travel with 1000 dollars

Expedia Rewards is now One Key™

Vacations under $1000.

• Things to do

I only need accommodations for part of my trip

Everyone needs a vacation sometimes

• moduleTitleValue1

Where can I vacation for $1000?

There are plenty of affordable hotels in Cancun and even its all-inclusive accommodation can keep you to your $1000 vacation budget. Book a budget hotel in Lake Tahoe or a vacation rental in Myrtle Beach and you can swim, go boating, and sunbathe for free in summer. Come winter, you can ski for less using the free shuttle buses from the lake resorts to the slopes. It’s also possible to do international travel with 1k. A stay in Portugal , one of Europe’s most affordable countries, is definitely an option. The capital, Lisbon, has low-cost hotels and restaurants and great public transport, making Portugal vacations under 1000 dollars a real possibility.

How do I find the best vacations under $1000?

Enter your destination and travel dates then hit search to see our amazing flight and hotel packages that create vacations under $1000. Alternatively, you can build your own vacation under 1000 dollars by clicking on hotels, car rental, things to do, or flights that work best for you. With Expedia, you can quickly compare prices, properties, and amenities on a huge choice of affordable vacations then click to book your favorite—simple.

Can I find vacations for couples under $1000?

Spend time with your loved one with a romantic vacation package in the Dominican Republic where you can find vacations for two under $1000 thanks to a great choice of budget hotels close to the island’s dreamy lagoons and white beaches. Soak up the sun and chilled vibes together on a Florida Keys vacation for 2 under $1000 that’s close enough on cheap round-trip flights but feels a world away.

How do I get great deals on vacations under $1000?

We have fantastic deals on packages, flights, and hotels, so you can easily compare and choose your ideal vacation and keep the price under $1000. Simply enter your travel details and hit search to see our latest deals. Next use our filters to narrow your choice by price. You can also use the filters to choose preferred neighborhoods and amenities and read genuine guest ratings and reviews.

Save with our bundle deals!

Car, Stay, Flight... book everything you need for your perfect weekend getaway with Expedia and save!

Vacation rental

Apartments, Villas, Cabins... we have everything you need!

Car Rentals

Hit the road with one of our car rental deals

Explore other types of vacation packages

All Inclusive Vacations

Beach Vacations

Kid Friendly Vacations

Golf Vacations

Luxury Vacations

Romantic Vacations

Ski Vacations

Adventure Vacations

Gay & Lesbian Vacations 

Where to go when

• More Vacation Ideas
• Getaway Ideas
• Vacation Deals & Tips
• Top Vacation Destinations
• Best Travel Destinations by Month
• New Year's vacation deals
• Christmas vacation deals
• Spring travel deals
• Spring break vacation deals
• National Park Vacation Deals
• Northern Lights Vacations
• Memorial Day Weekend Getaways
• Fourth of July Weekend Getaways
• Labor Day Weekend Getaways
• MLK Day Weekend Getaways
• Thanksgiving Getaways
• Weekend Getaways
• 1 Day Getaways
• 2 Day Getaways
• 3 Day Getaways
• 4 Day Getaways
• 5 Day Getaways
• 6 Day Getaways
• One Week Getaways
• 8 Day Getaways
• Las Vegas Getaway
• Vacation Rental Deals
• Vacations under $1000
• Vacations under $500
• Last Minute Vacation Deals
• Last Minute Hotel Deals
• Travel Deals + Vacation Ideas
• Plan a vacation
• Deposit and Vacation Payment Plans
• London Vacations
• Paris Vacations
• Cabo San Lucas Vacations
• Playa Del Carmen Vacations
• New York Vacations
• New Orleans Vacations
• Punta Cana Vacations
• Montego Bay Vacations
• Puerto Vallarta Vacations
• Honolulu Vacations
• Orlando Vacations
• Miami Vacations
• Cancun Vacations
• Los Angeles Vacations
• Fort Lauderdale Vacations
• January Vacations
• February Vacations
• March Vacations
• April Vacations
• May Vacations
• June Vacations
• July Vacations
• August Vacations
• September Vacations
• October Vacations
• November Vacations
• December Vacations

• Vacation Packages
• Things to Do
• Trips for Me
• Travel Deals
• Vacation Rentals

5 bucket list animal experiences worth traveling for

6 family-friendly fishing destinations to check out now

6 top destinations for a family ski vacation

Things to do with kids in Los Cabos

7 reasons to visit Antalya on your next trip to Turkey

7 essential things to do in Cape Cod

6 useful tips for volunteering while traveling

8 packing tips for your next Disney vacation

8 hotels that are perfect for Thanksgiving

10 must-visit spots along the San Antonio River Walk

The Roaming Gnome’s favorite sweet treats across the U.S.

The perfect Charleston to Savannah Lowcountry road trip

7 resorts that are ideal for an adults-only vacation

8 kid-friendly things to do in Turks and Caicos

11 reasons to make this Punta Cana resort your next family vacation

5 romantic getaways in New England

8 epic trips to make up for your lost year

Best small-town day trips from 7 major cities

Stay in these actually-cool suburbs on your next city escape

Why a cruise is actually the best solo vacation

Best hotels for your next Florida cruise

5 common Caribbean cruise myths—debunked

Posts in category

8 Weekend Getaways for Under $1,000

by Joe Miragliotta | Sep 26, 2018 | 1 comment

True story: sometimes you really need to get away but you just don’t have the time or money for an all-out vacation. Fortunately, there’s always the option of a weekend getaway to save the day. We’ve asked men’s lifestyle and travel expert Joe Miragliotta from Joe’s Daily to share a few perfect short trips —no matter what you’re into—for under $1,000* for you and a partner. Use the suggestions as-is, or as inspirational jumping-off points for a proper staycation. Either way, here’s to getting the break you really need !

1. Wine Lovers – Walla Walla, WA

Despite it being no secret that Washington has been making quite a mark on the US winery scene over the last couple of decades, the default idea for a wine-related vacation is still Napa Valley. While you’ll never catch me complaining about a trip to the California town, might I suggest you give Walla Walla, WA a chance next time you’re looking for a quick, relaxing getaway? From homey B&Bs to the more affordable go-tos, there are places to stay there perfect for any budget. As far as what to do, it’s exactly what you would want: winery tours (of course), food tours, great local shopping, and serene laid-back atmosphere. Not a bad way to recharge over a weekend.

Editor’s Note: While in Walla Walla stop into my pal Charles Smith’s winery and try my favorite Merlot: The Velvet Devil.

While touring Charles Smith vineyards in Walla Walla, WA I stopped to try the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. Credit: @JoesDaily

2. Music Lovers – Nashville, TN

Whether you’re into jazz, country, pop, or rock and roll, Nashville has got you covered on entertainment. In the span of a long weekend visit, a person would have no issue at all filling their time bouncing from one amazing venue to the next, even if they all feature the same genre. Admittedly, the hotels that are where you want to be can be a bit steep (though gorgeous). However, if you know where to look there are some awesome economical options out there. Of course, I’d be doing something wrong if I mentioned a visit to Nashville and didn’t include the food. When you’re planning your itinerary for the weekend, try to add in a food tour or distillery tour of some kind. Trust me, you’ll be happy you did.

Editor’s Note:  Nashville is famous for their hot chicken. Pretty much every place you end up with will have a hot spot. It’s a must-try!

Local Nashville band playing The Stage on Broadway. Credit: Joe Miragliotta

3. Sun and Water Lovers – Key West, FL

Truth be told, water lovers have plenty of choices at their disposal in the way of weekend vacations (though, that could probably be said for others on this list as well). Still, if this is you and you still haven’t marked Key West off of your bucket list, you’re definitely missing out. Though the island might be tiny, it’s still made a big name for itself in the way of water activities. Whether you choose to stay in a waterfront hotel or in the middle of the island, snorkeling, kayaking, parasailing, jet skiing, scuba diving, sunset cruises, and just lounging on the beach are going to be only a few minutes away.

4. Nature Lovers – Under Canvas Yellowstone , MT

While I would never suggest to anyone that they should try out glamping in place of a true camping trip, I would absolutely say that it can be an ideal choice for any nature lover looking for a comfortable weekend among the trees. As the trend continues to take off, so too does the list of potential amenities and corresponding price tags. Luckily, there are still plenty of wonderful options out there for people on a budget. If you aren’t quite sure about where to start looking, I would begin with these offered by Under Canvas in Yellowstone , MT. Starting at around $300 a night, you get a cabin-style tent with a wood stove and a view of either the mountains or the river. The site itself offers free breakfast and parking, has a bar and communal fire pit, and is conveniently located to several Yellowstone locations like Gallatin National Forest and Grand Prismatic Spring. If, however, the location is a bit out of the way for you, you can check out their other locations here .

Credit: Under Canvas

5. Animal Lovers – Black Beauty Ranch, TX

For those that love nature but prefer creatures to plants, a trip to an animal sanctuary might be just what you need on your next weekend getaway. Located about an hour and a half southeast of Dallas, Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch is the largest animal sanctuary in the United States. Currently, the 1,400-acre outfit is home to over 800 exotic and domestic animals including horses, tigers, and monkeys. While the ranch is (understandably) a bit out of the way, you still have your options for home base. Incorporate camping into your experience with a stay at Mill Creek Ranch Resort or enjoy the city vibes in Dallas somewhere like The Sto neleigh or The Adolphus .

6. Food Lovers – Philadelphia, PA

When it comes to lists of the best US cities for food, you’d be hard-pressed to find one that doesn’t include Philadelphia. From the iconic cheesesteak to Han Dynasty’s famous Dan Dan Noodles, Philly offers a wide array of cuisines with an interesting history. I would definitely recommend kicking off your visit with a food tour (or two) of some kind. However, as there’s probably no way to safely sample everything worth trying in just two to three days, consider making a list of the foods and shops that intrigue you most before you go.

Don’t visit Philly without your appetite in tow!

7. Relaxation Lovers – Scottsdale, AZ

If you’re looking for a little rejuvenation over the course of a weekend, Scottsdale, AZ is probably right where you want to be. You don’t have to be a believer in vortices to appreciate just how restoring a trip to The Copper State is (though, if you are, I’ll point you in the way of Sedona instead). Throw in a stay at any one of the area’s numerous resorts and spas and you’re basically guaranteed to return home feeling like a new person. While a visit to one of the area’s fantastic resorts can be a little pricey, it doesn’t take much digging to find something that will work for you. A word of advice: Don’t be afraid to book a place outside the city . Chances are you probably won’t need to leave (though many offer shuttles) and you’ll get to add stargazing to your list of nightly activities.

8. Fun Lovers – New Orleans, LA

Regardless of whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, New Orleans should have a priority spot on the bucket list of anyone that likes to have an enchantingly good time. Between the history, mystery, food, music, and general nightly rambunctiousness, it would be very difficult to fail if you came to have some fun. As for how to spend your time, the possibilities are endless, even if you wanted to stick to a specific theme. You can take a Jazz Cruise on a Steamboat , stay in a haunted hotel , enjoy a food history tour , see what the swamp’s got going on , and maybe find yourself in a parade through the French Quarter. I’m not sure if “random” is the right word to describe a general stay in New Orleans, but “eclectic” certainly isn’t the wrong one.

New Orleans’ French Quarter

*$1,000 does not include transportation to your destination. Apologies, I don’t know where you live.

• Latest Posts

Joe Miragliotta

Latest posts by joe miragliotta ( see all ).

• 10 ways to guarantee a magical trip to New Orleans - February 7, 2020
• 7 ways to do a family staycation right - November 11, 2019
• 4 reasons why Banff should be on your bucket list - October 11, 2019

Travelocity compensates authors for their writings appearing on this site; such compensation may include travel and other costs.

OMG! I LOVE ANIMALS! thanks for sharing about Black Beauty Ranch in Texas, can’t wait to visit them!

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Book Your Trip

• Flight + Hotel

Get Inspired

Recent posts.

Why some airline refunds take so long

Related Posts

9 beautiful bayou escapes, top 5 reasons to drive minnesota's north shore all-american scenic drive, pin it on pinterest.

Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

Travel Better, Cheaper, Longer

11 Cheap Places to Travel on the US Dollar

It’s never been easier to travel with almost no money . While post-COVID “revenge travel” has driven up prices in the short term, those are already starting to drop back down to pre-pandemic levels. And, with the spread of the sharing economy, plentiful cheap flights , and access to budget accommodation, getting away has never been more affordable.

If you’re an American, the strong dollar has made many places very cheap (or at least cheaper) to visit. While that’s not great for other folks, it is good for us Americans, as we’re getting the best exchange rates we’ve had in years. And although absolute prices are up, you’re still getting a ton of value right now.

While there are lots of great destination options, I wanted to list a few of my favorites. These are places I think are the most interesting, fun, and easy to get to, and offer excellent value for your money.

For a quick list, here’s a look at some of my favorite destinations where the US dollar does a long way (or longer than it used to):

Want more information? Here’s my full breakdown of 11 cheap places to travel on the US dollar:

Table of Contents

1. Costa Rica

5. argentina, 6. south africa, 7. cambodia, 8. south korea, 10. the united kingdom, 11. everywhere.

Costa Rica is my favorite Central American country. Though it’s one of the most expensive in the region, your money will still go far here. It also strikes a balance between budget-friendly and safe , while still offering plenty of amazing sights and activities.

In this magical place, there is a ton to see and do . You’ll find cloud forests, endangered turtles, incredible surfing, towering volcanos, epic white-water rafting , fantastic nature preserves, deep-sea diving, and some of the happiest and nicest people around.

And on the budget travel side, you’ll only need about $50 USD per day, if you use hostels and buses and cook your own food; you’ll also be able to do a few budget activities, like snorkeling or hiking trips. As a bonus, flights from the US are also very cheap. If you’re flexible, you can find round-trip flights for under $250 USD.

On a mid-range budget of $125 USD per day, you can stay in an Airbnb, eat out for all your meals, take the occasional taxi to get around, enjoy more nights out, and do more paid activities (like guided tours, surf lessons, and museum visits). In short, you won’t want for anything on this budget.

Learn more and plan your trip with my in-depth guide to traveling Costa Rica !  

Vietnam is one of the cheapest countries in an already budget-friendly region. If you budgeted $25-30 USD per day, you would want for little. Hostels are just a few bucks a day, and you can get delicious street food for as little as $1 USD. (You can visit the country comfortably quite comfortably for $50-75 USD per day if you’re looking for more luxury.)

Be sure to spend some time in the hectic capital of Hanoi , and visit HaLong Bay when you’re in the north.

In the south, don’t miss the Chu Chi Tunnels near Ho Chi Minh City (tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the war with the US). They offer an eye-opening look at the conflict.

For some adventurous activities, like canyoning and cliff jumping, head to Da Lat. If you’re looking for beaches, Nha Trang and Mui Ne should be at the top of your list!

Learn more and plan your trip with my in-depth guide to traveling Vietnam !  

Not only is Romania an underrated destination in Europe , but it’s also a budget-friendly one. Bucharest is a modern, up-and-coming capital, and the entire Transylvania region is breathtaking. Brasov, my favorite city there, offers lots of history ( including the infamous Bran Castle, known as “Dracula’s Castle” ). Transportation is cheap, and both ridesharing and hitchhiking are common. It’s a huge country, too so you can easily spend a few weeks and still just scratch the surface. In fact, I love it so much that I used to run tours there!

Backpackers can comfortably enjoy their time here for as little as $35-40 USD per day, which is a steal in Europe. And if you want to splurge and stay in hotels, eat out more, and enjoy a few drinks, you can easily do that for under $100 USD per day (or less).

Now that Romania is a (partially) part of the Schengen Area and there are no border checks via sea or air, I suspect the country will become more popular. That means more people and higher prices, so don’t wait to visit!

Learn more and plan your trip with my in-depth guide to Romania !  

While India has always been a cheap country, with the US dollar doing so well, it’s even cheaper! You can get by on as little as $25-30 USD per day — often less! Mouthwatering meals can be found for under $2 USD, and accommodation is just $5-10 USD per night, depending on where you are.

Even if you go for mid-range accommodation and food, you’ll be hard-pressed to spend more than $50 USD per day unless you’re staying at fancy resorts — and even they are quite affordable! While flights to India can be expensive, once you arrive, everything is a bargain.

Be sure not to miss the epic Taj Mahal , the laid-back beaches of Goa, the holy city of Varanasi , and sweeping metropolises like New Delhi and Mumbai.

Learn more and plan your trip with my list of the best things to see and do in India !  

Argentina is brimming with history, culture, wine, football, and outdoor wonders like Patagonia . It’s one of my favorite countries in South America. Its capital, Buenos Aires, is considered one of the liveliest cities in the world. (Most people speak English, which makes it easier to get around.) I’ve never drunk so much wine or eaten as much steak as I did here (which blew my budget, but it was worth it!).

The only problem is the rampant inflation, so prices are always in flux (especially now that their current leader is making some sweeping changes). But even with that, you can still get by on around $40-50 USD per day by staying in hostels and sticking to cheap and free activities like museum visits, hiking, and free walking tours.

Patagonia is the main draw here, offering stunning landscapes and world-class hiking. Nature lovers will also want to visit Iguazú Falls , the largest waterfall system in the world! And while guided hikes cost upwards of $450 USD for a multiday trek, that’s still super cheap considering it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’m not a big hiker or camper but even I thought it was amazing!

Learn more and plan your trip with my in-depth guide to Argentina !  

Safaris, wineries, mountains, and an endless coastline that is perfect for road trips. That’s South Africa. As a backpacker or budget traveler, this country is an amazing destination to visit as there are a lot of work opportunities as well as plenty of adventurous activities (and some great hiking) to keep you busy.

While it’s true that South Africa struggles with corruption and petty crime , it has a booming tourism industry and a growing backpacker and digital nomad scene. It’s an amazing place to road trip too.

With $50-60 USD per day, you’ll be able to enjoy the amazing beaches and laid-back lifestyle that makes South Africa so appealing. While there are definitely cheaper places on the continent, you’ll get a lot of value here.

Don’t miss hiking up Table Mountain or visiting the penguins when you’re in Cape Town . And if you’re looking for a world-class safari experience, head to Kruger National Park!

Learn more and plan your trip with my in-depth guide to South Africa !

Cambodia is one of my favorite countries in the world. The people are so incredibly welcoming, and even after a long absence between visits , I still found it to be one of the best destinations in Southeast Asia: affordable, friendly, and safe.

Prices have increased a little over the years, but not by much (it’s still cheaper than Thailand). Backpackers can easily get by for $45-50 USD or less per day. Street food is cheap and delicious (Phnom Penh is an amazing foodie city), and hostels cost under $10 USD per night. You can travel across much of the country via bus for $20 USD too.

Plus, Angkor Wat is one of the most amazing historical sites in the world. It’s $37 USD to enter, but it’s a Wonder of the World and should not be skipped (a three-day pas is $62 USD, and I do suggest spending more than one day here).

Be sure to  also visit the Killing Fields and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh for a sobering look at the country’s violent past. It’s heavy but necessary.

Learn more and plan your trip with my in-depth guide to Cambodia !  

I don’t know why most people don’t talk about it, but if you want a cheap East Asian country with stunning countryside, South Korea is it. The country offers a lot of value!

When I went to South Korea a few years ago, I was stunned by how cheap everything was. Sure, it’s not as inexpensive as Southeast Asia , but compared to Japan or Europe, it’s quite affordable. With the South Korean won  at 1,309 KRW per USD and most everything costing only a few thousand won , I can’t imagine busting your budget here (unless you’re a huge foodie, because the cuisine here is delicious).

You can pick up bottles of beer at 7-11 for a couple of dollars. Hostels in Seoul start around $16 USD per night (hotel rooms start at $25 USD per night). Backpackers can get by for only $60-75 USD here.

Be sure to indulge in Seoul’s culinary scene while you’re here, and visit the Gyeongbukgung Palace (it’s the most stunning royal palace in Seoul). For a more luxurious getaway, head to Jeju Island for beaches and some fun in the sun. And if you want to learn about the country’s temultuous relationship with North Korea, take a guided tour of the DMZ .

Learn more and plan your trip with my in-depth guide to South Korea !  

I confess, I was late to the party on Mexico . While I had visited some of the touristy areas, it wasn’t until recently that I finally explored beyond the resorts. And I loved every minute.

Mexico City is a world-class metropolis with amazing food and nightlife, Oaxaca has incredible historic sites and an abundance of delicious eateries (and all the mezcal you can drink), and the Yucatán Peninsula is perfect for road trips and swimming in secluded cenotes (sinkholes).

While the country gets a bad rap in the US (thanks to overzealous media coverage), it’s actually much safer (and cheaper) than people think. Travelers can get by on as little as $50 USD per day ($100-120 USD if you want hotels and not hostels), and flights from the US are often just $200 USD round-trip.

In short, it’s a great option for US travelers who are short on time but still want to explore somewhere fun, sunny, and cheap.

Learn more and plan your trip with my in-depth guide to Mexico !  

In years past, the British pound (GBP) has been worth up to double the US dollar. That’s not the case anymore. Still struggling post-Brexit, it’s now worth just 20-30% more than the dollar. So, while the UK isn’t exactly a cheap place to visit, the weakened pound and strong dollar mean that now you’ll get a lot more value compared to years past. Backpackers can get around for as little as $75 USD per day by sticking to hostels, free museums, and cheap pub food. There’s tons of free things to do in London so you don’t have to break the bank here.

If you do want to splash out, skip-the-line tickets of the Tower of London are a must.

Learn more and plan your trip with my in-depth guide to England and Scotland !  

A strong US dollar makes traveling the world much cheaper than it would be otherwise — especially if you want to head to Europe and visit some “traditionally expensive” destinations. And while a strong dollar doesn’t mean “free,” it can definitely help you travel longer or in more luxury.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity while you can. Because who knows how long the strong dollar will last?

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

Related Posts

Get my best stuff sent straight to you!

Pin it on pinterest.

Get Daily Travel Tips & Deals!

By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use .

Where in the World Can You Go for $1,000?

The Deal Detective

Though her identity remains shrouded in mystery, we do know this much about the Deal Detective: She's a no-nonsense sleuth with a lifetime's worth of experience investigating travel bargains.

Travel Smarter! Sign up for our free newsletter.

Dear Readers,

This week, your loyal Deal Detective has a little surprise for you. Not only am I going to reveal my secret identity (gasps are encouraged), but I’m also going to tackle three remarkable reader questions in one column. But first, the big reveal!

Hold onto your fedora, dear readers, because that shadowy figure who’s been fighting overpriced vacations on your behalf since early 2007 is none other than … a mere mortal by the name of Kate Hamman. Now that I’ve trusted you with my secret identity, I hope you’ll trust me to help you find the right trip at the right price whenever you need a travel deal.

Now that that’s settled, let’s have a look at this week’s reader questions.

