Budget travel gets mistaken for cheap travel. They're not always the same thing. The point is to spend where it counts and cut back where it doesn’t. Look at the whole trip, including the flight and the expensive thing you know you’ll refuse to skip, because nobody plans a holiday to admire their spreadsheet. Then again, if paradise also happens to be affordable, who's arguing?
We sifted through hundreds of resources, found the best ones, then tracked which destinations everyone kept talking about.
Most Recommended Destinations:
Vietnam (13/15)
Vietnam combines very low costs for accommodation, street food and overland transportation with an unusually wide range of experiences. Its lively cities, historic sites, beaches, mountains and countryside deliver far more than its daily price tag suggests.
Recommended By: Hostelworld, We Are Global Travellers, Nomadic Matt, The Broke Backpacker, The Roaming Renegades, Indie Traveller, Half Half Travel, Rough Guides, Dollar Flight Club, GetYourGuide, Backpackers Wanderlust, Lonely Planet, Travel + Leisure
India (11/15)
India is easy on the budget thanks to cheap guesthouses, street food, and a huge network of trains and buses. The country is massive, so you can see big cities, temples, beaches, mountains, and a lot of different cultures without spending much.
Recommended By: Nomadic Matt, Hostelworld, We Are Global Travellers, The Broke Backpacker, Indie Traveller, Half Half Travel, Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Backpackers Wanderlust, Travel + Leisure
Indonesia (11/15)
Most advice skips Bali and points to places like Java, Lombok, Sulawesi, and Nusa Tenggara. These spots are still cheap for places to stay, meals, and getting around. You can put together a trip with beaches, islands, volcanoes, temples, and diving without running out of options or money.
Recommended By: Hostelworld, We Are Global Travellers, The Broke Backpacker, Indie Traveller, Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Dollar Flight Club, GetYourGuide, Backpackers Wanderlust, Travel + Leisure
Thailand (11/15)
Thailand is still good value for food, guesthouses, and getting around, especially in the north or away from the busiest islands. The travel setup is straightforward, and you can see cities, temples, jungles, and beaches without needing a big budget.
Recommended By: Nomadic Matt, We Are Global Travellers, The Broke Backpacker, The Roaming Renegades, Indie Traveller, Half Half Travel, Lonely Planet, Dollar Flight Club, Backpackers Wanderlust, Travel + Leisure
My Pick:
Albania (7/15)
Albania has Adriatic beaches, mountain hikes, Ottoman towns, and not many crowds. You’d usually pay a lot more for this in Europe. It's currently high on my own travel list for exactly that reason.
Recommended By: Nomadic Matt, We Are Global Travellers, The Broke Backpacker, The Roaming Renegades, Indie Traveller, Rough Guides, Dollar Flight Club
Here are 12 of our favourite budget destination resources. You'll find these and many more in the Where To Travel Hub.
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