Alternatives to Your Bucket List Destinations

Everyone has some bucket list destinations which come with hefty price tags. If you can’t afford to travel to the countries you have been dreaming about since forever, we have some cheaper and even cooler alternatives for you. Travel doesn’t have to be expensive and this list which covers countries from five continents will prove the same to you. The places on this list are the best alternatives you can get for those well-trodden and budget-busting lands.

Thailand

If you want to plan a long vacation but don’t want to burn a hole in your pocket, Thailand can be your dream destination. The stays here are as cheap as possible. You can even get to stay at a five- star hotel for less than a $100. If you want to hit the cities, you will easily find a good hostel room in Bangkok for around $10. However, if you are fine with just some basic facilities, you will be able to manage in an even lesser amount. But, if you are planning to stroll by the beaches, finding quick accommodation can be a costly affair. Worry not, you always have the option to make your trip more adventurous by planning to camp on the islands!

The accommodation on the famous Koh Adang island will only cost you 200 baht per day for camping. Yes! You guessed it right, that’s less than $30 per day per person. If you have a tent of your own, you would only need to spend 0.86 cents. Here, the sole place which provides accommodation is the National Park. You can either go for a chalet for 600 baht or camping. Koh Adang has no dearth of places that you could visit. You can hike and feel the adrenaline rush, see the beauty of nature at its peak at the waterfalls or simply go snorkeling. On average, you are likely to spend less than $10 every day at Koh Adang. If you want to spend time in serenity but at the same time want a bit luxurious experience, you can go for the chalets. Even this option wouldn’t cost you a lot.

Mexico

If you want to have a lifetime experience but still want to travel cheap, head straight to Mexico! Mexico has everything right from scenic mountains to mesmerizing waterfalls and relaxing beaches. Have you ever been on a cenote? If you have never tried it, now is your chance. Even if you decide to travel to the most crowded places in Mexico, you will get accommodation and food at unbelievably low prices. Precisely, Mexico is cheap yet luxurious.

While on an average, street food is unlikely to cost you more than $2, your visits to restaurants won't amount to more than $7 to &20 either. Buying beers at the Oxxo general stores is really cheap and is only likely to cost you around a dollar. What’s more, you will also get to add lime to your drink in that price. If you decide to hit the bars, your drink won’t cost you more than $5. Backpacker hostels can book a seat for you at around $10 every night. However, if you are aiming at flash packing, you will have to pay around $20-$30.

If you follow my advice, CouchSurfing is one of the best decisions you can make in Mexico. You have a couple of options for transportation. If you can travel in shared taxis or buses, it will just cost you around $4 for a two-hour journey. Do you know Spanish? If the answer is yes, now is the time to use your skill. You can speak Spanish and get buses at ridiculously cheap prices. A tourist bus will cost you a bit more than a local bus but it is pretty cheap too. If you think rationally, staying longer at places won’t just give you a better experience but will also be light on your pocket because the major expense is likely to be transported. If you travel in an economic manner, $30 per day will do just fine in Mexico including the transportation and attraction expenses.

Ethiopia

No matter what you are passionate about, Ethiopia will never fail to amaze you. Be it culture, history, food or wildlife, Ethiopia has something for everyone. Gondar is an amazing city in Ethiopia. It is known as the Camelot of Africa. This is because it housed the Emperor and the Royal Enclosures and Castles. If you want to have a look at the enclosure, you need to pay $4.99.

Africa is certainly not a continent with a lot of cheap countries to travel to. However, Ethiopia comes as a breeze of fresh air. On average, accommodation in a two-star hotel will cost you around $10/day for a room for two people. If you plan on munching on the local food during your stay, not only will it provide you with a better understanding of the place but will also be light on your pocket. A delicious breakfast will cost you just around a dollar. If you are a vegetarian, you won’t be disappointed with Ethiopia. Ethiopians are quite religious and observe fasts regularly. As a result, plenty of vegetarian options are available. Vegetarian food will obviously cost you lesser than meat. When you are there, don’t forget to try the slightly sour local bread - the injera!

Estonia

Lonely Planet has ranked Estonia as the best value destination in 2016. Estonia has the best of both worlds. On one hand, you will never cease to be amazed by the scenic beauty and the architecture and on the other hand, you can enjoy unbelievable connectivity. Believe it or not, these days the availability of Wi-Fi is indeed a necessity. Estonia has network connectivity at all places be it in intercity buses or on the streets. You will get ready-made means in the supermarket, It will be a relaxing vacation and you won’t need to worry about anything. Sightseeing and transportation fees are lesser for students. Overall, food and transportation won’t cost you more than $21-25. How much you spend on sightseeing really depends on your taste.

