Are you a budget traveler? If so, this article is for you. Many travelers don’t realize that they can have fun and experience the beauty of other countries without breaking the bank. Budget travel is all about getting by with less to save money and that doesn’t mean sacrificing your vacation experience! With these 10 destinations, you will be on your way to budget bliss.
This blog post shares 10 international destinations popular among budget travelers,
- Seoul, South Korea
For the low price of $450 USD, you can get yourself a round-trip flight from Los Angeles to Seoul in Economy class on Korean Air! If you’re looking for a place with vibrant nightlife and beautiful scenery, this is the perfect city for you. Some domestic flights within South Korea also only cost around $100 USD one way! I saved so much money by getting a rewards credit card in my name but was being used by my parents for all their purchases who are usually the ones traveling internationally. Credit cards are so easy to use now, and travel rewards credit cards are one of my favorite benefits!
- Greece
For only $1 USD per day, you can sleep in a little park on top of a mountain in Greece! If you prefer not to travel with your entire family, a solo traveler on a budget can spend some time in an adult hostel for less than $20 USD per person. You don’t have to be afraid of traveling alone either; Lonely Planet has over 2,500 hostels for any budget. When you find one that works for you and is under your price range, I highly recommend booking the entire trip at once due to the availability not being consistent throughout the year.
- Portugal
If you love shopping, Portugal maybe your favorite place to shop on a budget. On average, the cost of living is €6 USD per day which is under $10 USD per day. I really recommend using the app “Visa Check-In” which allows you to search for hotels and hostels in any country including Portugal! This app is also really helpful for finding places to eat in the area, and it will give you helpful reviews about each place so that you don’t have to waste time trying to figure out which good places are around you. If you don’t have a credit card, I recommend learning how to travel on the cheap with tips such as reading blogs, following hashtags on Instagram, and checking out blogs about budget travel.
- Thailand
A 2 day trip from Bangkok to Laos is only $50 USD! With the new “Visa on Arrival” program, you can currently get a 15-day visa in Thailand once you fly indirectly from the U.S.! This is such a great deal for many travelers who will be taking a flight to Thailand rather than flying into Southeast Asia first and then flying back to the U.S. Reason is that you won’t have to pay any additional fees when you apply for your visa and then make your way through immigration! If you don’t want to do this, I recommend buying an e-visa from the CITS website.
- New Zealand
A trip to New Zealand is made even more affordable when you travel with a credit card that rewards you with points. You can get an AMEX Platinum Card which gives you two airline miles for every dollar spent and a third airline mile for every dollar spent on gas, grocery, dining, and entertainment! Now that I am back home in the U.S., I still continue to travel with this card and even use it after I return home for all of my shopping at Chipotle. For more international travel tips, check out How to Travel the World on a Student Budget by Ivy Amico which is available on Amazon.
- Iceland
The islands are so beautiful and Iceland is one of my top destinations because it has so many cool nature hikes. For only $725 USD, I stayed in a three-bedroom house with two bathrooms and a kitchen for two weeks! If you want more than that, you can get yourself a family of four in the country’s most expensive hotel room at $30 USD per person! This includes taxes and tips, so it’s actually even cheaper than your typical price tag.
- Argentina
If you love animals and want to get up close to some wildlife, Argentina is your destination. On the outskirts of Buenos Aires, you can get a free tour of a sanctuary for over 100 species of animals! For less than $5 USD, you can buy yourself some delicious plantain chips from a stand in the park. Argentinian food is so good!
- Paris, France
Paris is another one of my favorite cities because it has so many good art museums and palaces to visit. For only $40 USD per night, you can stay at one of many hostels in the city. These hostels are only about $15 USD per night, and the majority of them have great amenities such as a kitchen, souvenir shop, bar, and even tours! If you want to venture out to another country for your stay in Paris, consider staying at an AirBnB or Airbnb so that you can fully experience the city.
- Iceland (Again)
If you want to visit Iceland repeatedly while you’re on a budget and live in the U.S., I recommend visiting this beautiful country with flight partner Skyriddles Travel. Although it costs around $600 USD per person, you’ll get a flight from the U.S. to Iceland with two stops, which includes your hotel and flight. This is a great deal to come out ahead of the game!
- Poland
If you are a big traveler or want to visit multiple countries, Poland is an amazing place for you! For only $3 USD per day on average, you can stay in an apartment for yourself or even for your entire family! You can find accommodations that are also multiple bedrooms at different prices based on how many people will be staying in them at once.