JennyG writes, “I LOVE YOUR COLUMN! I’m not just buttering you up, either, *BUT* … I do have a question I hope you can help me with. My fiance and I flipped a coin, and he won when it comes to choosing our next vacation ‘theme’—kayaking. Only problem is, I am SO not a kayaker. Can you suggest any trip in late 2008 or early/mid 2009 that would satisfy his outdoorsy ‘needs,’ and yet not completely terrify me?! (And don’t feel too bad for me, I get to choose the honeymoon!)”

Ah, the things we do for love. I myself have worn the proverbial wetsuit many times, and I have found that an open mind makes getting your feet wet a lot more tolerable. Oh, and a little bit of compromise doesn’t hurt either. For instance, if you have to spend your days kayaking, why not spend your nights somewhere cozy, possibly someplace with a hot tub and/or a fireplace?

So, for you I’d recommend Crystal Seas Kayaking’s San Juan Islands inn to inn tour . You choose the length of your stay, ranging from two to six days. And, even though you spend your time kayaking along the Pacific Northwest’s rocky coastline and remote islands, you can pamper yourself at night with comfortable lodging and delicious food. Plus, the trip is led by professional guides, so you can stop worrying and trust that you’re in capable hands. The trip is all-inclusive, sans alcohol, and prices start at $880 per person for a two-day guided trip. The tours run April through October.

If you’d like to add another activity on a bit longer tour, while still staying in the comfort of a lodge, Sea Kayak Adventures combines yoga and kayaking in several destinations, including the God’s Pocket Resort on Vancouver Island. The trip lasts six days from June 29 through July 4, and costs $1,895, all-inclusive, per person.

Hoover asks, “My wife and I would like to go to France. My uncle was killed in World War II, and is buried at Beny-Sur Mer near Caen. No one in my family has ever been there to see his grave and pay our respects. We would like to spend some time in Paris and the surrounding area also, perhaps a week to 10 days. What is the best way to do this? We are not five-star people, but would like clean and comfortable hotels. We would like to fly from Toronto. Or Detroit or Buffalo as a second option.”

I’m honored that you’ve asked me to help you plan such a meaningful trip, and I hope I can come up with something that suits your needs. Since you didn’t mention a specific time you’d like to travel, I suggest going in the fall off-season, around mid-October. The weather might be a bit brisk, but you’ll save money and avoid the hassle of crowds.

I was able to find two round-trip tickets to Paris from Toronto for $649 per person, including taxes and fees, on Icelandair . I would spend a few days exploring Paris before renting a car (I priced a Mini with Alamo at $200 for three days) and driving to Reviers, where you’ll find Beny-Sur-Mer . It takes about two-and-a-half hours to drive, but you can visit many places along the way, such as Versailles or Auvers-sur-Oise (in French only).

As for hotel rooms in and outside of the city, I would start by reading other travelers’ reviews on [% 72034 | | TripAdvisor %] before booking. I find that B&Bs tend to offer insight into the culture, and usually come with a breakfast to help start your day.

Lastly, desert bloom writes, “I want to celebrate my 51st birthday in early November by traveling … somewhere. Where can I go for a total (fares, food, lodging, everything) of $1,000? I do have my passport, but have not yet been anywhere. Love history, art, and nature. I don’t drink or gamble, so Vegas doesn’t appeal. Any ideas? P.S. I’m traveling alone, from Sacramento, CA.”

You may not like to gamble, but I feel like you’ve just given me a humdinger of a game-show-style question. For $1,000, where in the world can I send you? Let’s spin the great wheel of travel answers to find out.

Unfortunately we’ll have to rule out most international destinations, because plane tickets alone would take up more than half your budget. So, although I might not be able to send you overseas, I can suggest the next best thing. Plus, you’ll even get to leave the country and give that passport a little mileage.

Victoria, British Columbia , may not be that far from California, but it seems worlds away with its English culture and the surrounding scenery of Vancouver Island. Granted it may not be the warmest spot in November, but there are plenty of things to see and do to keep your temperature up. To keep with the budget, I planned a five-day vacation in the beginning of November. You’ll want to avoid the $470 cost of flying there directly by booking a round-trip ticket to Seattle for $196, and then taking the ferry for $119 round-trip.

Once you arrive, you’ll probably have to spend the first and last night in Seattle, and the Moore Hotel is an excellent option for its history, location, and price ($59 for a European-style room). You can then find chain hotels in Victoria that start at $55 per night on Hotels.com . The grand total for five nights lodging (about $283, depending on class of hotel) and transportation ($315) comes to $598. This means that you are left with $402, or about $80 per day, for food and activities.

I hope whatever you choose to do, you have the happiest of birthdays!

Get help with your next vacation

Let me help you plan your next trip, whatever your budget might be. Submit your request using the form below, and please remember that the more compelling (and specific) your question, the better the chance you’ll be selected for an upcoming case.

Editor’s Note: SmarterTravel.com is a member of the TripAdvisor Media Network, an operating company of Expedia, Inc. Expedia, Inc. also owns Expedia.com.

All prices, dates, and booking details listed here were valid at the time of publication. Some information may have changed since that time.

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Top Fares From

Don't see a fare you like? View all flight deals from your city.

Today's top travel deals.

Brought to you by ShermansTravel

Madrid to Malaga: 8-Nt Southern Spain...

Luxe, 12-Night Spain, France, Monaco &...

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Ohio: Daily Car Rentals from Cincinnati

Trending on SmarterTravel

21 Cheap Places to Travel in 2024

By Caitlin Morton

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

There are many factors to consider when planning a vacation, from finding cheap places to travel and the safety of your intended destination to hotel options . But like it or not, there’s one thing that influences our travel decisions more than anything else: money. All those resort fees, plane tickets , and life-changing meals add up pretty quickly—so at the end of the day, we really want to prioritize places where our greenbacks have the most spending power.

We did a little digging to find the countries where the U.S. dollar goes the furthest, based on current exchange rates. And while our fickle global economy means those rates can change at any time, certain places have consistently offered more bang for our buck over the years—and, fingers crossed, they should stay that way well into 2024 .

Without further ado, here are 21 of the best cheap places to travel around the world.

Budapest, Hungary

1 USD = 351.21 HUF

Hungary’s favorable economy is great news for anyone planning a trip to Budapest , where a growing scene of Michelin-starred restaurants and high-tech spas are calling to us from across the globe. The city just celebrated its 150th anniversary in November 2023, which means there are even more reasons to visit during the next calendar year, including the newly reopened Chain Bridge and the brand-new House of Music Hungary . Be sure to book a room at the art deco W Budapest —formerly a palace and on a UNESCO World Heritage-listed street—which opened in July 2023 opposite the Hungarian State Opera.

South Korea

1 USD = 1,301.45 KRW

While other travelers head to the popular tourist destinations of Seoul , Busan, and Jeju Island, we have our eyes set on another South Korean city:  Mokpo , located in the Jeolla region at the southern tip of the peninsula. The port city offers some of the most interesting dining in the country, and specialty dishes like  hongeo (a naturally fermented, extremely pungent skate-fish dish) attract food lovers from around the world.

1 USD = 17.22 MXN

Mexico is consistently one of our favorite places to travel on a budget. In Mexico City , with a street food culture rivaled only by its forward-looking restaurant scene, you’ll be spending most of your money on eats. But make sure to leave some bucks to visit all the cultural wonders the city has to offer, starting with the iconic Museo Jumex . If you’re looking to go a little farther afield, head to Jalisco to see tequila being made at the source, or Isla Holbox for a sleepy beach scene.

An eagle hunter riding near the Altai Mountains in Mongolia.

1 USD = 3,449.69 MNT

We’ve long been fans of Mongolia for its seemingly limitless expanses and adventure camps—and the fact that travel here costs as little as $75 per day (including accommodations). The country is on a mission to lure even more travelers into its borders in 2024, with upcoming initiatives like its first-ever direct US flight and visa-free travel for dozens of nationalities. You can also expect even more offbeat cultural experiences next year: Local operator Breanna Wilson is expanding her 2024 tours to include a digital nomad week, a women-only retreat in Orkhon Valley, and a three-day archery training session.

1 USD = 24,275.00 VND

Plenty of countries in Southeast Asia are great deals for dollar carriers right now, but we recommend a trip to Vietnam—in part because of the steadily increasing exchange rate, but mostly for the country’s mind-blowing beauty. Hanoi is arguably the most romantic city in the region, but don’t be afraid to venture off the beaten track during your next visit: Places like  Ninh Van Bay and Phú Quốc island have pristine beaches and intimate resorts you won’t find in the more touristed areas.

1 USD = 4.94 BRL

Olivia Morelli

Caitlin Morton

Stacey Lastoe

Like much of South America, Brazil is a good place to visit if you don’t want to break the bank. But the fact that a dollar gets you nearly five Brazilian reals means you can get even better value than usual. Rio de Janeiro is the most obvious place to spend time and money, with incredible restaurants—like  Lasai , a 2023 Hot List winner—just steps away from some of the world’s  best beaches . But don't forget to visit  São Paulo , too, where a younger generation has introduced hip galleries, museums, and bars to several long-neglected neighborhoods.

South Africa

1 USD = 18.30 ZAR

The value of the South African rand has fluctuated a lot over the past few years, but we’re pretty happy with where it is today. (To compare, one U.S. dollar only got you 8.57 ZAR 10 years ago.) Stretch those bucks on the  Test Kitchen ’s 21-course tasting menu in Cape Town , then head into the wilderness at  Singita Castleton Lodge in the Sabi Sand game reserve.

Traditional stilt fishermen in Sri Lanka

1 USD = 327.31 SLR

The Sri Lankan rupee has slowly gotten more and more favorable over the past couple of decades, but it completely skyrocketed starting a couple of years ago (a dollar converted to 200 SLR in February 2022, and now look where we are). We’re more excited than ever to explore this incredible island nation, where you can see leafy tea plantations, Buddhist temples, golden beaches, and 200-mile hiking trails in one memorable trip.

1 USD = 525.96 CRC

The Costa Rican colón has depreciated a bit in recent months, but it remains favorable for US travelers. Then there’s the fact that the country’s best asset (i.e. its natural beauty) is mostly free to enjoy. From trekking through the tropical cloud forests in the mountains of Alajuela to surfing off the coast of Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica is one of the world’s best countries for outdoor adventure. (And the  hotels are pretty great , too.)

Philippines

1 USD = 55.89 PHP

We’re never not dreaming about island hopping in the Phillippines. It’s hard to believe that places like Palawan and Siargao are so economically accessible, given that they are some of the most beautiful places on the planet. Even five-star resorts like  Shangri-La Boracay can be reserved for under $350 per night, which is all the incentive we need to book a trip right now.

1 USD = 4,580 MGA

For your next tropical island vacation, skip pricey, popular locations like the Maldives and Bora Bora for inexpensive Madagascar—an Indian Ocean treasure filled with breathtaking rainforests and lemur-filled national parks. Plan your visit around the opening of Namoroka Tsingy Exploration Camp ( scheduled for mid-2024 ), which will feature seven luxury safari tents inside the essentially unvisited Namoroka National Park. Alternately, swing by the island nation as part of a cruise itinerary: Luxe cruise lines like Silversea , Lindblad , Swan Hellenic , and Seabourne have all added the country as a port of call on new voyages.

Cairo, Egypt.

1 USD = 30.93 EGP

Following in the footsteps of pharaohs in Egypt feels like it should be expensive, but the Egyptian pound has skyrocketed this year—that means touring the Pyramids, cruising the Nile, and exploring Cairo has never been more affordable. We’re excited to check out relatively new openings, like St. Regis Cairo and the beach villas at Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria . And we’ve been anxiously awaiting the official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum for years now, but it looks like it might actually happen in 2024.

1 USD = 4.67 MYR

Your cash will stretch far in Malaysia, especially if you fill up on street food and explore cities like Kuala Lumpur on foot. It’s also inexpensive (or in some cases, free) to visit the country’s pristine beaches, limestone caves, and some of the most beautiful tea plantations. If you’re ready and willing to shell out the big bucks, however, we highly recommend shacking up at  The Datai Langkawi —it’s definitely expensive but wholly worth it.

1 USD = 83.04 INR

India has always been a cheap travel destination; now that you can get 83 rupees to the dollar, however, the country is more affordable than ever. Hotels run the gamut from $60-per-night bungalows to pricy Oberoi and Six Senses outposts, plus hundreds of options in between. But as long as you don’t hole up in your resort the entire time, you can visit plenty of attractions and dine at local restaurants on an extremely tight budget.

1 USD = 107.45 RSD

Belgrade continues to emerge as one of Europe’s most exciting cultural epicenters, but it’s massively less expensive than, say, Paris or Berlin (at least for now). It’s relatively easy to find hotels under $100, though accommodations aren’t all that important when you spend all night dancing in clubs around the city. But you will want to get some rest to explore Belgrade’s wealth of museums and contemporary art installations, many of which just opened in the  past few years .

Ohrid, North Macedonia

North Macedonia

1 USD = 56.44 MKD

Perhaps it’s because the coastal countries get all the attention, but North Macedonia remains one of the most  criminally underrated (and therefore affordable) countries in Europe. The landlocked nation is a sleeper hit for those in the know, especially if you head to the charming city of Ohrid. It has all the cobbled streets and quaint churches one would expect from a European town, with the added advantage of being right on the shores of the incredibly gorgeous and biodiverse Lake Ohrid.

1 USD = 132.92 NPR

Nepal is one of the cheapest countries to visit for all travelers, but the U.S. dollar is particularly strong there right now. Most people immediately associate Nepal with Mt. Everest, but the tiny nation has much more to offer than bucket-list climbs. Kathmandu is overwhelming at first, but it hides some great hotels and museums once you start digging. Bhaktapur and Patan—both close by in the Kathmandu Valley—are a bit more low-key but still packed with culture.

1 USD = 66.99 GMD

It may be continental Africa’s smallest country but don’t you dare overlook the Gambia . The ultra-affordable nation has long been a coveted spot for wildlife enthusiasts, but it’s starting to rise in the ranks as both a  food destination and luxury cruise  port of call .

1 USD = 15,556.65 IDR

Despite the post- Eat, Pray, Love influx of tourists, Indonesia remains an affordable vacation spot overall. While millions of people flock to Bali (where resort prices are steep in response), you can enjoy a much cheaper and more peaceful trip on  the islands of Sumba and Lombok. And don’t forget about Jakarta, where a solid day includes filling up on greasy noodles and  nasi goreng gila  from makeshift street stalls—all for just a couple of US bucks.

Beach near Ksamil, Albania.

1 USD = 93.95 ALL

Albania is much less expensive than other European countries—and it’s a bit under the radar as a tourist destination, which means there’s still a chance to visit before the word gets out and the crowds descend. One of the most enticing reasons to plan a trip is the food: Picture tables filled with rosemary-scented lamb, tart mountain cheeses, blackened sea bass, and bottles of fruit juices. In Tirana, book a stay at Agroturizëm Gjepali , a restaurant turned hotel with river views and doubles starting at just $70.

1 USD = 12,375.00 UZS

Uzbekistan is still on the up-and-up when it comes to foreign travel, which makes it one of the most exciting and affordable destinations in Central Asia. The major cities are filled with both intricate mosques and brutalist monuments—all free to explore—and you’ll be hard-pressed to spend more than $5 per meal at restaurants. There aren’t too many name-brand hotels set up yet, but even places like the Hyatt Regency Tashkent have nightly rates below $170.

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Road is Calling

How to Travel the World On a Budget For a Year With Only $10K For Two

If you are secretly thinking about how to travel the world on a budget and find the cheapest way to go places, this post will definitely come in handy! Really, you don’t need to have a lot of money to be able to travel. It is totally possible even if you are on a tight budget.

In fact, I want to show you how to travel the world for cheap when you have only $10K and want to spread it out for as long as possible.

I know, lately, things have been changing fast. At first the pandemic and now the Russian war in my own country influenced inflation and made prices soar.

It became more challenging and more expensive to travel. With only $10K (especially if you have this amount for the entire year), it is now a more difficult task to travel qualitatively than let’s say it was even a couple of years ago. Yet, it is still possible. And I’ll show you how.

There are a lot of tips from different people regarding how much money one should have in order to travel long-term and feel comfortable.

I have personally seen reports with such numbers as $20K and $30K per year and then I met someone who spent around $15K when traveling solo around the world.

Honestly, I don’t think that having $30K for one year of travel is something extraordinary. Even $20,000 is still enough money. If knowing how to spend it smartly, this amount can keep you going for way longer than just 12 months. And yes, even in this time when prices are up.

And now, you don’t need to stay in hostels all the time, camp, or sleep in trains or buses. Also, rice and noodles are not the only dishes you have to eat.

There are still many ways how to travel for cheap, eat delicious and healthy foods , drink coffee ,  swim in infinity pools, go to spa centers , sleep in castle hotels , and hike trails in stunning places.

Just a couple of years ago Mark and I also traveled the world with little money and managed to spend around $10K a year using all those tips and tricks that I mention below (I accumulated them over a long period of time). If you are interested to know where we went and what we did, you can read this post .

But the goal of this article is to show you that there are ways to travel cheap. To be more exact, there are still ways to travel with $10K a year. And more than that, this amount will cover expenses for two people.

So let’s talk about them below.

General Tips on How to Travel the World on a Budget

1. set a plan on where to go and how much time to spend in one place.

Knowing where to go and how much time to spend in each place will help you understand how much to budget. And once you have that budget you can stick to, you are able to relax and enjoy the process. I don’t think making a step-by-step agenda with precise activities makes much sense. 

But if you want to travel the world cheaply and not stress out on the road over things that you could have planned before, then decide for yourself which countries you’ll travel to and in what order.

Also, make an approximate plan of which cities, villages, and attractions you would like to cover and what to skip. Do some research and find out what is the cost of travel in those places. Make a plan for how to move between them. It is very important because last-minute decisions always cost more.

Flights between many countries within the same continent are usually cheap but not if you are waiting until the last day. Some types of transportation (like first-class or sleeper trains, and ferries) sell out quickly. Nice accommodation on a budget is usually also booked in advance.

Do not hope to go with the flow and book everything along the way. Better have a precise idea of where you’ll go and when especially if thinking of travelling on a budget in Europe. Also, don’t plan to visit 50 countries in 12 months. In that way, you’ll end up spending all the money on transportation and getting places instead of experiencing them, not to mention being jet-lagged and tired all the time.

From my experience, I can tell that going without a plan (even an approximate one) can cost a pretty penny later. Mark and I used to travel without an idea where to go and when, and then when trying to make a last-minute decision, prices for everything were so much higher that we had to overpay.

RELATED POST: QUITTING MY JOB TO TRAVEL THE WORLD. IS IT SMART ENOUGH?

2. Do Not Plan Travel More Than 2 Months in Advance

One of my favorite ways to travel cheap is not to plan a trip more than 2 months in advance, often even one month in advance. And the reason for that is that travel planning with too much time ahead of you often means higher prices.

Many airlines, hotels, and tour companies offer discounted prices to fill up their remaining inventory when the date of travel is close. By booking your travel arrangements closer to your departure day, you may be able to find some great deals that weren’t available when you first started planning.

In my experience, the best way to find cheap airline tickets for long distances is within the 3-6 weeks range. So if you want to fly somewhere in 2 months, it is better to start monitoring prices but not buying tickets just yet. Wait and see how better deals are going to pop up as some time passes and you have 4-5 weeks left before the travel date.

Although do not wait for too long as with less than 2 weeks time left before your departure, airfare prices are going to increase again.  

The same is with accommodation. Oftentimes owners of many boutique and small heritage hotels decrease prices of rentals during the off-season even if there are still a few weeks of time left before travel.

We booked many trips at the last minute, including a recent trip to Cordoba while moving from Malaga to Tenerife island. And by the way, the trip to Tenerife with flights and accommodation, which we planned 2 weeks before departure, turned out to be quite cheaper than if we had stayed in Malaga during the same duration.

3. Get a Travel Credit Card Before You Leave

If you want to travel smart and cheap, get a travel credit card, preferably one with cash rewards. It will save you money on every purchase.

With a travel card, you don’t need to pay a foreign transaction fee. Also, what we found important is that when you pay in a foreign country with a credit card, the exchange rate set by the bank is always higher than the rate in exchange kiosks. So, in this way, you will be saving money too.

But besides savings, you can earn points on all transactions and later deposit them into the account as cash value and apply towards travel.

More and more places around the world accept credit cards, even small market stalls, so you won’t need to withdraw money on every occasion.

As for the card to choose, see what banks in your country offer. If you are from the US, from my experience I can recommend the Bank of America travel rewards card , Chase Sapphire Preferred , and Capital One Venture (although the last two have a yearly fee).

4. Choose to Travel Slowly to Be Able to Save

By traveling slowly I mean choosing one city in a new country where you’ll base for at least a month. Better if you make a base there for a few months. Especially in this time, with the corona, it provides more security to have a long-term base. In this case, you’ll be able to rent accommodation on a monthly basis, cook at home, get to know how locals live, and travel within that region. All of it will cost you way less than constant travels from one place to another. 

Traveling full-time can get really exhausting and also it takes more resources. Traveling slowly helps to remain positive and energetic . 

If you look at budget-friendly destinations, you’ll see that renting a nice but pretty basic room costs between $10-$15 a night. If you multiply by 30 days, it will add up to $300 minimum. But honestly, you cannot count on that. In one destination it may cost $10 while in other $20.

On the contrary, in the same destination, the entire apartment costs between $250-$350 a month. It includes a kitchen that in turn helps to cook at home from time to time and save on food.

With slow travel, you do not necessarily see less. You actually get to experience more, just in one country.

We have been living in slow travel for almost 4 years now. During this time we were based in many cities and traveled qualitatively around many countries. If you are curious to learn what are those places (that I believe are fantastic destinations for budget travelers to live while traveling slowly), check my other posts:

• 15 Countries to Live in Europe With $1000 Per Month For Two
• Life in Istanbul, Turkey – What’s It Like? Tips For Foreigners & Digital Nomads
• Moving to Turkey – Is Turkey a Good Country?  
• Life in Tbilisi, Georgia – Will You Enjoy It?
• How is Life in Ukraine For a Foreigner – What to Know & Expect
• Life in Kuala Lumpur – What to Expect?
• Living in Vietnam Under $1000 For Two – Amazing Country For Budget Travelers

5. Travel There Where You Don’t Need a Visa 

Most likely, if you are reading this post, you haven’t traveled much yet. Maybe you’ve seen a few places but I bet there are many more left for you to discover. And if I have to guess, you want to go everywhere.

So, my advice to everyone who is on a shoestring budget but wants to travel the world for a year (or more) – try to start with those destinations where you don’t need to pay for a visa or where at least a visa is cheap.

Different passports have different levels of power, I get that. Still, a lot of those passports enable their holders to travel to some destinations visa-free. Check where you need to apply for a visa or where you can just obtain an ETA and calculate how much it will cost.

