Cheap Holiday: cheap holiday

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2 Temmuz 2016 Cumartesi

1 – Carnival Cruise Lines (cheapest)

7 nights from: $304 per person
(Miami, Florida → At Sea → Cozumel, Mexico → Belize City, Belize → Mahogany Bay, Honduras → Georgetown, Grand Cayman → At Sea → Miami, Florida)
4 nights from: $154 per person
(Miami, Florida → Key West, Florida → Cozumel, Mexico → At Sea → Miami, Florida)

If you want to leave from one of the Florida ports near a major airport, Carnival Cruise Lines is the low-price leader. The 7-night cruise is on the Carnival Glory, which is now based year-round in Miami and can carry 2,974 passengers.
Carnival and its “Fun Ships” slogan are very popular with first-time cruise passengers, and especially younger people and families, primarily from the United States and Canada.

2 – MSC Cruises

7 nights from: $329
(Miami, Florida → At Sea → At Sea → Philipsburg (St. Maarten), Netherlands Antilles → San Juan, Puerto Rico → At Sea → Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas → Miami, Florida)

Started in Italy, MSC only recently entered the North American cruise market with these winter Caribbean excursions. In the rest of the world, MSC cruises tend to be dominated by European guests, but now with their Miami-based cruises they attract mostly a North American crowd on these. They used to have 2 formal nights per cruise, and now the buffet restaurant is casual all the time, although the main dining room is a bit more formal. This sailing is on the MSC Divina, which can carry as many as 3,959 passengers.

3 – Norwegian Cruise Line

7-nights from: $349
(Miami, Florida → At Sea → At Sea → Ocho Rios, Jamaica → Georgetown, Grand Cayman → Cozumel, Mexico → At Sea → Miami, Florida)

Norwegian Cruise Line is famous for pioneering the “freestyle cruising” concept, where passengers can select from a wide range of restaurants and activities and go whenever they like rather than on a rigid schedule. This cruise is on the Norwegian Epic, carrying a maximum of 4,200 passengers, which counts more than 20 freestyle-dining restaurants on board. This massive ship also has extensive children’s programs, branded by Nickelodeon.

4 – Princess Cruises

7 nights from: $479
(Houston, Texas → At Sea → At Sea → Roatan, Honduras → Belize City, Belize → Cozumel, Mexico → At Sea → Houston, Texas)
4 nights from: $279 per person
(Fort Lauderdale, Florida → At Sea → Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands → At Sea → Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

A slightly upscale division of Carnival, the Princess Cruises leaves from Houston on this run and explores Mexico and Central America rather than the more common islands to their east. The Emerald Princess can carry 3,100 passengers having been recently renovated to include many of the newest and most popular features of the day.

Not as casual and fun-minded as the cheapest Caribbean cruises, the Princess sailings attract a bit more formality and a higher age range, though families with children are mixed in as well. Expect mostly Americans and Canadians on these cruises, with a sprinkling of Brits and other Europeans.

5 – Royal Caribbean International

7 nights from: $484
(Galveston, Texas → At Sea → At Sea → Falmouth, Jamaica → Georgetown, Grand Cayman → Cozumel, Mexico → At Sea → Galveston, Texas)
4 nights from: $327
(Fort Lauderdale, Florida → At Sea → Cozumel, Mexico → At Sea → Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

While its cruises leaving from Ft Lauderdale aren’t quite as cheap as those on Carnival, the Royal Caribbean cruises leaving from Galveston, Texas might be good value if you are already close by, but for most people you’ll get better value if you can get to Florida. This is on the Navigator of the Seas, which carries up to 3,114 passengers, and was one of the first to add such activities as rock climbing walls and an ice skating rink.

As you would expect in this price range, the dress tends to be casual and the ships attract a wide mix of younger and older and families and couples, mostly from the United States and Canada, particularly from Texas and Louisiana on this departure.

5 Looking For the Cheapest Prices on Caribbean Cruises

For some people this is the most important reason on this list, and for others it’s just a bonus on top, but it must be said that there is a stunning difference in costs between Europe and SE Asia once you are on the ground. This whole site is about the economics of travel and where your money goes furthest, so just take a look at the European Backpacker Index and the Asia backpacker Index to see what I mean. Or check out our Europe vs. Asia itinerary price comparison, which reveals that a slightly more expensive flight can save a fortune in a cheaper destination.

The cheapest city in Asia is Hanoi, where a backpacker can have a pretty decent time for a bit over US$10 per day. Compare that to, say, Paris, where the same group of expenses currently goes for US$75 per day, and you’ll recognize the value. Realistically, when you are in a super-cheap area you are more likely to splurge a bit more since everything on the scale is a deal.

Instead of a dorm bed for US$6 you can get a private room for US$10 per night, including in-room wi-fi, TV, a small fridge, and a big comfortable bed. You practically live like a king for US$30 a day in many cities in the region, compared to US$30 not quite even paying for a dorm bed alone in some European cities.

2 – The weather in SE Asia is good all year round

One major weakness with Europe is that most of it has a pretty lousy climate for most of the year. Except for the Mediterranean coast, the entire block from November through March is either frozen or deeply gray and drizzly in most cities. I’ve done quite a bit of European travel during this colder, cheaper, and less crowded period, but honestly it’s far from ideal when you always have to carry gloves, a hat, and a heavy coat with you.

