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Want to travel the world but don't have an unlimited budget? Dreaming of beers on the beach and spending the days ticking off bucket-list moments, but don't want to sell a kidney? You're in the right place! Here are some of our top destinations to travel to if you are on a budget and you don't want your trip to cost the earth.
What are the best destinations to travel to on a budget?
Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand would be our top three. The flights to these locations will be by far the biggest cost of trips to these places, but once you are there, you'll be spending around £3 on a local meal, £1.50 on a beer, and if you are in hostels, it won't be much more than £15 a night! Morocco is another great shout. It is cheap to travel around, has some amazing affordable accommodation, and the lifestyle here isn't crazy expensive either. We'll break down our top 4 destinations and tell you how much things cost in each location.
Want to do a budget backpacking trip where everything is already sorted? We have something VERY exciting coming, which is going to change the way you travel. Imagine all the best parts of community travel without the price. Be the first to hear about this exciting new addition to TruTravels by signing up for our newsletter! You won't want to miss out on this one!
1. Vietnam
This country is something special. There are not many countries that have such a huge variety of things to do and places to see in a relatively small space. From the crazy city of Ho Chi Minh to the beautiful lantern-lit Hoi An to the peaceful and beautiful Halong Bay, Vietnam is perfect for exploring no matter your bank balance.
Top "budget-friendly" places to see in Vietnam:
- War Remnants Museum (Ho Chi Minh) - Around $2 for entry
- Hoi An Evening Boat Ride - Around $4 per person for 30 mins
- Hanoi's Old Quarter - Free to explore
- Beer Street (Hanoi) - Around 50p for a beer (crazy right!!!)
Rough prices in Vietnam:
- Beer: 40p/$0.80
- Local meal: £1.50 ‒ £4 / €2 ‒ €5
- Western meal: £8 ‒ £10 / €10 ‒ €12
- Hostel: £5 ‒ £12 / €6 ‒ €15
- 3-star hotel night: £25 ‒ £60 / €30 ‒ €70
2. Thailand
The land of smiles and luckily healthy bank accounts, too! We LOVE Thailand, we love the fact that you can live a very modest lifestyle here and explore some of the most beautiful places in the world without it costing the earth! The fact that a beach day is one of the cheapest ways to spend your time is FINE with us! We also will never get over how kind the locals are here, honestly, everything about this place is incredible, and if you are looking for a place to backpack and not spend loads, you have to go to Thailand!
Top "budget-friendly" places to see in Thailand:
- Lumpini Park (Bangkok) - Free to explore
- The Big Buddha (Phuket) - Free to explore
- Bua Thong Waterfalls - Free to explore
Rough prices in Thailand:
- Beer: £1.20 ‒ £2.50 / €1.40 ‒ €3
- Local meal: £1.50 ‒ £4 / €2 ‒ €5
- Western meal: £8 ‒ £18 / €9 ‒ €20
- Hostel: £7 ‒ £20 / €8 ‒ €22
- 3-star hotel night: £40 ‒ £90 / €45 ‒ €100
3. Indonesia
Now, alot of people think Indonesia is home to luxury hotels, insane Airbnbs, 5* restaurants, and whilst that is the case in some areas, it is still easily possible to get a more authentic and cheaper experience in Indonesia and it is still a perfect option for backpackers on a budget. Whether you want to go more off the radar in Sumatra, hit up the party spots in Bali and Gili or explore some of the most beautiful islands around the Komodos, Indonesia has everything you could want, at every level of budget too!
Top "budget-friendly" places to see in Indonesia:
- Beaches - All free to explore
- Mount Batur Hike - Costs around £20 for a guide but it is a must-do!
- Cooking class - £10-30 but you get lunch included and it is such an amazing experience
Rough prices in Indonesia:
- Beer: £1.20 ‒ £2.50 / €1.40 ‒ €3
- Local meal: £1 ‒ £3 / €1.20 ‒ €3.50
- Western meal: £6 ‒ £12 / €7 ‒ €14
- Hostel: £5 ‒ £15 / €6 ‒ €18
- 3-star hotel night: £30 ‒ £70 / €35 ‒ €80
4. Morocco
You don't have to go to Asia to get great value for money when you travel! Morocco is also one of the easiest places to travel on a backpacker budget. You can wander through the chaotic souks of Marrakech, trek the Atlas Mountains, or ride camels across the Sahara Desert, without spending a fortune. From budget-friendly hostels to boutique riads and everything in between, Morocco caters to every type of traveller and every budget.
Top "budget-friendly" places to see in Morocco:
- Souks - Free to walk around
- Jemaa el-Fna Square - Free to walk around
- Hike the Atlas Mountains - Best to hire a guide for this one!
- Beaches of Essaouira - Free to walk along
Rough prices in Morocco:
- Beer: £2 ‒ £4 / €2.30 ‒ €4.50
- Local meal: £2 ‒ £5 / €2.50 ‒ €6
- Western meal: £8 ‒ £15 / €9 ‒ €18
- Hostel: £5 ‒ £15 / €6 ‒ €18
- 3-star hotel night: £40 ‒ £80 / €45 ‒ €90
Our best tours for budget travellers...
Other key tips for saving money whilst travelling:
1. Always eat local - this way you get a more authentic experience and you will get so much more for your money too.
2. Use public transport or buddy up with other travellers - the more the merrier and the cheaper too!
3. Overnight transport - this way, you don't waste any more time and can save money on accommodation.
4. Travel light - this will ensure you don't get stung for excess budget or have to pay for extra seats on buses etc.
5. Haggle (where it’s normal) - Markets in Africa and Asia expect you to haggle; never settle for the first price.
6. Travel off-peak - go in off-season, it's quieter, cheaper and often cooler too!
So there you go! These are our top four destinations for travelling on a budget. Whatever your bank account is saying, there is a dream adventure out there waiting to be taken. Oh and remeber if you want to do a budget backpacking trip where everything is already sorted we have something VERY exciting coming, which is going to change the way you travel. Imagine all the best parts of community travel without the price. Be the first to hear about this exciting new addition to TruTravels by signing up for our newsletter! You won't want to miss out on this one! Or you can check out our best deals now to save a few £££ asap!
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