With amazing things to do all around the world, travel stand to be incredibly affordable and you don’t have to break the bank to travel and have a great time! Here are the best budget destinations for 2024, most of which fit the bill for whatever you want to do — beaches, mountains, culture, history.
Vietnam
The land of Vietnam still attracts the backpacker because of the richness of culture and incredible sights along with the low cost. Still, his panes of pho, banh, and other authentic Vietnamese dishes are available from $1 per meal for budget travelers. Big cities with many historical places like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, etc., or natural beauty such as Ha Long Bay or the terraced fields of Sapa have beautiful scenery where you pay a small entrance fee. You can stay in hostels for as low as $5–10 per night or homestays at $10.
Highlights:
Discover the UNESCO Heritage sites of Hoi An town
Enjoy a beautiful boat cruise on the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay.
Want to read more about learning about the war history of the country — head to the Cu Chi tunnels near Ho Chi Minh City.
Georgia
A dirty diamond of the Caucasus is cheap, diverse, and the number of budgeters is only growing. From the mountains of Kazbegi to the vineyards of Kakheti, Georgia always offers stunning landscapes. Tbilisi, the capital, has a charming architecture, a lot of artsy things to do, as well as cheap places to eat and enjoy traditional Georgian foods such as khachapuri and kinkily. It also combines European and Asian cultures in a unique way.
Highlights:
Explore the Old Town of Tbilisi to see historical churches and urban bathhouses.
Discover Uplistsikhe, a historic cave town
Travel to Caucasus for an easy hike through fantastic landscapes.
Bolivia
Bolivia is the mysterious yellowbird of South America — a gold mine for budget travelers!! Especially with insane natural attractions such as the other-worldly Uyuni Salt Flats, epic mountain ranges, and lush jungles, and all for just a fraction of the price of surrounding countries. Costs for accommodation and food are astoundingly cheap, and public transportation is accessible, giving you the ability to travel around Bolivia on a very small budget.
Highlights:
Observe the Uyuni Salt Flats mirror effect after the rain.
Visit the vibrant markets and museums of La Paz.
Go to Lake Titicaca and the attractive town of Copacabana.
Romania
If you are looking to travel in Europe on a budget, Romania is a great pick. Romania is everything that Western Europe could be but cheaper — medieval towns, dramatic castles, Transylvania. The capital of Romania, Bucharest, has cheap accommodation, inexpensive food and a party scene that never runs dry. Affordable accommodations are found at hostels and guesthouses, and public transportation is very convenient.
Highlights:
Bran Castle, aka Dracula’s Castle, in Transylvania.
See the painted monasteries in Bukovina, a UNESCO World Heritage site
Visit the beautiful medieval town of Sighisoara, Vlad the Impaler’s place of birth
Mexico
From changing sceneries to volcanoes to old civilizations, Mexico has lots of history and urban life, not to mention everything at a pretty low price. Be it the wonderful beaches of Tulum and Puerto Escondido, the culturally-filled Mexico City, or anything in between; Mexico is quite affordable and has something for everyone. Eating local is cheap and delicious, with meals costing as little as $2–3 in many regions.
Highlights:
Explore the ruins of Teotihuacan and Chechen Itza.
Playa del Carmen or Puerto Vallarta: Beaches and nightlife
As an example here are things to do and see in, Mexico City.
Nepal
Nepal is one of the cheapest places to visit in Asia and is famed for its stunning mountain scenery and spiritual vibe. The trails leading to Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit are known throughout the world, and trekkers can complete the classic routes on a shoe-string budget by staying in simple tea houses along the way. In addition to trekking, Kathmandu and Pokhara provide cheap lodging, meals, and cultural experiences.
Highlights:
Hike to Everest Base Camp or along beautiful Annapurna Circuit.
Treat yourself to temples and shrines in Kathmandu Valley.
Head to Pokhara — the tranquil lakeside town before heading to the Himalayas — and go paragliding.
Portugal
Except for Western Europe to be pricey, continue to be one of the more realistic options is Portugal. With its sunny climate, picturesque coastline, and tasty historical background, Portugal abounds with cheap hostels, inexpensive restaurants, and attractions that cost sometimes nothing or are very low-cost. With its vibrant culture, art scene, and nightlife, Lisbon and Porto are bustling cities, while smaller towns such as Sintra and Lagos have stunning ocean scenery and a slower pace of life.
Highlights:
Explore the colorful streets and medieval landmarks around Lisbon.
Porto: Wine-tasting Tours in the Douro Valley
Soak in the Algarve beaches with their golden beauty.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is possibly the most underrated destination offering potentially the best value for money between beaches, mountains, and tea plantations. Public transportation in the country is cheap and links major cities such as Colombo, Kandy and Galle. Sri Lankan curries and street food are super cheap, too, as are guesthouses and hostels all over the island.
Highlights:
Take the famed train from Kandy to Ella, going through lush tea plantations.
Discover the UNESCO World Heritage ancient city of Sigiriya.
Chill at the Mirissa or Unawatuna beaches.
Turkey
With a deep history, stunning nature, and a lively culture, Turkey is an affordable travel destination. Istanbul is filled with historical sites, cheap markets, and beautiful mosques, and Cappadocia is known for its fairy chimney rock formations and hot air balloon rides. Turkey is also perfect for budget travel thanks to inexpensive food, public transportation, and plenty of places to stay cheap!
Highlights:
Hagia Sophia, The Blue Mosque and The Grand Bazaar – Istanbul
Explore the surreal landscapes of Cappadocia and take a hot air balloon ride.
Visit the ruins of Ephesus, one of the most well-known Ancient sites still preserved from Roman times.
Indonesia
Home to over 18,000 islands, Indonesia is a super cheap destination which offers all types of travel experiences, from vibrant cities to peaceful beaches, jungles and volcanoes. While Bali is synonymous with inexpensive digs, wellness escapes, and postcard-perfect beaches, Bali’s other islands (great for little more than land tours) — like Lombok and Sumatra — promise gorgeous vistas at even greater savings. Outside of the tourist hotspots, food, transport, and activities are all extremely inexpensive.
Highlights:
Have fun at the beaches, temples and rice fields of Bali.
Hike up Mount Bromo or visit Tumpak Sewu waterfall in East Java.
Go Snorkeling And Diving Around The Gili Islands
Conclusion
These are the best budget destinations for 2024 – a chance for unforgettable cultural immersion, adventure, or relaxation at much lower cost. The list of places you can travel for a couple of hundred dollars will never end, from the ruins of Mexico and Turkey to the beaches of Indonesia and Sri Lanka. A little forward planning can allow you to make 2024 the year of seeing the world without blowing the budget.