On the other hand, most of SE Asia is tropical and therefore has only 2 seasons. There’s the dry season (mostly from November through May) and the so-called wet season (June through October). However, the wet-season thing is rarely more than a minor inconvenience, and it actually brings temperatures down to more welcoming levels in some places.

During the wet season in SE Asia you’ll usually have a few days a week where it either pours for an hour overnight, or for an hour in the late afternoon. If it’s in the afternoon it’s a perfect excuse to pop into a sheltered restaurant for a US$1 beer or two while you wait. In very rare cases there can be flooding, and while this does create problems for locals, tourists are almost always able to get elsewhere or to higher ground in plenty of time.

3 – Crowds of tourists are very rare in SE Asia

Sort of the flipside to Europe’s weather situation is that during July and August the weather in the big cities in the south (Madrid, Rome, Athens etc) gets so steamy that it can be pretty miserable outside. And as a result of that, the beach cities and resort areas get unbelievably crowded during these months, driving up prices and taking a lot of the fun out of being there as well.

And it’s not just the beach cities that get jammed. Go to London or Prague or Amsterdam during those two months and you’ll be in a sea of fellow tourists. Add these things up and Europe only has a couple good months on either side of summer where the weather is decent and it’s not insanely crowded.

In SE Asia, you’ll find crowds in many islands and resort areas around Christmas, and in Bali and a few other places in August, but in most SE Asian cities you couldn’t really call it crowded for at least 11 months a year. This means that finding cheap hotels is always easy, usually with no reservations in advance, and intercity tourist buses can usually be booked the night before with few worries.

4 – There’s no pressure to learn the languages in SE Asia

Some people are really good at learning foreign languages, and many others enjoy the process and the deeper cultural understanding you get when you can speak the native tongue. In SE Asia you can do as much of that as you like, and many travelers become quite successful at it, but at least there is zero pressure (or need) to learn the local language if you don’t want to.

The same thing can be said for most of northern Europe (thanks to the English skills of residents there), but in countries like Spain, France, Italy, or Greece, you really are at a disadvantage if you don’t (or aren’t able to) absorb the local language. For some people it can be stressful or even make them much less outgoing, which can detract from the overall experience.

For better or worse, the people of SE Asia have accepted the fact that they have more economic opportunity if they speak at least some English, plus have all important signs and menus and such in English as well. Many of them love practicing their English on tourists, so it can be surprisingly easy to do anything you want and even make a few friends.

5 – SE Asia is way more exotic than Europe

If English is your native language then chances are very good that you are of European heritage, one way or another. Whether you are starting in Cleveland or Melbourne or even London, there is nothing in Europe that will truly feel exotic to you. Sure, you might not be used to seeing a canal city like Amsterdam, but for lunch the locals there usually eat a sandwich or pizza or a hot dog or French fries just like you do at home.

With the exception of parts of Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, there is almost nothing in SE Asia that will NOT feel exotic to you. From the temples to the street food to open-air markets to even the kitchy souvenirs, nothing will look familiar, and this should be thrilling.

You can get eggs and toast for breakfast anywhere you go, but you might soon be hooked on spicy chicken noodle soup instead. It’s easy to start from scratch and take nothing for granted when you are exposed to a totally different way of doing things.

7 Reasons to Visit Southeast Asia

1- Berlin, Germany

2016 Backpacker Index: US$60.78/day

Berlin isn’t such an obvious tourist city, but it’s absolutely the kind of place where either you love it, or you’ve never been there. Everyone can find something to enjoy about it, partly because it’s especially trendy and dynamic lately as a new hub of European and world culture, picking up where London and Paris left off.

One challenge is that Berlin is a huge and spread-out city, so it’s important to choose where you stay wisely. Most budget travelers will prefer the former East Berlin section around Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg, which is where most hostels are as well as the best and cheapest nightlife and shopping. Check our list of recommended cheap Berlin hotels for a place to start.

2 - Prague, Czech Republic

2016 Backpacker Index: US$41.77/day

You may not realize that most large cities in this part of Europe were practically flattened during WWII and then rebuilt just after. Fortunately, Prague is one where the historic center survived mostly intact, and it remains one of the continent’s most beautiful and interesting. The downside is that the city center is almost always packed with other tourists, so you might have to work around them a bit.
Prague is also fairly compact, with most things walking distance from each other.

The city is also quite cheap still, at least compared to Western Europe, although hotel prices can seem high if you want to stay in the middle. Check our list of recommended cheap Prague hotels for some really good ones only a quick and cheap tram ride away.

3 - Budapest, Hungary

2016 Backpacker Index: US$30.99/day

Though it’s in the heart of part of Europe that isn’t known for being well off, Budapest is quite a grand city that makes it feel rather rich. Still, it’s among the cheapest European cities, and it offers very good value. Even if the castle up on the Buda side of the river isn’t a stunner, and that the parliament building on the Pest side is a copy of the one in London, this is an attractive city with a feel of its own.

Budapest is also compact enough that budget travelers can stay in the cheap hotels and hostels a bit inland on the Pest side, and still walk everywhere while sightseeing. The Free Budapest Walking Tour covers highlights on both sides, and is a great introduction.

4 - Krakow, Poland

2016 Backpacker Index: US$24.71/day

When you hear that Krakow is among the very cheapest cities in Europe you might not expect much. But in reality, Krakow is also one of Europe’s loveliest and most pleasant cities, with quite a lot to do. At its center you’ll find about 30 square blocks of a historic medieval town, surrounded by a peaceful park, and with an enormous cafe-lined town square at its heart.
For those who like hearty portions of meats and sausages, Krakow is wonderful, but there are also many Italian and other international cuisines, including many vegetarian options, so something for everyone. Hotels just on or near the central square are reasonable, but you can stay for a lot less by going a few blocks away.

