*A guide to the best budget travel destinations worldwide.*
Finding that cheap paradise destination is getting harder and harder as the number of people travelling with a bigger budget than yours keeps on growing. The rise of the flashpacker means that even the old stalwarts are becoming expensive as they cater to the up market crowd by installing Jacuzzis, mending the roof and doubling their prices. Fortunately, there are still a few places dotted about where the genuine budget traveler can live well for less than 30 dollars a day.
*Thailand, Laos & Vietnam*
Old school travelers always moan that Thailand isnt as cheap as it used to be! While this may be true, next door Laos is as cheap as Thailand used to be and is a fine destination in its own right. Who needs paradise beaches when you can sunbathe on the shore of crystal clear rivers at a third of the price? Laotians are an incredibly friendly bunch and the country is ripe for exploration.
From Laos skip over into Vietnam where the dollar will get you thousands of dong and prices remain affordable. Between dirt cheap and delicious Pho noodles and virtually free Bia Hoi beer, Vietnam offers arguably the best value food and drink anywhere. Lets not write off Thailand just yet as a budget destination; just because the islands and Bangkok have become more expensive doesnt mean that you cant find a great dorm bed in the capital for way less than 10 dollars. Head into the northeastern Isan province and you will find the untouched Thailand of old and the prices of old.
*India*
Also in Asia, incredible India is incredibly affordable provided you stick to local transport and dont want to stay in palaces. To visit on a budget, explore a small area of this kaleidoscopic country rather than paying to travel long distances and only seeing most of it out of a train window.
*Nicaragua *
Nicaragua is the up and coming budget travel destination in Central America, especially if you are into your surfing. Whether you settle on the spectacular lake island of Ometepe, let loose in the surfing party town of San Juan del Sur or explore the northern cloud forests around Esteli, Nicaragua offers great value for money. 30 dollars a day will do you proud in Nicaragua, even in the tourist hubs of Leon and Merida.
*Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador *
While Peru suffers from package tour price inflation, neighboring Andean countries Bolivia and Ecuador are much more affordable, even if they dont have the same standard of ruins. Even Northern Peru is cheaper than the Cuzco/Sacred Valley circus and the incredible Chachapoyas area and the unknown ruins of Kuelap are easily visited by budget travelers. Just make sure you wrap up warm on the local buses!
*Eastern Europe*
Whatever the out of date blogs and guidebooks say, Argentina is no longer a budget destination. Prices have soared since the economic crisis and Argentina is now only slightly cheaper than Chile and Brazil.
Hit the Eastern European countries now before prices rise to Western European levels. Bulgaria offers affordable skiing and beach resorts along the black sea while Poland has some fantastic historical cities such as Krakow and Warsaw. If you are feeling adventurous, go to Georgia and travel about this tiny Caucasian country by cheap Marshrutkas minibuses.
*Sudan*
It might sound crazy, but Sudan is cheap, safe and interesting, provided you stay in the north of the country. There are unexcavated Egyptian pyramids, endless sand dunes and even a hotel in an old iron boat to explore and the Sudanese are almost overbearingly welcome. Your budget will also benefit from the fact that Sudan is completely alcohol free.
Finding that cheap paradise destination is getting harder and harder as the number of people travelling with a bigger budget than yours keeps on growing. The rise of the flashpacker means that even the old stalwarts are becoming expensive as they cater to the up market crowd by installing Jacuzzis, mending the roof and doubling their prices. Fortunately, there are still a few places dotted about where the genuine budget traveler can live well for less than 30 dollars a day.
*Thailand, Laos & Vietnam*
Old school travelers always moan that Thailand isnt as cheap as it used to be! While this may be true, next door Laos is as cheap as Thailand used to be and is a fine destination in its own right. Who needs paradise beaches when you can sunbathe on the shore of crystal clear rivers at a third of the price? Laotians are an incredibly friendly bunch and the country is ripe for exploration.
From Laos skip over into Vietnam where the dollar will get you thousands of dong and prices remain affordable. Between dirt cheap and delicious Pho noodles and virtually free Bia Hoi beer, Vietnam offers arguably the best value food and drink anywhere. Lets not write off Thailand just yet as a budget destination; just because the islands and Bangkok have become more expensive doesnt mean that you cant find a great dorm bed in the capital for way less than 10 dollars. Head into the northeastern Isan province and you will find the untouched Thailand of old and the prices of old.
*India*
Also in Asia, incredible India is incredibly affordable provided you stick to local transport and dont want to stay in palaces. To visit on a budget, explore a small area of this kaleidoscopic country rather than paying to travel long distances and only seeing most of it out of a train window.
*Nicaragua *
Nicaragua is the up and coming budget travel destination in Central America, especially if you are into your surfing. Whether you settle on the spectacular lake island of Ometepe, let loose in the surfing party town of San Juan del Sur or explore the northern cloud forests around Esteli, Nicaragua offers great value for money. 30 dollars a day will do you proud in Nicaragua, even in the tourist hubs of Leon and Merida.
*Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador *
While Peru suffers from package tour price inflation, neighboring Andean countries Bolivia and Ecuador are much more affordable, even if they dont have the same standard of ruins. Even Northern Peru is cheaper than the Cuzco/Sacred Valley circus and the incredible Chachapoyas area and the unknown ruins of Kuelap are easily visited by budget travelers. Just make sure you wrap up warm on the local buses!
*Eastern Europe*
Whatever the out of date blogs and guidebooks say, Argentina is no longer a budget destination. Prices have soared since the economic crisis and Argentina is now only slightly cheaper than Chile and Brazil.
Hit the Eastern European countries now before prices rise to Western European levels. Bulgaria offers affordable skiing and beach resorts along the black sea while Poland has some fantastic historical cities such as Krakow and Warsaw. If you are feeling adventurous, go to Georgia and travel about this tiny Caucasian country by cheap Marshrutkas minibuses.
*Sudan*
It might sound crazy, but Sudan is cheap, safe and interesting, provided you stay in the north of the country. There are unexcavated Egyptian pyramids, endless sand dunes and even a hotel in an old iron boat to explore and the Sudanese are almost overbearingly welcome. Your budget will also benefit from the fact that Sudan is completely alcohol free.