All of us have an inner desire to travel around the world. If traveling was free, maybe none of us would be where we are now. Well, that’s not possible in this world. But there are definitely places to travel internationally in a cost-effective way. The budget-friendly places are, in fact, rich in culture with beautiful landscapes and unique food.
From cutting down your stress, expanding your horizons, getting away from ignorance and prejudice to sharpening your character, developing inner-confidence, traveling has several benefits. It’s exhilarating to explore the endless destinations this world offers. After a prolonged period of locking ourselves with four walls of house reading, watching movies, and getting intrigued by photos of idyllic places, people worldwide are now trying to adapt to the new normal of traveling, thanks to rapid vaccination rollout. As border re-opens and novice travelers are poised to roam and see the world with itchy feet and a moderate budget, conscious travel begins. Choosing destinations wisely can get you much further in low-cost countries with limited budgets. Here are the top 10 cheap places to travel internationally for budget-friendly backpackers and visitors. They are affordable and offer a plethora of natural wonder, unique cultural experiences, and opportunities to make memories that’ll last a long time.
1. Vietnam
One of Asia’s fastest-growing countries, Vietnam, is getting more expensive every year, but backpacking is still cheap in this beautiful yet underrated country. Although money needed to visit Vietnam depends on the food you eat, the standard of accommodation, and facilities used, one can still travel to Vietnam on a backpacker budget of 40$ or less. You will get to enjoy limited luxuries but will definitely savor a taste of local cuisines. You can get the most for precious dollars in Vietnam by choosing a motorbike, bus for transport, medium-rated accommodation, and shopping for souvenirs or other gifts on barter. The entry fees on museums and historical sites are reasonable and worth visiting. Endowed with lush tropical islands, booming metropolises, towering limestone karsts, Vietnam is a thriving and fun country to travel around.
Cheap places for backpackers in Vietnam-Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An Ancient Town. Don’t miss the thrilling adventure in the town of Phong Nha that is home to Hang En, the world’s third-biggest cave.
2. Cambodia
The inevitable rising price in Cambodia doesn’t stop it from being a budget destination. It is one of the cheap places to travel internationally for roughly $30 per day or $1000 per month with comfortable hotels, tasty, reasonable food. The low cost of food and accommodation will give travelers opportunities to visit Angkor Wat, Sihanoukville, Phnom Penh, Tonle, Battambang, Kep, and many more. Angkor Wat is set above 35 USD, but the price is fair for the vast archeological park, the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You can stay in dorms or hostels to save your cost, use a motorbike or intercity bus to access the places. Trekking the Cardamom mountain region will give you a slice of Cambodian village life, biodiversity experience and hence not to be missed.
3. Thailand
Thailand, whose day-to-day expenses are less than in other countries, is on the list of cheap places to travel internationally. North of Thailand is economical compared to the southern part, representing luxury on a budget with few upscale resorts and beach fun. One can travel to Thailand on average of $50 dollars a day that includes sleeping in decent hotels, eating delicious seafood dinner and relaxing at beaches, but it can be minimized to $30 dollars per day on places like Chiang Mai, Pai, making way amid rice fields, Buddhist temples, and hill tribes, choosing backpacker dorm bed and eating local, authentic foods on economic restaurants.
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Cheap flight costs, non-peak season, and budget lodging can be cost-saving travel strategies to Thailand.
4. Indonesia
Home to thousands of volcanic and tropical islands, Indonesia is an Eden of natural beauty with a spellbinding variety of flora and faunas. In terms of accommodation and fooding, the country has a cost-effective price. By western standards, Indonesia is one of the cheapest places to travel internationally that require an average budget of $25 dollar per day with careful budgeting. Luxury goods can cost higher to purchase.
Transportation can vary your costs dramatically. Local transportation is the tip to avoid high costs. Hiking, visiting waterfalls, slouching in a hammock by white sand beaches, venture into jungles and savannahs are economical to indulge yourself in. Sumatra, Solo, Java, Flores are cheaper than Bali. Countless natural landscapes, majestic mountain views, blue flame spewing volcanoes are intriguing to explore.