5 - Český Krumlov, Czech Republic

2016 Backpacker Index: US$31.77/day

With a population of only about 13,000 people, Český Krumlov will be an extremely welcome stop in between Prague and Budapest, or Prague and Vienna or Salzburg. This well preserved town was forgotten and almost abandoned in the later years of Communism, and it wasn’t rediscovered and renovated until well into the 1990s. Since it’s still a relative newcomer to the tourist scene, it isn’t yet “touristy” even though it’s very tourist friendly.

There are almost no chain hotels or restaurants of any kind, so staying here will be a very local experience. Better still, hotels and food here are much cheaper than even in Prague, so the value is outstanding. The historic town center is small enough to walk through in less than 10 minutes, yet you can still get nice hotels in its heart starting at around US$50 per night. If you are willing to stay a few blocks away from the center, it’s even cheaper.

Ultimate cheap European Route 1 month

Low season from US$129
High season from US$149

Only fully opened since late 2011, the AVANI Sepang Goldcoast Resort (originally known as the Golden Palm Tree Resort & Spa) has 392 water villas, which is nearly four times as many as the second-most in the world. The water villas range from roomy to enormous, with the largest having 3 bedrooms. The resort completed a renovation in early 2014, after only being open 3 years, and rates are now a bit lower as well.

It’s located off the coast just south of the Kuala Lumpur Airport, so it could actually be a very cheap getaway when combined with an Air Asia flight from anywhere in the region. Reviews for the AVANI Sepang Goldcoast Resort had been quite average since it opened, but recently they have improved quite a bit so this one is a better bargain than before. There is no swimming in the lagoon below the water villas, unlike nearly all the others on this list. Do your research before booking this one.

2 – Reethi Beach Resort – Maldives

Low season from US$268
High season from US$406

With some of the best review scores in the Maldives, the Reethi Beach Resort is an unusual bargain for water villas. You might be disappointed to learn that the 30 water villas are in 15 structures, so each shares one wall with another. But that doesn’t mean that they are not private, and each is larger than you’d expect in this price range.

The resort itself has 114 total rooms in addition to 5 restaurants and 5 bars, which offers much more choice than most other resorts of this size. If this sounds interesting to you then read the reviews and you’ll probably be ready to book.

3 – Sun Island Resort And Spa – Maldives

Low season from US$328
High season from US$420

The Sun Island Resort & Spa has 68 semi-detached water bungalows in addition to its 358 island rooms and bungalows, making it among the very largest private-island resorts in the Maldives. The water bungalows here are a bit on the small side, but they are nicely appointed with luxury bathrooms and appealing private terraces over the lagoon.

A larger resort like this also comes with many benefits, including a long list of water sports and other family-friendly activities. There are also 9 different restaurants and bars, so even on a longer stay guests can avoid getting bored with the food service. The huge swimming pool as well as tennis courts, beach volleyball, and fitness club should appeal to guests looking to stay busy.

4 – Pangkor Laut Resort – Malaysia

Low season from US$330
High season from US$450

Speaking of Maldives-style, the Pangkor Laut is another private island with around 140 total rooms, including 45 overwater villas. The reviews here are excellent so the room rates are very appealing for those who can transfer through Kuala Lumpur or Singapore for the short flight to a nearby island.

The resort features 7 restaurants and bars and a huge list of included water sports and other activities. The spa here has an excellent reputation of its own, which helps make this a very popular destination for the honeymoon crowd from all over Asia.

5 – Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives

Low season from US$338
High season from US$452

With 148 total villas including 60 over the water, the Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives is one of a very few in the Maldives with its own surfing beach. The surfing packages cost a bit more, but it’s still a great deal for enthusiasts looking to add some waves to their tropical island holiday.

The reviews here are consistently very good so the value is high. Each overwater villa has a Jacuzzi tub among many other luxury features, so this is not a cut-rate resort by any means. The two restaurants and three bars also get good marks, and the nightlife here does as well.

6 – Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon

Low season from US$341
High season from US$442

The 24 water villas at the Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon are in 12 structures, so each does share a common wall with another unit. Still, guests get a lot of privacy as each room has its own terrace that doesn’t overlook the others. The resort also has 88 island bungalows, and 3 restaurants and bars from which to choose.

Reviews here are good and the rate includes breakfast daily, so it’s one to consider in this lower price range. Another benefit here is that it’s close enough to the main Maldives airport to allow for speedboat transfers, which are cheaper and more flexible than the sea-plane transfers that most other Maldives resorts require along with booking.

7 – Berjaya Langkawi Resort – Malaysia

Low season from US$349
High season from US$427

The 47 overwater chalets at the Berjaya Langkawi Resort are more tightly packed than most other resorts, but they are luxurious and quite large on the inside. This resort has 350 total rooms, including Rainforest Chalets that are similar inside except they are perched among the trees on the side of a mountain.

The complication for most people could be the location, which is on Langkawi Island in northern Malaysia. It might sound hard to reach, but it’s actually similar to the Maldives in that you have to take at least two flights to reach most resorts. Especially if you are in or near Southeast Asia, this is one to consider.