Myanmar (Burma)

Though Myanmar can end up costing you a bit more than its neighbours, it is still one of the cheapest countries to travel to in Southeast Asia. On average, you are likely to spend around $35 in Myanmar if you want to enjoy a nice vacation. But, please keep in mind and this cost is subjective It depends on food, travel and accommodation. The only extra expense which you will encounter is on buses which are around $10-15. If you are travelling in a group, it will cost lesser overall. But if you are a solo traveller, your main expense is likely to be an accommodation which will be more than $25 per day. If you turn out to be one of the lucky ones and can manage to find a dorm for less than $10 per day, there can be nothing better than that. You can either choose to binge on street food or hit the local eateries. Nightlife isn’t really lit so you are unlikely to spend a lot on alcohol. The best part is that the most popular tourist destinations in Myanmar are as cheap as they can possibly get. Take, for instance, the Yangon circle line train. You will always think of it fondly as the best expenditure of $1 you have ever made in your entire life.

Nicaragua

Not many Indians travel to this exhilarating destination so it might sound like an offbeat option to you. But, you simply cannot miss out on it. If you want to experience the Americas on a bare minimum budget, you simply cannot make a better choice. Including all the activities, a trip to Nicaragua won’t cost you more than 25$-30$ per day. You name it and Nicaragua has it. There are a lot of activities to do here right from boarding down a volcano to riding a motorbike on Isla Ometepe. If you love peace, you can explore the underwater world on the Corn islands. If you are a party animal, you can satisfy all of your wants in San Jual Del Sur. If you are a solo traveller and a dorm bed would suit your needs, you would just need to spend $6 for a bed. However, if you are on a lookout for a single room, it can cost you around $10. The public transport within the city is unbelievably cheap and is only likely to cost you around $0.30-$0.50. You can easily manage a meal at around $5. Volcano boarding is relatively more expensive and is generally priced at around $25. Grab a local beer worth $1.30 and explore this wonderland!

Laos

Laos is not as popular a tourist destination as the other countries around it. This is the only country in that region which doesn’t have any beaches so its neighbouring countries are more preferred by the tourists. This is exactly the reason why you should visit Laos at least once. You won’t see a crowd of travellers. You can enjoy a peaceful atmosphere and explore the country at your own pace. The culture stands mostly unperturbed so you would be amazed by it for sure. If you want to visit an area with lush green lands, your next trip should definitely be to North Laos. North Laos has dense rainforests and you can even interact with the tribal groups. Luan Prabang which was the ancient capital of this place boasts of having the best of both worlds. On one hand, you will see majestic colonial structures and on the other, you can attain inner peace by visiting the humble Buddhist monasteries. Laos has no dearth of calm places at which you can soothe your nerves. Take Vientiane for instance. You can also visit the national monument at this destination. River Mekong is a marvel in itself. There are over 4000 islands and no matter which one you choose you will surely make memories for a lifetime. If you decide to visit South Laos, you can roam around the vast coffee plantations or take a detour to the majestic waterfall at Bolaven Plateau. Believe me, when I visited Laos with my friends we just spent around $20 per person. The food cost just around $7, the cost of the transport was around $6 and double rooms cost around $8. Yes, that’s just 4$ per person for a room. If you are on a tight budget and still want to have incredible fun, head straight to Laos.

Chile

Are you shocked after reading the name of this place on this list? Even I had heard a lot of rumours about how Chile is one of the most expensive destinations to travel to until I decided to try it out or myself. I won’t fool you by telling you that it is one of the cheapest countries to travel to in Latin America, but it isn’t exorbitantly expensive either. You can rent a room easily for around $10 per night. The cheapest option would definitely be to buy food from the local supermarkets and cook on your own but you can also enjoy empanadas. They are pretty cheap but can be awful at times. You need to be careful with them.

One unique idea that you can employ is travelling by long distance or overnight buses to avoid staying at dorm rooms. Transportation can be managed in around 30$ unless you are travelling to the Easter islands. This particular location is pretty expensive. The cost of the food is on the higher side. However, if you plan to participate in the adventurous activities on the mainland, you might find it difficult to manage in 30$. I would suggest you go hiking on your own and explore the glorious landscape. Though I have tried my best to make this article as informative as I possibly can, errors regarding the pricing may creep in. The prices can also differ in future. Do have a look at the current scenario in your preferred destination before booking your tickets.