Visa expenses in total can end up being a few hundreds of dollars. For someone on a tight budget that’s actually a lot of money. So if you are flexible about where to travel to, start with those destinations where crossing the border is free. Or at least where the cost of a visa is cheap. 

Mark and I personally use iVisa website to check if we need visas for every country we go to. It is a very helpful resource where all information is updated regularly.

6. Plan to Travel to Prime Destinations During the Off Season

Traveling to expensive destinations during the off-season may seem counterintuitive, but it can actually be a great way to save money while still enjoying all that the destination has to offer.

During the off-season, no matter where you go, prices for flights, accommodation, and activities usually drop. But with expensive destinations that’s not the only benefit.

Oftentimes, many expensive destinations during the low season besides lower prices also offer milder weather that is more comfortable for outdoor activities. For example, in destinations like Hawaii or the Caribbean, the off-season means lower humidity and fewer storms which is an ideal time to enjoy the beaches or go hiking. 

In southern Spain like Andalusia for example, off-season (meaning winter) is a perfect time to escape cold and enjoy winter sun on a budget.

One of the reasons how Mark and I managed to travel all over Spain and even live in one of the northern towns and then live in Malaga was because we mainly traveled there in winter and found cheap accommodation for a long term while it was still cheap. 

7. Choose to Travel to Cheap Countries 

I am sure you could somehow figure that this one was going to make the list. If you want to make sure your saved money will last you longer, choose to travel to cheaper destinations . Each continent has its own cheap countries. And Southeast Asia is not the only place. 

In North America, for instance, Mexico is pretty cheap. Look into Campeche, Merida, Guanajuato, Puerto Escondida, Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara if you want to save money. Although it is also very possible to travel to Cancun on a budget together with Tulum and Playa del Carmen.

In Europe, look into the Balkans (all countries in this region are very cheap,) Eastern Europe, and some parts of Spain . We lived in Montenegro and spent the same amount of money there as we did in Bali . Bosnia and Herzegovina was even cheaper.

Ukraine, my home country, is one of the cheapest destinations in Europe for winter and for summer where to live comfortably but with very little money. Let’s just wait for the war to end and you can add Ukraine again to the places where to travel on the cheap. Even Istanbul in Turkey , where we used to live and return often, offers a lot of options for budget travelers. 

With Southeast Asia, you need to know where to go because some places can be more pricey than others. Singapore is obviously the most expensive, Taiwan is not that cheap and some parts of Malaysia, the Philippines, Bali can also surprise with prices. 

If you haven’t opened my post about the cheapest countries to live in Europe , do it now. I included all the countries where you can live with €1000 per month. Even if there is no plan to live in any of them, it’ll give you an idea of how cheap/expensive they are for travel.

8. Pack Everything You Need Before You Leave

Chances are you won’t be taking a lot of stuff when leaving to travel. Still, pack your bags wisely.

While you are still working and having an income stream, buy everything you may need for your voyage ahead of time. Glasses, sunblocks, a bathing suit, sandals, sneakers, towels, medicine, and even a hair muss if you need one. Do not plan to buy those necessities later. In a new country, you may not know right away where the best places to shop are or the same items can be more expensive.

Plus additionally, if you don’t pack all you need, it will mean you’ll buy it ina new destination in this way adding more weight to your bags. And extra luggage nowadays is quite expensive.

Many airlines charge additional fees for checked luggage or overweight bags. By packing everything you need in a carry-on bag, you can avoid these fees and save money.

However, it is not really about money only. Running around in a new place may steal your time.

9. Change Your Habits to Save More Money 

If you want to travel the world on a budget, you need to make some changes to your lifestyle.

We all have our own habits and small things that make us happy. For me, some of those things I love are a bowl of smoothie almost every single day, something sweet, and jogging. For Mark, that’s always a cup of coffee, workout, and beer. When we were living in America, we paid for all those things around $200 each month.

When we started to travel, we realized that we couldn’t have smoothies all the time (this type of food is pretty expensive everywhere in cafes), buy coffee on a daily basis (which our bodies don’t need anyway) and we couldn’t pay for a gym. So we made a lot of changes. No, we didn’t quit them but we changed the routine.

Instead of paying for a gym, we always follow home workouts, jog, and exercise outside when the weather is warm. For example, now while living in Istanbul , we are renting an apartment near the park and seaside. The only time we paid for a gym was during our long stay in Ukraine .

For smoothies and coffee, we decided to purchase a portable coffee maker and a compact travel blender that we pack in our suitcases for many trips. 

While I will never try to tell anyone to stop exercising and eating healthy, I will definitely encourage you to realize where you are overspending. Most likely you are spending more on long-held habits. Are you a smoker? Drinker? Coffee, fast food, soda addict? All of this will be taking a good chunk of money out of your monthly budget.

If you want to learn cheap ways to travel, cut your spending, and quit bad habits because they may be costing you more than anything else. 

10. Go Only There, Where Flights Are Cheap

Another thing that will help to travel the world for a year on a budget is to plan to go to those destinations where flights are cheap. I like to use an ‘Explore’ option with google to see which connections the city of interest has and which of them are the cheapest. 

There are a lot of countries that interest me and where I want to go. But when picking the next base for us with Mark, I always search for tickets first. The cheapest and most convenient flight always wins.

Before planning your itinerary, first of all, learn how to find cheap deals . Make a list of countries you want to visit and then start looking at which country is cheaper to fly to. Sometimes distance doesn’t matter. You may find a better deal to fly from the U.S. to Europe than to Costa Rica or even Mexico.

A few years ago, while being in Ukraine , we found the cheapest ticket to Chiang Mai and this is why we ended up there. But on the way, we had a fantastic 24 hours long layover in Doha , Qatar which let us visit a new country for cheap.

Play with different airfare search sites (we always compare on Expedia and Google Flights ), use some luxury travel hacks, make sure to check prices from Tuesday to Thursday (especially at night), look for connecting flights, and compare prices.

I recommend buying tickets for at least the first two months of your travels. The rest you can buy along the way.

Practical Tips on How to Travel the World for Cheap

11. find complimentary accommodation.

Complimentary accommodation does not always come as free. Sometimes you may need to do some work in exchange but it is worth it so much.

Getting this type of accommodation is good if you plan to travel to prime destinations such as Western Europe, Scandinavia , Australia, New Zealand, United States , Canada, etc.

With these countries, you can always house-sit , volunteer, camp for free or little money, couchsurf , or work in exchange for food and a place to sleep. Most of these opportunities, especially international housesitting , will cover your room and board and sometimes provide a car.

Before Mark and I left America we spent 3 months traveling from the West Coast of the U.S. through Vancouver and then to Banff National Park and then all the way to Vermont, staying in free accommodation. This is how we ended up paying less than $1500 for all that time. I talk more about what we did and where we stayed in this post on work in exchange for accommodation and food . Give it a read.

But briefly, here are resources to use to find complimentary accommodation:

• Housesitting – this website has the biggest number of hosts
• Couchsurfing – this is the largest resource with free accommodation 
• WWOOF & Peace Corps – a big number of community projects while staying with local hosts or in volunteer housing
• HomeExchange or Love Home Swap – the most popular websites for swapping your home with someone else’s in another part of the world
• BeWelcome – a non-profit hospitality exchange platform that connects travelers with local hosts who are willing to offer free accommodation
• Warm Showers – a platform that connects cyclists (if you travel by bike) with hosts who offer free accommodation, shower facilities, and sometimes meals
• University Living – great resource for summer travel for students that allows you to find a room for rent in university dorms around the world at a reduced rate. This can be a great option if you’re traveling on a budget and don’t mind sharing a bathroom or living space with other travelers

12. Or Choose to Stay With Locals

Another option for cheap accommodation is to stay with locals. Besides the money, it also provides an excellent opportunity to immerse in a new culture, get to know how people in that country live and experience something different than a hostel or even Airbnb.

Our favorite websites for short and long-term stays with locals are:

– Homestay – rent a room in someone’s home and let the host help you learn about local life 

– Servas – a hospitality exchange network, similar to Couchsurfing but with a mandatory yearly fee and stricter sign-up. It helps to connect travelers with local hosts who are willing to provide free accommodation in exchange for cultural exchange and friendship.

– HelpX – one of my favorite platforms that connects B&Bs, farms, hostels, homeowners with volunteers. With the help of this site, you can do all types of jobs in exchange for free housing and food. From volunteering in a hostel to helping to look after a luxury home, this site has it all!

– Agoda – this website has quite a few pretty awesome guest houses in Asia. 

– Trustroots – another website similar to Couchsurfing. But here, you are able to find a host based on the same interests as you have. 

13. Also… Stay in Monasteries 

We accidentally learned about this option on our road trip from Bucharest to Brasov . And we almost stayed overnight in a beautiful Caraiman Monastery , perched on a hill overlooking the mountains.

While walking on its beautiful grounds, we noticed a message on a door saying that there were rooms available for rent. The price per night was less than €10.

Later, I decided to do some research and found out quite a few monasteries around the world where both male and female travelers can stay. That’s an amazing opportunity to save money on accommodation and experience something truly unique!

For a long time, religious institutions have been receiving pilgrims. And this opportunity stayed with us to this day. However, don’t expect much. Usually, monasteries offer overnight stays with very ascetic conditions – only a bed, a table, and very simple dinners. You may also need to visit a religious service.

But, stays are very quiet and peaceful and you need to be in bed by a certain time. So, it won’t work to get there late at night from the nearest bar.

Some monasteries have a fixed rate per night, like hotels, but others will be grateful for a symbolic charity contribution. To find out more details, see this article . 

To find a monastery or temple for the night, check these sites:

– Monasterystays – monastery stays in Italy, Austria, and Slovenia

– Goodnightandgodbless – mainly monastery and church stays in Europe 

– Templestays – stays in Korea 

14. Look for New Apartments on Airbnb

Honestly, I am not a big fan of Airbnb anymore. I used to be in the past when it has just come to the market and was relatively new to everyone. But after a while, after traveling for a bit and staying in various Airbnbs on three continents Mark and I noticed how much Airbnb changed for the worse. Lately, we started to use VRBO in those destinations where it is available.

Through Airbnb, many times we paid a lot of money for a place that was dirty and not the same as in pictures, some owners didn’t seem to try hard to provide the best service, sometimes Airbnb team didn’t care, other times we had issues with the apartment and nothing was done to fix it. Overall, we started to notice one pattern – prices for apartments are constantly unreasonably increasing but the level of service and quality gradually goes down.

Another thing that caught our eye is the fact that many Airbnbs are owned by real estate agencies, not locals as Airbnb promotes. And in turn, it creates a totally different experience.  

So, our trust got undermined.  Still, I recommend this concept in a few cases. One of them is when you travel long-term and need an apartment for a minimum of 28 days. To save money, when we book a flat for that much time (or more) we always go with new apartments only . 

The reason for that is an additional discount from Airbnb. Usually, when the owner signs up and is willing to rent out his home, Airbnb always suggests giving a discount to the first 3 people who book his property. Besides a regular long-stay discount, they are supposed to provide an extra one. Many times this discount is between 30% and 50%. 

If you look at some destinations, you will be surprised to find some amazing deals. For instance, when we were recently looking for homes in Norway , the average price was around $2000-$3000 per month but a new apartment that recently popped up on Airbnb cost around $800 in a good location in the Tromso area.

So if you are on a very tight budget but want to travel the world for cheap, always look for new airbnbs and book one as soon as you like it.

15. Look For Farm Stays 

Would you like another hack on how to travel the world on a low budget? Then choose to live on a farm.

No, I am not talking about WWOOFing or workaway .

I mean a farm stay without a need to work. There are quite a few farms in some countries that offer accommodation. You can stay on a farm you like, learn how it works (for example, see how the cow is milked), and enjoy outdoor activities.

The conditions of such a stay vary. It can be an ordinary tent or a luxuriously furnished apartment. Of course, the luxury cottage for a budget traveler will cost a lot. But, there are also cheaper options.

On average though, a modestly furnished room with amenities on a farm will cost around the same as a budget hotel in the same country.

You can find farm stays to save money on the following sites:

– Farmstay – farm stays in England, Scotland, and Ireland 

– Downunderfarmstays – farms in Australia 

– Traveletti – farms in Hungary, Ukraine, Poland, Greece, Portugal, France, Spain, and Italy to help you travel Europe on a budget. Their service is unavailable at this time due to covid but keep it in mind for the future. 

– Farmstayus – farm stays for budget travel in the USA 

– Farmstaycampingaustralia – stays in Australia

16. Or Look For a Home On Spot in a New Country

If you plan to stay in one place for as minimum as a month and haven’t found anything decent and affordable on Airbnb yet, do not panic. I recommend booking accommodation for the first 3-4 nights and once you get to your destination, start looking around among locals. Or, join local Facebook groups.

We always follow this strategy and always have success in finding something. This is how we found lovely and rather cheap apartments in Vietnam,  in Thailand, and in Bali . In Montenegro and Turkey, we found beautiful flats  through the Facebook group.

So do not worry if the choice of flats online is not ample. In many countries, you’ll find it quickly enough.

17. Rent a Car If Traveling in Europe

Yes, exactly, if you are wondering how to travel in Europe on a low budget, rent a car. It is a smart move that is going to help you save money and see more. And I’ll explain how. 

If you start searching for deals and try to book in advance, you can rent a car for as little as $20-$25 per week (sometimes per month!) There are endless offers from various rental companies that offer fantastic deals in different parts of the European continent.

We rented a car in Valencia for $28 for 10 days in late November, in Bucharest (Romania) for $25 for the entire month (which we canceled due to a change of plans,) and later we paid $85 per month, $45 per week in Sarajevo , $30 for 2 weeks in Milan and more.

Renting a car in Tbilisi and Montenegro was way more expensive but for the most part, renting a car in Europe was pretty cheap. Recently we rented a car in Turkey for as little as $8 per day.

If traveling solo , hiring a car may actually cost you more but for two people it is a perfect opportunity to save money on transportation. Buses and trains are not that cheap as companies try to promote and you may end up spending more for two people on one round trip between cities than on a car rental and gas for the entire week (which also allows you to be flexible.)

With this strategy though, you have to visit Europe during the offseason and also target to visit cheaper destinations. During the high tourist season, prices are so high, that you will end up spending much, much more.

18. Eat/Drink/Shop Smartly

Food costs always come second after accommodation costs and can take a lot out of your budget. To be able to travel the world not spending much, try to cook at home more, especially if you are traveling in Western World countries.

Eating out in Southeast Asia , surprisingly, is cheaper than when you cook at home, but only if you choose street food. Trips to restaurants and cafes add up and can cost a fortune. South America and Eastern Europe are very affordable in this sense too.

We always cook when we travel. Our daily food expense until this day in the year 2024 is between $15-$20, depending on the destination. This cost always covers meat or fish products, lots of veggies, fruits, smoothies, coffee, tea, and occasional eating out and desserts. There is never a moment when we say “no” to ourselves when it comes to food, and we always eat local food.

I honestly don’t understand how some people manage to eat only rice or vegetables in order to cut costs. Doing it they lose so much. Trying local foods is part of the experience, please, spend some money on local food. Also, you need to stay healthy and watch your diet by eating healthy whole foods. There is no way for your body to be healthy if consuming rice or vegetables only.

Another note is about alcohol and coffee. You would need to cut on those to save money too.

19. Be Selective When It Comes to Attractions And Entertainment

I know, when you travel you want to have fun and do as many activities as you physically can. But don’t be in a hurry. Price for those attractions matters.

Physically you can’t do everything anyway, but choosing one activity over another does not mean you don’t get to know the country. Each destination has plenty of free or cheap things to do, so there is a lot to choose from. Avoid attractions oriented solely on tourists, even in poor countries they cost a fortune. Choose those activities that locals choose for themselves too.

For certain destinations, like Cambodia , for instance, you still want to budget money to be able to do some sightseeing. Angkor Wat entrance ticket for 3 days costs $62, but it is well worth it.

Visiting ancient Pergamon in Turkey was also worth every penny, like many other sites we went to. Yet, every country has also hundreds of activities or places that don’t cost any money. Take advantage of that and have a fabulous time! 

Traveling the world for 10 thousand dollars a year is not a difficult task to do if you carefully plan your trip. I do advise though to put aside at least an extra $$$, just in case if there is a day when you need it. If you can have more, it’s even better. Having “emergency money” always makes you feel more confident even if you don’t make use of it.

Anya is originally from Ukraine but in heart she is a citizen of the world. She is working online and that’s why has an opportunity to travel a lot and live in different countries. At present time, she is based in Spain while waiting for the war in Ukraine to be over to be able to return home. On this blog, her main goal is to inspire others to travel to under-the-radar places and discover the world while working remotely.

Similar Posts

10 Helpful Hints On How To Stay Positive No Matter What the Circumstances Are

We all go through times of uncertainty and moments when life seems unpredictable. During those times, staying positive and motivated is a challenge. Like now. Our world is going through a big change. With…

What is the Cost to Travel the World For a Year As a Couple?

In this post, I would love to share how much it cost to travel the world for a year for two. We spent $10K for the period of 12 months (read this post to see how you…

Why we decided to start a travel lifestyle and leave America to see the world

Dreams.. inexplicable, peculiar, and motivating at the same time. Everything in our life starts with a dream. My first big dream and ambition were about moving to the land of opportunities, freedom, and honor….

5 Best Cities in America to Move to This Year

So, are you thinking to move to a new city? It’s always exciting to move somewhere new for fresh opportunities and a different perspective. With each new place you get to live in, you…

Why to Travel Slowly. Finding balance between travels, work, family and personal life

Constant travel from one place to another is a tiring thing that can burn you out in the blink of an eye. Since the moment we figured that out until this day we’ve been…

Moving Abroad Checklist: 8 Things to Consider When Moving to Another Country

During the last 4 years, I moved abroad many times. The original plan was to travel around and see which country I like most, so I could settle down there. But eventually, I ended…

18 Comments

Oh, I love such articles! We spent way more during our yearlong honeymoon even though we still stayed within “bacpacker’s budget” – but I’m always thrilled to see how little money you actually need to see the world! 🙂 And about slow travel – yep, it’s actually the best, we realized that as well. You may “see” less, but you surely experience more!

Thanks for sharing your experience, Sandra!

Thanks so much for the helpful information. Dying for this to be over so we can get our location-independent selves out there. All the best.

So true! Hopefully this madness will be over soon! Stay safe wherever you are, Sharon!

Wow, so many tips! This is so encouraging because the financial aspect is probably what keeps most of us from traveling the world.

Such a great inspirational post! We are actually on our job-free year and were travelling around quite a lot. Since we´re stuck back home but still wish to continue our trips once the borders reopen this tips will come in very useful! We´ll have to definitely cut down our budget, happy to see it is actually possible 🙂

I am glad to hear Katja you find this post helpful!

Thank you for sharing such amazing tips with us, as I am about to visit Iceland soon so these tips will be sure of great help to me as well to all others who would be traveling along with me as I am sharing this amazing post with them as well.

Some of the tips are really technical and makes good sense to count these things before any trip plan like credit cards, deals info and especially visa free destinations. Both of them sounds good. However nice tips to keep in mind.Thank you!

I am glad to hear, Majid, you found them helpful!

I’m thrilled to have stumbled upon such an informative and interesting article. I am in the midst of what some might call a spontaneous adventure; planning my first euro trip and I couldn’t be more nervously excited about it. I’m traveling solo, and I’m curious about how long it took you and your husband to plan your trip? Thanks again you’ve already been so helpful.

Hi Samuel, thank you for your lovely comment, I am glad to hear this post came in handy! To be honest, it didn’t take a lot of time for us to plan our trip. I think it was around 4 months. We made a decision in February and then in the end of May we hit the road. Maybe the reason for that was a fact that we didn’t really own much. It was easy to let things go and leave.

The most time consuming thing was to give my car back to the bank. Mark sold his car quickly but my car depreciated a lot, so I decided to give it back to the bank. And that took around two weeks of my time. Other than that, everything else was pretty easy, probably because we were not tied to one place in a long-term.

This is a wonderful guide! Thanks for sharing all the resources and great tips for budget travelling. At 15, I think you confused Bratislava with Bucharest, as you wrote Romania next to it. I’m sure it was completely unintentional and that’s ok. I’m Romanian and it caught my eye.

Omg, I really did! Thank you for bringing it to my attention, Iulia, I don’t know what I have been thinking about 🙂

I’ve always liked traveling, the idea of seeing the world fascinated me, but I’ve never been able to make a very long trip, it’s always a few days never more q 1 week, but with these methods I’ll be able to enjoy my travels much more and go further away thank you so much.

My pleasure and I am very glad to hear you found this post helpful!

Loved your article. Nicely done and written. This post will be very helpful to your readers

It’s true that the biggest expense is actual traveling, by staying longer in location and getting familiar with surrounding will save you a lot of money (and time) 🙂

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Countries You Can Visit For $1000 Or Less

When I first started this blog three years ago, I made the claim that it’s possible to travel the world for $1000 USD or less per month. And that is a claim I still believe to be true today.

I am confident that if I averaged out the amount of money I’ve spent during all of my own travels, the figure would indeed be right around that $1000/month mark. Of course, there are countries you can visit that will require you to spend much more money, but at the same time, there are plenty of countries you can visit that will allow you to spend less, and in some cases, much less.

The question for this post is – which are the countries that can be visited or lived in for less than that $1000/month figure?

Here is my updated list based on the countries that I have visited myself. (And for those countries I haven’t been to within the past 12 months, I’ve contacted fellow travelers in order to confirm prices, so the information is as up-to-date as possible.)

Western Europe is tough to make happen on $1000/month but it can be possible if you really transform yourself into a budget traveler who is willing to cut costs wherever you can. Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, on the other hand, are a different story, offering a diverse collection of interesting countries that can be thoroughly explored for much less money. I’ve been spending a great deal of time in this region over the past year and a half myself and I am repeatedly amazed at how good of a value these countries are for travelers. Just head to some of the destinations on the below list and you’ll understand what I’m talking about. In this part of the world, accommodation can be found for less than $15/night and as low as $7/night (for a bed in a dorm room at a hostel), local meals can be eaten for $2 – $10, bus and train transportation is very reasonably priced and other activities (entrance fees) are typically less than in Western Europe as well.

Slovakia Slovenia Croatia Bosnia & Herzegovina Serbia Montenegro Albania Macedonia Bulgaria Romania Moldova Estonia Latvia

Central America & Mexico

Another region of the world that typically falls into the ‘you can travel for $1000/month’ category, you could spend months traveling around most of Central America on a tight budget. I know of many travelers who begin their adventure in a place like Guatemala and several months later, they have still yet to leave. For those interested in a relatively low-cost introduction to the Spanish-speaking world, Central America is a solid option. And if you add Mexico into the mix, you might get stuck in this region forever. Mexico is one of the most underrated countries I’ve ever spent time in. It’s an incredibly diverse land, full of friendly people, with excellent food and intriguing culture everywhere you turn (it’s also much safer than most people think ) and you can experience it all quite well even as a budget traveler.

