Traveling cheaply is possible in many countries due to the difference in relative economy. Deciding on the level of tourism infrastructure and budget is important. Asia, Eastern Europe, Central and South America, and Africa offer affordable travel options with varying levels of comfort and tourism infrastructure.
To travel cheap, you don’t need to have special connections or be willing to sleep out every night and live on very little food. Indeed, in many countries of the world, it is possible to travel cheaply with a very high standard of living, simply because the difference in relative economy between many economically advanced nations and those countries is so great.
When looking to travel on the cheap, there are a few things you need to decide. The first is if you want to be somewhere that has a fairly established tourism infrastructure, which will be more convenient but not as cheap, or if you feel comfortable making your own way in a country or region that may not be set up for tourists. You can often travel cheap and stay in nice places while traveling off the beaten track, but it requires a little more ingenuity and an ability to go with the flow.
The second important thing you need to decide is where in the world you want to travel and what exactly you mean when you want to travel cheap. If that means spending $5 US Dollars (USD) a day, you’ll be limited to the cheapest regions of the world, otherwise you’ll end up sacrificing a lot of comfort. If, on the other hand, $20 USD a day qualifies as being able to travel cheap, then you won’t have a problem in much of the world.
In Asia, many of the countries that are not very popular as tourist destinations are very cheap. Cambodia and Laos, for example, are remarkably cheap locations. Lodging on the low end can be found for just a few dollars a day, and nice rooms can also be found for around $10 USD a day. Meals rarely cost more than a dollar or two, and even restaurants that cater to tourists cost around $5 USD for a good meal. It’s easy enough to travel cheap to Cambodia in relative luxury for $20 USD a day, and Laos is even cheaper. Much of Southeast Asia is incredibly cheap, and travelers on a budget will also find incredible deals in Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Within countries, the cheapest destinations are usually the least attractive to mainstream tourists. So, for example, in Indonesia Bali is relatively expensive compared to other lesser known islands. Similarly, in Cambodia, the city of Siem Reap, near the Angkor complex, is considerably more expensive on average than a small beach town like Sihanoukville.
In Europe, most of the best low-cost travel opportunities are found in Eastern Europe. Countries like Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Hungary all offer solid tourism infrastructure and beautiful European destinations, at a fraction of the cost of Western European nations.
Much of Central and South America is also very cheap to travel. Venezuela, Honduras, Guatemala, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia are some of the best deals for relatively stable countries. Countries like Costa Rica, which were very affordable at one point, have gotten a bit more expensive since they’ve become more popular with Western tourists and expats.
And, of course, most of Africa is very cheap to travel, although it can be expensive to get there. Countries like Ghana offer incredible deals, while still having enough tourism infrastructure that most travelers will feel safe and comfortable navigating. Ethiopia and Egypt also offer affordable accommodation and food, and have rich histories and cultures that make them prime destinations.
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