8 – Royal Huahine Resort – Huahine, South Pacific

Low season from US$359
High season from US$383

Currently the cheapest overwater bungalow resort in the South Pacific, the Royal Huahine Resort is also one of the few to claim only 3 stars as opposed to the 4- or 5-stars that nearly all other overwater resorts offer. The 17 overwater bungalows here are all quite large, however, and they are set over a beautiful calm lagoon on a small island not far from Bora Bora.

The resort has 18 less expensive rooms on the island, so the whole place is quite modest in size. Still, there is a wide variety of water sports and other activities that you’d expect to find at a luxury hotel in the tropics. Guests here pay less than in Bora Bora or Moorea, yet as long as they don’t expect a 5-star property, this one could be a great deal.

9 – Punta Caracol Acqua-Lodge – Panama

Low season from US$360 (half board)
High season from US$427 (half board)

Another very interesting “eco-resort,” the Punta Caracol Acqua-Lodge has 9 overwater suites in 3 different categories, and no other rooms. The best news might be that breakfast and dinner are included in the room rate, so this place probably deserves to be higher on the list of cheap overwater bungalow resorts.

Even the smallest class of overwater suites here is 2 levels with a king-size bed in an upper loft area, and a large private terrace out front. The main downside (for some people) is that this resort is quite remote, so it’s not the sort of place you can just pop by and get a room.

10 – Gangehi Island Resort – Maldives

Low season from US$383
High season from US$474

The Gangehi Island Resort features 8 Overwater Villas that are just off the island and 8 Overwater Deluxe Villas that are a bit farther out on the pier, in addition to 29 Island rooms. While the overwater villas may not look as pretty as some others on the outside, they are quite luxurious on the inside and well appointed with amenities.
Considering there are only 45 total rooms you might be surprised to find 2 different restaurants and an additional bar. Reviews here are consistently great, which is another small surprise considering the modest overwater room rates.

10 Cheap Bungalow Resort in the World in 2016

1. Vietnam

Vietnam has that perfect combination of being fantastically cheap as well as having lots of fascinating sights. If you’re a backpacker on a shoestring budget, you can certainly survive on very little here. For example, a dorm bed might cost you as little as $7 a night. If you have just a bit more money to spend then Vietnam also gives you great value, as you can easily find wonderful modern hotel rooms for under $30 a night.

Dig into the delicious Vietnamese pho noodle dishes (about $2 for a meal) or drink the bia hoi (locally brewed beer at $0.50 or less a glass), and you can manage to spend very little indeed. Activities and tours, such as those to Ha Long Bay or the Mekong Delta, are all reasonably priced, especially if booked locally.

2. Northern Thailand

Huh, Thailand? Isn’t Thailand supposed to be an expensive resort destination these days? That may be true to some extent if you only go to the beaches in the south, but not if you turn your focus to the inland regions in the north.

Take an overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (cost: $12) and you will quickly realize just how affordable Thailand can be. For example, here you can still find backpacker dorm beds starting at $4 and basic private rooms starting at about $8. Need something more midrange? Chiang Mai is one of the best places to find great independent hotels for very little money. Food throughout Thailand is delicious and inexpensive, especially if you eat local—hit up local restaurant and you can get a fantastic stir fry for about 100 Baht ($2.50). Stick to local transportation (like the ubiquitous tuk-tuks) and you might struggle to spend more than about $25–$30 a day as a backpacker.

3. Morocco

Stick only to places like Djeema El Fna square in Marrakech—Morocco’s most touristy location—and you might think the country is really not so cheap. Order a simple shish kebab with some salad at one of the street stalls here and you might be charged a highly unreasonable $12. But… turn a few corners and you can find that same meal at an authentic Moroccan eatery for just $2.50.

If you are easily seduced by smooth sales pitches, know that the salesmen in Morocco work from finely crafted scripts. But keep a stiff upper lip at the markets and you’ll find that it’s easy to travel in this country for under $30/day, especially if staying in backpacker hostels or budget guesthouses. On a midrange budget of around $50/day you can stay in some of the famous riads—courtyard mini-palaces offering wonderful relief from the sun and buzzing city streets.

4. Albania

Okay, first a little confession: I haven’t yet been to Albania! But for my next big trip I have my eyes firmly on the Balkans, and the buzz on the European backpacker trail is all about Albania. Since this list previously neglected to mention Europe at all, I’ve chosen Albania to represent here for now..

Yes, you can travel cheaply in Europe. You only need to look towards the east and south-east of Europe, including the Baltics, Central Europe and the Balkans. Some have even taken to calling the Balkans the ‘Southeast Asia of Europe’, which is a weird way to put it but it kind of makes sense. While Croatia is the most touristy in the region and getting more expensive, you can travel very cheaply in Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Macedonia, with the cheapest country in the region easily being Albania.

Right on the Adriatic coast just above Greece, Albania offers beautiful white sand beaches, while inland you’ll find huge mountain ranges as well as the buzzing capital of Tirana. The country doesn’t have as many direct flight connections as some others, so it can be easier or cheaper to fly to nearby Corfu in Greece or start a trip in Dubrovnik in Croatia.

5. Nicaragua

Nicaragua had long been off the radar due to years of political and civil unrest, but today the country is stable and open for tourism—and becoming increasingly popular. Currently it may well be the cheapest destination in Central America (though Guatemala is close).

In 2013 I was easily able to find a good dorm bed in the colonial city of Grenada just a block from the main square for just $5 a night. Basic privates (with a shared bathroom) can be found for around $10 a night even in the touristy seaside town of San Juan Del Sur.

