Because we be short on cash and high on life.
As Spring Break draws near for many students, it's my solemn duty as your self-appointed Travel Guru to convince you not to take that trip to Miami this year. Trust me, we can do better than that.
As a current grad student, I get the stress of floundering for cash. And living in Paris, I can personally tell you that monthly rent is where a major portion of my cash goes. But when I do get those days off, or have a free long weekend, I've found quite a few ways to check off my travel bucket list without going broke.
So, here are my top 10 destinations for those traveling on a budget!
1. Ko Phi Phi, Thailand
Thailand is an extremely popular tourist location for young travelers. The cost of flights and accommodations make even the most luxurious vacation only as expensive as the cost of living in a major city! Thailand also makes it super easy to island hop, but your final destination should definitely be Ko Phi Phi.
Instead of dealing with the hustle and bustle of more popular cities like Bangkok, you can travel to the Phi Phi Islands and enjoy white sand beaches and crystal clear water. A mixture of lush greenery and mountainous terrain makes this location a unique blend of natural that you can enjoy with a cocktail in the sun. Not a bad deal at all for one of the cheapest places to travel!
2. Cusco, Peru
The former capital of the powerful Inca Empire holds amazing ancient ruins, and I'm not just talking about Machu Picchu. In addition to ancient cities that you and your Spring Break squad can hike and camp around, the entire city of Cusco is speckled with the distinct remains of the Spanish settlements that were created when the region was conquered.
It is a place that everyone should visit, and because of its affordability and accessibility, it is an ideal place for young people to travel to! Tell your buddies that they'd better get in shape, though, cuz you'll be in for a bunch of hiking!
3. Cobán, Guatemala
This Guatemalan city is a nature lover’s dream destination. Experience the natural waterfalls and caves surrounding the city. The city is a good home base, and you can easily take day trips to places like Las Victorias National Park, which has tons of beautiful hiking trails through the wooded expanse of the park.
One of the few issues with traveling to Guatemala is how far away the different sites are from one another, but in the case of Cobán, you are in an area that could keep you exploring forever. Which means less spending on transportation!
4. Budapest, Hungary
Surprisingly, Budapest is often overlooked by those unfamiliar with the region, even though this city is ripe with stellar nightlife, beautiful achitecture and history, and great food.
Hotels and daily expenses here are rather cheap, and recent building booms have created “hotels” that use empty apartments, giving travelers affordable access to high scale accommodations! The city feels young and full of life because it is very easy to travel to on a budget. The city is also very walkable, and public transportation is cheap and reliable.
5. Bali, Indonesia
With a distinct blend of culture and breathtaking scenery, Bali is like no other place on Earth. It's defnitely one of the top places to visit on my bucket list. You can make the most of a trip to Indonesia because enjoying yourself only requires you to step outside. It's a city meant for exploring, and is definitely for you and your group of y'all are the adventurous type.
But Bali has room for relaxation and pampering, too. Every seen those cute photos of people bathing in flower baths? They were probably in Bali. At the end of the night, you can find cheap and high-quality sleeping accommodations, with some three-star hotels costing as little as $17 a night! But with a more lenient budget, you can also get extravagant without stretching yourself too thin.
6. Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
A majestic green landscape with a variety of natural marvels, one of the most breathtaking of which being the many waterfalls!
This destination is very friendly toward young travelers on a budget, from amazing experiences like zip lining through the forest to visiting elephants at a national park! You can also get great hotels without spending anywhere close to a fortune, and transportation is also very cheap. Train is the way to go in this country, and being the gem of the Indian Ocean, a train through Sri Lanka always comes with a view!
7. Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Most people who are looking to travel internationally for the first time will start their journey with Vietnam. It's a very tourist-friendly country, is slow-paced, and affordable. A great city to visit is Ho Chi Minh, as it is centrally located among a wide variety of popular destinations in the country. It has both historical and cultural landmarks, mixed with sprawling city streets and access to nature. The best of both worlds!
This city has the perfect blend of possible activities for those looking to get a diverse group of friends interested in a trip. So while some of you hit up the expansive markets for shopping, others can hit the beach with a margharita in hand.
8. Kos, Greece
Greece is always overlooked as a pick for the cheapest places to travel, with most tourists only flocking to Athens on the mainland or the islands Santorini and Mykonos. However, I would recommend the island of Kos over all else. The average price of a hotel is around $35, and there are tons of cheap (even free!) outdoor activities to do in this scenic paradise!
Greece is one of the most historically significant places in the world. From literature to philosophy to government, Greece will more than satisfy anyone looked for a little culture on their trip. Soak up some of that history or soak up some sun on the many beaches of Kos!
9. Malaysia, Southeast Asia
Malaysia is often perceived as expensive. On top of that, a few people told me it wasn’t worth staying long. However, the country has so much to offer beyond the city, from the Cameron Highlands, to the jungles of Borneo, to the gorgeous islands. And it's not as expensive to make the most of it as you might think.
An overnight bus from Kuala Lumpur to the Perhentian Islands costs as little as $8, and there are so many interesting local neighborhoods and markets that are free to explore. And from the few times I've had the priviledge of tasting authetic Malaysian cuisine, I can tell you that the food is like no other.
Malaysia is also one of the cheapest places in the world to get a PADI scuba diving certificate. So, if you're into that...
10. Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Costa Rica is known for its universally low cost of living, which extends perfectly to tourists. It's beautiful beaches and rainforests are just the icing on the cake.
With beaches like the Playa Grande where you might catch a glimpse of gigantic leatherback turtles, and a wildlife refuge filled with howler monkeys, this place is truly a unique experience for those who love animals and nature.
If animals and wildlife are not quite your speed, take a walk along the coast or learn to surf in the beautifully clear Costa Rican waves. Hotel prices can be a little steep towards the higher end resorts, but Tamarindo is very doable on a budget!
There! Now you've got a new Spring Break list to share with your friends when you-know-who tries to get y'all to go to Miami Beach again this year.
And just between you and me, a Giant Cocktail in Costa Rica is about 5 bucks cheaper than what you'd be spending in Miami...
