Traveling on a budget: 12 ideal destinations

“How can I save money while traveling or travel on a budget? This is a question I am often asked, here and when I meet travelers in person. The answer is not always easy to find, as it is a combination of factors, but the destination chosen plays a big role in reducing the budget spent on your next vacation.

So I asked other bloggers who travel frequently to share their top affordable destinations with you. Personally, I would say that my favorite place to travel on a budget is Cambodia, a beautiful country where warm people and delicious food are the perfect ingredients for a most interesting discovery!

Best destinations for budget travel

1.Nicaragua

No wonder a trip to Nicaragua is increasingly popular among backpackers . It is a destination to be recommended for less experienced travellers, both for its friendliness and for its prices. Transport is easy and efficient ( yes, yes, efficient), and the cost of living there is really low. Easy to find a well-maintained hostel at a good price and a hearty meal for a few dollars. Plus, if you wanted to, you could just roam from town to town and have a great trip. Through Granada, the Rainbow City, and the expat town of San Juan del Sur, melon juice in hand and a swim in the Pacific, it’s hard to find long time in this slow-paced country and quiet. If I were a giantess, I would set up a hammock between the two volcanoes of Ometepe Island and spend at least one season there!

Annie, Annie Anywhere

2. Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is the capital of Hungary, a member country of the European Union located in Eastern Europe. In addition to being magnificent, especially at night, the cost of living there is rather low. It’s easy to eat there for a few forints, as with the famous goulash, and enjoy a good, inexpensive beer at the Szimpla bar, an old building that has been refurbished and decorated with objects from flea markets. You can stay in a youth hostel from CA$8 to CA$10 per night! Some museums only cost CA$5-6 for admission. It is very easy to get there with low budget airlines from Europe or even to include it during a trip to Europe for our Quebec friends. Moreover, Budapest is the place of one of the biggest European festivals, the “Sziget Festival”. Chain Bridge, Fisherman’s Bastion,

There are a few destinations in the world that leave an indelible mark on the heart. Nepal is one. It is one of the cheapest countries we have visited and among those most suitable for backpacker travel. With a budget of 50 € per day for two people including accommodation, meals, transport and activities without depriving ourselves too much, we had our eyes full and our hearts full.

It is mainly the internationally renowned trekking routes through the Himalayan range, the “roof of the world”, which attract most visitors. We walked for weeks through (literally) breathtaking mountainous landscapes, accompanied by villagers, Sherpas, pilgrims, monks, and other trekkers in search of something greater. It’s a physical challenge, a human adventure and a spiritual journey that has made us grow.

But it’s not just trekking in Nepal. It is a country of legends and folklore. Medieval squares, temples, monasteries and stupas tell tales of gods who incarnate as animals, monstrous creatures like the Yeti who watch over the mountains, and grand tales of royalty. Natural beauty, land of adventure, mysticism and cultural richness, as a budget destination, you can hardly do better.

4. Peru

Traveling on a low budget is not just a question of the standard of living of the chosen country! The distance from the country of departure (and therefore the price of the plane ticket) or the way of traveling there are just as important factors to take into account.

These considerations aside, several low-budget destinations come to mind and, as often, it is to Latin America that my daydreams fly… and again and again, to Peru! In love with these Latin continents, it is in Peru that we have, all travels combined, spent the most time.

So many reasons for this: the food is very (very) good there, the weather is so varied depending on the region that you can always find a place where the weather is good (between the coast, the desert, the Andes and the Amazonian forest, there there’s plenty to do!), everything is colourful, the music makes the scenery look like a holiday, people are smiling… and, of course, there are so many archaeological marvels to visit that one lifetime wouldn’t be enough .

And then, too, it’s a low budget destination! Very easy to get around by bus (with standards of comfort for all tastes and all budgets), very easy to eat cheaply (memories of ceviche with your feet in the sand) and there is accommodation at good price.

