Where are the cheapest places to travel?

In short

  • Eastern European cities like Tbilisi, Sofia, Krakow, and Budapest are Europe's cheapest, with hotels from $30/night and meals under $10.
  • Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia) is cheapest on the ground globally - $50-70/day all-in - but flights from Europe or the US add cost.
  • Book shoulder-season dates (April-May, September-October) on trip1 and pay in crypto to avoid FX fees on international bookings.

Cheapest destinations in Europe

Eastern Europe wins on value. On trip1, Tbilisi (Georgia), Sofia (Bulgaria), Bucharest (Romania), Belgrade (Serbia), and Krakow (Poland) consistently deliver 4-star hotels under $60/night. Budapest and Prague are slightly pricier but still cheaper than Western Europe.

Riga (Latvia), Vilnius (Lithuania), and Tallinn (Estonia) round out the Baltic capitals - walkable old towns, affordable food scenes, and short flights from most of Europe.

Cheapest destinations outside Europe

Southeast Asia is the classic budget region. Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Hoi An), Thailand (Chiang Mai, Bangkok), and Indonesia (Bali, Ubud) all offer good hotels starting around $20/night and full local meals for $2-5.

In the Middle East and North Africa, Cairo, Marrakech, and Amman offer strong value. Central America (Mexico City, Guadalajara) works well from the US.

How to make any destination cheaper

Travel shoulder season, stay 15-20 minutes from the historic centre, book midweek check-ins, and use trip1's crypto checkout to avoid foreign transaction fees on international bookings.

Related travel guides

cheapest places to travel - FAQ

Eastern European cities like Tbilisi, Sofia, Bucharest, and Krakow are among the cheapest. You get quality hotels, meals under $10, and inexpensive public transport.

Travel in shoulder season (April-May, September-October), stay outside the historic centre, and pay in crypto on trip1 to avoid foreign transaction fees.

Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia) is generally cheaper on the ground, though flights from Europe can be expensive. Hotels start around $20/night.

Budget $50-80/day for Eastern Europe or Southeast Asia (hotel, meals, transport). Western Europe usually needs $120-180/day for the same style.

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