1. Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast
Although visiting the capital can be expensive, the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is cheap and affordable! Visit Tortugero, one of Costa Rica’s most remote villages that borders Tortugero National Park, where you’ll see species of birds and reptiles that you won’t see anywhere else. You can take a tour around the splendid city of Limon and its surroundings during the day and you can experience by night the real Afro-Caribbean culture in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, where you can dance all night long to reggae beats and eat delicious food, coconut-scented rice and spice-rubbed jerk chicken just to mention some!
2. New Mexico
New Mexico is another place to go to if you’re on a budget. Eating there is not expensive at all, and most of all, food is delicious and tasty! There is plenty to see in New Mexico and you will be happy to have booked your holiday in Santa Fe, where you can visit the Loretto Chapel, built in the late Eighties and has now been converted into a museum. Or take a tour of the famous Route 66 that starts in Chicago and ends in Santa Monica, going through New Mexico. While on the tour, stop in Albuquerque, which is absolutely worth a visit.
3. Québec City, Canada
Québec City may seem expensive, but it’s actually not! There are many things to do there: visit Old Québec, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it is absolutely stunning and will give you a taste of an European atmosphere without getting to the other side of the ocean, hosting street entertainers, artists and horse-drawn carriages. Go to the Rue du Trésor, an open air art gallery where street entertainers usually meet. In winter, you will be surprised by how wonderful the St. Laurence River looks when it is iced over. Don’t miss the waterfalls at Montmorency Falls Park, which rise higher than the Niagara Falls and are an outstanding natural phenomenon.
4. Spain
Spain is another great choice if you are not willing to break the bank as it offers a great variety of places to visit and is very cheap. If you are looking for a place with fewer tourists, then head to Galicia in the north of the country, where there are countless towns and villages. Or you could go to Seville, where you won’t spend more than 10-15$ for a really filling meal, and the same goes for Salamanca, Zaragoza and Bilbao. Madrid and Barcelona can be a bit more expensive, but that’s only if you walk into the first restaurant you come across. Take a look around and you will find great places with an awesome Spanish atmosphere where you won’t spend too much compared to the quantity of tapas you’ll order! Note that many museums and sites are free for people under 26 coming from the EU and many discounts are offered to students from all over the world. Another great way to travel in the country is by train: you can book a ticket that is worth 5 or 10 journeys and then move all over Spain.
5. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina is another European destination where you don’t have to break the bank! Accommodation there is exceptionally cheap and so are the means of transport. When there, visit the amazing capital, Sarajevo, a historical city that you will find very fascinating. When there, while walking around the city, visit the Old Bridge Mostar, a famous and fascinating bridge which is also one of the most important attractions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Visit the Buna River, in Blagar, a famous natural spring close to which a Tekiha monastery stands and the landscape created by the spring and the monastery together is the kind of unrepeatable scenery you won’t have many other chances to see. Don’t forget to visit the Una National Park, an area that preserves the landscape and the biodiversity of the territory. There you’ll see the Una waterfalls and the river with its canyon, which are the main natural features of this park and are absolutely stunning.
6. Estonia
If you are looking for a place to visit on holiday this year, Estonia is on top of the list of the cheapest European countries. Food and drinks here are not going to be expensive at all and there are plenty of things to see and do in the whole country. Make sure you don’t skip a visit to the capital of the city, utterly amazing. Find time to visit the Alatskivi Castle too, an awesome castle that will give you the feeling of entering into a fairy tale. If you want to visit Estonia in winter, then head to Otepää, a small town well known for being the best sport centre and the sky-jumping and skiing countries capital.
7. East Africa
East Africa is experiencing a drop of prices due to the Ebola virus which didn’t spread or reached that region at all, which is as safe as Europe! Don’t be frightened and make the most of the low prices! One of your best and most intense experience you could have there is to go on safari in one (or more) of Africa’s famous parks as the Serengeti. Otherwise, you could go for a hike on the Kilimanjaro, the most famous mountain in Tanzania: in East Africa there are some of the best treks. You could visit the cities too, Zanzibar and Lamu for example are absolutely stunning.
8. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam
Vietnam is definitely one of the cheapest destinations in Southeast Asia, but its popularity is going to increase so make sure you visit it before prices go up! What is particularly good there is food, delicious and not expensive at all: a meal in one of the local restaurants will cost no more than 5$. Ho Chi Minh City is the biggest city in Vietnam and it is definitely worth a visit, sitting on the river of the Saigon, which is the other name of the city as well. Another place to be is Hue: once the imperial capital during the Nguyen dynasty, this city’s architecture, cuisine and culture are a reflection its past glory making it definitely a place to visit. Don’t miss out on the capital, Hanoi, where the Old Quarter is impressive to see, as it is a mixture of French and Asian colonial architecture that wasn’t destroyed in spite of the bombings of the Vietnam War. When there, try the Bia hoi, a beer that couldn’t be cheaper: less than 2$ per serving. It is usually served from a jug at street corners stalls, and it is a real local experience! Make sure you get in Vietnam for the most important festival in the country, Tet, with dragon dancers, fairs and fireworks!
9. Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste is a hidden gem and a cheap one too! Seize the chance to dive in the ocean: one of the most perfect spots to dive is the Atauro Island, where you may be lucky enough to see dolphins swimming next to you. Visit the Cristo Rei, an amazing statue at the top of a mountain that gives you a spectacular view of the panorama. An amazing walking path leads you to the statue and lets you admire the nature around you. Don’t leave before having bought some nice (and cheap) souvenirs in the Tais Market, in Dili, where you’ll find awesome and colorful clothes and handworks.
10. Western Australia
Beyond the iconic cities in Australia such as Sidney or Melbourne, there are many other aspects that you can enjoy and for not much, especially considering the everyday currency fluctuation. Visit the Kings Park and Botanic Garden in Perth, where you can enjoy a beautiful sunny day strolling around. Then visit the Cape Le National Grand Park, that is a must see with the florid vegetation and the amazing beaches, similar to those you can find in Exmouth, at the Turquoise Bay, you can take a dip in the ocean and enjoy the fine sand.