visit. While there are numerous $1,000-a-night resorts in the country, you can manage to delight in beautiful beaches, world-class diving, tasty seafood, and friendly locals without having to mortgage your home.

Since Fiji is a stopover on Fiji Airlines, you’ll find a lot of flight deals to the country. numerous backpackers take advantage of that and a small backpacker community has emerged. That implies low-cost guesthouses, transportation, and activities, especially in the popular Yasawa Islands.

Even if you’re not a backpacker, you can take advantage of all these deals and save money. Fiji is one of the best budget destinations in the region and not to be missed.

For much more information, check out this comprehensive planning guide on Fiji.

2. central America

Want to roam ancient ruins, trek through the jungle, surf, and eat delicious food with few tourists around? check out the smaller countries in central America — think El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. here you will find many budget hotels for around $15 per night, meals for $3, many bus journeys for the same price, and beer for less than a dollar.

Belize, Panama, Costa Rica – these are expensive destinations by regional standards. If you check out the central Central American countries, you can get by on $40 a day as a backpacker or splash up to $60 a day and live large. Your money goes really far in this part of the world.

For much more information, check out this comprehensive planning guide on central America.

3. Cambodia

While you could put all of Southeast Asia on the list, Cambodia is one of my favorite countries in the region — it’s affordable, beautiful, and the locals are extremely hospitable. You can get a private, air-conditioned room for $20 USD, street food for $2, and transportation across the country for $20. If you are spending close to $50 a day, you are living large. It’s way less expensive than all its neighbors, just as beautiful, and filled with some of the nicest people in the world. It’s one of the most affordable backpacking destinations in the world!

For much more information, check out this comprehensive planning guide on Cambodia.

4. China

China has fascinated travelers ever because Marco Polo traversed the Silk Road. While the days of China being a super-cheap destination are long gone, the country remains a budget destination – and one of the most affordable in Asia – but with a caveat. You need to get out of the big cities. Sure, the cities are still a bargain. Hostels cost less than $20 a day, food is $2-5 per meal, and local transportation in cities runs less than a dollar. But, the country becomes even cheaper, when you get off the beaten path and the interior. This is where you’ll find the best travel deals and bargains! China still remains one of the best value places in the world.

For much more information, check out this comprehensive planning guide on China.

5. South Korea

South Korea is a country not talked about enough. To me, South Korea is one of the greatest “undiscovered” travel destinations in the world — its prices rival that of Southeast Asia, it’s high tech, the food is mind blowing delicious and eclectic, the countryside is jaw-dropping beautiful, and the nightlife is out of this world. It is one of the most underrated travel destinations out there. With the South Korean currency at 1,100 won per $1 USD and many everything costing only a few thousand won, it’s hard to bust your budget here. My pal and I went out for Korean BBQ complete with drinks, and we each spent $8. You can pick up bottles of beer in 7-Eleven for less than a dollar. Trains are cheap. everything here is low-cost – plus it’s fun and different! If you’re searching for a budget trip to Asia, check out South Korea. There are lots of international flights to here!

6. India

While always a low-cost country, the Indian rupee used to ride high at 39 rupees to the us dollar. Now, you get 73 rupees to the dollar — that’s nearly 50 percent much more money to travel with. Unless you book five-star resorts and eat only Western meals, you’ll find it hard to spend $50 a day here. You can get by on closer to $30 by staying in low-cost guest houses, taking second-class trains, and avoiding Western food. India a low-cost backpacking destination – heck, just a low-cost travel destination – with a rich cultural history, top class food, valuable and curious locals, amazing regional diversity, terrific tea, and a lot to do. It’s a enormous place best either explored in either one large trip or a few smaller chunks. Either way, don’t miss India.

7. Eastern Europe

Far Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova) is the most affordable part of the continent. It’s a sin many people don’t check out this region more. I was living like a king for less than $40 per day, paying $8 a night for a room in Ukraine, $1.50 for a liter of beer in Bulgaria, and a few dollars for transportation. Eastern Europe has the charm and charm of the West without the high prices or hordes of tourists you’ll find in Paris, Prague, or Barcelona. They are not the impoverished ex-Communist countries many people still think them to be. If you’re searching for something a little much more off the beaten path, come to this area of the world.

For much more information, check out this comprehensive planning guide on Europe.

8. Portugal

Not all Euro countries are created equal, and Portugal is one of the bargain countries in the region — and one of my favorites. I fell in love with the country the first time I visited — how could I not, with stunning beaches, red wine country, spectacular cliffs, delicious food, jovial locals, and historic cities all at bargain prices. Portugal has become a lot much more popular and crowded in recent years. Lisbon has become especially expensive was people relocation there and drive up prices. It’s a terrific place after all! However, once you get outside of Lisbon, prices are still relatively low-cost compared, even if the crowds are a bit larger these days!

For much more information, check out this comprehensive planning guide on Portugal.

9. Australia

While an unlikely candidate to be noted on a “cheap destinations” list because it’s known to be extremely expensive, Australia can also be extremely low-cost – if you know a few tricks! thanks to a lot of work exchange opportunities, a well-worn budget backpacker trail, lots of Couchsurfing hosts, and low-cost groceries, you can check out Australia on a budget. Additionally, Australia has become less expensive thanks to the 20% drop in the Australian dollar has tempered that price increase and made Australia the most economical it has been in years.

For much more information, check out this comprehensive planning guide on Australia.

10. Thailand

On every list ever about budget travel, Thailand is where it all began for me so it holds a special place in my heart. It is where I chose to quit my job and travel the world. I lived there. I loved there. Thailand is incredible. With a traveler trail going back decades, Thailand is the heart of backpacking in Southeast Asia, and you can get by on between $25-30 a day thanks to low-cost guesthouses, food, local buses, and attractions. If you spend all your time on the islands and in expensive accommodation, expect to pay closer to $50 USD a day. However, even at the price, Thailand is still one of the most bargain destinations in the world and ought to not be skipped!

For much more information, check out this comprehensive planning guide on Thailand.

***
I believe many destinations in the world can be explored on a budget without sacrificing too much comfort (heck, I even traveled Iceland on $50 a day). If you’re a savvy traveler, you know how to maximize your money no matter where you go in the world. but your mission to find the most affordable places to travel in the world is a lot simpler when the places you’re going to are already affordable.

So check out one of these spots and save! Leave a comment below and add in your budget travel destination ideas too!

Read much more and learn to travel cheap: 

How to Make Your travel money Last

61 travel Tips

8 terrific alternative budget getaway Ideas

The supreme guide to traveling When You have No Money

 

How to travel the world on $50 a Day

My new York Times best-selling paperback guide to world travel will instruct you how to master the art of travel so that you’ll get off the beaten path, save money, and have a deeper travel experience. It’s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the “bible for budget travelers.”

Click here to learn much more and start reading it today!

Book Your Trip: Logistical suggestions and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a low-cost flight by using Skyscanner.It’s my favorite search engine because it searches sites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the most affordable rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t forget travel Insurance
Travel insurance will safeguard you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s extensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it numerous times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

SafetyWing (best for everyone)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Ready to book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.