This year is the first time in a long time that I haven’t resorted to ‘just picking up a brochure to have a look’ from the local travel agents. A holiday has never been an allowance that my budget could afford, but isn’t that what we all say? Don’t we make bold and adamant statements as the New Year rolls in that we are 100% going to sacrifice our jollies this year, we are going to get some serious saving done, and if we really want to get away we’ll ‘maybe just journey to Edinburgh for the weekend’? Yet somehow, year after year, most of us still end up handing over the credit card to that smug faced Thomas Cook employee, paying for an all-inclusive week-long tropical trip before we’ve even had time to register what’s actually happening.
Of course, holidays are essential for the soul, I believe. Your head may be thinking of your bank balance, but your soul… your soul needs the sun, the sangria, the twang of a different accent, the alfresco dinners and the long lazy days where the only strenuous task you face is applying sun cream to those hard to reach places. The soul will not be ignored, hence why it overrides our ‘logical’ thinking and marches your feet straight into the travel agents, almost completely against your will really. This explains why we always depict booking a holiday as something we unwillingly or irresponsibly did like it’s some sort of strange sin. But really, you wouldn’t have it any other way would you?! The escape, the change of scenery, the change of faces, adapting to different cultures; I think stepping off this piece of land we call our country undoubtedly triggers a fulfilment inside us that is quite impossible to explain, and quite impossible to replicate. We definitely aren’t mad or greedy or ‘just being British’ for craving a break from the tedious routine we execute mindlessly day in day out; I mean, all we want is 7 days out of 365 – it’s not that much to ask, is it?
However, fear not. Before you condemn yourself to a Summer of envy, pale skin and failed attempts to get excited for your two-night ‘holiday’ in York, check out these overseas options that are perfect for tourists with extra tight purse strings.
South East Asia
Popular for the backpacker, South-East Asia plays host to the four big counties; Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Many a traveller will stop here and lap up the cheap living before journeying on to Australia, but you don’t have to embark on a trek around the globe to appreciate the experience these places have to offer.
For example, Cambodia’s currency is Riel (KHR) and the current exchange rate is £1 = 5428KHR so you can see instantly how this trumps the Euro, Dollar, Lira, and most other currencies in terms of value for money. You can find a room for less than £10, street food for less than £1, all-you-can-eat restaurants for less than £3 and even hire a driver for less than £6! Transport includes buses, boats and trains so prices can vary, but expect to pay less than half of what you would for the UK equivalent and you are probably on the right track! A 3-day pass into the famous Buddhist Monument Angkor Wat (above) and its surrounding temples cost less than £40, which is an absolute bargain considering it is one of the Seven Wonders of the World!
You can find more info on Cambodia on Tourism Cambodia and Travel Happy, and more information about South East Asia in general at On The Go Tours.
Hungary
In 2013, the Post Office compiled a comparison table that revealed a city break including hotel stay, meals, and a sight-seeing tour in the Hungarian capital Budapest cost just £134. The equivalent cost £420 in Stockholm and £440 in Copenhagen, uncovering the undeniable value for money that Hungary has to offer.
Located in Central Europe, Hungary is described as a diverse and unique country that remains much more individual and much cheaper than its neighbours in the West, which some may describe as over-touristy and over-priced. They have a language spoken nowhere else in the world, a collection of Great Planes, low mountains, hot springs, captivating countryside and their native folk songs are apparently unlike anything you will have ever heard!
Accommodation can be found for £30 per night, food should cost no more than £18 per day and local transport no more than £8 per day.
The Telegraph has more information on travelling to Budapest, and Budget Your Trip can help you to form a real plan for how much money to spend in Hungary.
Honduras
My personal favourite of the lot, Honduras is located in South America and is, once again, very popular with travellers and backpackers, but a few minutes of research and it becomes blatantly obvious why. A basic but quality room will cost you around £10, food is served in over-generous portions and shouldn’t amount to more than £15 a day, if you lose your way you can jump on a ‘Tuk Tuk truck’ which will take you more or less anywhere if you give the driver a tiny £1, and last but not least, there are the beaches. Off Honduras’ Eastern Coast lies part of the Mesoamerican barrier reef, meaning this country borders the Caribbean Sea and the Bay Islands; world-renowned for their Scuba Diving and undersea life.
(I am currently booking my ticket to this place)
Cheap day to day living, 470 miles of sparsely populated white sandy beaches and even the chance to scuba dive with sea turtles, dolphins and octopuses – Honduras is undoubtedly one of the greatest hidden gems for holidaymakers.
Find out more on Go Central America.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is not all too different from South Asia, but tourists are warned that entry fees to the archaeological sites and tourist attractions will definitely strain a tight budget. Jaffna is a great place for tourists on a budget who want to experience the country’s culture and visit ruins from the civil war age without paying the pricey museum fees, and Unawatuna is great for beach-lovers without paying for an expensive seafront hotel.
Opting for the basic option of a guest house or hostel will cost you no more than £12 per night, and street food can once again be purchased for less than £1; large portions with lots of rice are guaranteed! Trains may be a preferred method of travel if you want to journey between cities, as apparently, buses are quite a claustrophobic and jerky experience. A 3-hour train journey will cost you less than £1, so it definitely seems worth it for the extra comfort!
You can find a £5 a day budget guide to Sri Lanka here, and things to do in Unawatuna here.
So there we are. A bit of digging and you can find places to holiday this year that you never even knew existed on a budget that won’t leave you crying into your credit card bill. Are there any other places you’d add to this list? Let me know in the comments below, or over on our Facebook page or Twitter.
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