6. Indonesia

When I first visited Indonesia, I predictably came to Bali. It wasn’t love at first sight. Bali’s south is roughly split between Kuta, a cynical playground for vomiting spring-breakers from Australia, and Seminyak, a beachside town attracting high-spenders with luxury hotels and rose-petalled infinity pools. Neither is really my scene.

But then I discovered the other Indonesia. Go even just a little inland on popular Bali and you’ll find that prices drop and places begin to feel a bit more authentic. Even Ubud (made famous by Eat Pray Love, or at least so I’m told…) manages to be just pleasantly touristy with all its Hindu temples and wonderful arts and crafts, while the rural north and west coasts of Bali are nearly a mirror image of the over-commercialised south. For Bali budget travel tips, check out this post on travelling on Bali for less than $25 a day.

7. Bolivia

Bolivia is by far the ultimate cheap place to travel in South America. One caveat is that you need to be willing to rough it a bit sometimes: it is very much an undeveloped backpacker destination and the ‘flashpacker’ may feel that increased comforts are hard to find.

That said, you can find basic dorm beds in the $5 – 6 range, though the better hostels typically cost around $10 for a dorm bed (usually with breakfast included). If you’re not too fussed, you can get wonderfully filling Bolivian set meals for about 20-25 Bolivianos (or $3), or international style meals for about double that.

8. Cambodia

Come for the ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat, but stay for everything else—ranging from jungle waterfalls and gripping war museums to a host of impossibly pretty islands.

Angkor Wat, while stunning, does easily overshadow the rest of this intriguing country. Many organised tours offer Cambodia simply as an Angkor Wat add-on to a Vietnam or Thailand itinerary, but travel to Cambodia independently and you can spend your time discovering the country properly. Want to simply relax on a beautiful beach? Consider going to Sihanouksville, or to the nearby island of Koh Rong where you can still (for now) have a stunning tropical beach all to yourself.

9. Nepal

Nepal is renowned as one of the best places in the world for safe and affordable mountain trekking. Following the earthquake in 2015, Nepal has been slowly recovering and is open for business once again.

Home to eight of the world’s 10 highest peaks, Nepal is a great choice for those looking for an active trip amongst epic landscapes, though equally you can choose to just chill out in Kathmandu. Despite their remoteness, many routes through the Himalayas have tea houses and lodges along the way where you can eat, sleep, and recover. On a backpacker budget, you can easily survive on about $25 a day in Nepal.

9 Cheap Holidays Cities

27 Haziran 2016 Pazartesi

1) $15.52 Nepal,Pokhara

Nepal’s tourist capital is where most people quickly head to after arriving in Kathmandu, and most would agree that Pokhara does live up to the hype. It’s a serene and picturesque hang-out town for those on either side of many of Nepal’s best and most famous treks, including the Annapurna circuit. Fortunately, in addition to being pleasant and attractive, Pokhara is also quite cheap. Hotels can get a bit pricey during April, May, October, and November, but even during those times cheap rooms will be available if you plan ahead a bit. There’s a boom in new hotels going up, so prices should come down, if anything.
Food and drinks are also great bargains in Pokhara, especially considering the quality and choice available. Dozens of restaurants have nearly identical menus, featuring foods from around the world in addition to the cheaper local fare. Beers are quite cheap too, as are cocktails using the local rums.
Trekking can add significantly to the cost, although on a per-day basis most trips are still quite cheap if you research and shop around. You can also get any kind of brand-name trekking gear you need here, all at very competitive prices, so no worries if you don’t have your full kit before arrival.

2) $17.09 Viet Nam,Hanoi

The capital of Vietnam is still far more traditional than the larger Saigon in the south. There aren’t a lot of must-see sites, but the pleasant (though chaotic) city center makes up for that, with excellent food and drink at very low prices. Most of the cheaper hotels are right in the Old City, and more up-market hotels tend to be in the nicer suburbs to the south and west. Standards are higher than you might expect, and many places have free Wi-Fi in the lobby or even in all the rooms.
Attractions cost almost nothing by Western standards, so your sightseeing budget goes a long way. As long as you avoid an organized bus tour then you can get by on a tiny budget. The popular overnight trips to Halong Bay and multi-day trips to Sapa can range in price greatly, and often the cheap versions are great, though it’s always a bit of a crapshoot.
Local food is extremely cheap by most standards, with full meals in tourist restaurants usually costing between US$2 and 3, with cold beer adding around $1 each. Other alcohol is more expensive, but still cheap compared to most places.

3) $18.26 India,Goa

Goa isn’t a city, it’s a state of mind. It’s also a state in India, which contains several dozen small towns, many of which are along the beach and attract big numbers of tourists from November through March. Compared to most of the rest of India prices in Goa are relatively expensive, but compared to nearly anywhere else this place is a bargain.

During the peak travel weeks from Christmas to New Years the prices do go up and hotels are packed so if your schedule is flexible that is the time to avoid, or be prepared to pay more. Still, hotels in Goa are cheap and fairly good standard for a beach resort area. Hotels at the bottom end of the range will be quite minimalistic though, so be prepared. Also, choose the city you stay in carefully. Some are more known for parties and others are more known for family holidays.
The main attractions are sitting around on the beach all day, and going to bars and clubs or even beach raves at night. All of it is either free or quite cheap, so once you get here you can get by on very little. Even the food and drinks at the many beach restaurants are in line with places in town, so having drinks and a meal on the beach is definitely a bargain compared to Europe.

