Travel means embracing the unknown, seeking new experiences, and discovering the beauty of the world around us. It’s a chance to leave the familiar behind and delve into the unknown.
Travel awakens our senses and opens our minds to the world’s wonders. Feel the sun’s warmth on your skin, taste new scents on your tongue, and inhale the sweet scents of faraway lands.
And as we travel through life, we carry those experiences with us, shaping who we are and how we see the world. A journey is not just a physical journey, it is a journey of the soul, an invitation to explore the vast and infinitely fascinating range of human experience.
These destinations are perfect for long vacationers like you and me. People who travel on a budget but still want the full experience.
Hopefully, this guide will give you some fresh ideas for the next time you come to plan your next trip!
1: Taranaki – New Zealand
Start in this beautiful part of New Zealand. I am fortunate enough to call Taranaki home.
Taranaki is a region located on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. Rising majestically across the state, Mount Taranaki is famous for its active, dormant stratovolcanoes.
Taranaki is adorned with gorgeous black sand beaches that offer great surf breaks. This means that in winter you can ski and surf on the same day.
It is said that summer is the best time to travel to New Zealand, but I don’t think so. New Zealand is wonderful any time of the year. But if you’re visiting Taranaki in the spring or fall, don’t forget a light jacket or a good rain poncho. New Zealand has many secrets only locals know. One of them is the fact that in New Zealand he regularly has four seasons in one day.
Budget Tips
Taranaki has plenty of free activities, including hiking, mountain biking, and volcano climbing.
Stroll along the seaside promenade and watch the sunset before enjoying a glass of wine at one of his many unpretentious bars. Cheaper than Auckland or Wellington!
We only use Kakak to ensure the best prices on flights. You really can’t beat them (and their mobile app is great!) Check prices for flights to New Zealand here Please ✈️
2: Mirrisa – Sri Lanka
Despite its growing popularity, Sri Lanka is still a relatively underrated travel destination. We spent three weeks in Sri Lanka as a family and this beautiful island has captured our hearts.
Surrounded by the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka offers golden sandy beaches, amazing food, stunning wildlife, stunning landscapes, and friendly people.
If that’s not enough to make Sri Lanka your next travel destination, you should know that Sri Lanka recently announced that it is offering free visas to her over 30 countries, including the United States… What are you waiting for? Don’t miss the town of Mirissa, which offers beautiful beaches, great restaurants, and the slower pace of Sri Lankan life.
Budget Tips
From Mirissa, take a bus to the beautiful city of Galle. The ride costs less than $1, and the experience of sitting next to an open window surrounded by colorful locals is priceless.
The pizza restaurant next to the bus station in Mirissa is also the best in Sri Lanka (and very cheap!)
3: Udaipur – India
After spending 6 weeks in India last year, I’m a big Indian fan, so I’ll include two Indian cities. India gets a lot of bad press when it comes to vacation destinations, but if you give India a try, I think you’ll love it as much as I do.
Udaipur, also known as the City of Lakes, is an incredibly romantic and unique destination for travelers who like to think outside the box. Nestled on the shores of tranquil Lake Pichola, Udaipur has a maze of winding streets lined with charming shops and cafes.
The people of Udaipur are friendly and welcoming, and they pride themselves on being a beautiful city with a vibrant arts scene. See the city from the water on a romantic sunset cruise on the lake.
Please don’t let Udaipur enchant you!
Things to do in Udaipur
Join this private tour
- Experience the best views of Udaipur in one day
- Experience the best of Rajasthan’s heritage, architecture, and culture
- Travel in comfort in a private, air-conditioned vehicle
- Enjoy an immersive cultural experience without a shopping stop
- Relax on an optional sunset cruise on Lake Pichola
This tour is perfect for those who want to see all the highlights of Udaipur in one day. Explore the City Palace, the view of the Monsoon Palace, the tranquility of Fatehsagar Lake, the Jagdish Temple, and Lake Pichola.
Budget Tips
Take a tuk-tuk to the hills and find the reservoir. It’s nice, quiet, and shady. the best? It’s free!
4: Alleppey – India
Alleppey, also known as Alappuzha, is a city in the southern Indian state of Kerala, famous for its backwaters. An intricate network of canals and lagoons meandering around and around the region’s beautiful surroundings.
Alleppey is probably the greenest, cleanest, and friendliest city we have visited in India. We are committed to providing our visitors with great beaches and great restaurants. If you’re looking for a unique travel destination in India, you’ll love Allepey.
Why not listen to the podcast where my teenage son and I spent a month talking about the realities of backpacking in India: Is India as scary as everyone says it is?
5: Phong Nah-Ke National Park – Vietnam
Most people who travel to Vietnam tend to head for the big cities that offer beaches and shopping. It’s a shame because this means missing out on the opportunity to experience a beautiful destination like Fonner.
Steeped in history, Ponner offers adventurous travelers a breathtaking opportunity to experience one of Asia’s oldest karst mountains. Formed over 400 million years ago, these breathtaking mountains are traversed by hundreds of spectacular rivers and caves, all waiting to be explored.
For adventure-loving budget travelers, Phong Na, Vietnam is a must-see destination.
Budget Tips
Rent a motorbike (very cheap – beware of motorbike scams popular in Vietnam!) and drive around the beautiful hills. Food in Vietnam is so cheap that you can stop by a sidewalk cafe for a delicious lunch!