Panama Costa Rica Nicaragua Honduras El Salvador Guatemala Mexico

With so many countries to choose from, and with most of these countries more than ideal for budget travelers, it’s no wonder that Asia, especially Southeast Asia, is often the first stop on many travelers’ itineraries. With countries such as India and Indonesia offering some of the least expensive travel options on the planet ($500 USD per month is possible) and countries such as Thailand offering some of the best value travel experiences you can find anywhere, Asia is as good as it gets for anyone looking to travel for less than $1000 per month.

Thailand Cambodia Vietnam Laos Malaysia Indonesia Myanmar Bangladesh Nepal Sri Lanka India

I’ve now been to South Africa twice and while my particular trips were not exactly as budget-friendly as usual, I did notice that $1000 per month would allow you to travel quite decently over there. You’d have to pay some attention to what you spend each day, and when it comes to the main attractions (ie. wildlife safaris) you’d want to check out the budget options instead of the pricier game lodges, but budget travelers in South Africa can definitely get by and have as rewarding an experience as anyone else.

Turkey is another country that can be visited for $1000 or less per month, although, that might not be true if you spend a lot of time in Istanbul, a city with prices that are on par with Western Europe. But outside Istanbul, prices drop significantly and $1000 per month is enough money to ensure you don’t end up broke after one week.

Also, over the course of this summer I hope to travel around Georgia, Azerbaijan, Poland and Lithuania, all countries where I’ve been told that $1000 is more than sufficient to travel well. I won’t be spending a full month in each place but I’ll be sure to report back after those visits to let you know how much it really does cost to travel in those areas.

So, even a few years after initially making the ‘travel on $1000 per month’ claim, much of the world can still be seen for this reasonable amount of money. Tell that to those who believe travel requires thousands and thousands of dollars and that it can’t be accomplished on such a low budget. One’s own spending habits and travel style also plays a role naturally, but if you’re able to travel simply (which is not the same as traveling in poverty as some believe), you really are able to experience the world, and benefit from that first-hand education that travel provides, for less money than you are probably spending at home.

Again, the list above consists of countries that I have personally been to so it goes without saying that there are plenty more out there that are perfect for budget travelers. And that’s why I want your input as well!

What country(s) have you traveled to or lived in for $1000 USD per month or less?

New blog posts, honest updates from my 21 years of constant travel, personal recommendations and the best of travel from around the world.

121 Comments

I am thinking about traveling for the first time and my first place Im thinking of stopping in is Ecuador. Can you give me some pointers?

This post was so helpful! EXACTLY what I have been looking for.

Hey earl, you could add hungary to your list. You can rent a complete and nice apartment in budapest for under 500 there on airbnb, eat at local restaurants for under 5 dollar, whole pizza 3-4 dollar, beer 0,50. and budapest is one of the nicest cities of the world. Greetings

Great List, if one can find couchsurfing hosts, even Western Europe can be done under a $1000 a month.

What about two weeks in India to visit Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and jodhpur?

Hey Shanice – Anything is possible…just depends on how you like to travel, how much comfort you need, etc. You could spend two weeks in India on $150 or you could do it on $1000!

Is the $1000 including air-fare?

Depends on where you’re coming from. US-Thailand? No way. US-Central America/Mexico? Definitely.

Having most of my travel experiences from South America, I’ll add in a few countries myself! Peru and Bolivia are definitely doable for less than $1000 a month I know people who have done it in the $600 range before too (Bolivia is a little bit cheaper than Peru). Argentina, depending on how you do it, could be in that range (and also depending on their financial situation), even in Buenos Aires, but you will need to do some research beforehand. The rest of South America can be pretty experience (especially Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay) and those countries fall way out of that range. I’m glad to hear there are still several countries you can travel to on a budget!

I agree – many countries in South America fall into this list. A few years ago I lived in Buenos Aires for around $700/month. I did it (partly) by renting a small room in an apartment in a, safe, more lower-middle-class residential area near San Telmo and Congresso. I also have friends in Santiago, Chile who have lived there for less than $1,000/month.

I would actually add Spain and parts of France to your list. True, it’s not really possible to do this in Paris, the Riveria, Madrid or Barcelona, but get away from the cities and it’s possible. SW France near the Spanish border is cheap as are places like Malaga and Seville in Spain. It’s a bit more difficult, but it can be done.

[…] pre-departure items are fixed. In fact, if you exclude these things, it is feasible to get by on less than $1000/month in many Asian countries, which is in line with my $30/day spent in Northern Thailand, Cambodia, and […]

Hello Claire

Can you give me a rough idea of your itinerary? because I have in mind something similar. And what cloths did you take, did you fit them all in one back pack? because there will be a difference in weather. Also, people have been reporting that India is getting a little dangerous, I am an open minded guy, so I just don’t take these reports serious.

I have traveled China, and Thailand and have always been welcomed.

Great list, India is a great budget travel destination I just returned from four months in India and Nepal and I only spent £2300 including my return flights from the UK. You can definitely travel on a budget, especially if you go out of season you have more room to barter.

hi there again earl! just wondering, have you been to bangkok/pattaya/hatyai in thailand? I think bangkok yes haha. But if you have been to those 3 places, dy know if it’s expensive to visit those places? thanks ia!

Hey Phoebe – It depends on your definition of expensive and your personal travel style. All three of those places can be quite inexpensive and they could also be quite pricey depending on your needs/style.

Nice list Earl, we will be hitting most of these spots on our 2 year RTW. We just did Central America top to bottom. Guatemala is totally do able for your $1000 figure, and there is a ton to see there! Amazing country, if you could pick any country in Central America, I would pick Guatemala!

You can easily add Iran and Bolivia on that list. Iran is as far as I’m aware one of the cheapest countries in the world at the moment. Back in autumn 2012 when I was there a street kebab cost slightly more than a dollar, and a decent dorm room could be had for as little as 3$. And if you are on a real budget and can handle sleeping in repulsive holes, there are places like Milad guesthouse in Kerman where I stayed in a single with toilet/lavatory for an amazing 3$ as well. But they didn’t have a shower in the entire building. I improvised with the water hose for cleaning your behind, oh the memories…

Philippines a possibility as well anybody know? And Korea??

This is such a great resource! And I can completely agree that it is possible, particularly if you have the determination to make it work. This summer I travelled to America for the first time in a few years and was pleasantly surprised about the value for money there if you know where to look! Given that I was staying with friends, I had no accommodation costs, and thus this isn’t necessarily a $1000 a month destination but it is still not bank-breaking.

This post is a great inspiration. I keep going back to it over and over. When I leave my job $1000 a month is excatly what I’ll have to live on!

yeh $1000 is the number Earl – this is what I reckoned on my travels too.

It can be easily done, especially if you’re not a big drinker

We usually travel for three or four months each year, often in Australia or New Zealand which has become very expensive over recent years. We manage to keep our costs down by doing housesitting, which means that not only do we get free accommodation (usually in return for looking after pets while the home owner is away), but also we can keep our eating costs down, by having access to a kitchen, so are able to self cater.

We spent two months housesitting in Sydney from November to January this year. Can you imagine how much that would cost if we had had to pay for accommodation over Christmas and New Year? OH and did I mention we got free use the householder’s cars while they were away, too? 🙂

Ah this is such a brilliant post Earl and has been so helpful in trying to convince a few of my mates that it’s not all about having huge amounts of money. I think it’s the simplicity and appreciation that comes with a cheap cost of living in those sorts of countries that makes them that much more special.

@theboywander: Hopefully your friend will be convinced in the end!

Great list post as always Earl! I thought I might chime in with some thoughts about my favorite continent for travel, South America.

I will definitely second Peru where one can live pretty well (in my experience, specifically in the wonderful city of Arequipa) for under $1,000. I expect you could live on $1,000/month (actually far less) almost anywhere there. This would let you see all the touristy sights and literally eat every meal in a restaurant. I haven’t spent as much time in Ecuador, but combining my experience and that of friends there, the same is possible almost everywhere there (with the exception of the Galapagos where I don’t think you can even stay for a month, if memory serves), even in Quito.

You could conceivably live on less than $1,000 per month in Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile, as I’ve traveled on less than that amount in each of those countries but first some caveats:

(1) Argentina: I wouldn’t want to encourage illegal behavior, but there’s an official exchange rate in the region of 5.50 pesos to the dollar and an unofficial (“blue market”) rate closer to 9.00 pesos per dollar, so depending on which you use your costs will be quite different. That said, I have a friend currently living in Buenos Aires on 4,500 pesos per month which allows him a decent lifestyle and enough to go out on weekends, but not really enough to do overnight trips. Elsewhere in the country, especially the Andean Northwest, can be much cheaper, but keep in mind Patagonia is quite expensive.

(2) Chile is a bit more expensive than Argentina, with basically similar caveats. You could scrape by on $1,000 per month in Santiago, but it’ll go much further in smaller cities. Once again the North (Arica, for example) is much cheaper and I think this budget would be a challenge in Patagonia.

(3) Uruguay is actually the most expensive of the countries. You could just about get by on $1,000 per month in Montevideo and quite easily at various places inland. Also, if you’re not there during peak summer season (December-March) then you can find some great deals in the beach towns (I recommend Cabo Polonio for some serious rustic solitude – I lived there for a week on $150, I’m sure others could for even less with a monthly rental). In the peak season though you’re looking at prices 3-4 times as high.

One general note, the cost of long-distance buses in Argentina (and to a lesser extent Chile) can really add up, but Argentina’s bus system is quite wonderful. As always, if you travel slowly it’ll be cheaper.

I hope this helps.

Hey Jonny, point well taken. I find myself being a little myopic at times. As I’m more of a ruin site freak and not so much a hiker, and also as my visit was over 35 years ago when there was literally no Inca Trail trekking unless you really made over the top expedition plans, I can see how excited you must have been doing your trip. I’m also a train fan and my trip to the site involved a R/T train ride up the canyon with one of the grand daddy of all ruin sites as a prize at the end. I don’t even remember that it could be done by bus in those days. It was the train or nothing, except and “epic” trek. Happy Trails! Steve

Nice reply Steve – yes I loved the Inca Trail due to the hikes and views and camping etc. and even the food was great! After seeing Machu Picchu, we ended up with a day in Aguas Calientes and then got the train back to Ollantaytambo. I dare say that train journey has changed a lot since your day, but it was still fab! Safe travels Jonny

Alio! I’m excited to see that you’re traveling to Lithuania this summer! As a Litho-American who has always been an avid traveler, I’ve never understood how it doesn’t regularly make it to the top of the budget traveler lists. There’s a lot to be said for the lovely simplicity of fields, rivers, forests, potatoes, and sausages!! I just arrived a few days ago and will be here until mid-August…hit me up if you’re around. 🙂

Hey Giedre – I shall let you know for sure. Hoping to get there in either August or September!

I am 19 years old and haven’t specialized in anything, Im generally into fitness. I was thinking about small jobs like teaching english like you said. I asked this because you insisted in a blog on how many opportunities there are out there for making money so please give me a good start place, like thailand (teaching english), australia (picking fruits), indonesia (digging for treasures), anything. I’m sure some countries are better start places for me than others?

Thanks again

Jonny, I have to comment on your view of not being able to see major sites. I’ve been to Machu Picchu and didn’t even think that doing the “Inca Trail” should be a part of the experience. I don’t know how that hike has become such an “important” part of such a prominent ruin site. I think the tour companies have hyped it so much as a way for them to make big bucks, that visitors now think that if they don’t do the trail, they haven’t ‘done’ Machu Picchu. A lot of travelers are traveling on a shoestring and simply don’t have the money to do what vacationers might do. (vacationers have more money than time)

When we were in Arusha, Tanzania, on our RTW trip, we chose not to do the Kilimanjaro climb as it would have blown our budget. Back then, it would only have been $350 for the two of us. But, as we always used to tell ourselves, “That’s a month in India”.

Also, I think what Earl means by a $1,000 a month budget is one that includes a modicum of entertainment money. These $200 and up, costly treks, dives or climbs should be considered outside of the usual traveler’s budget. Just as a WAG, I’ve always thrown in $5 bucks a day into my planning budget for entertainment. So, if I wanted to do an Inca Trail trek, or whatever, I’d lay low for awhile, so there would be money to do it without going into the emergency fund.

Hi Steve – thanks for your comments and we’ll have to agree to disagree I’m afraid…each to their own!! I would only have done Machu Picchu on the Inca Trail. There is no way I would have went all the way to Peru and then cheated and got a bus to Machu Picchu! Or done the Salkantay Trek (which doesnt allow you to waken up at 5am and hike down to admire this lost city) I wanted to do it properly – sleeping in tents, wakening up to epic views and a fantasic hike. I loved it.

I agree with the last bit of your comment though and I use that tactic a lot. If I overspend on a major site, I’ll stay in a cheap hostel for a few days and just write my travel blog without going out and spending a lot of money.

Peru of course can be done on $1000 a month even with the Inca Trail as part of that – couchsurfing and staying with mates on the way will seriously help with that. Safe travels! Jonny

Great list, Earl. I would also be tempted to add China, as I travelled there for around $1000 a month (though it was three years ago), by staying in dorms (which I found to be of a standard on par with or higher than in Western Europe) and travelling by overnight train or bus. If you stayed in private rooms in hotels and flew around the country, it’d probably be too expensive to be on this list, but still.

Thanks Sam…seems like a few people mentioned China, a country I haven’t been to (at least not to the mainland). Maybe I should look at going soon!

Great list! I do feel like I could live on less than $1000 in Hungary, so I would totally recommend it to budget-minded travelers wanting to explore Europe. I’m going to be in Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, and Bulgaria throughout the end of July & August, and am really looking forward to experiencing how cheap they can be 😉

Hey Megan – Hungary works as well. And perhaps I’ll see you in Georgia this summer!

Please Earl what country should I go to as I am looking NOT having to go back home(It really scares me!)… a country where I can make some income to make the story short. What u think? 🙂

Hey Jonas – Like I said, it depends on your skills/knowledge/interests and what kind of work you want to do. There is no one country that offers endless opportunities for everyone unfortunately.

Great post Earl. Do you know any good snow skiing resorts/towns one can stay in for a season on a budget, living in Australia the southern hemisphere options are limited and very very expensive. I hear eastern europe is good though.

Hey Leo – I don’t know of any good ski resorts/towns unfortunately, mainly because I avoid cold weather places as much as possible. However, I have heard that Easter Europe, as you did as well, is a good option. I know there are places right here in Romania that are supposedly cheap and you can live in small towns near Brasov, and be quite close to the mountains.

Interesting take. I’m not a budget traveling, but it’s nice to know that these options are out there!

Great resource! Regarding Europe though — in my experience Croatia is just as expensive as Italy. And Portugal is a Western European country that is really great for budget travelers: Hostels for 17 Euros per night, normally less than 8 Euros for a dinner out and an espresso or a beer is usually only 50 cents.

Hey Julika – I think Croatia can be as expensive as Western Europe but I’ve been a few times and always managed to keep it under $1000/month relatively easily. So it’s definitely possible if you choose accommodation, dining, transportation options carefully. Thanks for adding Portugal…looks like it might be able to visited for around the $1000/month mark with those prices.

Eastern Europe – favorite area of the world to explore. Hope to get back there this year. In the meantime, let’s try and keep it a secret (despite all those great countries on your list) 🙂

Hey Jeremy – Let me know if you make it over to Romania!

Hey Earl, we are traveling (well, living, at the moment) on less than that, which as a couple is much easier due to shared expenses on everything. I think $1000 is a great number for budget travelers as even on that you live and eat like a king in many countries (mostly SE Asia). And I agree, if you are savvy, its much cheaper to travel than people realise.

Hey Sarah – Thanks for the input and I do agree that traveling as a couple can help keep costs even lower. Glad you’re making it happen out there!

Article in England’s Daily Telegraph: “How I visited every country in the world – without a single flight.”

Graham Hughes visited 201 countries in 4 years, and I think he spent something like $19,000. That’s $400 a month.

“There are good people all over the world,” he writes, “people who will go out of their way to help a stranger.”

Hey Ed – Of course, it’s possible to travel on a very tiny amount of money, that is true! I just like to give a budget of $1000 because I personally don’t want to rely on strangers all the time and constantly accept free places to stay, free meals, free transportation or other things that cost locals money.

You can definitely do Ukraine for less than $1000/month. Same with Armenia and Georgia. Azerbaijan would be trickier as prices in Baku are close to Western Europe or higher (I almost accidentally bought a pint of ice cream in the grocery store for $20 there!). Even outside of Baku, things are pricier than Georgia or Armenia.

Would also add Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to the list.

Thanks Katie for the info!

Great list. The only thing about Asia is actually getting there. Plane tickets can be expensive and often will cost more then the month trip itself. A good reason to spend a couple of months there right =P.

Hey Gabriel – Flights do often cost the same as one month of travel over there in SE Asia but like you said, if your trip is 2 or more months, you can still make it happen for about $1000/month when all expenses are averaged out.

That`s a great article to remind people that travel it`s not all about the money. I myself am from Macedonia and I`m definitely glad that my country is on the list. Everybody is welcomed here:)

Hey Metodija – Welcome to the site and thanks for the kind invitation for readers to visit Macedonia!

Great approach Earl! As a Travel Agent is not uncommon to fit Holidays in people’s budgets, and USD1,000 sounds reasonable to me when it comes to paying for flights and accommodation in a foreign Country. I myself have gone to Indonesia with my partner, 4.5 star accommodation + flights for AUD800 each, last April.

Here in Australia, for less than AUD1,00 you could fly and stay in most of the south Pacific Islands and most of Asia, if booked in advance. A good knowledge of seasonal travel plus heaps of patience will be definitely helpful.

Hey Marcelo – The only thing is that booking a holiday is not the same as traveling for one month. There is no way you could book a holiday for one month that would cost under $1000 🙂

Great article as ever Earl. And mostly you are right. However I can’t believe you have left out China!! It is without doubt one of the easiest and best countries to get by on a cheap budget. I can get by on $500 a month here – accomodation is as cheap as there is, beer and food is the cheapest on the planet and the only real cost is sightseeing (national parks can cost a fair whack). Less than $1000 in China is easy, I spent about $90 US last week and that included some entry fees to sights, temples etc..

Also while this budget is possible in most parts of the world, it will unfortunately mean missing out on top sights…e.g. The Inca Trail in Peru (around $250 for 4 days if i remember right, and rising), hiking most mountains (I recently done Kinabalu over 2 days at a cost of around $267!) and lots of national parks charge entry prices (even Yuanyang in China now charges $20 for 2 days) and so to get them done for $1000 a month, might be tough but of course if you sleep rough and dont eat well, can be done in most countries.

Other countries for me which I’ve done on this budget are Northern Ireland, Laos, Paraguay and Uruguay. Sri Lanka sadly is just not cheap anymore – even climbing Sigiriya these days costs $30 and the hostels and hotels have gone up a lot. Of those Northern Ireland is the most commercial but still the cheapest part of the UK to go backpacking in.

Safe travels. Jonny

Hey Jonny – As mentioned in the piece, this list is of countries I’ve been to and when it comes to China, I’ve only been to Hong Kong 🙂

As for missing out on the sights, I think it’s still possible to include those. First, there almost always ways to do things cheaper and second, if the price is high, factoring that into your budget over a several month trip is still doable. As I said, the idea is that you need an average of $1000 per month when traveling and if you overspend one month in order to do something that you really want but costs a lot, the next month you simply cut back and spend less.

Great list! I don’t think I could ever be a true budget traveler, but this is a good basis for planning to know what countries can easily be so affordable. My husband and I are starting to research places to go for about 3 months this winter, so this helps. And it’s always great to show people travel isn’t as expensive as they think it is.

Hey Ali – Most people are quite surprised by how comfortable traveling on $1000 per month can be in many parts of the world! Let us know where you choose to go this winter!

[…] Countries You Can Visit For $1000 Or Less […]

I was in Croatia and Slovenia! I know better Slovenia then Croatia, but I love both countries.

Slovenia is a small country but very nice! I love the region of the lake Bled! I was in summer but I think that it should be very beautiful in winter. Piran, Koper, Liubliana, Bled.. amazing places!

In Croatia I just went to Zagreb and the north cost and I loved. The region of Pula is very nice. Rovinj is a small vilage with very charm!

Hope you enjoy your trip

Oh i forgot.. here in Thailand i spend around 600$ per month. Pretty cheap 🙂

Definitely a great deal of South America falls into the low budget category: Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia. I always find when there’s a will there’s a way. For example I stayed in my own rented house in Brazil in carnival season for US$100 per week. I cooked my own food, hung out at the beach etc = cheap. This was an unusually low price but as I said – where there’s a will there’s a way 🙂

Hey Karen – Absolutely…there are always decisions that we can make while traveling that will reduce our costs even more and renting a place for a longer-period of time in one location is certainly one of them!

how interesting!I was surprised about South Africa. I thought it would have been much more expensive…good to know! The more i read these articles and the more i want to keep on going. One of my dreams would be to cross the ocean and get to see central and Latin america. I’m currently living and working part time in Thailand, the cost of the ticket to get to is going to be massive right? would be nice to visit mexico or Peru’..

Hey Kle – The ticket will be on the higher end for such a journey but just keep looking at prices because you never know when a good fare will pop up. Also, sometimes you have to get creative. Look for cheap flights to Europe, then a cheap flight on maybe Condor Airlines or Air Berlin from there to Mexico.

Thanks for this great list! I just read about your blog and am so glad I came across it 🙂

Definitely Morocco! I lived in Rabat for two years and was able to travel a lot within the country, spend a summer in France and make a big trip to Turkey/Syria on a $1200/month salary. I had a nice apartment, ate well, splurged every now and again and still brought thousands home in savings. $1000/month would not be a problem at all! Thanks so much for your blog, Wandering Earl!

And thank you for adding Morocco to the list Brandi!

Cuba. I spent 3 months this past winter and it can easily be done on less than $1000 a month. However prices are increasing and the general feeling is that when the US embargo is lifted prices will jump. So go now if you are on a budget!

Hey Robert – I can imagine that Cuba will become quite expensive soon enough. Now is definitely the time to go.

$1000 goes a long long way for a month of stay in Palawan, the Philippines!

Thanks Dennis…Philippines is very high on my list of places I want to visit soon!

It’s possible to live in Taiwan for 1000 USD a month as well. I don’t hear much about Taiwan as a traveler destination (except from the Japanese), but it’s a beautiful country with great food and friendly people.

I lived in Taipei for 3 months from February this year.