4) $18.26 Viet Nam, Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

Ho Chi Minh City is an incredible travel bargain compared to most of the rest of the world, though it’s also among the more expensive cities in Vietnam. Prices in Hanoi are similar, and everywhere else in the country is at least a bit cheaper, so regardless of which big city you start in, things will get better as you go until you reach the other one. Hoi An prices are strangely low for food and drinks and even hotels, and it’s a major highlight for most visitors to Vietnam.

Hotel prices in the crowded Pham Ngu Lao area in District 1 are quite high for the country, and rooms tend to be small as well. Still, money goes a long way, and everything else is quite cheap as well.
Food and drinks are similar in that better quality and bargains can be found in pretty much every other major tourist city in Vietnam, and yet compared to anywhere outside of India or Southeast Asia everything is a bargain
Another key area where this city shines is that the main attractions are either free (markets, neighborhoods), or very cheap. Even half-day and full-day tours outside of the city to the Mekong Delta or the Cu Chi Tunnels can be had for the price of a beer or two in almost any other city.

5) $18.93 Thailand,Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second largest and second most popular cultural city, after the capital of Bangkok. The atmosphere is noticeably different, even when not considering the lovely mountain setting.

The city is also one of the world’s great travel bargains, with all range of hotels being quite cheap by international standards, and Chiang Mai hostels are, of course, even cheaper. You can get rooms at high-standard 3-star Chiang Mai hotels for around the price of a hostel bed in northern Europe.
Most of the attractions are also free or quite cheap, so visitors can use much of the rest of their budget on the inexpensive souvenirs at the various markets. Food and drinks are available in all price ranges, with plenty of great street food and local restaurants having fantastic bargains.

Top 5 Cheapest Holiday Countries

1. Cambodia

With beds for £1 and lip-smacking food for less than that, Cambodia is so cheap you can feel guilty for paying so little. Where once travellers often feared to tread, Cambodia is now very much on the Southeast Asia travel scene, particularly among backpackers and, increasingly, holidaymakers looking for five-star luxury without the price tag. Check out the De La Paix hotel - their rich wood interiors, in-room iPod docks and free WiFi access for about £250 (double room) a night is about as far from a grimey hostel as it's possible to get, and not painfully priced for the topnotch service they provide. It's also ten minutes down the road from the world famous Angkor Wat Archaeological Park. You can't leave Cambodia without visiting this iconic ancient site, preferrably at dawn to watch the sun rise behind Angkor Wat temple itself, a soothing and spectacular experience. Entry to this UNESCO world heritage site costs just £13 for a full day, although it's worth paying the £26 for three days - there are just too many temples to squeeze into one day and once the midday sun hits you'll want to take shade, or find some seriously strong air-conditioning.

2. Vietnam
Unspoiled and undeveloped, despite its rise in popularity in the last few years, Vietnam is still super cheap, as well as a beautiful country. You can easily get by on £5 a day, including a guest house, local food, transport and a bit of drinking - a pint of Vietnam's most popular brew, Bia Hoi, costs as little as 50p. Hanoi, the former headquarters of French Indochina and then the administrative centre of communist North Vietnam, was declared the country's official captial in 1976 after reunification of this deeply divided nation began. It retains much of it's French flavour; you'll find some great patisseries producing croissants that rival Paris's finest right next door to an authentic _pho _noodle soup shack. Hanoi's Old Quarter, around Hoan Kiem Lake, is the best place to soak up some of the city's post-colonial charm - it's also a rare oasis of calm in this otherwise chaotic city, where locals go every morning at sunrise to practice tai chi. Experience Vietnamese rural life and see for yourself the lush, green rice terraces in and around the former French moutnain resort of Da Lat in the central highlands. The city is somewhat overrun with tourists (it's the main departure point for a lot of 'Easy Rider' motorcycle tours) but the flower farms, local tofu factories, cashew nut plantations, and of course the iconic rice terraces are worth stopping by to take a look, before speeding on along the coast southwards to Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon.

3. India
A spending spree in Mumbai's designer shops and a stay in an international hotel in Delhi is going to cost you as much as it would in Dubai, but away from these enclaves the cost of living is ridiculously low. Even if you travel first class on the trains (the Rajdhani or the Shatabdi Express are the most comfortable to travel on, being fully air-conditioned with meals included in the ticket price) and take taxis everywhere, you’ll be hard pressed to spend a lot of money here and it's possible to live like a raj on just £15 (about 1,500 rupees) a day. India is the seventh largest country in the world, so unless you're planning an incredible six month sojourn, it pays to plan which of the country's 29 states you want to visit. Head to western India to Rajasthan for an assault of the senses in the state capital, the Pink City, Jaipur, or kick back on the white sands of Kerala in southern India. You can't fly all that way without seeing what may well be the most famous tomb in the world, the Taj Mahal, in Agra, northern India - just don't go on a Friday, it's closed. And don't worry about Delhi belly, you'll find some of India's best street food here in the capital, particularly in the narrow streets and bustling boulevards around Connaught Place in the centre of town. Pick your stall wisely - make sure they look clean and if they're busy it usually means the food is fresh, but it's still a good idea to pack the Immodium, just in case.

