The magnificence of costly places has its allure, but let’s face it: the more pricey a place is, the more you have to adapt the length of your stay and your activities to extend your dollar.
There’s something to be said about going to low-cost nations, where a complete meal at a nearby diner costs the same as a movie ticket back home — or where you can sleep in a great hotel for the same price as a hostel bed elsewhere.
Check out this article for some of the most affordable countries in various places across the world, as well as why you should consider visiting them.
Egypt is the most affordable country for history buffs
Several nations throughout the world are more than merely inexpensive for individuals interested in ancient civilisations. You may visit India to view the magnificence of the Taj Mahal, Jordan to see old temples and tombs, or Peru to climb through the ruins of Machu Picchu.
But Egypt, with its 13th-century BC Abu Simbel Temples, Great Sphinx of Giza, Valley of the Kings, and pyramids, takes the top slot. Even a limited budget will go a long way in Egypt, where you may access the historic Abu Simbel Temples, have a complete guided trip from Luxor to the Valley of the Kings or spend countless hours eating excellent local hot beverages and sweets at one of Cairo’s numerous teahouses for the cost of a movie ticket.
While there are cheap hotels around Egypt, you may save even more money by taking a three-night cruise from Aswan to Luxor.
The Dominican Republic is the least expensive Caribbean country to visit
The Caribbean is one of those areas where using vacation packages, and all-inclusive accommodations may sometimes turn out to be less expensive than budgeting on your own – and the Dominican Republic is no exception.
If you’re travelling to Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, or another popular beach location, restaurants and lodgings will be your highest costs since prices skyrocket during the high season, which lasts from mid-December to mid-April. Sun worshipers who don’t mind temps in the 30s may benefit from visiting during the summer, considered low season and significantly cheaper.
There are many free activities to see and do in the Dominican Republic. This involves going around to admire the colonial architecture and visiting offbeat museums like Santo Domingo’s free Museum of Chocolate. Punta Cana’s Playa Blanca (White Beach) is ideal for snorkelling; carry your mask to avoid paying for one.
Uganda is Africa’s cheapest safari destination
Kenya and Tanzania are well-known picture safari locations across the world. The Serengeti and Maasai Mara reserves boast the world’s greatest giraffe, lion, and elephant populations. However, safari camps are not cheap, and both nations suffer from civil upheaval, which sometimes requires travellers to join guided tours to see anything outside of the capital — and this implies additional costs that make the countries less than economical.
On the other hand, Uganda is a safe and stable country with lots of huge creatures to view and one very special extra: it is the perfect location for gorilla trekking and the only site in the world with significant populations of mountain gorillas living free.
The laws for gorilla trekking are highly rigorous, and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park may only be visited in small groups by acquiring a trekking permit and then taking a guided trip into the bush. Although gorilla trekking permits are neither cheap nor simple to get (the waiting period can be as long as 24 months due to the limited amount of tickets available each year), a trip here is still extremely reasonable for a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife-viewing adventure.
Bolivia is the least expensive South American country
Bolivia is sometimes overlooked in favour of its more well-known neighbours Peru and Brazil, but this nation at the heart of the Andean mountain range offers an impressive variety of attractions to see. Bolivia is a multiethnic nation with 36 official languages and ecology ranging from arid llanos (plains) to the western Andes polar highlands.
Many of Bolivia’s most renowned attractions are free to see, including Lake Titicaca (the biggest lake in South America), a variety of Pre-Columbian archaeological sites, the salt lake Laguna Verde at the base of a volcano, and the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat.
Trekking through the Valle de la Luna is an unforgettable experience, and the protected region is free to enter – strolling among the tall stone spires and beautiful mountainsides in reds, browns, and even dark violets outperform nearly any desert climb in the world.
Portugal is the most budget-friendly Western European nation to visit
Thanks to the excellent bus, tram, and rail connections, it’s simple to go across Portugal on a budget. While Lisbon is slightly more costly, dining and entertainment are quite affordable across the country — even renowned famous beach areas such as Camilo Beach in the Algarve can be visited on a shoestring if you organise your vacation wisely and don’t need to sleep directly on the beach.
Because the forthcoming peak season in Portugal lasts only two months (June and July), going outside of those months will allow you to locate better prices on transportation and lodging, allowing you to save even more money. Winter is also a fantastic season to travel for excellent deals, especially if you’re going to cities – with temperatures in January hovering around 15 degrees Celsius, Portugal is never very chilly.
The majority of Lisbon and Sintra must-see sights include the mediaeval defensive Belem Tower, the Gothic Jerónimos Monastery, and the public square Praça do Comércio, which shops and cafés flank. These are either free to enter or have a low entry fee.
Sintra is home to various palaces and castles, including the spectacular hilltop mediaeval Castle of the Moors, which do charge admission, but bypassing the tours and simply strolling the grounds is equally beautiful and substantially less expensive.