Accommodation can be a bit more expensive than most of the other countries in Asia (for a decent room in a shared house/apartment, expect to pay around 350USD, especially if it’s a short term rental), but otherwise the cost of living is just as low as Thailand, for example. That said, it depends on what kind of lifestyle you live as well.

Hey Masa – You are right, you don’t hear much about Taiwan as a travel destination. I’ve been myself but not for a long period of time and from everything I hear from those who do make it there, it is a wonderful, reasonably priced place to visit!

We spent almost 4 weeks between Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania and 1 night in Bratislava, Slovakia and enjoyed all of them, especially Bulgaria and Romania.

I think you’ll enjoy all of those countries as we’ve heard great things about all of them.

Hey Earl – As you know, those are some of my favorite countries and of course, I’m still having a hard time leaving Romania!

Thanks Earl. Great list! Great site. Yes, I would be curious about the Philippines too…

I was just in Europe a while back and had a blast in Croatia, Montenegro, and Albania specifically. I met two men in Albania who have been living there for a while. One from America, another from the Netherlands. They only paid around 250 Euro a month for accommodation which included breakfast. I barely spent money while staying there and ate really well, saw great sites, met amazing people, and went on a great hike. I have a soft spot for Albania and wouldn’t mind staying there for a while paying 250 Euro a month. I totally agree with you, Earl. It’s not only possible to live on $1000 or less in many countries, but to live well. Thanks for the informative article.

Hey Cynthia – Absolutely and sounds like you had some excellent experiences in that part of the world. I had a great time in Albania too when I was there last summer!

Given the increase in popularity for Couchsurfing and HouseSitting, traveling for under 1k/month is possible just about anywhere. I definitely think your are spot on with the countries you listed…definitely all very friendly to budget travelers!

Hey Wade – Great point. Not only do you save money on accommodation with those sites, you have experiences that often times would not be possible if you stayed at a hostel/hotel. Not a bad combination.

Earl, what about the Philippines?

Hey Ryan – I’ve never been which is why it isn’t on the list 🙂

While I stayed in comfortable hotels, I have traveled quite a bit across Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia and I agree all can be done for well under $1,000/month.

I wondered what the hostels on Mosque Street in Singapore for for a night. If you eat street food you could probably do Singapore for under $1,000 also, but that might be pushing it.

Hey John – Singapore might be possible but even a dorm room can cost about $25/night and more, so it would be tight. But with couchsurfing, as many others have pointed out, it is definitely doable!

Think China could be added. But I understand why you may have omitted it. China is about as cheap or expensive as you want to make it. Outrageously expensive in some senses dirt cheap in others.

Hey Colin – Actually, the only reason I left it out is because this is a list of countries I’ve actually been to and since the only part of China I’ve visited is Hong Kong, I didn’t want to include the entire country.

What about Morocco? How much a month for Morocco?

Earl, I noticed that you missed Belize on the Central American list. Maybe you haven’t been there and that’s why, but it’s much the same as all the other countries in C.A. for the cost of living in paradise.

Most of my experience traveling throughout Mexico and Central America is driving / living with a pickup and a camper on the back. Our one year R/T (California / Costa Rica) adventure only set us back about $6,000 US dollars for two people. It was done in a twenty year old Ford pickup that cost about $2,000 (with new tires) and a camper that I bought and fixed up for about $1,800. And, when you’re done with your trip, you can sell the two for (?). I didn’t sell my pickup or camper because I couldn’t bare to part with my good friends. (A man and his truck, it’s a beautiful thing) 🙂

Hey Steve – I have been to Belize but it’s been a long time and I wasn’t able to get any feedback from anyone who has been recently. But it’s good to know that you can still travel there on a low budget as well. Your experience down in those parts must have been unreal driving that truck around!

If my week-long stay in Krakow, Poland was any indication, Poland is definitely an inexpensive place to visit! My hostel bed was $9 CDN a night (6-person dorm) and it was the cleanest one I encountered in Europe! And I still rave about the delicious meal of perogies and salads we had one day for only $3 CDN. Definitely a great inexpensive place to visit, rich with history.

Hey Brianna – That’s good to know since I plan to make it to Poland in the next month or so!

Glad to read all your recommendations, as well as in the comments. It’s great knowing there are many places to travel to so cheaply to help balance out some of the more expensive places. It also makes places I may not have thought of before to travel to more appealing.

I lived in Budapest, Hungary for about $650 a month including accommodation in the centre of the city. Food is relatively inexpensive if you avoid the tourist places when eating out. The markets are really affordable and many attractions are free or low cost.

And I agree, the surround countries: Slovakia, Romania, Serbia etc are very affordable. Slovenia is a little pricier, but definitely a lot more affordable compared to much of Western Europe.

For us it depends on how fast we are travelling. If we slow down and rent an apartment for a month or more then things are much cheaper. We are living in the little Mexican beach town of San Pancho at the moment for $550 each per month (sharing a house as a couple). As we don’t like to stay in hostels much (definitely not dorm rooms as a couple) then things get much more expensive when we move around more. It’s definitely possible in many of these countries though without watching the budget too much.

Morocco, my friend! Please put this gorgeous country on your map, you’d love it. We traveled for a week across Northern Morocco to three cities and a camel safari to the Sahara from the village of Merzouga with return tickets to Spain for 500 Euros tops. Fez is a very special city to me, cheaper than most others and walking through it’s Medina was like peeling an onion. The cultural ties are so dense! Thank you for opening up this space on budget travel – students, backpackers and such minority travel groups – will appreciate it a lot. Another topic that can be linked to his theme is this: budget travel and how the tourism in cheaper places conflict with regular travelers that splurge away.

I’m currently in Romania and can personally vouch for it. It’s a great country with amazing nature, fun and safe cities, cheap prices and plenty of English speakers. Romanian is a romance language as well, so you can at least read the street signs as well! (not as easy in Bulgaria)((Which is even cheaper by the way!))

How content are you willing to be? In Hawaii I once slept on the beach (away from where the authorities might be looking), ate cereal and peanut butter, showered in a waterfall, read some books that I’d brought along, swam in the ocean, and watched the sun go down every night. The month cost me $66.

Hey Ed – It definitely all depends on a person’s travel style and what they’re looking to get out of their trip. Ultra-budget options always exist as well as your own experience shows.

Does anyone recommend any of the following countries?

Slovakia Slovenia Croatia Bosnia & Herzegovina Serbia Montenegro Albania Macedonia Bulgaria Romania Moldova Estonia Latvia

I intend to do some budget travel myself, very soon as my 40th is coming.

Any advice is welcomed

Thank you Anthony

I’m from Slovenia and everything Earl said about my country is true 🙂 If you have some questions, just shoot!

Thanks for answering my question with a post none the less which I am sure will grow to be one of your most popular

You’re very welcome Ash and yes, definitely a great resource for travelers!

Yep, I’ll second Bulgaria and Mexico, and also throw in Colombia. I spent 2.5 years in Sofia (Bulgaria) living for well under $600 USD a month, in Colombia for about $450 a month, and here in Mexico I run on about $650 a month.

Great list! Thanks for sharing, Earl.

Thanks for adding your input Tim!

Great Post Earl. Have you considered that it is possible to live in the USA for under $1,000 per month? It’s not easy, but it’s possible. I currently live in Portland and am making it my goal to live for the next 10 months with less than $10 thousand dollars. I live in a shared house, bike around town, eat out very infrequently, etc…

I’ve lived in the USA for under $500 a month. Any things possible if you have a goal.

Hey Russell – I’d imagine that it is possible to live in the US, as you are about to demonstrate. I think for someone who is looking to travel around the US, it would be a lot harder though.

In Latvia it’s definitely easy to live for 500/600€ per month. Same in Lithuania (not mentionned in your list, but really, really cheap too!). A few years back, in my hometown in France I lived easily with 800€/month, now it’s a bit tough. I’d say 1000/1000€ per month is okay. But in Western Europe, you can live for really cheap in Southern Spain (Andalucia), or Portugal. Even in South Italy, it’s quite cheap too.

Jérémy / From France 🙂

Hey Jeremy – I hope to visit Lithuania this summer so it’s good to know that it can be done quite inexpensively. And good points about Southern Spain and Italy as well!

Morocco – definitely less then 1000€/month 😉 I spent around 400€ for 3 weeks but I mostly stayed with couchsurfers 🙂 The only negative thing is the price of transportation, I’d say I spent around half of my budget only for buses, although I did travel all around Morocco.

I believe it’s possible to stay in Portugal for a month on much less than 1000$. There’s cheap accommodation for 10€ per night (13$) in shared hostel room, right in the center of the city. Its also possible to rent a room in a shared house for 250€/month (328$) with all expenses included. Food is cheap, specially in normal restaurants (non-touristic ones). Transport is also very cheap. And the Sun is free! 😉

Hey Luisa – A few people have mentioned Portugal which is great to hear. I loved my time there but was not there for too long so I didn’t get a good enough idea of how much it would cost. Seems like quite an inexpensive destination and a great value.

I spent the month living in Koh Phangan, Thailand (My first month living abroad (and not traveling)) and it was refreshingly affordable. Even being a tourist area with higher then mainland prices, with a house and a motorbike I was well under $1,000.

Great post Earl and I agree with most of it – but as you and I know, the thing is when you budget that low, then some of the major sights just cant be done (unfortunately). The Inca Trail in Peru for one (around $250 for 4 days if i remember right), hiking most mountains (recently done Kinabalu over 2 days at a cost of $267) and a lot of national parks (for example Yuanyang in China was $20 for 2 days) and so to get them done for $1000 a month, youre pushing it, but worth a try and you’re right to remind your readers that it CAN be done (you might be eating beans on toast and drinking only water for a month though).

Where have I done for less than $1000?? 1. You forgot to include my favourite cheap country – China!! Probably the cheapest of the lot and the easiest to manage on less than $1000. I spent about $90 last week in China (7 days of backpacking…check one of my posts on Chongqing – more to come). Heading to Nanchang on Friday and will be budgeting for about $25-30 a day as Im doing a national park. Beers and food can cost $4 a day for all meals. Transport $1, unless youre moving towns in which case budget for $10. Accomodation in China? $5 a night – if youre paying more in China then you dont know how to budget!

2. Other notable countries for me which fit this budget are Vietnam, Laos, Paraguay and Uruguay. Sri Lanka I was there in February and the prices of things have simply gone up too much, it was one of the most expensive “backpacking” trips Ive done in years. It cost me $30 alone to get into Sigiriya!!

Keep encouraging the cheap travel options though. It’s really important for people to know you dont need a lot of money to travel…

Hi Earl, I’m currently living in Northeast China and living on less than 1,000 a month (of course it helps when the school you teach for pays for your apartment.) If I was a penny-pincher, I think it’d be easy to live on closer to 500 a month, but instead I live comfortably, (go out for food, take taxis, treat myself to imported goods every now and then etc.) and I still spend well under 1,000. Love your blog, I share it with fellow travelers. -Andy

Hey Andy – Thanks for that and I appreciate you spreading the world about the blog! And that’s good to know about China as well…so many people mentioned it that I might have to get there myself sometime soon.

For us the living costs not really depended much about the country where we have been They depend more on what services we use and how we live. You can always walk instead of using taxis and buses and sleep in public places like airports if accommodation is expensive.

Leave A Comment Cancel reply

A life of travel newsletter, join 22,000+ people who love to travel the world..

Travel advice, inspiration and updates from my life of non-stop travel... sent every other Tuesday.

This will close in 0 seconds

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies
• 3rd Party Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

Scott and Yanling.com

Home Our Services Travel Articles

About Us Contact

10 Spectacular Vacation Destinations Around the World for Under $10,000

By: Swena Kalra

Edited By: Scott Sidders

Updated on November 5, 2023

This webpage contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase through our link, we receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

We all dream of getting away—whether for a weekend, a summer getaway, or something more long-term—but the cost can be prohibitive. But what if you could travel to an incredible destination around the world without breaking your budget? It is possible!

We've rounded up spectacular vacation locations that will let you explore different cultures, bask in local attractions and enjoy experiences not found anywhere else…and it can all be done for less than $10,000! This list of destinations includes options from Europe to Asia as well as some great stay-cations close to home. So if you're ready to shake off those pandemic blues while spending wisely, keep reading to discover some amazing places that will fit just about any budget!

American Vacation Ideas

The US is a vast and unique country with plenty of places to explore. You can take in the beauty of the Grand Canyon, explore the forests of Oregon, or experience the hustle and bustle of New York City. Here are some great ideas to get you started:

1. Hawaii Island Hopping

The Hawaiian Islands are a treasure trove of natural beauty, diverse landscapes, and rich cultural experiences. Embark on an unforgettable adventure as you hop from one island to another, exploring the unique wonders each has to offer.

Begin your journey on Oahu, the heart of Hawaii, where you can witness the perfect blend of ancient traditions and modern living. Stroll along the world-famous Waikiki Beach, or venture into the lush Waimea Valley to discover cascading waterfalls and endemic flora and fauna. Don't forget to indulge in some traditional Hawaiian poke, a delicious, fresh seafood dish that will tantalize your taste buds.

Next, make your way to Maui, known as the "Valley Isle." Here, you can explore the breathtaking Haleakala National Park, home to the largest dormant volcano in the world. Marvel at the stunning sunrise and sunset views from its summit, or trek through the mesmerizing bamboo forests along the Pipiwai Trail. For a taste of local culture, visit the historic town of Lahaina and immerse yourself in its vibrant art scene and lively nightlife.

Kauai, the "Garden Isle," awaits you with its lush rainforests, dramatic cliffs, and pristine beaches. Be captivated by the majestic Napali Coast, accessible only by boat, helicopter, or a challenging hike. Explore the Waimea Canyon, often referred to as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific," and lose yourself in its awe-inspiring beauty. Kauai is also home to numerous traditional luaus, where you can experience authentic Hawaiian cuisine and captivating performances.

Finally, set foot on the Big Island, a land of striking contrasts. Witness the power of nature as you explore Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, home to two of the world's most active volcanoes.

Delight in the island's diverse landscapes, from snow-capped Mauna Kea to the black sand beaches of Punalu'u. Along the way, sample local delicacies such as malasadas, a Portuguese-inspired doughnut, and Kona coffee, renowned for its smooth and rich flavor.

Hawaii Island Hopping offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the best of Hawaii's diverse islands. Embrace the spirit of aloha and create memories that will last.

2. Alaskan Cruise

An Alaskan cruise is so much more than a vacation – it's an opportunity to immerse yourself in the majesty of the Last Frontier.

As your ship navigates through the spectacular fjords, you'll witness towering glaciers as they slowly pass by. The pristine waters are teeming with diverse wildlife – keep an eye out for whales, sea lions, seals, and otters, and look to the sky for bald eagles and other magnificent birds.

Onboard activities enhance your experience every step of the way. From engaging workshops to live performances, join in on themed events catering to various interests and age groups. Expert-led naturalist presentations provide valuable insights into the unique ecosystems and cultural heritage of Alaska.

You'll have many opportunities to explore different terrains and learn the history of the Last Frontier on guided tours. Experience the thrill of helicopter rides over glaciers or go for leisurely walks through lush rainforests. Learn the stories of indigenous communities, gold rush pioneers, and intrepid explorers who shaped the region's past and present.

Appreciate the true essence of the Last Frontier – its rugged beauty, abundant wildlife, and fascinating history. Take on this unforgettable voyage and experience the wonders that lie in the heart of Alaska.

3. Road Trip to some of the National Parks

A road trip to any of the top national parks is a breathtaking journey that offers a unique opportunity to explore the diverse landscapes, wildlife, and natural beauty of these protected areas. With over 63 national parks scattered across the United States, each park boasts its own distinct character, making every stop on your road trip an adventure in itself.

Embarking on this memorable expedition, you'll be captivated by the towering granite cliffs and cascading waterfalls of Yosemite National Park, where famous landmarks like El Capitan and Half Dome never fail to impress. Further south, the awe-inspiring vistas of the Grand Canyon will leave you speechless as you gaze upon the intricate layers of rock formations carved by the Colorado River over millions of years.

Or, venture into the heart of the Rocky Mountains, where you'll encounter the pristine alpine lakes and snow-capped peaks of Glacier National Park, a haven for hikers and nature enthusiasts alike. Continuing your journey, the geothermal wonders of Yellowstone National Park await, with erupting geysers, steaming hot springs, and vibrant pools painting a kaleidoscope of colors across the landscape.

Heading towards the Pacific Northwest, the lush rainforests and rugged coastline of Olympic National Park provide a refreshing contrast to the arid deserts and soaring mountains you've encountered thus far. Finally, marvel at the ancient trees and misty forests of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where the diverse flora and fauna create a living tapestry that changes with each passing season.

A road trip through the national parks is not just a journey through some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth, but also an unforgettable experience that fosters a deeper appreciation for the natural world and our responsibility to protect it for future generations.

4. New England Fall Foliage Tour

As autumn approaches, New England transforms into a vibrant canvas of rich hues, making it the perfect time to embark on a Fall Foliage Tour. From late September to mid-October, you'll witness nature painting its masterpiece as you explore the picturesque landscapes and charming towns of this region, all for under $10,000.

Begin your journey in Massachusetts, where you can stroll through the historic streets of Boston, admiring the contrast of colonial architecture against a backdrop of fiery reds and oranges. Venture further into the tranquil Berkshires, where you can hike along scenic trails or take a scenic drive through the Mohawk Trail, one of America's first automobile roads.

Next, make your way to Vermont, known for its quintessential fall scenery. Visit the Green Mountain National Forest, where you can hike, bike, or simply enjoy the stunning views of crimson, gold, and orange foliage. Don't miss out on the small towns of Woodstock and Stowe, which boast classic covered bridges and cozy inns perfect for a romantic getaway.

Continue your tour in New Hampshire, where the White Mountains offer a breathtaking panorama of autumn colors. Drive along the Kancamagus Highway, a 34-mile stretch famous for its foliage views, or take a scenic train ride through the mountains to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of the season.

Finally, explore the coastal beauty of Maine, where the rugged shoreline is adorned with lighthouses and quaint fishing villages. Acadia National Park is a must-see, with its diverse landscapes and stunning vistas, making it the perfect end to your New England Fall Foliage Tour.

This spectacular vacation destination offers an unforgettable experience that won't break the bank.

5. Florida Keys Adventure

The Florida Keys, an enchanting chain of islands stretching from the southern tip of Florida into the Gulf of Mexico, offer a captivating and unparalleled adventure for travelers seeking a tropical escape. With its vibrant coral reefs, lush mangroves, and crystal-clear waters, this stunning archipelago presents a world of exploration just waiting to be discovered.

As you embark on your Florida Keys adventure, prepare to be mesmerized by the diverse marine life inhabiting the region's turquoise waters. Snorkel or scuba dive among the colorful coral reefs teeming with fish, sea turtles, and other magnificent creatures. The Keys are home to the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States, making it a must-visit destination for diving enthusiasts.

For those who prefer to stay above water, the Florida Keys offers an abundance of thrilling activities such as kayaking, paddle boarding, and fishing. Navigate through the winding mangrove tunnels or explore the numerous uninhabited islands scattered throughout the Keys. Anglers will delight in the opportunity to reel in a variety of fish species, including tarpon, bonefish, and barracuda.

History buffs can immerse themselves in the rich past of the Florida Keys by visiting sites like Fort Jefferson in Dry Tortugas National Park and the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum in Key West. The Keys also boast a lively arts and culture scene, with galleries, museums, and festivals celebrating the unique spirit of the islands.

As the sun sets, indulge in the mouthwatering local cuisine at one of the many waterfront restaurants and bars, while listening to the soothing sounds of live music. With its laid-back atmosphere, stunning natural beauty, and endless opportunities for adventure, the Florida Keys is a dream destination that promises an unforgettable experience for all who visit.

Global Vacation Ideas

There's so much more to see beyond America's borders. Take a journey around the world and experience some of the most remarkable cultural, historical, and natural attractions from every corner of the globe.

1. Road Trip Through Europe

A road trip through Europe is an experience that allows you to explore the diverse cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and rich history of this enchanting continent. With a well-planned route and a spirit of adventure, you can embark on a journey that takes you from bustling cities to the charming countryside, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

The beauty of a European road trip lies in the seamless blend of modernity and tradition. Driving through vibrant cities like Paris , Rome, and Barcelona, one can witness architectural marvels, indulge in delectable cuisine, and immerse oneself in the local art scene. As you navigate the winding roads, you'll encounter picturesque towns and villages that seem untouched by time, offering a glimpse into the region's cultural heritage.

Europe's diverse landscape provides plenty of opportunities for scenic drives and outdoor adventures. You can traverse the majestic peaks of the Swiss Alps, explore the lush rolling hills of Tuscany, or cruise along the stunning coastline of the Mediterranean. Nature lovers will relish the chance to hike through the verdant forests of Germany's Black Forest or soak in the ethereal beauty of Iceland's waterfalls and geysers.

A road trip through Europe is also a journey through history. Visit the ancient ruins of Greece and Rome, walk the hallowed grounds of World War battlefields, or explore the grand castles and palaces that have stood witness to centuries of political intrigue and royal drama.

2. Island Hopping in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is a treasure trove of pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush green landscapes. With thousands of islands scattered across the region, island hopping has become a popular way for travelers to explore these tropical paradises. From the Philippines to Indonesia, each island offers a unique experience that caters to different interests and preferences.

One of the most popular island-hopping destinations in Southeast Asia is the Philippines, which boasts over 7,000 islands. The archipelago is known for its diverse marine life, making it an ideal spot for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts. Palawan, Boracay, and Siargao are just a few of the stunning islands that attract tourists from all around the globe. Palawan, in particular, is famous for its underground river and limestone cliffs, offering a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation.

Another must-visit destination for island hopping is Thailand. The country's Andaman Coast and the Gulf of Thailand are home to numerous picturesque islands, each with its own charm. Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, and Koh Samui are among the most popular, featuring vibrant nightlife, luxurious resorts, and beautiful beaches. For those seeking a more tranquil experience, smaller islands such as Koh Lipe and Koh Tao offer a serene atmosphere away from the bustling tourist hubs.

Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago, is another top choice for island hopping in Southeast Asia. Bali, often referred to as the "Island of the Gods," is an idyllic destination with its lush rice terraces, vibrant culture, and world-class surfing spots. Beyond Bali, the lesser-known Komodo Islands and Raja Ampat provide unparalleled opportunities for diving, wildlife encounters, and breathtaking scenery.

Island hopping in Southeast Asia is not just about the beaches and clear waters; it is also a journey through diverse cultures and rich history. From ancient temples in Bali to the remnants of French colonial architecture in Vietnam's Con Dao Islands, there are countless opportunities for cultural immersion.

3. Explore South America's Natural Wonders

South America is a land of unparalleled beauty, rich in natural wonders that have captivated travelers for centuries. From the towering peaks of the Andes to the vast expanse of the Amazon rainforest, this continent offers a diverse range of breathtaking landscapes and awe-inspiring sights. If you are yearning for adventure and a chance to witness the majestic beauty of nature, look no further than South America.