5. Brazil
The South American country of Brazil is the world’s fifth-largest country that is endowed with ample water resources. But traveling to this idyllic country of gob-smackingly huge waterfalls and colorful beach towns may be possible on a shoestring budget. Canteen meals are available in Brazil, where you pay for the weight of your meal. Outside the main tourism spots, shopping, traveling cost low. Museums and beaches are mostly free, and café food and public transit are low-priced. Sao Paulo, Itacare, Praia do Future, Florianopolis, Cabo Frio are some of the budget-friendly places in Brazil.
Make the most of your vacation break by seeing the bay of Rio de Janeiro, Bahia Coast, nearly deserted beaches with natural pools of Brazil. Brazil is a rewarding place to explore on the backpacker budget of $40 a day.
6. Laos
Once shielded from the outside world, Laos is the perfect place to experience a low-key rural vibe and authenticity. Sparsely populated, mountainous country is untouched by mass tourism and has brooding jungle, remote villages, emerald paddy fields, and epic waterfalls waiting to be explored. Adventurous activities such as trekking, zip-lining, kayaking, hot-air ballooning are performed at a low budget price. It is a heave for adrenaline junkies to test their physical and mental fitness. Accommodation facilities are also low-budget to cater to the increasing number of backpackers.
An average of $20-$40 dollars is enough to spend your day in this perfect lust-worthy landscape. Kuang Si falls, Vang Vieng Elephant Sanctuary, Buddha Park, Pha Ngern View Point, and Patuxai are places to travel economically in Laos.
7. Nepal
Land of the highest mountain in the world, Nepal is brilliantly set up for budget travelers, welcoming visitors with the snow-capped Himalayas, dense jungle plains, and 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, has the honor of possessing a fully-fledged ancient and medieval civilization. Culturally Kathmandu can be called a living museum for people of the jet age. In addition to culture and history, tourists are also attracted by snow peaks, lakes, gorges, glaciers, forests, and biodiversity, reflecting physiographic, climatological, and wide altitudinal variations. It’s hard to believe such a beautiful country offering once in a lifetime experience, and adventure is a cheap place to travel internationally for tourists. Mountaineering, trekking is synonymous with tourism in Nepal. You can stroll around the serenity of the country at a backpacker budget of $28 dollars a day.
Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan are the must-go places for tourists, while other places are equally beautiful ecologically, historically, and culturally. You’ll find the most hospitable people in the world in Nepal.
8. Romania
If you are willing for a European trip at an affordable rate, Romania may be your destination. The most sought-after places in Romania are Bucharest, Timisoara, Danube (that specializes in natural beauty), castles, mountains, and forests. In the low season, flights and accommodation offer low rates. Guesthouses and apartments are quite famous for offering good value for money in Romania for cheap places to travel internationally.
Cluj-Napoca, Brasov, Sibiu, Lasi are captivating cities of Romania outside Bucharest to take a stroll through medieval villages or visit parks or perform those activities that won’t strain your budget much. Romania has a good public transportation system such as buses, the train which is reliable and affordable. The average daily budget for backpackers is $40 in Romania.
9. Bolivia
Bolivia is a great country for tourists seeking South American experience on a budget. From the world’s highest navigable lake Titicaca to the high energy capital La Paz to the city’s preserved colonial buildings or white-washed facades, Bolivia has it all. It is a cheap place to travel internationally in the post-pandemic period.
You can pass through long winding roads off the beaten path, take a Death Road bicycle trip, wander along with Calle Jaen, or take a jeep tour of Salar de Uyuni. The ethnically diverse Bolivia will not faze adventure travelers with its remoteness. You can bust the budget of just $25 a day for backpacking or spend a $45 mid-range budget per day to South America’s ultimate cheapie destination.
10. Turkey
Turkey is a fabulous country encompassing stunning Blue Mosque in Istanbul, endless golden beaches along Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, Pamukkale village, cave cities, Roman ruins, etc. Turkish food is delicious that costs next to nothing in local places. Guesthouses are small and friendly, and hustling bazaars are economical to get a tour of.
A minimum of $30 a day is enough for backpackers to plan their bucket-list-worthy items on Turkey. You can save money by avoiding an overnight bus ride that costs $30-$60.
