Has it been awhile since you last ventured abroad? You’re not alone. According to a recent study from Hostelworld Global Traveler Report, Americans are half as likely to travel abroad and visit multiple countries than Europeans. Not only that, 29% of US adults have never even been abroad! Travel expenses are certainly a contributing factor. Which is one reason why most Americans that do travel abroad tend to visit our neighboring countries, Canada and Mexico. But experiencing other cultures, foods, histories, and languages doesn’t have to break the bank.
In fact, there are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to the total cost of traveling in the first place. That is because the first thing people usually look into is the cost of airfare. This, in many cases, is by far the most expensive cost of the trip, depending on the length of your stay and the country you’re visiting. And seeing the huge initial cost of a roundtrip ticket can put a real damper on your travel plans.
Sites like Skyscanner, Momondo, and Kiwi offer the best prices for flights. Kiwi also goes a step further by combining all airlines to create cheaper routes than booking with just 1 airline (they also feature their own guarantee that covers schedule changes, delays, and cancellations, so long as you inform them of the delay as soon as you’re aware of it). You’ll also save money by selecting a weekday to fly—Tuesdays and Wednesdays are typically thought to be the cheapest days to travel, while Sundays are the most expensive. You should also aim to book a flight 1.5 - 2 months prior to your day of departure to get the best deal on airfare.
After getting off the plane, prices can drop considerably. Especially in cheaper areas of the world—like Southeast Asia, Central America, or Northern Europe. Luxury items you’re used to spending a pretty penny on, like a pint that normally costs $6 - $8, can be purchased for just a buck or less. A bottle of fine wine can even be found for $4! You can save even further by having a mobile bank account that doesn’t charge for foreign transactions, and allows you to take your finances on the go! This can amount to huge savings if making big purchases or using your credit card frequently whilst abroad.
Cost savings like these you’ll only become aware of by venturing abroad yourself, or by reading into it online before planning your travels. If your plan was the latter, here are some of the cheapest countries in the world to travel when you’re on a budget:
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Visit one of Europe’s most exciting locations. Sarajevo, the nation’s capital, is a historic blend of cultures where East meets West. There are parts of the city that’ll bring to mind Vienna, while others, Istanbul. You can find rooms in hostels for as little as $10 a night, restaurant meals between $5 - $10 (although street food is considerably cheaper--and delicious!), and beer for around a dollar! Bosnians, by nature, are famously hospitable, too. So it’s entirely possible you’ll make some quick friends and score some free meals along the way!
Spain
Spain may have lost its status as one of the cheapest destinations in Europe after adopting the euro as its official currency, however there are certainly ways to explore this beautiful country on a budget. Large cities, like Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville, may tend to charge higher prices than their rural counterparts; however, that also means there are ample choices for accommodation. HotelsCombined is a great site to find the best deals on hotels and hostels. Many of which come with perks, like free city tours and bar crawls. A menú del día, offered around lunch time, can be found in many restaurants across the country and features a full course meal (including a beverage) for about 10 euros. Many of Spain’s museums also offer free hours, like the Museo del Prado in Madrid, for example.
Laos
Coming in as one of the cheapest countries on the list is Laos. Laos can be extremely affordable if you avoid western steakhouses and fancy French cuisine. Laotian street food features some of the most creative (and delicious) foods, including “ka nom kok” or coconut pancakes, “sai oua” or laotian sausage, and avocado shakes. Yum! If your budget says no, but your stomach says yes, you can make an entire meal out of food from the markets for less than $5.00 a day--or haggle to fetch food for even less. You can also find accommodations for as little as $3 a night, with breakfast included! For another affordable destination, check out Laos’ similarly-priced (and beautiful) neighbor, Thailand!
Belize
Venture down to Central America, and explore Caribbean shorelines and exotic jungles (filled with Mayan ruins) in the tropical country of Belize. Save big on airfare by flying into Cancun, then catching the ADO bus to make your way over. Doing so will save you around 50% on airfare and allow you to see two countries during your trip. Traveling in the offseason (June to November) will also open the door up to some huge discounts on accommodations (as much as 50%)! Websites like Groupon also feature a number of all-inclusive travel deals. When it comes to eating, you can find food and produce in the markets for about $2.50--and hotels for as little as $11 a night.
Dominican Republic
East of Belize is another affordable destination: the Dominican Republic. The DR is certainly a budget-friendly option if you don’t mind staying away from resortlife in Punta Cana--and since this is the most targeted vacation destination among tourists, you can find much more affordable accommodations in the nation’s capital, Santo Domingo. As an added bonus, spending your holiday amidst the local population will allow you to be more immersed in the nation’s culture and history- and isn’t that what traveling abroad is all about? You can avoid expensive cab fares by parking in areas central of must-see (and free) areas, like the Colonial Zone, Fortaleza Ozama, Parque Colón, and Catedral Primada de América; taking a cab only when walking isn’t a viable option. If your Spanish isn’t too rusty, you can utilize public transportation to get to Boca Chica beach or Juan Dolio beach. For accommodations, you can find a number of hostels located within the city (or even near Punta Cana) for around $10 a night, and enjoy meals at sit-down restaurants for under $10, or street vendors for just a few bucks!
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