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Five Affordable World Travel Destinations
Locations That Offer More But
Cost Less
So you want to travel the world
but you have a tight budget? Are
you tired of reading about everyone
else’s exotic adventures and ready
to have some of your own? Have
you always wanted to take an international
vacation but thought you couldn’t
afford it? There are numerous
travel destinations across the
world that are both exciting and
affordable. Five of them are described
here to give you ideas and get
you started planning your own
getaway.
There are two ways to approach
affordable vacations to distant
destinations. Either you will
save money getting there or the
savings will occur once you arrive
at your selected spot. If you
want the trip there to be affordable,
many travel consolidators recommend
choosing well-known destinations
that are served by numerous airlines
and receive millions of travelers
each year. The competition for
customers usually drives costs
down for everything from lodging
to tour packages. Airfares between
major hubs tend to be more affordable
and there are often plenty of
discounts and last minute travel
deals.
London
In Europe, London is a top pick
for affordable vacation destinations,
for these exact reasons. Not only
do you have more flights to choose
from, they are cheaper than if
you flew to a more remote location.
On average, staying in London
may be a bit more expensive than
other European destinations, but
the seemingly endless choices
in hotels, restaurants, transportation,
tours, and other travel essentials
gives travels opportunities to
mold their vacation to fit their
budgets. And you can use London
as your home base to set out on
day trips to other more exotic
locations or buy a Eurorail pass
and see those more remote countries
without the expense of flying
there.
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
This theory also works well for
traveling in the Caribbean. Belize
is an appealing destination, with
wonderful Caribbean beaches and
a lush tropic setting, but since
it has only recently emerged as
a popular travel destination,
it is more expensive than Cancun,
Jamaica or other well-traveled
locations along the Mayan Riviera.
With fewer flights, getting there
is more expensive, and there are
few moderate lodging options.
Development of larger luxury resorts
have begun to boom, but the only
real alternative for those on
a budget is staying in local facilities
that may be hard to locate from
home and may be more rustic than
most travelers are willing to
try.
Although there are many options
for affordable vacations in the
Caribbean, an excellent pick is
Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Accessible
via flights to Cancun, which are
often some of the cheapest in
the region, Playa is just a half
hour away. It is filled with a
multitude of lodging choices,
from expansive luxury resorts
on the ocean to quaint but clean
hotels downtown. From Playa, travelers
can branch out and visit Tulum
and other locations on the Mayan
Riviera or take the ferry across
to the island of Cozumel where
snorkeling is prime and the attractions
are many.
For Asian destinations, travelers
often do better to focus on saving
money once they get to their destination.
Depending on your country of origin,
getting to just about any spot
in Asia is going to be a sizable
chunk of your travel budget. The
difference will come from the
cost of lodging, food, entertainment
and other travel expenditures
once you arrive. By choosing destinations
where you get the most for your
money, you can save a great deal
on your international vacation.
A drink or dinner in Tokyo will
costs you many times more than
what it would in Saigon. The key
here is to go where you dollars
buy you more and where the local
cost of living is low.
Tioman Island
An affordable yet exotic choice
for Asia is Malaysia and specifically
Tioman Island, knows as the mythical
'Bali Hai' from the film 'South
Pacific.’ Tioman Island is located
at the southern end of the east
coast of Malaysia on the South
China Sea. It’s sandy beaches,
bordered by lush jungles and stunning
mountains make it a relaxing yet
intriguing destination, ideal
for sun lovers, snorkelers and
divers. The island also has many
villages for exploring and shopping.
English is widely spoken and the
rates are amazingly affordable,
with a two night lodging package
for a suite at a lovely oceanside
resort averaging around 100 U.S.
dollars. Typically visitors reach
the island via the speed ferry
from the mainland. Although the
trip can take over two hours,
it is enjoyable and provides opportunities
for dolphin watching along the
way.
Buenos Aires
South American also has many destinations
that are affordable because of
the savings once you arrive. Locales
like Rio de Janeiro in Brazil,
the areas top destination, are
coming down in price but are still
more expensive than cities such
as Buenos Aires in Argentina,
where the rates are lower and
the U.S. dollar goes further.
A huge metropolis that is more
European than South American,
the city has much to offer including
cultural events, thriving nightlife,
shopping, local sports, and a
host of tours and excursions.
La Boca, with its street performers,
shops, and unique architecture
is a big tourist draw. The large
number of choices for lodging,
restaurants, and activities provides
opportunities for budget travel
and savings. Airfare to the city
is relatively reasonable for an
international destination, with
discount fares from the U.S. averaging
around $500 round trip. Buenos
Aires might not be one of the
most exotic or inspiring destinations
in South America, but it is a
city that everyone should see
at least once, and with some of
the most affordable rates and
fares around, it makes the list
as a top South American destination.
Las Vegas
The list would not be complete
without a North American destination,
and the champ of all affordable
locales is Las Vegas. It too is
a city that should be seen at
least once, and many world travelers
return again and again for the
gaming, art, shows and people
watching that just can’t be found
anywhere else. Close enough to
other top U.S. attractions like
the Grand Canyon, Vegas provides
other options for those who have
had their fill of casinos.
The city has long been known for
its cheap vacation packages with
hotels and resorts that offer
discount rates for rooms, meals
and entertainment in hopes of
attracting people to their gaming
tables. Airfare rates into Vegas
are some of the most reasonable
in the United States, no matter
the origination destination. And
with more than 100,000 hotel rooms
to choose from, there is sure
to be a lodging choice that fits
your budget.
The world provides hundreds of
affordable travel destinations.
With all the options available,
there is no excuse to put off
that life-long desire to travel
to exotic places at the far ends
of the earth. Destinations can
be researched on the Internet
or your travel consolidator can
make recommendations and help
with locating discount flights
and hotel deals that fit your
budget. So what are you waiting
for? Get out there and explore
the world.
About the Author
C.J. Gustafson is a freelance
writer and photographer who travels
extensively for work and family
vacations. A cheapskate by nature
and necessity, she is always on
the lookout for bargain travel
deals and affordable vacation
destinations.
Copyright 2005 1st-Family-Vacations.com
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