When the words “cheap vacation” do not bring to mind far-off metropolises, distant beaches, or even thrilling safari drives, it is time to expand your travel horizons. Budgeted vacations should not be relegated because underwhelming domestic trips or tourist-teeming hotels.
Suddenly Affordable Vacations 2018
Due to enlarging air routes, flight deals, and positive exchange rates, bucket-list adventures are more affordable than everif you know where to look. Here’s where to go for the very best value on a recently affordable vacation in 2018, before everybody gets there.
Hong Kong, China
Dreaming of sailboats at Victoria Harbor, but budgeting for an affordable vacation? West Coasters might have the ability to get there for less than they’d spend flying across the U.S.–Hong Kong Airlines started flights between L.A. and Hong Kong in late 2017 who have been selling for under $500 round-trip. That’s roughly $33 for every hour you will invest in the air.
Once you arrive, Hong Kong is the oyster: Visit wineries, sample road food, and peruse restaurants and stores on your walking tour, or book one through Viator (our sister site). Use fast and inexpensive travel options such as public transit to learn more about the corners of the bustling island; hop the ferry to Kowloon for a view of this island’s cityscape and to learn more about the mainland. Hotel rooms for under $150 each night are easy to find, therefore with the right airfare, Hong Kong could cost you about the same as an affordable vacation to some American hubs.
Seattle
Sprawling stateside hubs could be surprisingly affordable travel options if you’re willing to take a budget airline and forego your carry-on bag. Spirit Airlines recently launched daily seasonal Seattle flights through Chicago O’Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, and Minneapolis-St. Paul, therefore the Puget Sound’s parks, seafood, and surrounding natural scenery just got a lot closer (and cheaper) for many Americans.
Sri Lanka
A surprisingly affordable vacation that is as dreamy as (and less crowded than) India or Thailand, Sri Lanka’s rapid growth as a tourism destination implies its air paths are rapidly becoming cheaper while the island’s on-the-ground costs continue to be ultra-affordable.
Flights from the East Coast are as low as $700 round-trip from New York City during monsoon season. Once you arrive, food and lodging won’t cost you much more: “Sri Lanka 3-star hotels begin at just $13 per night,” Senior Editor Jessica Bisesto of deal-hunting website TravelPirates says. “Meals are inexpensive and budget travelers may enjoy three square meals from $9 per day.”
It’s true that tasty local Sri Lankan cuisine–chop chop, hoppers, lamprais–may cost as little as $3 per meal. However, larger tourist areas like Mirissa’s shore resorts and Colombo’s larger hotels will obviously charge more, so keep in mind that it is worth it to get off the beaten path. Most Sri Lankan sailors talk English, and rainy season remains a rewarding time to visit: you will possess cave temples and wildlife safaris virtually to yourself.
London, United Kingdom
The U.K. is now a far more affordable travel area in recent years due to largely negative news for England: Brexit contributed to an economic recession, and recent high-profile terror attacks have left some tourists think twice about visiting. However, there’s one motive for the newfound significance of England: enlarging air routes.
The newest carrier to launch London transatlantic service is Primera Air, which now flies from Boston to London and Birmingham for as low as $99 one-way. British Airways also recently established flights to Nashville–introducing the region’s first non-stop route to England, which opens the door to an affordable holiday across the pond for an whole region of Americans. International low-cost carriers WOW and Norwegian Air offer avenues from round the U.S. that continue to cost as little as $69 one-way, and are still growing.
Once you’re across the pond, Airbnb is thriving in London with an average rental rate of $115 per night, and sister-site TripAdvisor Holiday Rentals are in no brief supply. Undercut big-city restaurant costs by grocery shopping so that you may eat in certain days, and also the case for converting your dollars to those now-only-slightly-pricier pounds has never been stronger.
Turks and Caicos
After hurricanes Harvey and Irma last year, much of the Caribbean will undoubtedly want to rebound through tourism in 2018. Expect lower-than-average resort prices to lure travelers looking for an affordable vacation: Islands like Grand Turk have recovered entirely, which means it is possible to feel good about going into a destination which depends on tourism bouncing back.
Round-trip flights are approximately $350 from northeastern cities such as New York and Boston, and $200 from Florida. On top of that, you won’t need to worry about converting your U.S. bucks.
Botswana
You may never become a royal like Meghan Markle, but you can travel like one on a surprisingly inexpensive holiday. England’s Prince Harry and the American actress made headlines for post at his preferred safari camp in Botswana–but the nation is also perfect for a reasonable holiday if you’re looking for a value safari.
Explore the Okavango Delta on a 10-day trip with Intrepid Travel for $1,100, which contains a neighborhood guide, transportation, a few meals, and experiences in a rhino sanctuary, Chobe National Park (famous for the large population of elephants), and Zimbabwe’s famous Victoria Falls. The trip begins in Johannesburg, where flights to and from the U.S. are surprisingly affordable travel choice: Fares as low as $800 round-trip from hubs like New York and Los Angeles aren’t uncommon in the off-season (December through April).
Argentina
Airfare to far-off Argentina can be a splurge, particularly in contrast to the rest of South America–but costs on lodging only dropped substantially for one big reason. Argentina’s government recently lifted its hefty VAT (value-added tax) which has imposed a 21 percent growth on hotel stays for global visitors. The tourism-friendly change means four and three hotels are often priced around $100 per night, so you can consider bucket-list spots like Buenos Aires and Mendoza wine country at 21 percentage off.
Argentina’s currency has also swung in Americans’ favor lately: One U.S. dollar is currently worth about 19 Argentine Pesos (for up-to-date currency conversion test XE.com). For comparison, in early 2017, the dollar was worth roughly 15 Argentine Pesos. There is also no lack of free things to do on an Argentine cheap vacation in Buenos Aires: stroll the botanical gardens, check out the ecological reserve, visit the famous Recoleta Cemetery, or take advantage of a free regional walking tour.
Hawaii
Low-cost carrier Southwest declared in late 2017 that it will soon begin selling fares to Hawaii, which will probably create competition that will drive down Hawaii flight prices on other airlines too–a phenomenon known as the Southwest Effect. Few details about Southwest’s proposed service have been provided up, but keep an eye out for cheap fares out of West Coast hubs as Southwest reveals more info.