I have a friend who’s obsessed with “traveling” on Google Earth. Anytime he’s on a long conference call at work, he’ll use the app to virtually explore tropical islands and far-off cities. “Why don’t you go there?” I always ask. He shakes his head. “I can’t afford to travel,” he says.

He can, though. And you can too. The world offers an enormous variety of cheap places to travel! Here are a few destinations we suggest. Just remember the golden rule of budget travel: Protect your trip with travel insurance. Look for a plan that includes both trip cancellation/interruption benefits and emergency medical and dental benefits. You can’t risk losing your hard-earned vacation money, should you have to cancel your trip last-minute, and you definitely don’t want to pay thousands of dollars for emergency medical care overseas. 

Cheap places to travel in Europe

Budget travelers often think Europe’s out of reach. It’s not! Many countries remain surprisingly affordable, although you’ll have to watch the euro’s exchange rate to the dollar. Also, consider traveling off season. You can save 30 to 50 percent on a European vacation if you travel in spring instead of summer, says Simone Amorico, a co-owner of Access Europe.ⁱ

The romantic Czech capital of Prague is U.S. News’ number-one cheap vacation destination in Europe. Despite its popularity with tourists, you can still find inexpensive hotel rooms, especially if you visit in the spring or fall, and many of its attractions are free. The Savvy Backpacker estimates that budget travelers will spend around $23 to $40 per day.ⁱⁱ

Rīga, the seaside capital of Latvia, is another fantastic budget travel destination. It’s known for its ornate Gothic and Art Nouveau architecture, cobblestoned Old Town, and enormous central market. Just outside of town is the pretty beach resort of Jūrmala and Gauja National Park, where you can explore ruined castles and a cave. Your daily travel budget: around $26 to $41.ⁱⁱⁱ

We’re currently obsessed with the Eurasian nation of Georgia and its capital of Tbilisi, a tangle of churches, red-roofed houses, ancient fortresses and raucous taverns. “Sure, the electricity might still go out at times,” says National Geographic writer Tara Isabella Burton. “But Georgians will light candles, shrug, and pour you another drink.”^iv And you can spend just $17 per day.^v

Cheap places to travel in Asia

Southeast Asia remains a favorite destination for budget travelers, although it can be a challenge to score a cheap flight. The hands-down cheapest place to travel is the Vietnamese city of Hanoi, according to PriceofTravel’s analysis.^vi Wander the maze-like Old Quarter, visit venerable temples, and pick up a few treasures at Dong Xuan Market.^vii Daily travel expenses are under $20 per day, if you choose hostels or a budget hotel. Hanoi is even home to the world’s cheapest beer: bia hơi, an ultra-light brew that’s made fresh every day and served for around 40 cents a glass at outdoor cafés.^viii

The 700-year-old city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand draws tourists to its gleaming Buddhist temples and savory street-food vendors. Just outside of town, you can trek through jungled mountains and visit elephant sanctuaries. The daily cost for visiting Chiang Mai, estimated by budget travel blogger Nomadic Matt, is around $25 per day (assuming you stay in a hostel and eat inexpensive street food.)^ix

Goa, on India’s western coast, was a Portuguese colony for nearly 350 years. This heritage, combined with its reputation as a hippie haven in the 1960s, has given Goa a flavor you’ll find nowhere else on earth. North Goa is known for nightclubs and beach parties, South Goa for natural beauty and serene stretches of sand.^x If you’re living the backpacker lifestyle, you can experience Goa for around $22 per day.^xi                                        

Cheap places to travel in South America

Some of the best cheap vacation destinations lie just to the south of the United States — and airfare will likely be cheaper than if you’re visiting Europe or Asia. 

Cartagena, Colombia, is an “elegant, sexy (and crumbling) city on South America’s Caribbean coast,” as The Points Guy puts it, or “a less crowded New Orleans or San Juan without the glitz.”^xii Cartagena has it all: a charming old quarter, inviting beaches, and fabulous food. And while certain areas of Colombia are dangerous, Cartagena is generally considered safe for tourists. Frugal travelers may be able to explore Cartagena for $25-$40 per day.^xiii 

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, tops everyone’s list of budget travel destinations in South America. Perched high in the mountains (beware of altitude sickness), Quito has more historical and classical architecture than any other Latin American city.^xiv Favorite tourist activities include riding a cable car to the top of Pichincha Volcano and visiting the world’s highest point on the equator (more or less), “Mitad Del Mundo”. How cheap is Quito? The least expensive hostel accommodations are around $6 per night, and you can catch a bus anywhere in Quito for 25 cents.^xv

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