6: Chiang Mai – Thailand
Thailand has much more to offer than beach resorts. Board the train from Bangkok and travel to the misty mountainous regions of northern Thailand.
Here you’ll find the beautiful city of Chiang Mai, majestically surrounded by the Doi Pui Suthep National Park, for bird watching, hiking, and waterfall climbing.
Chiang Mai has it all. Fine dining, hundreds of temples, and beautiful weather.
Budget Tips
Do you like working out while traveling? The park in the middle of Chiang Mai is a great place to exercise for free! Why pay for an expensive gym when you can work out early in the morning or in the evening in such beautiful surroundings?
7: Verona – Italy
I list Verona as one of Europe’s underrated destinations. Before you travel, find out about common mistakes travelers often overlook when planning their trip to Italy.
Many European cities have plenty of other attractions, but if you crave romance and understated exclusivity, Verona will win your heart. Set in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, this medieval town is a quintessentially romantic Italian town built between the winding Adige River.
With world-class dining, shopping that rivals glitzy Rome, and massive performances in ancient Roman amphitheaters, you’ll fall in love with Verona and each other!
Budget Tips
Italian house manners
If you want to save money on your accommodation in Verona, HOUSESIT!!
8: Paros – Greece
I have spent many summers in this little piece of paradise and love every inch of it. In fact, this summer (2022) my family and I spent a month he spent on this wonderful little island. If you’ve ever wondered about the cost of your Greek island vacation, I can give you all the details!
Novice travelers consider Paros to be the quintessential Greek island. Surrounded by the sparkling blue Aegean Sea, this idyllic island welcomes newcomers with sugar-white houses, pristine white sandy beaches, and quaint fishing villages.
Naoussa is a great village to spend your evenings shopping, enjoying fresh fish, and sipping cocktails in one of the many harbor bars.
Budget Tips
Hire a scooter and drive to the small village of Lefkes.
Here you can find traditional taverns serving meals for half the price of more popular establishments. Remember! If you order a ‘tuna salad’ in Greece, it’s literally a plate of tuna mayonnaise with olives on top.
For sandwiches, order the tuna salad and enjoy a delicious lunch with the standard bread at any restaurant!
9: Naples – Italy
Naples is often put on the back burner of glitzy Italian destinations like Rome and Milan, but if you’re always craving to experience the real Italy, escape the glamorous tourism and choose to Spend your vacation among Italians who choose raw tourism, pure elegance. I love Naples.
Don’t miss the chance to spend a few days exploring Pompeii, strolling through the maze of streets lined with colorful and noisy food stalls, and eating the best pizza in Italy. Don’t miss the National Archaeological Museum. Impressive museum housing most of the artifacts unearthed in Pompeii and Herculaneum. It’s not free, but it’s very cheap compared to other attractions in Italy. Do not miss it!
Budget tips:
Rent a car and see more of Italy! please. Pick just one of these destinations and promise not to stay there for two weeks. please. Italy is very easy to travel. If you’re not into tours, do what we do (every time), rent a car, and explore.
We’ve been traveling around the world with her teenager for a year, so we’re always looking for ways to save money. Make things as cheap as possible.
If he is going with more than one person on his trip to Italy, it will definitely be cheaper to rent a car. The (arguably) best car rental in Italy we found was Europcar. They were (and always) great to deal with.
10: Kilkenny – Ireland
The medieval town of Kilkenny is one of the best destinations for an authentic Irish experience. Of interest is the ‘Medieval Mile’, which runs between the castle and the cathedral on the banks of the river Nollé.
Narrow, winding streets lined with more pubs and shops than you can imagine inviting visitors to genuine Irish hospitality.
Be careful not to make the same mistakes you made when planning your holiday in Ireland. The Irish way of doing things is very unique and takes some getting used to.
Budget tips:
If you go to a local pub in Kilkenny at lunchtime, you’ll find some musicians jamming. Order a Guinness, steak, and ale pie, and spend the afternoon listening to complementary music. (If the budget allows, I might buy you a beer!?)
11: Charleston – South Carolina
Best hidden gems are often off the beaten path, and it’s easy to overlook the city of Charleston, South Carolina. Founded in 1670, the delightful city of Charleston exudes charm, history, and elegance with its cobbled streets and chocolate box houses.
Spend the evening enjoying a horse-drawn carriage ride through the winding streets and enjoying Charleston’s famous historic haunted tour before dining at one of Charleston’s many fine restaurants.
This is one of North America’s most unique destinations and cannot be missed.
Budget Tips
Free parking by the sea on Bay Street. Easy to walk and you can stay all day exploring this beautiful city.
12: Ile De Rais – France
If you ever get the chance to visit Ile de Re, this stunning island on the west coast of France, you’ll find deserted beaches, perfect weather, and hundreds of places to relax in nature.
Surrounded by fragrant pine trees and stunning sand dunes, Ile de Rais is the perfect place for a family vacation. The harbor villages and tranquil cycle paths that dot the island are a relaxing and tranquil way to spend time with the family or alone.
Don’t miss our weekly market offering the best meat dishes we’ve tasted in all of France!
Budget Tips
Rent a bike and explore this extremely flat island for free! A great way to see the countryside and meet the friendly locals!
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