5. Vietnam

Vietnam is the ideal destination to travel without breaking the bank. It is full of natural treasures and wonders of nature that will provide a total change of scenery. Jungle, rice fields as far as the eye can see, heavenly beaches, not to mention its tasty cuisine, Vietnam is a country to discover at least once in your life.

On site, the cost of living is low, almost 2 to 3 times cheaper than in France. It is very easy to find cheap accommodation, sometimes at 10 euros per night. For more chic accommodation, it will be necessary to count around thirty euros. We eat there for less than 3 euros per meal and per person. Besides, the best meal we’ve eaten so far was in Vietnam in a small boui-boui. We were served a feast for…3 dollars for 2 people! Transportation is also cheap, whether taxis, motorbike taxis or public transport. What costs the most when traveling in Vietnam are excursions such as sleeping on Ha Long Bay or visiting the Mekong Delta. Vietnam remains to this day our favorite Southeast Asian country, we are very attached to it.

6. Bolivia

I have been to Bolivia twice. My first time was in June 2014, a ten day stay, and my second time, in May 2016 for two weeks. Bolivia is among the cheapest countries in South America. It’s a few euros less for accommodation compared to Peru, on average 6-8 euros for a bed in a dormitory, or less than 15 euros for a basic room for two people. If you like street food, you can have it for two euros. Add a few euros for a daily menu or classic meal (rice, fries, pasta with chicken). For travel, you have between ten and fifteen euros for long distances (La Paz – Santa Cruz or La Paz – Sucre, for example).

For excursions, some are quite expensive. For example, going down the road of death by bike (about 50 euros) or climbing a mountain at 6000 meters (it can go up to a few hundred euros for several days). On the other hand, for basic activities such as local hikes, a visit to the Potosí mine, hiking around Sucre, you have it for less than 15 euros per day (this includes accommodation and food). For Bolivia’s flagship attraction, the Salar de Uyuni and the South Lipez, it will cost you just under 20 euros a day with a Spanish guide. With a group of 3-4 people you can get very good prices, but beware of the quality of service. The best way to get the lowest prices is to go there to book your bus, your excursion, etc.

Stefan, Travel Advisor

7. Laos

Laos is clearly not the first destination that comes to mind for travelers when considering a trip to Southeast Asia. Wedged between its popular neighbours, Thailand and Vietnam, it is above all on the itinerary of those who travel through the region for a few months. It is in this way that I discovered this small country which in the end was one of my most beautiful discoveries.

Although it does not enjoy access to the sea, the wealth of this country lies in something else. A generous nature represented by forests and mountains which are crossed by the impressive Mekong River which crosses the country from North to South. In Laos, the pace is slow. People are of a simplicity and a kindness which marks the traveler.

Laos has its own culture, or rather several, because there are a large number of ethnic groups in the country. Its cuisine has nothing to envy to its neighbours. Its festivals and celebrations are colorful and filled with spirituality. In addition, it is a perfect destination for traveling on a budget. You can take the opportunity to do many activities and thus contribute to the country’s economy without seeing your wallet burst.

8. Colombia

I arrived in Colombia knowing that the cost of living there would be lower than in Costa Rica, for example. Well, we still spend more there than in the countries of Southeast Asia, but still, if we take the trouble to find out, Colombian prices remain affordable for many things. Especially if we compare them to those of other countries on the continent, such as Argentina, Uruguay or Chile. Important: In September 2015, Canadian citizens had to pay a fee of 160,000 pesos to enter the country. Here are examples of prices for the same period.

• The discount airline VivaColombia! allows you to travel cheaply in Colombia, but also to some international destinations, such as Ecuador, the United States and Panama;
• Bus Medellín — Bogotá: 56,000 pesos;
• Metro ticket in Medellín: 2000 pesos each way (without card);
• Meal of the day in a “typical” restaurant: 5000 – 8000 pesos, but generally around 6000;
• Beer in a bar: 2200 pesos and more;
• One night in a hostel dormitory bed: 26,000 – 34,000 pesos on average, lunch included (Bogotá);
• Museo Botero: free admission;
• Golden Museum: 3000 pesos;
• Cable car to Cerro de Monserrate: 17,000 pesos;
• Bogota’s Graffiti & Street Art Tour: free, but with tip;
• Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral: 34,000 pesos in total (transport and entrance), in independent mode;

Without being comparable to the countries of Southeast Asia, on the budget side, Colombia is nevertheless a destination in Latin America that is more affordable than one might imagine.