4. Bolivia
Known as the Tibet of the Americas, Bolivia is a relatively remote bolthole, being one of only two landlocked countries in South America (the other is Paraguay). Wander along Calle Jaén, in Bolivia's administrative capital, La Paz, for a slice of South American life under Spanish colonial control - the street is home to some of the city's best preserved colonial buildings, whitewashed façades and ornate black grilled balconettes. It's also where you'll find a cluster of museums, including the former home of Pedro Domingo Murillo, who lead forces during the La Paz Revolution of 1809. See them all for the grand total of 40p and pick up your bumper bargain ticket from the Museo Costumbrista, which houses a ceramic depicting the hanging of the aforementioned revolutionary. As if that weren’t enough (there's more to life than museums?!) Bolivia perhaps boasts the best value food and drink in all of South America. For example, a bottle of Paceña beer generally costs less than £1 and a bowl of chairo (potato soup) about the same. Pack plenty of layers for when the sun goes down; although Bolivia generally endures hot and humid tropical summers, La Paz is surrounded by the altipano mountains and so stays cool all year round. Looking to turn up the heat? Head to Oruro, a city in the heart of the altiplano famous for its Carnival, held each year in February or March to honour the Virgin of Candelaria. Three hours by bus from La Paz and you could be taking part in this UNESCO protected presentation of indigenous and religious Bolivian culture, with more than 48 folk dance performances and a traditional parade.

5. Hungary
Budapest, the historic Hungarian capital on the Danube, is a definite must-see on anyone's European tour. While it's not quite as cheap as it was before the budget airlines got there, prices here will leave plenty of cash in your pocket. Indulge in luscious cakes, get refreshed on strong liquor and sweat it out in the famous thermal spas. Stop for a sweet treat at Gerbeaud's for gourmet pastries too pretty to eat (almost), or visit a traditional kávéház (coffee house) for a calorific (who's counting?!) slice of _kürtőskalács _or chocolate chimney cake. With meals for £2, train tickets for £1 and rooms for £10, Budapest is a beautiful bargain. And you can visit those beautiful bathhouses, such as Gellert, for £10, with massages starting at less than a tenner. If you're after a quiet countryside retreat, check out Lake Balaton in Transdanubia, western Hungary. The biggest lake in central Europe, it's a popular summer retreat for local families looking to escape the big smoke during the summer heat - it's an easy one and a half hour train ride from Budapest and the biggest resorts are found in the cities of Siófok and Balatonfüred. Take a hike in the northern hills, swim in the lake or sail out on the cool waters, before enjoying some locally produced wines from the vineyards dotted across nearby Badacsony Hill.

6. Honduras

There's Belize. There's Costa Rica. There's even Guatemala. But for real bargain-basement Central American value, plump for Honduras. The country isn't up there on the most-visited lists, but if you do decide to give it a go you'll discover white sand beaches reminiscent of the Maldives, diving to rival the Red Sea, and mega cheap food and drink - all while spending less than £20 a day. For the Caribbean at a fraction of the cost, check out the swathes of pristine beaches along Honduras's northern coast. One of the busiest centres along this idyllic stretch is Puerto Cortes, a bustling port famous for its trade in bananas with strong Spanish heritage, signs of which survive to this day - get out to Omoa, a picture-postcard seaside town with a colonial fortress to explore. If you're really serious about sniffing out the prettiest post-colonial towns, look no further than the quaint Spanish houses, ornate cathedral and packed plazas in Comayagua's historic town centre. A small city two hours drive northwest from Honduras's capital, Tegucigalpa, Comayagua was once the country's religious and political centre, but today its main draws are the colonial buildings and cute plaza cafés - bag a traditional Honduran baguette or bistek (steak) sandwich from café La Casa de Sandwich for about £1.50 and picnic in the nearby Parque Central.

7. Bulgaria
Bulgaria's Black Sea resorts have undergone a bit of a boom with British visitors in recent years, probably because they offer a total bargain compared with traditional summer sun destinations like the south of Spain. If you prefer city breaking to beaches, capital Sofia offers hearty food, warm company, 'robust' drink and a comfy bed, all yours for £20 a day. Just a 20-minute subway ride from the airport terminal (30-40 minutes if you're travelling in by bus) you can satisfy your inner culture vulture in Sofia - the second oldest city in Europe is stuffed with museums and galleries, including the Musuem of Socialist Art and the National Literature Musuem. Soak up some summer sun and do a few laps down at Liulin Beach, with its three outdoor swimming pools, a sand area and a footie field - there's even a canteen to grab a slice of pizza post-exercise. Despite becoming a burgeoning holiday destination, many places outside of Sofia remain relatively untouched by bargain-hungry holidaymakers and the further east you go, the cheaper it gets. Want sun, sea and to save a few pennies? Head for Nesebar, a UNESCO World Heritage site a few hours south of Varna and a great spot to start your budget tour of Bulgaria's Black Sea coast. Although much of Nesebar's ancient city of Messembria has collapsed into the ocean, there are still plenty of old churches to admire and cobbled lanes to stroll along - buy locally produced lace to take back as a souvenir, just watch out for cheap tourist tat versions.

