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So you want to travel but can’t afford to splash out? We understand — it can be hard to save money when traveling and plan an awesome, budget-friendly vacation, but there are definitely parts of the world where you can get a lot of bang for your buck and tick off some of the locations on your bucket list. From exploring the wonders of south-east Asia, through to getting off the beaten track in South America, we’re here to help with a roundup of the best places to travel for cheap in the world.
1. Hungary
Europe is generally an expensive travel destination, but if you head to Eastern Europe you’ll find ancient, Medieval towns, Roman ruins, thousands of years of history, and great budget prices. Hungary is one of the best places to travel to in Eastern Europe, with many travelers opting to do a weekend trip to Budapest, the country’s capital city. In Budapest, you can bathe in natural hot springs, marvel at Roman and Gothic architecture and drink plenty of cheap beer. Budapest is a very walkable city (meaning you don’t have to spend money getting around), and thanks to a hotel-building boom, there are plenty of budget options for accommodation.
2. Peru
Peru is one of the cheapest places to travel in South America, and home to some of the world’s most incredible mountain scenery, and of course, the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu — a site on many people’s bucket lists. Visiting Machu Picchu doesn’t have to be an expensive trip (the famous Inca Trail four-day tour can be around several hundred dollars), instead, you can take a bus and walk for an hour to the base town of Aguas Calientes. Once at the base town, stay there for the night and wake early in the morning to walk up to Machu Pichu at sunrise, saving you plenty of money. Meanwhile, the other main destinations in Peru, such as the cities of Cusco, Arequipa, and Lima, have cheap accommodation and amazing, budget-friendly food. The country is easy to travel around by bus or you can find cheap internal flights.
3. United States
It’s easy to lust after the idea of going abroad, but what about enjoying mighty Mother Nature on home turf? The United States is known for its incredible national parks and natural wonders, from Yellowstone to Yosemite, to Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls, there’s simply so much to see and do. Naturally, accommodation is more expensive in the US than South America or Asia, but you won’t have to spend on airfares and you can do your trip by car, bus or train. You can also camp in most national parks, making your getaway significantly cheaper.
4. Thailand
Thailand is one of the best places to travel for cheap in the world. From bustling cities to beautiful temples, incredible street food, and some of the world’s best beaches, the country is bursting with adventure. Hotel prices are incredibly cheap and there are several budget airlines running domestic routes through the country, meaning you can get around easily without having to spend too much money. It’s also a great place to grab a bargain, so make sure you have plenty of space in your bag so you can load up on goods before you go home.
Check out How to Do Thailand on a Budget for the nitty-gritty on how to plan your trip.
5. Bolivia
Bolivia probably wins the title as the cheapest country to travel to in South America. The country has incredible natural sights, such as the Salar de Uyuni, or Salt Flats (where you can get your perfect Instagram shot), the epic Lake Titicaca, which is one of the world’s largest lakes, and the country’s beautiful capital of La Paz, which sits at a whopping 2.2 miles high. Everything is budget-friendly in Bolivia, from buses to accommodation and tours, and you’ll be amazed at how far your money can go!
6. Vietnam
Along with Thailand, Vietnam is also one of the best places to travel to in South East Asia. It’s a country known for its incredibly delicious food, history, culture, and cheap accommodation. It’s cheap to fly internally in Vietnam, with some favorite sites to visit being the incredible mountain town of Sapa in the north, the former French Colonial capital of Hanoi, known for its picturesque crumbling, buildings, and the quaint town of Hoi An, in the middle of the country. Generally speaking, North Vietnam is cheaper than South Vietnam, so concentrate your trip in the north for more wallet-friendly prices.
7. Greece
Due to a recent economic crisis in Greece, Europe’s top holiday destination is now very cheap as the Greek tourism industry desperately tries to stay afloat by offering knock-down prices on accommodation and resorts. It’s one of the most worthy destinations you can visit in Europe, with incredible beaches, delicious food, ancient history and warm, caring people. Not only will you have an amazing, budget-friendly holiday, you’ll also really be helping out the locals who are going through a very difficult time. Greece is full of amazing islands and it can be hard to pick which ones to visit. Our top choices are Zakynthos, Corfu, and Kos, where you can find ancient ruins, stunning coves, and crystal clear turquoise waters.