Best Cheap Holiday Destinations: Beautiful Places That Won't Break the Bank

Great Holidays Don't Have to Cost a Fortune

The travel industry wants you to believe that quality costs money. And sometimes it does. But some of the world's most extraordinary destinations are also among its most affordable — places where the exchange rate works in your favour, where the local economy keeps prices low, and where the experience is richer precisely because it hasn't been packaged and sold to the mass market.

These 15 destinations offer extraordinary value .

1. Albania

Albania is the best value destination in Europe right now. The Albanian Riviera has beaches that rival the Greek islands at a fraction of the price: a beachfront guesthouse costs €30–50/night, a grilled fish dinner costs €8–12, and a sunlounger costs €5. The ancient ruins at Butrint, the Ottoman towns of Berat and Gjirokastër, and the dramatic Albanian Alps are all free or nearly free to visit.

Budget: €40–60/day for comfortable travel.

2. Georgia (the country)

Georgia is one of the most underrated destinations in the world — a country of extraordinary landscapes (the Caucasus Mountains), ancient culture (one of the oldest Christian nations on earth), and food and wine that are genuinely world-class. Tbilisi, the capital, has a vibrant arts and nightlife scene. The wine regions of Kakheti produce some of the most interesting wines in the world, using ancient qvevri (clay pot) methods. Prices are significantly lower than in Western Europe.

Budget: €35–55/day.

3. Vietnam

Vietnam offers extraordinary value for money — a country of 3,000km of coastline, ancient temples, dramatic mountain scenery, and a food culture that is among the best in Asia. Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City are all world-class destinations. A bowl of pho costs €1; a night in a good guesthouse costs €15–25; a domestic flight costs €20–40.

Budget: €30–50/day.

4. Morocco

Morocco is 3 hours from most European capitals and offers a completely different world: the medinas of Marrakech and Fes, the Sahara Desert, the Atlas Mountains, and a coastline that stretches from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. The food — tagine, couscous, pastilla — is extraordinary. Riads (traditional courtyard houses) offer excellent accommodation at €40–80/night.

Budget: €40–70/day.

5. Portugal

Portugal is the best value destination in Western Europe. The Algarve has some of the finest beaches in Europe; Lisbon is one of the most beautiful capitals on the continent; Porto is a city of extraordinary character and excellent wine. Prices are significantly lower than in Spain, France, or Italy. A glass of wine costs €2; a pastel de nata costs €1.20; a taxi across Lisbon costs €8.

Budget: €60–90/day.

6. Bulgaria

Bulgaria is one of the most overlooked destinations in Europe. The Black Sea coast has excellent beaches at prices that make Greece look expensive. Sofia is a city of surprising sophistication — excellent museums, a vibrant food scene, and some of the best nightlife in Eastern Europe. The Rila Mountains, with the extraordinary Rila Monastery, are magnificent. Prices are among the lowest in the EU.

Budget: €30–50/day.

7. Indonesia (beyond Bali)

Bali is no longer cheap, but the rest of Indonesia is. Lombok, Flores, and the Gili Islands offer Bali-quality beaches and diving at significantly lower prices. Raja Ampat is expensive to reach but cheap once you're there. A night in a guesthouse on Lombok costs €15–25; a plate of nasi goreng costs €2; a dive costs €25–35.

Budget: €35–60/day outside Bali.

8. Colombia

Colombia has transformed itself from one of the world's most dangerous countries into one of its most exciting travel destinations. Cartagena is a perfectly preserved colonial city on the Caribbean coast; Medellín is a city of extraordinary energy and innovation; the Coffee Region offers beautiful landscapes and excellent coffee at source. Prices are significantly lower than in neighbouring countries.

Budget: €35–55/day.

9. Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a compact island of extraordinary diversity: ancient cities (Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura), colonial hill stations (Kandy, Nuwara Eliya), wildlife (elephants, leopards, blue whales), and beaches (the south and east coasts). The food — rice and curry, hoppers, kottu roti — is excellent and cheap. A tuk-tuk ride costs €1–3; a guesthouse costs €20–40/night.

Budget: €35–60/day.

10. North Macedonia

North Macedonia is one of Europe's least-visited countries and one of its most rewarding. Ohrid — a UNESCO World Heritage Site on a lake of extraordinary clarity — is one of the most beautiful towns in the Balkans. Skopje, the capital, has a bizarre but fascinating Baroque city centre built in the 2010s. The food — grilled meats, ajvar, tavče gravče — is excellent and cheap.

Budget: €25–40/day.