9. India

If you have a small budget, I advise you to travel to India. India is probably the cheapest country in the world, so you can travel for months spending very little money. It’s perfect, because it’s a huge country where there is so much to discover.

India is not only a cheap destination, it is also an absolutely fascinating country. If there’s one thing I can guarantee you, it’s that you’ll be completely out of your element! Whether you are traveling in the mountains of the North, in Rajasthan, in the East or in the South, or that you are exploring the beaches of Goa, a trip to India, is a trip that does not leave you unscathed. Immerse yourself in the culture, observe the colorful saris, taste the spicy food, in short, let yourself be caught up in the country. You will be able to live incredible and unique experiences that can only be experienced in India.

On the budget side, you can find a hotel room everywhere for less than five euros and you can eat a good meal for around one euro. For transport by bus or train, it’s about one euro for 100 kilometers. As for visits, even if they are 10 to 30 times more expensive for foreigners than for Indians, they are still reasonable prices. India’s most expensive visit is arguably the Taj Mahal, but don’t leave India without seeing it! It is one of the seven wonders of the world and one of the most beautiful sites I have seen in my life. Have a good trip!

10. Go around the house on a local adventure

There’s no point in running… Who doesn’t yet know the “Nus et culottés” series where my co-author Nans and his sidekick Moots embark on the adventure without even a penny… clothes! Rest assured, there is no need to undress anything other than your expectations and your prejudices. It’s up to you to explore your region differently: on foot, by bike, cross-country skiing, hitchhiking, Couchsurfing, by being welcomed spontaneously. Another reference on the subject: the excellent Lonely Planet Guide to Experimental Tourism (sometimes called Latourex). Sometimes it only takes one step out of your comfort zone to be completely out of your element!

11. Morocco

Ah, Morocco! Arab-Andalusian architecture, couscous, noisy souks, the Sahara, mint tea, the labyrinthine mazes of the medinas… Morocco is a bewitching destination where there are a thousand and one things to see and do. The advantage is that it is a perfect destination for traveling on a budget. It’s easy to get around the country by bus, train or taxi covering great distances for small amounts. Street food or restaurant meals are very cheap, and so are the riads, traditional guesthouses, offering absolutely sublime havens at the end of a long day spent exploring. Entrance fees to museums and monuments are very affordable,

12. Kyrgyzstan

Do you dream of an authentic trip, off the beaten track and at a low price? Then I recommend Kyrgyzstan! A country still preserved from mass tourism, lush and diversified nature, locals with a nomadic culture and an unparalleled sense of hospitality… Doesn’t that make you dream?

So yes, go for it, and don’t worry, this country is perfect for those like me who have a limited budget. Already, you can find plane tickets from Paris from 300 euros. For a destination in Central Asia, it’s still not bad! Then, no need for a visa for French nationals for a stay of less than 60 days, which is not bad either! And finally, on site, the cost of living is not expensive at all… The price of a meal varies between 50 cents and two euros. Hitchhiking is very easy, because even locals use this means of travel. Shared taxis or public transport also allow you to wander around without spending too much.

The price of accommodation varies according to the comfort offered: between 4 euros and 15 euros per night. Count around 10 euros per night in a yurt. To share slices of life with nomadic shepherds, it’s still more than adequate! The best thing is to leave with a tent and sleep in the middle of nature or with locals. Most people have a piece of garden where you can pitch your tent for 2 to 3 euros and enjoy a shower (more or less hot!) for free. In short, a country to discover, and if you are of an adventurous nature, this small country has a lot to offer you.

Linda Martinez, The apprentice traveler