8. Sri Lanka
With gossamer-fine sands, cloud-wrapped mountains, waterfalls, tea plantations and palm trees wafting in the breeze, Sri Lanka is the picture perfect paradise'... Ok, thanks tourist brochure. We'll concentrate on feasting on fish curry, trekking in the jungle and staying in hotels on the beach for tuppence. Well, not quite two pence, but you can live like royalty for under £25 a day. Modern tourism began to boom on this idyllic south Indian Ocean island in the 1960s, but it's somehow managed to stay on the sidelines of many a Southeast Asian itinerary, so it's still possible to pick up a low-cost luxury bargain. Stay at the five-star Cinnamon Lodge, located in Habarana, the epicentre of a cultural triangle encompassing Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandy. The swish suites here boast fantastic views over the tropical Habarana Lake - take it all in from your own private jacuzzi, while being served champagne by your on-call butler - or you can bag a single room, with all the same spa, swimming pool and dining facilities, from as little as £42 a night. If you can bear to drag yourself away from air-conditioned luxury, the temples, monasteries and stupa speckled throughout the surrounding countryside offer a window into Sri Lanka's Buddhist culture - 70% of Sri Lankans are Buddhist. If you don't fancy days on end temple traipsing, stick to the highlights: the Sri Maha Bodhiya (Bodhi Tree Temple) in Anuradhapura and the Sri Dhalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth) in Kandy, arguably the most sacred places on the entire island. Be warned, foreigners tend to pay higher entrance fees, although some tuk-tuk drivers might offer to sneak you in for free!

9. Argentina
From the jungles of the central plains in La Pampa, to the rugged Andes mountains on the western border with Chile, there's plenty to see and do in Argentina, the world's eighth largest country. City lights don't get much brighter in this part of the world than in Buenos Aires, which has rightly earned its reputation as one of the most exciting cities on the planet, thanks partly to its totally up-for-it nightlife. Experience the colourful, flamboyant life of the Argentinian capital by staying away from its most exclusive hotspots and you can easily get by on £25 a day. Tour the bright and bold murals that adorn many of Buenos Aires's buildings, and come sundown slink along the streets of San Telmo and enjoy the cool bohemian vibe in the restaurants and bars in this part of town - much more fun (and kinder on the wallet) than a night out in the tourist traps of the city's Recoleta district. If you want to get away from it all and see some of the world's most spectacular scenery, then it doesn't get much more impressive than a trip to Patagonia in southern Argentina, home to Tierra del Fuego, the most southerly city in the world and a popular departure point for excursions to the Antartic. Get there by bus from Buenos Aires - a journey which takes anywhere from 24 to 36 hours - or hop on a cheap internal flight to save time, although this is usually a more expensive way to travel. Prepare yourself for plenty of cute penguins, dolphins and whales in the UNESCO protected nature reserve, Península Valdés; the entrance fee for non-residents is about a tenner.

10. Greece
Due to the country's ongoing economic difficulties, the cost of holidaying in Greece is lower than it used to be. While it's still pretty pricey to stay on famous Greek islands like Santorini or Mykonos, pick a quieter Greek getaway like Paros or Skiathos and you can still while away the days in 28 degree heat, sipping ice-cold Mythos (between about £1.50 and £4 a pint depending on where you stay) for half the price. If you're all about pool parties and super-cheap shots, then Ios is the island for you, famous for its all-night raves and young backpacker crowd. Not got time for a full-on island-hop? Settle for a day trip to the Sardonic Gulf island of Hydra, just one and a half hours by catamaran from Athens and the spot for some of the best souvlaki (kebabs) you'll find anywhere else in the Aegean Sea - Pirofani restaurant has been dishing up this delicious drunk food for over 20 years and takes some beating when it comes to flavour and value for money. Not enough meat to satisfy your inner caveman? Sail across to Kefalonia (which you might recognise from the big screen adaption of the famous book, Captain Corelli's Mandolin) for a slab of traditional pie, filled with oozing meats and gravy, wrapped in a blanket of filo pastry. Ferries run regularly between the islands, but if departing from Athens head to the port of Piraeus to check the boards for updated prices and schedules - most of the Aegean Islands take about four or five hours to reach by high-speed ferry, six to eight on a regular one.

11. Dominican Republic
The Caribbean is pricey, right? Not if you fly to the Dominican Republic, where £30 a day will cover accommodation, travel and food if you're thrifty. Eat where the locals do and you'll find dishes - and beers - for under £1, while taking the local bus into town can be done for less than 50p. Check in to the Bavaro Hostel and for just £13 you'll get a bed within a three-minute walk of the white sands and swaying palms of Bavaro beach. Plus free wifi and free coffee. If free coffee isn't enough and you want all-day dining and activities, the Dominican Republic offers some incredible deals for all-inclusive holidays. The VH Gran Ventana on the appropriately named Playa Dorada (Golden Beach) has four different restaurants, from gourmet Caribbean to casual beachfront grill, three swimming pools and watersports from water skiing and parasailing to banana boats and scuba diving - all included. With rates starting at just £90 per room per night you're definitely going to get your money's worth!

12. Ireland
Flight prices to Ireland have tumbled over the past few years, meaning you can get to Dublin for less than you might think. Once in the Irish capital, stay at the central Generator Hostel and you could pay just £6 for your bed. Free things to do in the Irish capital include visiting the Chester Beatty Library, to check out its world-famous and dazzlingly expansive collection of rare books and manuscripts, and talking a walk with the deer herd in Phoenix Park - this is the largest enclosed recreational space in any European capital so there's plenty to explore. Do some budget shopping at the weekend Blackrock Market, Dublin's oldest, and sup on the central city's (rumoured) cheapest pint, just £2.30 in the Pavilion Bar at the cricket pitch in Trinity College. If you'd rather get out into rural Ireland, head to Galway, where prices are lower than the capital across the board and a weekend break could cost you about 20% less. You could spend some of those savings on the city's vibrant nightlife (thanks student population!) with a trawl through the city's pubs - where Guinness is around 15% cheaper than in Dublin - and the live music sessions at trad music pub An Pucan are free.