One of the most iconic natural wonders of South America is the Amazon Rainforest, which spans over nine countries and covers approximately 6.7 million square kilometers. Often referred to as the "lungs of the Earth," the Amazon houses an astonishing variety of plant and animal species, many of which cannot be found anywhere else on the planet. A journey through this dense jungle will immerse you in a world of vibrant colors, unique sounds, and unforgettable encounters with wildlife.

Another must-see destination is the Andes mountain range, stretching over 7,000 kilometers from Venezuela to Argentina. The Andes are home to some of the world's tallest mountains, including the formidable Mount Aconcagua, which stands at an impressive 6,959 meters above sea level. Hiking or trekking through these rugged peaks will reward you with stunning panoramic views and a sense of accomplishment that few other experiences can rival.

The Iguazu Falls, located on the border of Argentina and Brazil, is another natural wonder that should not be missed. This powerful cascade consists of over 270 individual waterfalls, making it one of the most extensive waterfall systems in the world. The thunderous roar of the falls and the mesmerizing mist that envelops the surrounding area create a truly magical experience for visitors.

Peru is another popular South American destination, famous for its rich history, diverse landscapes, and vibrant culture. The most famous attraction in Peru is undoubtedly Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca citadel nestled high in the Andes Mountains. However, Peru has much more to offer, including the bustling city of Lima, the colorful traditional markets of Cusco, and the breathtaking beauty of the Sacred Valley.

Lastly, the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia is a surreal landscape that will leave you speechless. As the world's largest salt flat, it spans more than 10,000 square kilometers and is characterized by its striking hexagonal patterns and seemingly endless horizon. During the rainy season, the flats transform into a giant mirror, reflecting the sky above and creating an otherworldly illusion.

4. Cultural Tour of Japan

A cultural tour of Japan is a journey through time, where ancient traditions coexist with modern advancements in perfect harmony. From the vibrant metropolis of Tokyo to the serene temples of Kyoto, this beautiful country offers a plethora of unique experiences that give visitors an insight into its rich history and heritage.

Upon arriving in Tokyo, one can't help but be amazed by the city's futuristic skyline, blending seamlessly with historic landmarks such as the Imperial Palace and Meiji Shrine. A visit to Asakusa, a district well-known for its traditional atmosphere, takes you back to the Edo period as you stroll through the bustling streets filled with kimono-clad locals and tourists alike. The iconic Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo's oldest, stands as a testament to Japan's enduring spirituality.

Continuing the cultural tour, a trip to Nikko reveals the opulent Toshogu Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Surrounded by lush forests, the shrine showcases intricate carvings and gold leaf decorations, reflecting the grandeur of Japan's feudal era.

In Kyoto, the former imperial capital, the cultural immersion deepens with visits to stunning temples like Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, and Kiyomizu-dera, famous for its wooden stage offering breathtaking views of the city. Wandering through the ancient streets of Gion, one might even catch a glimpse of a geisha gracefully making her way to an evening engagement.

A short train rides away, Nara, the first permanent capital of Japan, invites visitors to explore Todai-ji Temple, housing the world's largest bronze Buddha statue, and the enchanting Nara Park, home to over 1,000 freely roaming deer believed to be sacred messengers of the gods.

The cultural tour of Japan would not be complete without experiencing its traditional arts, such as tea ceremonies, sumo wrestling, and kabuki theater, which have been preserved and passed down through generations. Participating in these activities allows visitors to truly connect with the country's rich history and heritage, leaving them with unforgettable memories of their journey through this fascinating land.

5. Safari Adventure in Africa

Africa, the land of diverse landscapes and unparalleled wildlife, offers an experience like no other. A safari adventure in this majestic continent is a bucket list item for many nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers. From the vast savannahs teeming with life to the dense forests hiding elusive creatures, Africa's safari adventures promise unforgettable memories and encounters with some of the world's most iconic animals.

The African safari experience starts with choosing the perfect destination. With over 50 countries on the continent, each boasting its own unique flora and fauna, the options seem endless. Kenya and Tanzania, home to the famous Masai Mara and Serengeti National Parks, offer the quintessential African safari experience. Here, visitors can witness the annual Great Wildebeest Migration, where millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles traverse the plains in search of greener pastures. This awe-inspiring spectacle is a true testament to the circle of life and the power of nature.

South Africa's Kruger National Park provides another haven for wildlife enthusiasts. With the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros – all residing within its borders, the park offers abundant opportunities for close encounters with these magnificent creatures. In addition to the Big Five, Kruger is home to a plethora of other species, making it one of the most biodiverse parks on the continent.

For those seeking a more off-the-beaten-path experience, Zambia's South Luangwa National Park or Botswana's Okavango Delta provide pristine wilderness areas teeming with wildlife. These lesser-known destinations offer a more intimate and exclusive safari adventure, allowing visitors to truly immerse themselves in the untamed beauty of Africa.

A safari adventure in Africa also offers a chance to engage with local cultures and communities. Many lodges and camps work closely with nearby villages, providing employment opportunities and supporting conservation efforts. By embarking on a safari, visitors not only witness the wonders of nature but also contribute to the preservation of Africa's unique ecosystems and cultural heritage.

A vacation of $10,000 may seem like a lot of money, but with careful planning and smart choices, one can truly make the most of it. From cultural excursions and culinary explorations to safari adventures and beach getaways – the options are virtually endless. You just have to pick your preferred destination and go! With the right planning, a $10,000 vacation can be an experience of a lifetime.

Happy travels!

Need some assistance for your trip? Send us a message and we will do our best to help you out.

Try to be as detailed as you can with exactly what you need help with so we can best serve you.

Home | Our Services | Travel Articles

About Us | Contact

Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions

• Write For Us
• January 30, 2019

How to Plan a Week-Long Trip to Europe for Under $1,000

Image source: pexels  –.

If you Google the phrase “Europe trip cost,” you’ll immediately be blindsided by four or even five digit numbers accompanied by huge dollar signs. In the eyes of most Americans, traveling across the sea to Europe is a pricey indulgence.

Although flying across the Atlantic can be expensive, there’s no reason to assume that seeing Europe is outside of your budget. If you play your cards right, you can see a handful of countries in seven days without spending more than a grand. How? Keep reading.

Choose Your Dates Carefully

The biggest expense of the whole trip will likely be your flight. Stats say that international round-trip tickets cost over $800 in most states , if not over $1,000. However, what those stats don’t account for are two things: offseasons and airline sales.

Almost everyone wants to vacation in Europe during the summer. The months of June, July, and August see substantially higher numbers of tourists than any other months of the year. That means that all of your expenses, from the flight to your hotel rooms, will be more expensive, as well. To beat the crowds (and prices), try traveling to Europe during the off seasons (spring and fall). The weather might not be as favorable, but your wallet will thank you for being frugal.

Additionally, keep an eye out for random sales from big airlines like British Airways, Delta, and United. Every now and then, they’ll have cheap flights to Europe at prices to under $300. Even scoring a flight to Belgium or Ireland for under $400 will give your budget some room to breathe.

Look at Unpopular Destinations From the USA

Speaking of Belgium and Ireland, those are two great destinations to fly into from America. More popular tourist cities, like London or Paris, are far more expensive to arrive in. Even if you want to check out these cities, consider flying into a cheaper country, then making your way to your final destination once you’ve crossed the sea.

Don’t Assume Flying Is the Cheapest Mode of Transportation

Image Source:  Pexels

Obviously, you’ll have to fly to get to Europe from North America, but once you’re across the sea, other kinds of transportation become available. You can country-hop by train or take ferries across lakes. Don’t assume that flying a budget airline like Ryanair or EasyJet is always the cheapest way to go. Evaluate all of your options, including rental cars and buses, before you book any tickets.

Also, keep in mind that sometimes traveling without a plane is a more picturesque, enjoyable way to explore Europe. You’ll see more of the countryside and get a better feel for what the area looks like outside of its most popular cities.

Travel With Frugal Friends

Your travel companions play a huge role in your ability to budget during a trip to Europe. If you’re attempting to spend less than $1,000, eating out at fancy restaurants and taking expensive tours isn’t in the cards for you. Pick friends who will want to save as much money as you do. After all, there’s no shortage of free entertainment and experiences abroad, so your gang doesn’t need to drop big bucks in order to have fun.Remember to discuss your budget with your travel companions before you get on the plane to head to Europe. It’s much easier to save money when everyone is on the same page from the get-go.

Research All of Your Accommodation Options Thoroughly

Depending on where you travel and who you’re traveling with, hostels aren’t always the cheapest option. Surprised? The problem with hostels is that they often charge per person and hotels (or AirBnBs ) are more likely to charge per room. If you’re traveling with three friends, sharing a double-bedroom in a fairly nice hotel might actually be more affordable than each booking three beds in a 12-person hostel room.

Additionally, don’t assume that staying in the city center is a great idea. You can often find less expensive accommodation options just outside of the touristy parts of the city. Sure, you’ll have to commute more to see all of the exciting attractions, but isn’t it worth it to potentially save hundreds of dollars over the course of your trip?

Remind Yourself That You Won’t See Everything

Image Source: Pexels

When traveling to Europe on a strict budget, it’s impossible to see everything you’ve dreamed of seeing. Some things are just going to have to wait until you have more time to travel or more money to spend. That’s okay. You’ll likely have another opportunity to travel to Europe in the future, especially if you’re being smart about your spending now. Don’t stress about taking every tour and seeing every spectacular sight. Make a travel itinerary that works for your time and budget, then stick to it and enjoy your time abroad.

According to many, travel is a luxurious expense that most can’t afford. However, if you budget carefully and do extensive research, traveling to Europe and back for under a grand is doable. Even if you don’t have a huge amount of savings, a spring trip to London or Paris might be in the cards for you.

Riley is a full-time editor and writer in Texas, but on the weekends, you can find her hiking at the nearest park or researching flights to faraway places. She's a lover of literature, road trips, caramel macchiatos, and photography. Someday, she hopes to have visited every national park in the United States. Riley and her fiance operate their own travel blog called Riley + Christian Travel .

Leave Comment

Or cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

5 Travel Expeditions to Try if You're an Adrenaline Junkie

Why you need to book your trip to yosemite several months in advance, recent posts.

• May 4, 2023

• March 12, 2023

• December 4, 2022

• July 31, 2022

• March 5, 2022

Protect Your Trip »

9 Underrated Winter Vacation Ideas Under $1,000

Plan an off-the-radar retreat at an affordable price.

Getty Images

Avoid the crowds and a hefty price tag at these destinations.

With the hectic holiday travel season fast approaching, chances are you're pining for a vacation. Whether you're dreaming of a snowy getaway, filled with quality time on the slopes and enchanting sleigh rides, or a coastal escape, complete with salty sea air and swaying palms, it's not too early to start planning. And if you're looking to stretch your dollar further this winter, never fret: U.S. News enlisted guidance from industry experts to pinpoint nine under-the-radar wallet-friendly destinations that are well-suited for a variety of traveler types and price points.

[See: 10 Bucket List Winter Family Vacation Experiences .]

Hilo, Hawaii

If you want a quintessential Hawaiian getaway without the crowds, visit Hilo on Hawaii's Big Island . In Hilo, you'll have easy access to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park where you can explore scenic trails and check out Mauna Loa's towering volcano. The Liliuokalani Gardens, a 30-acre landscaped Japanese green space, is also worth seeing for its picturesque vistas overlooking Hilo Bay. Google Flights currently shows round-trip flights from popular Chicago airports to Hilo International Airport starting at $424 in December; round-trip flights from Los Angeles International Airport start at $342 for the same period. And TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals shows that the average nightly cost per person for a two-bedroom rental from Dec. 1-31 is $35.

Quebec City or Montreal, Canada

In Quebec City , you can embrace your inner Francophile as you explore charming cobbled squares, cozy bistros and historic landmarks. Aside from its storybook setting, Quebec City is also inexpensive at this time of year, says Jeanenne Tornatore, senior travel editor at Orbitz.com. Currently, Google Flights shows round-trip flights from New York City airports to Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport starting at $233 in January. Montreal is another bargain, says Clem Bason, CEO of hotel-booking site goSeek.com. "There are amazing festivals throughout the winter months, including Igloofest for electronic music fans, the international auto show for car fanatics and the Fete des Neiges de Montreal which runs on most weekends," he says. Even better, the four-star Hotel 10 Montreal is currently listed on goSeek.com for $94 nightly, Bason adds.

Arches National Park, Utah

To experience Utah's picturesque landscapes without tourists at your side, plan an off-season road trip to Arches or Zion national parks. Both parks offer "great cold-weather trips," Tornatore says, highlighting affordable four-star lodging options nearby available for less than $100 a night. The Red Cliffs Lodge, located in Moab, Utah, for example, offers nightly rates in December starting at $119.95. The Fairfield Inn, also in Moab, currently lists rooms for less than $100 in December. While you can expect chillier temperatures and icy trails, it's hard to top viewing striking snow-topped sites like Delicate Arch without competing with others for the perfect vantage points.

Bend, Oregon

Instead of Vail, Colorado, or Whistler in British Columbia, Tornatore suggests checking out less-trodden mountain towns, like Bend, Oregon. Though off the beaten path, Bend offers access to pristine powder with more than 460 inches of annual snowfall on Mount Bachelor, horse-drawn sleigh rides, snowshoeing and other wintry pastimes, she adds. What's more, nightly rates at hotels in the area average at around $180, Tornatore says. The Sunriver Resort, for example, offers nightly rates in December starting at around $150. Plus, if you're traveling with kids ages 12 and under, they can ski for free at Mount Bachelor when accompanied with parents purchasing a three-day (or longer) adult lift ticket in advance.

[See: 6 Secret Ski Destinations You Can Afford .]

Napa Valley, California

"In the wintertime, one of my favorite places to go if you're on a budget, but want to have a high-end experience, is Napa and Sonoma Valley," says Clayton Reid, president and CEO of MMGY Global, a travel and hospitality marketing and research firm. For a romantic escape, Reid points to the Silverado Resort and Spa, located in the heart of Napa Valley 's wine country. The property offers seasonal promotions, such as the Cabernet Season Package for $194.25 per night that includes a two-for-one wine tasting and $50 resort credit for stays of two nights or more. Also, flights into Oakland International Airport are reasonably priced at this time of year. Google Flights currently shows round-trip flights from New York City airports for $277 in December.

Rapid City, South Dakota

While planning a ski retreat can be a very expensive proposition during the peak season, there are outdoor escapes that aren't in the mainstream, Reid says, highlighting South Dakota as a great budget-friendly winter destination. Exploring serene trails, cross-country skiing and snowboarding adventures are top pastimes in Rapid City. Plus, you can enjoy ice skating in the festive Main Street Square, which features live concerts and a variety of inexpensive eateries. As for lodging, bunk down in the Hisega Lodge, which is perched on the border of Black Hills National Forest, and offers rates starting at $99 in December.

Scottsdale, Arizona

For a warm-weather getaway with plenty of opportunities to hit the links and lounge by the pool, head to Scottsdale. While January is typically the area's peak season, there are deals to be had this year, Bason says, pointing to the four-star Scottsdale Plaza Resort, which offers nightly rates starting at $136 in January on goSeek.com. This winter, you can "enjoy a four-star hotel for half of what it would normally be at this time of year," he explains. Even better, there are affordable flights, Bason adds. Google Flights currently lists round-trip flights to Phoenix from Chicago hubs starting at $102 in January; round-trip flights from New York City airports start at $300.

McCall, Idaho

Tucked away in central Idaho, McCall is a little-known ski town with classic winter traditions, says Anthony Melchiorri, travel and hospitality expert and host of the Travel Channel's "Hotel Impossible" series. In McCall, you'll find snow sculptures and sleigh rides for the kids, along with affordable bungalows, he explains. Plus, if you're planning a January escape, you can't miss the annual McCall Winter Carnival, which lasts from Jan. 27 to Feb. 5 and includes colorful parades and snowbike competitions. As for accommodations, the Brundage Inn is an ideal choice for budget-minded visitors, with nightly accommodations available for $89.

[See: 7 Cheap European Destinations to Visit This Winter .]

Relaxing along pink sands at Elbow Beach, playing golf and embracing tropical Caribbean scenery might be the perfect cure for the wintertime blues. Plus, affordable hotel rooms and flights to this often-overlooked Caribbean destination are easy to come by, Bason explains. Take the four-and-a-half-star Fairmont Southampton, which is available nightly for $163 in January, Bason says. What's more, Google Flights currently lists round-trip flights from Boston airports to Bermuda's L. F. Wade International Airport for $277 in January; round-trip flights from New York City airports are available for $243 for the same time period.

Tags: Travel , Vacations

World's Best Places To Visit

• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

You May Also Like

The best charleston tours.

John Rodwan April 4, 2024

The Best Napa Valley Wine Tours

Amanda Norcross April 4, 2024

The 10 Best Denver Tours

Lyn Mettler April 4, 2024

Top Memorial Day Weekend Getaways

Nicola Wood April 3, 2024

The Best Way to Renew a Passport

Amanda Norcross April 3, 2024

The Best Checked Luggage

Erin Evans , Rachael Hood , Catriona Kendall , Sharael Kolberg , Amanda Norcross and Leilani Osmundson April 3, 2024

The Best Venice Tours

Lyn Mettler and Marisa Méndez April 2, 2024

The Best Travel Toiletry Bags

Amanda Norcross April 2, 2024

U.S. News Best Bed & Breakfasts Rankings

U.S. News Hotels Editors April 2, 2024

The Best Carry-on Backpacks

Rachael Hood , Erin Evans , Catriona Kendall , Amanda Norcross and Leilani Osmundson March 29, 2024

21 Great Ways To Use $1,000

From buying a long-term bond to smart vacation planning, we’ve rounded up financially smart ideas to make the most of a thousand bucks.

• Newsletter sign up Newsletter

High inflation has taken a toll, so your dollars don’t stretch quite as far as they once did. But if you have $1,000 to spare, you can still give your savings and investments a boost, make an impact on causes you care about, or reward yourself with a vacation or home upgrades. 

Kiplinger has rounded up 21 ideas to make the most of a thousand bucks. 

Invest it wisely 

Buy a long-term bond. Even though you can still find higher yields on a six-month Treasury bill (5.5% in late August) than you can on a 10-year T-note (4.1%), it’s time to consider locking in today’s higher yields for longer, says Wells Fargo Investment Institute fixed-income strategist Brian Rehling . “Remember, those 5%-plus yields are temporary — when the economy slows, those rates will fall,” he says. Long-term yields may not yet have peaked as the Federal Reserve continues to battle inflation, so Rehling advises building a stake gradually in long-term, high-quality bonds (think 10-year Treasuries and up). 

Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

Be a smarter, better informed investor.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.

You can buy Treasuries at auction directly from Uncle Sam at TreasuryDirect.gov , with a minimum purchase of $100. You may also be able to buy them either at auction or on the secondary market via your brokerage account. Or try a fund — although you can’t truly “lock in” any given rate because bonds move into and out of a fund’s portfolio. 

Still, yields are “stickier” at long-term funds than at short-term counterparts. Vanguard Long-Term Treasury ETF (symbol VGLT , $60) yields 4.4% and has a reported turnover rate of 19%, meaning that just 19% of the portfolio changes over the course of a year. Vanguard Short-Term Treasury (VGSH) yields 5% but with a turnover rate of 59%. 

Find a Wall Street bargain. Putting some of your focus on an out-of-favor sector or investment strategy can pay off over time. Investors have given dividend stocks the cold shoulder so far this year. The Morningstar Dividend Composite index has returned 5.1% in 2023 through August 31, well below the 18.7% gain in the S&P 500. Sectors with big dividend payers, including health care and energy, have lagged, too. But these dividend-rich sections of the market are now attractively priced, says Morningstar strategist Dan Lefkovitz .

The energy sector was on a roll last year, but 2023 has been tough so far. Oil prices are rising , though, which is a boon to energy firms. Consider Energy Select Sector SPDR (XLE, $89) , which charges a low 0.10% expense ratio. Healthcare stocks are this year’s “forgotten sector,” says SoFi head strategist Liz Young. It includes defensive plays (drug and health care providers), while its innovative side (biotech) offers good growth opportunity. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF ( RSPH , $29) smooths out the impact of the sector’s bigger stocks. Investors looking for more-traditional exposure to the sector should consider Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF ( XLV , $133) . 

Start an in­vesting habit. It’s cheap and easy to open an investment account , whether you’re doing it for yourself or seeding an account for a loved one. And now is a good time to do it, because a few companies are offering signing bonuses that promise an immediate profit.

You only need $50 to open a Charles Schwab Starter Kit account , which offers investing how-to tools and videos and includes a bonus of $101 worth of stock in the five biggest firms in the S&P 500 index. (Given the prices of mega-cap S&P stocks such as Apple, Microsoft and Amazon.com , Schwab deposits fractional shares.) 

Fidelity also allows you to start small and offers investing tutorials and cash bonuses for several kinds of newbie accounts. Put at least $50 in its new Bloom app , or its “starter pack” of a brokerage and cash account, and you’ll get a $100 sign-up credit added to your balance. If you want to get a youngster started in the market, Fidelity offers $50 opening bonuses for its Youth Account , which empowers those ages 13 to 18 to control investments while allowing their adult cosigners to monitor activity. 

Share your generosity

Contribute to a donor-advised fund. There’s no shortage of worthwhile causes to support, and as the year draws to a close, you may not have time to decide which charity (or charities) will make the best use of your dollars. A donor-advised fund allows you to donate now, deduct the contribution on this year’s tax return (as long as you itemize) and decide later which charities you want to support. 

When donor-advised funds were created, you needed to invest a significant amount of money to meet their minimums, but that’s no longer the case. Donor-advised funds from Fidelity and Schwab have no minimum investment. Once you’ve set up your fund, you can continue to make contributions as cash becomes available. Most also accept contributions of appreciated stock, so if your $1,000 consists of shares of a stock you bought long ago, you can donate them to your account. You won’t have to pay capital gains taxes on the appreciated stock, so you’ll get a tax break even if you don’t itemize.

Fund a small business with a microloan. Through microloans, which distribute small amounts of money to entrepreneurs, you can help small-business owners who have difficulty borrowing from traditional lenders, such as banks. Entrepreneurs can use the money for inventory, repairs, hiring employees or other needs.  

One avenue to fund microloans is through the websites of reputable regional nonprofit organizations, such as LiftFund ( www.liftfund.com ), a community-development institution that serves mostly southern states. With a tax-deductible $1,000 donation to LiftFund’s Dream Makers Fund, you become a member of the President’s Circle and receive two gifts from a LiftFund borrower. Repaid loans are reinvested in other small businesses, and interest goes toward LiftFund’s operational expenses. 

