Budget Travel Destinations

Although travelling can sometimes be expensive, not every destination costs a huge amount to visit. So, what are the top ten budget travel destinations?

Johannesburg

Johannesburg is the jewel of South Africa, full of cultural sites and visited by thousands of tourists a year. For accommodation, there is a whole range of hotels and hostels, which offer private and shared rooms.

The city also offers many culinary delights, but caters to those on a budget, with excellent local restaurants such as The Shadow Boxer Brasserie in Greenside.

When it comes to attractions, the city boasts a whole plethora of museums, galleries and other cultural thrills. From The Apartheid Museum to Constitution Hill, there are plenty of things to do in Joburg.

Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok is without a doubt one of the most exciting and fast-paced travel destinations in the world, and you can get by on around 1,000 to 1,500 baht per day ($30 to $45).

Local food is significantly cheaper than western food and offers a taste of the local cuisine and culture. This is also true for the sites and attractions, historical sites often visited by locals typically do not charge as much as those frequented by tourists.

Accommodation in Bangkok can be expensive, but once out of the tourist season, many of the hotels reduce their prices by a significant amount.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The city of Dubai is home to some very expensive, luxury hotels, but for those looking for cheaper alternatives, there are also more affordable options.

Similarly, the culinary experiences the city can offer can go from world-renowned restaurants to small local cafes. One of the city’s must-see restaurants is the iconic Ravi Restaurant in Al Satwa, which offers an excellent yet still cheap menu based on spicy Indian flavours.

Dubai is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The best way to get around the city is through the metro which actually offers the cheapest metro tickets in the world!

Kigali, Rwanda

Situated in the middle of the country, the city of Kigali extends across several lush valleys and hills in an idyllic fusion of nature and urban living.

The city is relatively new in regards to tourism but has plenty to offer. There are several hotels in and around the Kigali Cultural Village which is a dedicated space for local artisans and food vendors to exhibit and trade their goods and wares.

In terms of local attractions, there is plenty of natural wildlife to see, and the city has plenty of buses that can take visitors out to the Gorilla and wildlife sanctuaries.

Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi is known as the ‘Safari Capital of Africa’ because it has become the wildlife hub of the African continent. Yet travellers also flock to the city thanks to its numerous sites, attractions and lively culture.

In terms of accommodation, the city is relatively cheap. Food is similarly inexpensive, and the city boasts a bustling cafe culture with plenty of local and foreign cuisine. Getting around the city can be costly if you travel by taxi, so it is best to stick to buses and other forms of public transport if you’re on a budget.

Budapest, Hungary

There are a lot of travel destinations that are yet to be explored by Africans, Budapest is one of them. Budapest is a city that has something for everyone, from its storied history to its vibrant nightlife.

The best places to stay in Budapest are the hotels and hostels, and the best food can often be found in the covered markets that cover the city, which offer a whole range of traditional Hungarian dishes.

 London, England

Anyone who’s visited London in the past knows that hotels and other forms of accommodation can be very expensive, and the secret to finding cheap but cheerful places to stay in London is to stay outside of the city centre itself.

The London Underground is so advanced that you can simply use your debit or credit card at the platform barriers to pay for your journey, and lots of areas can also be accessed on foot.
For affordable food, head over to the Camden markets for everything from burgers to curries and homemade Indonesian food.

In terms of cheap attractions, there’s plenty on offer with sightseeing buses working on a hop-on, hop-off basis that will take you all over the city for £34 per adult, and several of London’s museums and galleries are also free.