Nine Destinations for Less Than $50 a Day
We all want to travel. Money is one of the things that keeps many people from achieving their dream. Saving money for travel can be a difficult task, but it isn’t as expensive as people think. You can save a lot of money by traveling. You can travel comfortably on a tight budget. Many amazing places are affordable. There are many inexpensive places to visit. I will share with you my favorites that I believe are the best. Thailand
Despite being a hugely popular tourist destination, Thailand has remained relatively cheap.
Outside of the popular island destinations, it’s easy to visit the country for around $50 USD per day if you’re backpacking. You can visit Thailand on a budget by using points to book hotels, sticking to cheap accommodation and taking public transport. You’d be spending around $100 USD a day if you did that. Mexico
I will be honest, I am late in the game when it comes to Mexico. Not until a few decades ago did I take the time to travel around the country. It’s a beautiful country. Get out of tourist areas to make your trip affordable. Leave Tulum (it’s the worst place in the world anyway), Playa del Carmen, Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, and all the other resort towns filled with American hotel brands and tourists.
Hostels cost between $10-15 USD per night, street tacos are $1 USD or less, other meals will set you back $5-10 USD, beer is around $1-2 USD, and even big-ticket sites like Chichen Itza are just $5-15 USD.
If you aren’t looking to backpack, you can still visit affordably. With a budget of $80 you can enjoy a hostel or hotel room, cheap food, more attractions, some drinks and a taxi. Portugal
Portugal is not only one of my favorite countries in Europe but it’s one of the cheapest eurozone countries as well. This country is becoming more popular due to its charming cities, beautiful coastlines and great weather. There’s a growing expat scene as well as a lively digital nomad community.
You can get by here for around $50 USD per day without missing out on the amazing food, fun activities, and delicious wine. On this budget, you’ll be staying in a hostel dorm room, cooking all of your meals, limiting your drinking, using public transportation to get around, and sticking to free activities like free walking tours and enjoying the beaches.
While prices are a bit higher in popular Lisbon, you can easily offset that by visiting in the shoulder season or in the winter.
For more information, check out my guide to visiting Portugal.
4. Central America
Central America is one of the cheapest regions of the world, with pretty much every country here an affordable place to visit. For that reason, I included the entire region.
In places like El Salvador and Honduras you can find great deals. Budget hotels are around $15 USD. Meals cost $3-4 USD. Bus journeys cost the same. Beer is less than $1.
In “expensive countries” (Belize and Costa Rica), expect to spend closer to $50 USD a day. However, you will not be lacking in anything, as street food only costs $5 USD. Hungary
Hungary is an amazing, affordable country, the highlight of which is Budapest. Budapest is my favorite city. The hostels in Budapest begin at $10 USD per day. The prices of meals at the market or in the many kebab, sandwich and kebab shops range from $5-10 USD. A beer costs less than two dollars, and the trains and buses are only a few dollars. Budapest offers the same fun as more expensive destinations such as Prague or Vienna at a fraction the price. Peru
Home of the legendary Wonder of the World Machu Picchu. Peru is a popular country in South America. It was a wonderful trip. The country is one I’d love to visit again and again. Plan on spending $50-80 USD a day if you’re backpacking Peru. You’d stay in hostels and eat at local cafes and restaurants, limit your drinking, take public transport and overnight buses and do a few paid tours and activities. You’ll pay more if you plan to party. There are often great deals, including hikes such as the Inca Trail. For more information on Peru, please read my guide. Vietnam
Vietnam is one of the cheapest countries in Southeast Asia. From the stunning views of Sam Mountain and Ha Long Bay to the man-made artistry of the sacred temples and pagodas to the rice terraces and beaches, Vietnam is stunning.
Hostels can be found for as little as $4-5 USD, with many including free breakfast and free beer (during limited hours). Street vendors sell food for as little as $1-2 USD. Buses around the country can be incredibly inexpensive. Even the activities are affordable. Visit my Vietnam guide for more information!
. India
No list of budget travel destinations would be complete without India. India is a great place to travel for a low budget. However, the recent steep drop in the Indian Rupee has made it even more affordable. Traveling in India is affordable, but spending a little more money can make it luxurious. For example, if you have a $30-45 budget per day, then you can enjoy the usual backpacker activities: cheap food, guesthouses, sleeper trains and overland busses. You can spend $45-55 a day in the major cities like Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore, as well as at beach destinations such as Goa. The country in general is very, very cheap.
Taiwan is one of Asia’s most underrated nations. Taiwan is a safe, clean and affordable country with plenty to do. Hostels cost around $10 USD, while street food is only a few dollars. The nightlife is great, there are many markets, hiking trails, public transport, and convenient transportation. You can find anything you want in Taiwan. For more information on Taiwan, please read my guide.
There are many wonderful destinations around the world, and they don’t need to be expensive. You can even save more money if you fly with points. Even if you’re not an uber-budget traveler, but still want to enjoy some luxury, the destinations on this list can provide it.
By visiting some of these budget destinations, you’ll be able to stretch your budget and make your trip financially attainable.
How to Travel the World on $75 a Day
My New York Times best-selling book to travel will teach you how to master the art of travel so that you’ll get off save money, always find deals, and have a deeper travel experience. It’s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the “bible for budget travelers.”
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Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. Skyscanner is my favorite search engine, because it searches all websites and airlines in the world.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. Booking.com is the best option if you don’t want to stay in a hostel. It consistently offers the lowest rates for hotels and guesthouses.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. This is comprehensive coverage in the event of an accident. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
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. Want to Travel for Free
Travel Credit Cards allow you to earn rewards that can be used to redeem for free flights or accommodation. Discover Cars offers affordable international car rentals. They’ll find you the best rental car for your trip, no matter where you are going! Ready to book your trip? Here are all the companies I use to travel. You can’t go far wrong with them. They are top-of-the-line and the best you can get.