You can also fund microloans through a worldwide nonprofit organization such as Kiva ( www.kiva.org ). Kiva crowdfunds loans for small-business owners, and you can choose which businesses to support. When a business owner repays a loan, your principal is deposited into an account you create on Kiva’s website. (Kiva doesn’t collect interest from business owners, although its partners that disburse the loans typically do.) If you wish, you can fund another microloan with your repayment. 

Help victims of natural disasters. Extreme weather events — including intense wildfires in Hawaii, Washington State and Canada, a tropical storm that struck Mexico, California and Nevada, and a suffocating heat wave across the central and southern U.S. — disrupted and took many lives this past summer. 

Donations to the Maui Strong Fund from the Hawai’i Community Foundation ( www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org ) support victims of the devastating fires in Maui; the fund allocates resources to local charities that assist the most-vulnerable groups. Another organization to consider, All Hands and Hearts ( www.allhandsandhearts.org ), provides volunteer-powered disaster relief across the country and around the world and works to rebuild communities to help prevent future devastation from extreme weather. 

Beware of scams when donating to an unfamiliar charity. Charity Navigator ( www.charitynavigator.org ) is a great resource for vetting and researching charities. Any charity that solicits donations in Hawaii must be registered with the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General; its status can be verified at https://charity.ehawaii.gov/charity/search.html . 

Adopt a rescue pet. The story about 4,000 beagles rescued from the Envigo lab in Virginia had a happy ending — most of the beagles are living their best lives — but thousands of dogs are still awaiting their forever home. Adoption fees range from $50 to $350 or more, depending on the shelter and the type of dog you adopt (puppies are usually more expensive). 

The adoption fee may include the cost of vaccinations and spaying or neutering, but you’ll still need to put aside money for supplies, such as a crate (you can often find used crates for a low cost), a leash and food. Petfinder.com estimates that the minimum cost of owning a dog or puppy for the first year is $395, which should leave you with some additional funds to pay for a few training sessions and replace your chewed-up Birkenstocks. 

Are you more of a cat person? The adoption fee is usually lower — typically up to $200, or you may pay no fee at all — but you’ll still need to put aside funds for food, a litter box, a carrier and, to preserve your furniture, scratching posts or mats.

Boost your savings

Open a certificate of deposit. To fight inflation, the Federal Reserve has raised short-term interest rates from near zero in March 2022 to a recent target range of 5.25% to 5.5%. As a result, CD rates have jumped, too. Many one-year CDs with minimum-deposit requirements of $1,000 or less offer yields of more than 5%, and some five-year CDs offer rates north of 4.5%. Although rate cuts are unlikely in the near future, the Fed is winding down its rate-boosting campaign, so now may be a good time to lock in a high yield on a CD.   

Recently, the one-year CD from Rising Bank ( www.risingbank.com ) had a 5.5% rate, with a $1,000 minimum deposit. The five-year CD from First National Bank of America ( www.fnba.com ) yielded 4.65% and has a $1,000 minimum deposit. For more top-yielding CDs, see page 51. You can also search for the best CD rates that are available in your area by visiting www.depositaccounts.com/cd .

If you withdraw from a CD before it matures, you’ll typically pay a penalty of at least a few months of interest. If you’d rather avoid penalties, you can look for a no-penalty CD, such as the one from online bank Ally Bank ( www.ally.com ). It has an 11-month maturity, a 4.55% yield and no minimum-deposit requirement. 

Top off your emergency fund. Only 43% of Americans say they could cover a $1,000 emergency expense — say, an unexpected car repair or medical bill — according to a Bankrate.com survey. If you’re single or child-free, you should have an amount equal to about six months of your salary saved for a rainy day. If you have a family to support or are nearing retirement and will have a reduced income soon, it’s wise to stash away about a year’s worth of your salary for emergencies. 

Look for a high-yield, low-minimum money market deposit account or savings account to store your emergency fund. An MMDA can be an especially strong option because you can typically withdraw money directly from it with a debit card or check. To withdraw funds from a savings account, you usually have to link it to a checking account to transfer the money first.  

Recently, Vio Bank ( www.viobank.com ) offered an MMDA with a 5.25% yield, a $100 minimum opening deposit and no monthly fees. The high-yield savings account from Evergreen ( www.evergreenbankgroup.com ) has a 5.25% yield, no monthly fees and a minimum-deposit requirement of $100. You can search for other top-yielding MMDAs and savings accounts at www.depositaccounts.com. 

Give your child (or grandchild) a jump start on retirement. If your child has earned income from a part-time or summer job this year, give the gift that keeps on giving by opening a custodial Roth IRA and contributing to it on his or her behalf. In 2023, individuals younger than 50 can contribute up to $6,500 to a Roth, but contributions can’t exceed the child’s income — so if your kid earned $1,000 this year, that’s the maximum you can contribute. 

Contributions can be withdrawn tax- and penalty-free anytime, and after your child has had the Roth IRA for at least five years, he or she can withdraw up to $10,000 of investment earnings tax- and penalty-free for a first-time home purchase. But ideally, your child will let the money grow tax-free until retirement. 

Even if your child never contributes another dime to the account, an initial $1,000 investment will be worth more than $29,450 in 50 years (based on an average annual return of 7%). If your child is inspired to continue contributing to the Roth, adding just $1,000 a year could provide a nest egg of more than $434,000 when your child retires.

Pay down debt

Rising interest rates may be good news for savers, but they’re a detriment for borrowers. In the second quarter of 2023, credit card balances reached an all-time high of $1.03 trillion, and total household debt hit $17.06 trillion, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.  

Credit card debt is particularly troublesome because interest rates usually run high — recently an average 22%, according to the Fed — and most cards have variable rates that rise along with the Fed’s interest rate target. A $1,000 payment toward your card debt could take a bite out of the amount of interest you owe and the time you spend whittling the debt. 

For example, say you have an $8,000 card balance with a 22% rate and make a $200 monthly payment. It’ll take you a little more than six years to eliminate the debt, and you’ll pay interest of $6,551. If you knock $1,000 off the debt, leaving you with a $7,000 starting balance, and then make $200 monthly payments, you’ll owe $4,298 in interest and spend less than five years paying off the balance. 

Get a new-account bonus 

Some credit cards offer a heap of extra cash, points or miles if you spend a certain amount in the first few months of opening the account. Recently, for example, the Bank of America Customized Cash , U.S. Bank Altitude Go and Wells Fargo Autograph cards all offered a bonus worth $200 if you spend $1,000 in the first three months. The U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa gives you a little more time to earn the bonus, offering $200 back if you spend $1,000 in the first 120 days. And the Capital One Quicksilver , Chase Freedom Flex , Chase Freedom Unlimited and Wells Fargo Active Cash cards offer a $200 bonus if you spend just $500 in the first three months.  

Similarly, some banks offer a cash bonus if you open an account and deposit a certain amount. The online SoFi Checking and Savings account ( www.sofi.com ), which has no monthly fee, offers a $50 cash bonus if you have a direct deposit of $1,000 to $4,999 within the first 25 days ($250 bonus if your deposit is $5,000 or more). The account yields a healthy 4.5% if you have a direct deposit, too. You can search for account bonuses available in your area at www.bankbonus.com . 

Make upgrades at home

Enhance your home cinema ex­perience. It has been a big year for movie debuts. Many of the films that had to suspend or postpone production because of the pandemic were finally able to premiere over the summer. Whether you’re looking to bring the movie theater home or you want the best possible viewing experience as you enjoy your favorite sports and TV shows, investing in a high-quality TV has its perks. 

Consider TCL’s latest 6-Series Roku TV. For a price of about $1,000, you can get a 65-inch model (the TCL 65R655 ). The 4K Ultra HD picture quality provides 2160p resolution, and mini-LED technology and QLED Wide Color ensure superior brightness and color. The Roku interface is easy to navigate and offers applications for a number of video-on-demand and live-streaming services, such as Netflix , Hulu and Disney+. 

Another compelling option is the $950 Samsung 65-inch Class Q60C QLED 4K Smart Tizen TV , which carries many of the same features, including high-quality resolution, color and brightness, as well as video-streaming applications. 

Fortify your security. Locking the door only goes so far in securing your home. Installing multiple security cameras that monitor your front door, back and side doors, yard, and garage can help you keep an eye out for trespassers (and may also be handy for monitoring your kids). 

Try the Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Pro with Bird’s Eye View and 3D Motion Detection ($250 each on Amazon), which comes with a floodlight, motion detection and a speaker so you can hear and speak to anyone on camera. It’s also compatible with Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant, so you can tap into the feed from any of the cameras with an Alexa device, such as an Echo Show, a Fire TV or a Fire Tablet. 

Hire a professional organizer. Home organization has reached new heights of popularity in recent years, thanks in part to the pandemic — when many people were spending plenty of time at home — as well as popular books and TV shows such as Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Netflix’s Get Organized With The Home Edit. If you’re compelled to declutter and organize but would rather not do it all yourself, consider outsourcing the project to an expert who can provide an outsider’s perspective, ease the decision-making burden, and create effective and efficient storage solutions. 

The National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals lets you search for providers by type of service, distance from your location, or both. Visit www.napo.net and select “Find a Pro” to get a list of professionals in your area, along with in-formation about their businesses, including links to their websites and contact information. 

Fees vary widely based on the professional’s experience, your location and the scope of services you request. Many pros charge by the hour, while others charge by the package or project. According to HomeAdvisor , a digital marketplace that connects homeowners with local service professionals, you can expect to spend between $80 and $140 per hour, on average, for a professional organizer’s services. Also check for any initial consultation fees, extra costs for needed materials and supplies, and disposal fees. 

Create a hydroponic indoor garden. Growing your own garden is a satisfying way to enjoy fresh produce while also saving on your grocery bill. But not everyone has the luxury of living somewhere with a long growing season, lots of yard space or the right climate for the produce they consume most. A hydroponic indoor garden can serve as a convenient, reliable source of fresh lettuces, herbs and fruiting plants year-round. These gardens require relatively little maintenance; a high-quality hydroponic garden setup includes its own irrigation system (typically a large tank that you top off weekly) and automated lighting for the plants. 

At $899, the Gardyn Home 3.0 ( www.mygardyn.com ) provides an indoor hydroponic garden setup with 30 starter plants of your choosing, a growth assistant that relies on artificial intelligence to look after your garden 24/7 via cameras and sensors, and automated lighting and watering. The system is soil-free, so you must feed the plants with liquid nutrients that you add to the water tank.  

For a smaller garden tailored to lettuce lovers, try the Farmstand Nook by Lettuce Grow ( www.lettucegrow.com ) to grow fresh herbs, greens and edible flowers all year long. At $699, the Nook supports up to 20 plants and fits well in tight spaces. E.P.

Buy artwork online. You don’t need to have deep pockets to buy fine art—and you can build your collection by shopping at online galleries. You may be able to find more-affordable artwork through online galleries than traditional ones, and you can easily compare prices. With The Artling ( www.theartling.com ) and Zatista ( www.zatista.com ), for example, you can filter your search for pieces with price tags of less than $1,000.  

Similar to traditional galleries, online galleries have a wide range of artwork, such as sculptures, photographs and paintings. The Artling , for example, recently offered a minimalist painting titled Black Glitter Bucket, by Jose Ricardo Contreras Gonzalez, for $1,000, and Zatista had a striking, colorful photograph called Kaleidoscope 55, by Michael Filonow, for $920. Make sure you shop with sites that provide authentic artwork. The Artling and Zatista provide certificates of authenticity with each purchase. Some galleries, including The Artling, have a no-return policy. Others, including Zatista, let you return artwork if you’re not satisfied with your purchase. 

Get a new mattress. You should replace your mattress about every six to eight years, according to the Sleep Foundation. Although quality mattresses commonly cost more than $1,000, you can find solid options at lower prices, too. In its online review of mattresses, TechRadar.com deems the memory-foam Nectar mattress as the best value for the money, suitable for a wide range of sleepers. A king-size foam mattress from Nectar was recently $899, or $999 for a hybrid version with both memory foam and springs. 

Tech-Radar also highlights the DreamCloud Hybrid mattress, offering “hotel-like luxury” at a lower price than some other brands and relief for those who suffer from joint pain. The king-size model is $999. If you run warm when you sleep, check out the Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress, a strong and affordable candidate among cooling mattresses, which draw heat away from the sleeper. The king-size version is $899. 

Get ready for your next vacation

Reserve summer flights. The holiday season is one of the best times to book flights for the next summer’s vacation, says Scott Keyes of Going.com . With a $1,000 budget, you should be able to buy at least one round-trip ticket for a trip abroad. A typical good deal on a round-trip flight to Europe this past summer was $813, according to Hopper, a flight-tracking and travel app. Meanwhile, the average good deal on a round-trip flight was between $400 and $500 for travel to Mexico, Central America, the Antilles and Canada, and a good deal on a round-trip flight to South America came out at just over $700, on average. 

If you’re planning a vacation within the U.S., you may be able to score a few tickets for $1,000. Average domestic round-trip airfares ran less than $300 last summer, according to Hopper. Use flight-tracking and cost-comparison tools such as the best travel websites and apps Hopper , Google Flights and SkyScanner to look for deals. 

Replace your luggage. Whether it makes sense to invest in a small suitcase to carry onboard an airplane and stash in overhead bins, a larger piece to check in the luggage hold or both may depend on which airlines you frequent. Southwest Airlines is the only major U.S. airline that doesn’t charge fees for one or two checked bags. Carry-on bags are often free, although some airlines — including Frontier and Spirit — charge fees for them, and JetBlue and United charge for them if you book a Basic Economy ticket. 

If you need both types of luggage, consider buying a set. The two pieces in the $840 Travelpro Platinum Elite Carry-On/Large Check-In Hardside Set are “spinners” that stand upright on four wheels, and they have an ultra-strong 100% polycarbonate shell that flexes upon impact to prevent cracking and protect the bags’ contents. Travelpro luggage has a lifetime warranty against any defects, and you can register for free within 120 days of your purchase for a five-year warranty to cover the cost of any repairs for damage caused by an airline. If you don’t need both pieces, you can opt for the large spinner for $470 or the carry-on spinner for $370. 

All of the major U.S. airlines let passengers bring a small personal item (a shoulder bag, backpack or laptop bag that fits under the seat in front of you) free. The $98 Beis Mini Weekender includes a built-in padded laptop sleeve and a separate bottom compartment that’s perfect for shoes. Or check out Travelpro’s Crew VersaPack Rolling UnderSeat Carry-On . At $230, this bag comes with a removable personal organizer that has water-resistant compartments, padded sleeves for your laptop or tablet, exterior side pockets to fit an umbrella or water bottle, a built-in USB charger, and wheels for rolling. 

Book a volunteer vacation. A more hands-on approach to philanthropy than dollar donations, volunteer vacations offer the chance to broaden your perspective, connect with the community you’re visiting and make a difference in a cause that you care about. International Volunteer HQ ( www.volunteerhq.org ) organizes journeys to more than 50 destinations around the world, and the programs cost as little as $20 per day. 

Accommodations, meals and in-country support are all included. You’ll just have to cover the cost of flights. You could teach English in Antigua or help conduct research in the wild forests of Madagascar, for example. The organization also accepts medical volunteers who have a professional background in health care. Some programs have a foreign-language proficiency requirement. The organization uses information that you provide in your application to determine whether you’re eligible for your program of choice.

Related Content

• Bond Basics: U.S. Savings Bonds
• 67 Best Dividend Stocks for Dependable Dividend Growth
• Donor-Advised Funds: A Tax-Savvy Way to Rebalance Your Portfolio
• The 10 Cheapest Countries to Visit

Block joined Kiplinger in June 2012 from USA Today,  where she was a reporter and personal finance columnist for more than 15 years. Prior to that, she worked for the Akron Beacon-Journal and Dow Jones Newswires. In 1993, she was a Knight-Bagehot fellow in economics and business journalism at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She has a BA in communications from Bethany College in Bethany, W.Va.

Taking into consideration the time of the month and the time of the year can make a difference in your retirement income.

By Evan T. Beach, CFP®, AWMA® Published 5 April 24

A rollover IRA might be in order to help protect your retirement savings from potential (and potentially disastrous) market downturns.

By Chris Ballard Published 5 April 24

• Contact Future's experts
• Terms and Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Advertise with us

Kiplinger is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site . © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Check rates for our recommended hotels

• Book Hotels

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

Subscribe and get our free guide to "101 Ways to Save in Europe"

* indicates a required field

Your subscription request has been received

Sorry, an error occurred and your subscription request could not be processed. Please try again later.

• See All Cities
• Advertising Info
• Customer Support

Travel Tips: 10 ways to travel Europe for under $1000

Jul 8, 2010

Audrey Sykes

19 comments

Don’t let the fear of expenses get in the way of a trip across the pond. When done right, touring Europe can be cheaper than traveling through North America. If I can manage a four-month jaunt for under $1500, you can manage a two-month trip for $1000 or less. Here are 10 ways to make it happen:

1. Pick the route less traveled

Paris , Vienna and Switzerland are luxury gems worth seeing when you have the budget, but penny pinchers should lean more towards Mediterranean marvels and Eastern European beauties like Dubrovnik, Krakow and Budapest .

2. Avoid travel packages

Seven-day bus tours and vacation packages are carefree ways to roam, but extra costs for meals and side attractions add up fast. Europe can be a traveler’s playground in most cases, so be independent.

3. Couch surf

The hotel industry, even in cheap Euro destinations, knows tourists will easily pay high costs for beds. Couch surfing communities, like couchsurfing.org , provide a network of inviting hosts offering their couches to travelers for free. The wave has notably hit Europe, and the option is a big money saver for the adventurous traveler.

Eurail passes are still good deals for backpackers on an unplanned continental whirlwind. Yet those with a decided destination can search dozens of low-cost airline companies carting passengers for pennies. Long-distance flights, like Istanbul to Morocco and London to Rome can be as cheap as $20 to $60 one way. Visit our flight section for budget airline information, and also check out the Skyscanner Web site .

5. Pack light

Those who’ve traveled in the past five years know that checking in luggage is an annoying extra cost. Strip your pack to less than necessary and throw it on your back. Aim to carry around 10 percent of your body weight. You can buy whatever you need upon arrival.

6. Take photos

The best way to document your journey is not through trinkets and t-shirts. Small digital cameras allow sightseers to capture hundreds of frames (and memories) while saving some precious cash. Plus, photos have a lifetime warranty!

7. No. 1 souvenir: Postcards

Everyone loves postcards because they’re a novelty, collector’s item and personal greeting all in one. The old-fashioned task of sending postcards only highlights the charming surprise one feels when receiving them. Postcards keep the souvenir tab low in cost but high in sincerity.

8. Two’s company

While three’s a crowd and solo style can get pricey, traveling with a buddy sheds cost in unexpected ways. From two-for-ones to special offers for couples, it’s surprising how much you can save when “going Dutch”.

Trams, buses, metros and taxis are a city’s biggest rip-off. Walking has so many advantages—exercise, more photo-ops, and overall a better and more exciting view of a city and its surroundings.

10. Eat light

Munching on smaller meals and going grocery shopping for snacks can keep your energy high all day, plus it keeps you away from big bills at tourist trap bistros. Don’t forget that ordering to go costs less, and eating in a park with a bottle of wine is more romantic than a busy terrace with sub-par service.

Bonus Tip: Avoid summer travel. Europe can be just as fun and beautiful in the spring and fall. Even the winter can make way for romantic wonderlands in the Pyrenees, the Alps and the Scandinavian Mountains.  Traveling during the off-season means cheaper prices—and less crowds.

About the author

About the author: Audrey Sykes hopped across the pond from the US eight years ago for a Masters degree in global journalism. Since then, she’s lived all over Europe, reporting and editing for music sites, snowboard mags, and travel media. She’s also the Amsterdam author for Party Earth , a guide to nightlife across Europe.

Related Posts

• Airline Baggage Fees for US to Europe Carriers
• Tips for finding great deals on European group tours
• Cheapo Basics: 10 ways to save on the “big items” in your travel budget
• Planning a trip to Europe? Avoid these 10 costly mistakes

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

19 thoughts on “Travel Tips: 10 ways to travel Europe for under $1000”

A big thanks to you for sharing such a great post. Really you have showed some amazing ways to cut off cost and reduce your expenses while traveling. I personally find these tips very helpful and will keep this in mind next time when I travel.

In the past years, you can already venture into a European getaway with merely $5 in your pocket to spend for your daily provisions. Since the cost was too cheap, there were lots of sacrifices which the travelers had to endure too. Among of those worthy to mention are the need to sleep in the train stations or inside the train cars and the necessity to stay in a cheap hotel wherein the occupants of at least 12 rooms or so had to share one bath.

Pingback: 30 Blogs with the Best Tips for Scoring Deals on Summer Travel - LivingBetter50

Summer travel in Europe is the most expensive by far. The airplane tickets are extremely expensive, and if you travel to northern Europe, there is nothing interesting in the summer. Another thing that can help is if you have to travel to multiple cities is renting a car, because you can return it to e different location so you don’t have to come back to the same city. I rented a car in Brussels this past winter, drove it to Milan and returned it there. it costed me about $45 per day, but it was worth it. From my experience food will kill your budget, so locating cheap restaurants, and eating light will help a lot. So excellent tips in this blog, I use them when I go to Europe, and I go quiet frequently.

I’d suggest checking out couchsurfing.org and creating a profile to look around. You’ll notice that people who offer a place in their home had full profiles, a public history of previous surfers they’ve hosted, as well as feedback and comment left by surfers in the past. So in the end, you get a good idea of potential hosts you’d like to meet. Even if you’d rather stay at a hostel, there are people with accounts willing to meet up for a coffee and give you a few pointers!

Best, Audrey

I’ve always dreamed of backpacking through Europe, but am so afraid of the cost. These tips will definitely help. I wonder though, how couch surfing is. To be honest, I would be a little nervous about that!

Great tips!! Especially the one about walking. It is definitely free and healthy. I did the Free Communist Walking tour (tip based) than went to Terror Museum and Statue Park. Without this walking tour I would not be able to have a clear picture about what really happened in the Communism and what the post-Communism means. Guides lived through the Communism. They both were very approachable, knowledgeable and humorous. They gave real life examples from their own family. We found them vis Facebook. Their website is http://www.triptobudapest.hu

Thanks for the great tips. Right in the first one you suggest visiting one of the less crowded cities. I think Prague needs to be mentioned here. It truly is a gem in the heart of Europe. And the city is really working hard to make tourists feel good. I’ve been here two times and always got a good deal. To get there, flying is most definitely the best solution. Many airlines serve Prague airport (I did my search on http://www.whichairline.com ). Getting from it may be worse, avoid the overpriced taxis and use public transport. I stayed in 4* hotels and paid surprisingly little money for them ( I did my booking via hotels.com ). All in all, Prague is definitely worth visiting.

