Traveling is a very fun and exciting activity for many people. Most times, we are discouraged from making travel plans due to the financial implications it brings. In this article, we would give 7 fascinating places to visit on a budget. The world is full of affordable destinations, and it doesn’t require much effort to find them.
No matter what continent, there are always places you can visit on a budget, even countries we think of as expensive are quite budget-friendly if you know certain tips and tricks. If you’re budget-conscious and want to travel more for less, you’d have to keep an eye out for budget-friendly destinations. It is so amazing how your Dollars, Euros, or Pounds can get you much further in cheaper countries.
Nepal
Nepal is a very cheap country to travel through and one of the best places to visit on a budget, with most food, accommodation, and transport running at just a few dollars if you eat, sleep, and travel using local options. It’s one of the best places you can travel to on a budget.
You can travel for as cheap as $10 per day on food and accommodation at the lower elevations. It is truly one of the most beautiful places to visit on a budget and closer to USD 20 at higher elevations on popular routes like the Annapurna Circuit. Amazingly, you get to spend only $10-$15 per person for a private car and driver split between 4 people or a local bus ride between cities.
Malaysia
Another mention on our list of best places to go on vacation on a budget would be Malaysia. Being one of the most economically developed Southeast Asian countries, Malaysia is often perceived as expensive. Malaysia is also one of the cheapest places in the world to get a PADI scuba diving certificate making it a go-to place for budget travel destinations.
There are so many interesting local neighborhoods and markets that are free to explore, and finally, Malaysian cuisine is like no other. You can find food from just about any culture, and it’s so cheap and delicious, but not necessarily healthy. Meals costs are $5 – $10 per day. Some hostels provide breakfast.
Accommodation goes for $5 – $15 per night in a hostel. $3 – $5 for a full day of train and bus rides, or $8 – $15 for an overnight intercity bus ride making one of the wallets friendly places to go on vacation on a budget.
India
India is perhaps one of the best places to visit on a budget, but if and only if you’re willing to haggle and hunt for deals. Keep in mind that cheap rooms that run in the $3 range will be very basic, and it’s normal to shower with buckets of heated water. You will be hard-pressed to find cheap gems in the north, but the south, with its gorgeous beaches, may prove more fruitful when it comes to budget accommodation.
The best way to travel through India on a budget is to book things yourself. This means no agents and no online booking sites. Accommodation goes for $4 – $8 per night in a local guesthouse. $1 – $3 for a full day of bus and train rides, or $8 – $30 for an intercity train ride. Sometimes a domestic flight costs as little as $30 if you want to splurge without actually splurging.
Indonesia
Another mention on our list of budget travel destinations would be Indonesia. There’s a lot to do and see, and spending more time in one place will only allow you to travel deeper and have a more meaningful experience anyway if you want to travel far and wide on a budget. Indonesia is one of the best places to travel to on a budget.
On the flip side, food and drinks are cheap throughout the country, not to mention absolutely delicious too! Riding a scooter through the mountains costs very little, so does hiking, chasing waterfalls, and slouching in a hammock by the beach all day long. Hostels are plentiful, social, and affordable, especially in places like the Gili Islands, which truly makes it one of the best places to visit on a budget.
North Thailand
The north of Thailand is another mention of the best places to travel to on a budget. As one moves south, costs for accommodation start to double, triple, and even quadruple. If you are short on time and budget for your Thailand trip, stay up north! Even in popular places like Chiang Mai and Pai, you can easily find basic dorms for less than $5.
As far as activities go, you really do not need a lot of money to enjoy your day as most activities such as visiting the White Temple, hiking, or gathering 3 other people from your hostel to rent a car and go on some day trips, are all affordable.
Cambodia
Cambodia is one great place to travel to on a budget. You could consider the gorgeous, mostly new boutique hotels on booking.com, which rate this place as one of the most beautiful places to visit on a budget.
They are obviously not as cheap as staying in hostels, but they are worth the price. Transportation goes for $6-$15 for a motorbike for the day (prices vary depending on the bike condition and your haggling skills) or for an intercity bus ticket.
Vietnam
Our final mention on our list of budget travel destinations would be Vietnam. Vietnam is another great place to visit on a budget. Accommodation is similarly pleasant and easier to afford than almost anywhere else in the world. Street foods are very affordable. For transportation, if you rent a motorbike, you are all set for the day. However, in Vietnam, the road traffic can be overwhelmingly chaotic.
GrabBike (similar to Uber but on bikes!) is widely available in all major cities, and the cost is as low as $0.50 for a 2km ride! The long-distance buses and trains are also affordable and reliable.