11. Egypt

Egypt offers extraordinary value for money — the pyramids, the temples of Luxor and Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, the Red Sea diving, and the Nile cruise, all at prices that are significantly lower than comparable experiences elsewhere. The Red Sea resorts (Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh) offer all-inclusive packages at €40–60/night that include meals, drinks, and diving.

Budget: €30–60/day.

12. Mexico

Mexico is one of the world's great travel destinations — ancient ruins (Chichen Itza, Teotihuacan, Palenque), colonial cities (Oaxaca, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Guanajuato), Caribbean beaches (Tulum, Bacalar), and a food culture that is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Prices are significantly lower than in the USA or Europe. A taco costs €1; a mezcal costs €3; a night in a good guesthouse costs €25–40.

Budget: €40–65/day.

13. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of Europe's most underrated destinations — a country of extraordinary natural beauty (the Dinaric Alps, the Neretva River, the Una National Park), Ottoman heritage (Sarajevo, Mostar), and a complex, moving history. Sarajevo is one of the most interesting capitals in Europe: a city where the Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, and Yugoslav periods are all visible in the architecture. Prices are among the lowest in Europe.

Budget: €25–40/day.

14. Nepal

Nepal is one of the world's great adventure destinations — the Himalayas, Everest Base Camp, the Annapurna Circuit, and the wildlife of Chitwan National Park. But it is also one of the most affordable. A teahouse on the Everest Base Camp trek costs €5–15/night including meals; a domestic flight to Lukla costs €150–200; a trekking permit costs €20–30.

Budget: €30–50/day (excluding international flights and trekking permits).

15. Turkey

Turkey offers extraordinary value — Istanbul is one of the world's great cities; Cappadocia is one of the most extraordinary landscapes on earth; the Turquoise Coast has excellent beaches and sailing; and the ancient ruins (Ephesus, Pergamon, Troy) are among the finest in the Mediterranean. The Turkish lira has weakened significantly in recent years, making Turkey exceptionally affordable for European visitors.

Budget: €40–65/day.

Tips for Travelling Cheap Without Sacrificing Quality

Book flights early. The best fares on budget airlines are available 3–6 months in advance. Use Google Flights to track prices and set alerts.

Travel shoulder season. May–June and September–October offer near-peak weather at significantly lower prices than July–August.

Stay in guesthouses and locally-owned accommodation. The best value accommodation is rarely on the big booking platforms. Ask locally, or use smaller booking sites.

Eat where the locals eat. The best food is almost always the cheapest. A restaurant with a menu in the local language only is a good sign.

Use public transport. Buses, trains, and shared taxis are significantly cheaper than private transfers and often more interesting.

How to Travel Cheaply Without Sacrificing Quality

Book Flights Early — or Very Late

The best fares on budget airlines are available 3–6 months in advance. Use Google Flights to track prices and set alerts for your preferred routes. Alternatively, last-minute fares — booked 2–3 weeks before departure — can be extraordinarily cheap when airlines are trying to fill seats.

Travel Shoulder Season

May–June and September–October offer near-peak weather at significantly lower prices than July–August. The difference can be dramatic: a week in the Algarve in June costs half what it costs in August, with better weather and fewer crowds.

Stay in Locally-Owned Accommodation

The best value accommodation is rarely on the big booking platforms. Guesthouses, family-run hotels, and locally-owned riads offer better value, more character, and a more authentic experience than international chains. Ask locally for recommendations.

Eat Where the Locals Eat

The best food is almost always the cheapest. A restaurant with a menu in the local language only is a good sign. In Morocco, the stalls in the Djemaa el-Fna square serve better food than the tourist restaurants on the square's perimeter. In Vietnam, the pho at a street stall costs €1 and is better than anything in a restaurant.

Use Public Transport

Buses, trains, and shared taxis are significantly cheaper than private transfers and often more interesting. The bus from Marrakech to Essaouira costs €5 and takes 3 hours through extraordinary landscape. The train from Hanoi to Hue costs €15 and is one of the most scenic rail journeys in Asia.

The Real Cost of Budget Travel

Budget travel is not about deprivation. It is about spending money on the things that matter — experiences, food, local culture — and not on things that don't, like airport transfers, tourist restaurants, and overpriced accommodation. The travellers who get the most from their money are those who travel slowly, eat locally, and spend their budget on experiences rather than comfort.

When Budget Destinations Stop Being Budget

The destinations on this list are affordable now. Some — like Portugal and Croatia — have become significantly more expensive in recent years as their popularity has grown. The best time to visit any budget destination is before it becomes fashionable.