Pingback: Travel to Europe | cheap travel | Traveling Europe | Travel Europe with Best Travel Content Europe

For free accommodation in Europe – do a home exchange, or a series of shorter swaps. Takes a little time to organise but it’s a great way to spend time living in an area, getting tips for places to visit/things to do, that most travellers never find out about, from local residents.

Wow, I love these simple, easy ways to save money traveling Europe. Some of these are green travel tips too!

Excellent advice! Anyone who takes this advice is bound to have a great trip without breaking the bank!

Great tips! I definitely like to save on flights and accommodations.

Re Tip #4: For flights I use Ryanair ( http://www.ryanair.com ), though I heard they had floated the idea of charging for toilets; if that ever becomes the case, I’m not flying w/ them anymore, but for now they are a great deal! The only thing you have to keep in mind is that you need to keep your bags light – which I guess is Tip #5. Oh and also the fact that the airline flies out of the less centrally-located airports will add to your travel time.

Re Tip # 3: For saving money on accommodations, I use Tripping ( http://www.tripping.com ). It’s a network of travelers from all over the world who host each other. Another bonus of connecting with locals besides accommodations is that you can have a local person show you around instead of paying for a tour. Plus then you get to visit the cool places where locals actually go. 😉

One great idea is to use HOSTELS, but get a private room with en-suite bathroom, meaning you have the bathroom to yourself and don’t share it with anyone. If you’re concerned about your privacy or just don’t want to deal with the other guests, this is a good compromise between those factors and saving cash. Hotels are expensive anywhere you go.

The catch is actually getting across the pond cheaply. While flights continue to go up it’s not a bad idea to design your trip around cheaper arrival / departure airports. Flying into Frankfurt airport is almost always cheaper than Berlin, Madrid is usually cheaper than Barcelona and I’d just avoid Rome if you want to stay cheap (Italy for that matter). Just alter your trip a bit and who knows you might end up with some neat little surprises!

Another great souvenir is a restaurant menu. Most of the time, restaurants are happy to comply if I politely ask them for a copy of their menu. Some of them I frame and put in my kitchen. They make very interesting conversation pieces.

Pingback: Travel Tips: 10 ways to travel Europe for under $1000 | Budget … at Time Traveler and Travel Tips Online

I think Europe not only can be nicer in Spring and Fall but actually is nicer. Moderate climate, less tourists, less crowds, cheaper hotels.

Plus flowers and trees are always lovelier in these two seasons, which makes great pictures.

I definitely agree about travel packages! Worst rip-off ever, not only does it cost you an arm and a leg but you don’t get to appreciate anything to see because it everything is rushed.

Book Your Trip

Search our blog:, destinations.

• – Prague Eating and Drinking
• – Prague Practical Info
• – Prague Sightseeing
• – Prague Tours and Tickets
• – Bratislava
• Aix-en-Provence
• French Caribbean
• – Free Paris
• – Paris Eating and Drinking
• – Paris Hotels
• – Paris Nightlife
• – Paris Outdoors
• – Paris Performance and Events
• – Paris Planning
• – Paris Shopping
• – Paris Sights
• – Paris Tours and Tickets
• – Paris Transportation
• – Berlin Entertainment
• – Berlin Food and Drink
• – Berlin Planning
• – Berlin Shopping
• – Berlin Sightseeing
• – Berlin Tours and Tickets
• – Dublin Eating and Drinking
• – Dublin Entertainment
• – Dublin Practical Info
• – Dublin SIghtseeing
• – Dublin Tours and Tickets
• Northern Ireland
• – Florence Eating and Drinking
• – Florence Practical Info
• – Florence Shopping
• – Florence Sightseeing
• – Florence tours and tickets
• – Rome Eating and Drinking
• – Rome Hotels
• – Rome Practical Info
• – Rome Sights
• – Rome tours and tickets
• – Venice Eating and Drinking
• – Venice Hotels
• – Venice Practical Info
• – Venice Sights
• – Venice tours and tickets
• – Amsterdam Sights
• – Barcelona eating
• – Barcelona hotel advice
• – Barcelona planning
• – Barcelona sightseeing
• – London eating
• – London free attractions
• – London hotel advice
• – London neighborhoods
• – London shopping
• – London sightseeing
• – London transportation
• – Brooklyn
• – New York hotel advice
• – New York neighborhoods
• – New York planning
• – New York sightseeing
• – New York shopping

Read more about: Trip Planning

Find us on Facebook

About eurocheapo.

Since 2001, our mission has been to make your time in Europe affordable and memorable. The world is out there, and it’s less expensive than you think.

© 2024 by Over There Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy

EuroCheapo Cities

20 Countries You Can Visit With Less Than $1,000

Many people underestimate how cheap it can be to vacation in certain places.

A recent Gallup poll found out that over 80% of Americans would like to travel to another country (which is obviously not surprising). Of this 80%, 40% do not think that they have enough money saved up to take an international trip. While some of these people are probably correct to make such an assumption, many of them underestimate how cheap it can be to vacation in certain places. As such, this list will highlight 20 Countries You Can Visit With Less Than $1,000. This list is based on prices coming from the United States and Canada, with special attention to people coming from major cities on the east coast. We tried to base these entries on rather affordable vacations for any duration, but the $1,000 mark is based on a 6-night, 7-day vacation (so about one week). While I tried to factor in things like food and spending money, most of our equation is based on the cost of a flight and hotel. Hopefully, this list will be a useful tool to people who are yearning for an international vacation but are not sure if they can really afford it. If you can think of any country that someone could visit with just about $1,000 that did not make our list, please feel free to mention them in the comments.

Belize has gotten a bad rap in the international community because of the deteriorating conditions of their economy and infrastructure. This does not, however, detract from the magnificent beauty of the country itself. Located along the Caribbean Sea in Central America, Belize has some spectacular views. Combine these with the great food and unique culture and you have yourself a picturesque vacation. The indigenous people of Belize were conquered and colonized by the Spanish in the early colonial period, and this history has taken its toll on the country. Following independence, the economy never developed, and Belize has consistently battled high crime rates and other effects of poverty.

Because of the country's poor reputation, travel and accommodations on the island are incredibly cheap. Planes out of the east coast would only add about an additional $400 per ticket.

Once you arrive in Belize, however, is when the real savings start. Because it is not a traditional tourist destination, there isn't a ton of articles from regular people who visited the country, but there are some wild stories from people who claim to have found hotel rooms for less than $30 a night. This alone would make a stay in Belize an incredibly cheap vacation, but it appears that the food there is also incredibly affordable.

The major impact of Donald Trump's presidency on U.S. international relations has to be the United States' relationship with Mexico. Trump's campaign was rife with anti-Mexican rhetoric, and his push for tighter border regulations has angered the Mexican public and its leaders. Also recently, there have been a string of unfortunate incidences with U.S. citizens in Mexico. All this conflict has severely decreased the tourism going into Mexico. This is important for our purposes because travel into and within Mexico has become extraordinarily cheap. Mexican officials recognize that their country is very reliant on tourism (although not as much as some other countries on this list). Therefore, they have tried to lower prices for travel and accommodations to try to lure tourists in, despite the bad publicity. If you are thinking of traveling to Mexico within the next year, you should easily be able to plan a vacation that costs less than $1,000. Depending on where you are traveling to in Mexico, you should be able to find plane tickets for less than $300. Once you arrive, a nice hotel should not cost you any more than $75 a night. If you are looking for more of a resort experience, expect to pay about $125-150 per night.

Unlike most other countries in Europe, Ireland is most expensive after you arrive on the island.

Thanks to discount airline Aer Lingus, getting a flight to Ireland from most cities on the east coast is actually very affordable.

This is especially true in Boston, where I live. Aer Lingus has its U.S. Base here so plane tickets can cost as little as $300 for a round trip ticket. Once you arrive in Dublin, things get a bit more expensive, but not so much that you should exceed $700 in a week-long visit. The Dublin hotels are comparable to big cities in the U.S., but if you travel to the western coast, cities like Galway have very affordable housing. Eating out can be a little expensive, but if you limit the number of pints that you drink with dinner (which is not necessarily an easy task), then you should be fine. Transportation within Ireland is pretty cheap. Uber and Lift have caught on in most of the major cities, and you can get a bus to just about anywhere on the island. The fact that Ireland, coast-to-coast, is less than a four-hour drive does not hurt either.

17 Guatemala

I don't know if any region of the world is as constantly disregarded by the international community as Central America is. Because there are no major economic players in the area, these countries are consistently taken advantage of and ignored by travelers. One of the most impoverished of these nations, Guatemala, is one of the most cost-efficient destinations in the entire world. Cities like the capital of Guatemala are riddled with crime but have some attractions that are worth taking the risk. Tikal, an ancient Mayan city that still has the remains of several ancient cities, should be the focal point of any trip. Also, the beaches and rainforests there give you a chance to experience the wonders of South America without the added cost of places like Argentina. Flights from either coast are about $375 dollars, but if you live in places like Texas or Florida, they become even cheaper. Once you arrive in Guatemala, you should be able to find a hotel for around $50 a night. For a week-long trip, this would leave you with slightly over $200 for spending money. While this isn't great, low prices overall in the area should guarantee that you remain comfortable for the duration of your trip.

For decades, the countries in Southeast Asia have been notoriously cheap and easy to travel to. The cheapest of these countries might be Taiwan, a small island nation that used to be (and is still considered by the Chinese government) a part of the Democratic Republic of China. Because of its tumultuous relationship with China, Taiwan has had a hard time getting other countries to trade with it or to even acknowledge its sovereignty. As such, the country is desperate for outside capital no matter what form that takes. While trade between countries is highly regulated, tourism often is not. This means that the Taiwanese government can entice U.S. and Canadian travelers to come to its country, even if the countries themselves don't approve of it. One way that Taiwan has tried to entice tourists to come to it is by making its prices dirt cheap. The price of the plan ticket may be substantial depending on where you fly out of (Taiwan has no control over the price of airlines arriving on the island),

but once you arrive in Taiwan, you should not be spending more than $40 a day. Prices are so cheap that people have begun traveling to Taiwan to stay permanently.

Unfortunately, tight immigration practices prevent people from staying on the island for more than a month without a visa.

When people think of countries that they can travel to rather cheaply, they probably think of poorer, less developed nations. But that is not always the case. For example, depending on where you live,

it may be possible for you to travel to Aruba for much less than $1,000. Aruba is one of the nicest islands in the Caribbeans and is one of the most sought-after vacation destinations on the entire planet.

Aruba is still technically a "constituent country" (a constituent state holds administrative jurisdiction over a defined geographic territory and is a form of regional government ) of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and their close relationship with Europe has benefited them economically. While it may not be as cheap as Belize or other less affluent island nations, Aruba is still relatively affordable. More importantly, its close proximity to the U.S. makes flights laughably cheap, especially for those people who live in the southern half of the country. Flights from New York to Aruba are about $430, but flights from Miami can be as low as $200. Hotels on the island can be a little pricey, but if you are spending most of your time on the beach, how much spending money do you even need?

I find it interesting how the relationships between government entities can impact the lives of regular citizens. For instance, the embargo placed on Cuba by the United States not only prevented any (legal) trade from occurring between the two nations, but it also limited how much contact could be had between the people that lived in Cuba and those in the continental U.S. All of this changed when Barack Obama lifted some of the restrictions on Cuba (following the death of Fidel Castro), and tourists from the U.S. were once again able to travel to the small island nation. This is good for a number of reasons, but the most important factor for our purposes is that travel to Cuba is incredibly cheap. Cuba is only a few hundred miles off of the coast of Florida, so travel from the south and east coasts of the U.S. is quick and easy. Since Cuba has not had an influx of tourists in decades, none of the prices there are inflated. This is great for travelers who can find an affordable hotel in Havana for less than $60 a night.

The problem with traveling to Europe is that the transportation to most of the continent from Canada or the United States is very expensive. Flights to certain countries can cost as much as $800 for a round trip ticket. This leaves travelers with little money remaining once they arrive to their destination. There isn't a lot to do for free in Europe, so it is important that travelers leave themselves a significant amount of spending money for their trip. An exception to this is the Nordic countries in Northern Europe.

Travel to Sweden specifically is very affordable as tickets from the east coast of North America can cost as little as $300. Once you arrive in Sweden, things can get a little pricier, but if you are savvy about where you stay, you can easily find a nice hotel for less than $65 a night.

This leaves you more cash to spend on Sweden's greatest exports like its meatballs and pickled herring. Gamla Stan is a popular tourist attraction in Sweden. It is a giant market and chateau where tourists and locals can eat, shop, and just hang out.

Guyana, a small country in the northern region of South America, is not your typical tourist destination. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Not only does Guyana not suffer from the appropriation and overcrowding (or at least not to the extent) that other countries do (because it is less reliant on tourism), but it is also a fairly cheap place to visit. In its larger cities like Georgetown, you can find a hotel for about $75, and in the more rural areas, it is even cheaper. Food is even more affordable, and Guyana supposedly has some of the best cuisines south of the equator. Getting to Guyana should be the most expensive part of your trip, but flights from NYC to Georgetown are only about $350 per ticket. While in Guyana, you can check out Mount Roraima, Kaieteur Falls, or the Iwokrama Forest. If trekking through the rainforest is not really your thing, there are plenty of attractions in Georgetown to occupy your time. Guyana also has a pretty expansive coastline, although only a small portion of this is beaches. The best thing about most of Guyana's attractions is that they come free of charge, thus making your trip even cheaper.

This next entry comes with the disclaimer that traveling to Iceland is cheapest when you already live on the east coast of the U.S. or Canada. Olafur Eliasson, a famous painter/sculptor from Iceland, had this to say about his home country, "I've walked a lot in the mountains in Iceland. And as you come to a new valley, as you come to a new landscape, you have a certain view. If you stand still, the landscape doesn't necessarily tell you how big it is. It doesn't really tell you what you're looking at. The moment you start to move the mountain starts to move."

Like most European countries, one of the most expensive parts about vacationing in Iceland is the cost of getting there. What is different about Iceland is that depending on where you live in the United States or Canada, even your plane ticket might not cost that much.

Planes should cost you around $200, depending on when your trip is and what airport you depart from, but once you land in Iceland, the rest of your journey should be even cheaper. The food in Iceland is notoriously affordable, and its greatest attractions have not yet become the tourist traps that are so prevalent in other destinations.

There are several countries worth visiting in South America, and several of them could be visited on a fairly affordable budget. If I had my choice of nations to visit in South America, however, I would probably choose Brazil. The entire country is supposedly beautiful, and they have enough infrastructure and experience with tourists to make staying and traveling there fairly easy. Perhaps more importantly, traveling and staying in Brazil is incredibly cheap. You can get a nice hotel room in Rio de Janeiro for about $40, and it would be even cheaper to stay in a hostel. If you need to be convinced to stay in Rio, check out the picture above. The city is supposed to be magnificent, and the country's government in the last twenty years has seriously begun funding tourism as a major enterprise. Crime is still a bit of a problem but only in the areas that border some of its southern, more tumultuous neighbors. Perhaps the best thing about Brazil (besides how cheap it is to visit) is that it is so large. Because of that, its different regions provide totally different travel experiences. Flights from the U.S. range from about $500-700.

For whatever reason, traveling to the rural areas of South America has been romanticized by literature and other mediums for over a century. The funniest thing about these writings is that they were often written by people who have never even been to South America. I will continue this great tradition with our next entry because I believe that Peru is one of the best places that you can travel to for less than $1,000. One advantage that I do hold over my predecessors is that I can easily look up Peru's most popular attractions and tell you about them. The only city in Peru that attracts a lot of tourists is the capital city of Lima.

The city has a vibrant music scene and you can get a nice hotel for less than $60 per night. Outside of Lima, the most important destinations in Peru are all in the countryside. Peru is incredibly rural, which makes travel within the country difficult. Luckily, this also means that the country's greatest attractions are virtually untouched for most of the year. For our readers that have visited popular attractions in Europe (like the constantly-overcrowded Vatican or the Blarney Castle in Ireland), this should be music to your ears. While you are traveling to places like Machu Picchu and the Colca Canyon, you should be able to live fairly cheap. The most expensive part of visiting Peru is the plane ticket, but even that should not cost you more than $475.

8 Nicaragua

During his term as president, Ronald Reagan said that "violence has been Nicaragua's most important export to the world." While this is not necessarily fair, it does illustrate how the international community views the small Central American nation. This perception has drastic impacts for Nicaragua's economy, including its potential as a popular tourist destination. For someone who was partially responsible for Nicaragua getting to the point it is (look up Ronald Reagan and Sandinistas), Reagan did not seem very concerned about how his comments, and comments like his, would discourage tourists from coming to Nicaragua. One potential benefit which derived from this, however, is that now, tourists can go there for incredibly cheap prices.

Flights from the east coast of the United States should only cost about $350 round trip, and even planes from the west coast and Canada are not terribly expensive. Once you arrive in Nicaragua, you would not expect to pay more than $70 a night for a hotel.

The only hotels that cost more than this base price are those that are actually located on the beach. While you stay in your amazingly cheap hotel, you can enjoy some of Nicaragua's amazing sights, including the Apoyo Lagoon, Corn Islands, and Our Lady of Grace Cathedral.

I don't know if there is another country on earth whose history I find as interesting as I do Haiti's. The small island nation was colonized by the French during the early colonial period and then a large number of African slaves were imported to work on sugarcane plantations. Following the American and French Revolutions, the slaves of the island used Republican language to justify their own revolution, what the French called a widespread slave revolt. In a tremendous display of racism, no major country acknowledged the government that was formed by the slaves (including the French and American governments that had inspired them). This led to immense problems for the Haitian economy that trouble them up to the present day. Because of the immense poverty in Haiti, it is often overlooked by potential tourists. This not only means that visitors won't have to struggle to find accommodations while they're in the country, but the accommodations that they do find should be exceedingly cheap. In addition, Haiti is only a few leagues off the coast of Florida, so flights from the east coast of the U.S. or Canada are very affordable.

6 South Korea

As I write this entry, our next destination may be becoming more expensive. As tensions between North and South Korea continue to lessen, South Korea becomes less of a risk for wary travelers. This means that more people will want to travel to the Asian country, thus making it more expensive.

Luckily for us, Korea is currently so cheap that even a significant increase in the price of living won't stop a trip to South Korea from being incredibly affordable. You can currently get a hotel room in the capital city of Seoul for less than $60 a night.

This rate gets even cheaper when you travel into the countryside. For most people, the most expensive part of a trip to South Korea would be the plane ticket. Tickets from NYC are going for anywhere from $700 to $800 for round-trip fare. If you live on the west coast, however, tickets become much more affordable. I felt that this list had become too focused on the east coast, so I decided to include South Korea as a destination that would be especially affordable for our readers on the west coast of the U.S. or Canada. Hopefully, by the time this article is published, this entry won't have become outdated.

You can understand why most people have never thought about vacationing to Curacao because...well...they probably have never heard of Curacao. Curacao is a tiny island nation in the Caribbean Sea that was once an important cog in the machine of the Dutch slave empire. In recent times, however, it is an island paradise and one that is definitely worth the amount that you would pay for a stay there. Like most Caribbean Islands, flights from the U.S. and Canada are fairly cheap. A standard ticket should cost somewhere in the $360 range, although this could be slightly more or less depending on where you live. Once you arrive on the island, you can find beautiful resorts where you can stay for less than $70 a night. These resorts are on the beach, so you should not have to spend much money on activities while you are in Curacao. If you do get tired of soaking up the sun in the Caribbean (though I can't imagine why you would), Curacao does have some tourist sites that are worth visiting. The Klein Lighthouse and Curacao Maritime Museum are consistently listed as some of the best places to visit in Curacao.

For decades, Thailand has been notorious for being an incredibly fun and incredibly cheap vacation destination. When hostilities between China and the United States were at their peak, Thailand was pitched as a cheap alternative to Japan for people that wanted to experience eastern culture. I know several people who spent a lot of time in Thailand, and all of them gush about how great it was to stay in this southeast Asian country. Thailand is an incredibly poor nation but the richness of the local culture and the friendliness of the local community more than make up for some of the comforts that you will give up to visit there. More importantly, for our purposes,

staying in Thailand is incredibly cheap. Nice hotels cost along the same lines as some of our other entries. But if you are planning to stay long term, you can rent a room in a house or a small apartment for less than $100 a month.

Food is similarly cheap, my friend said that she could buy groceries for herself for a month for less than $25. Plane tickets to Thailand can be pricey, but that should be the majority of your costs should you choose to visit this unique country.

3 U.S.-Canada

For the citizens of most countries, traveling to the U.S. Or Canada probably would not be their cheapest vacation option. If you already live in one of those countries, however, traveling to the other should be an easy and affordable trip. For instance, I grew up near Buffalo, New York, and it was less than a three-hour drive to go to Toronto, a major city in Canada. Even my high school routinely took trips to Canada to see Niagara Falls and other tourist destinations. If you live on the west coast of the U.S., Vancouver is a Canadian city nearby that is definitely worth visiting. If you live in Vancouver or another part of British Columbia, California, Washington, and even Alaska are states nearby that would make for fun, cheap vacations. If you live on the east coast, New York, Boston, Toronto, Halifax, and Washington D.C. should only be a short plane ride (or in some cases, even drive) away. The close proximity of these countries, combined with the close relationship between their governments, makes travel between them incredibly affordable.

2 Dominican Republic

I was worried that too many of the entries on this list were about small island nations in the Caribbean, but travel to the Dominican Republic is so easy and affordable that I could not help but reserve a spot for it in this article. Much like its Caribbean neighbors, the Dominican Republic is such an affordable vacation destination because 1) it is in close proximity to the U.S. and Canada where most of our readers are from and 2) the country's poverty level ensures that prices for housing and food will not be very high. If you are leaving from the northeast coast of the United States,

you can expect a two-way ticket to the Dominican to cost somewhere between $370 and $400. Tickets become cheaper the further south that you live. Once you arrive on the island, your hotel should not cost you any more than $70 per night.

If that does not sound cheap enough for you, keep in mind that most of the major attractions in the Dominican, including Bavaro Beach, Catalina Island, and Los Haitises National Park can all be enjoyed for little to no money.

Of all the entries on this list, Japan is probably the country that is already most popular with tourists. You would think that the popularity would raise prices in the land of the rising sun, but the Japanese government has wisely reinvested their revenue into their infrastructure and other tourist industries. If you're coming from the east coast of the United States or Canada, it would be hard for you to take a week-long trip for less than $1,000. If you come from the west coast, however, it should be much cheaper. This is because plane tickets from the west coast to Japan should only cost about $575 per round trip ticket. Just make sure that you have a lot of spending money left over because there are several (paid) attractions in Japan that are worth visiting. Tokyo and other major cities are known for their unique cultures. The capital is consistently rated as one of the best tourist cities in the world and a recent construction project has tried to increase the number of hotels in the city, thus making them more affordable.