Cheap places like paradise
By maximax8
@maximax8 (31046)
United Kingdom
October 5, 2011 3:39am CST
I read a list of places that are meant to be paradise on the cheap. Most of these destinations are in Asia and I believe that Asia offers very good value for travelers.
Asia: Kerala in India, Sri Lanka, Phuket in Thailand, Langkawi in Malaysia, Siep Reap in Cambodia, Bali in Indonesia and Nha Trang in Vietnam.
One is in Central America that is Roatan in the Bay Islands. It says Brazil has some excellent beaches and is good value. It mentions the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Sea. In Africa is says Zanzibar is very cheap indeed.
Which cheap destination would you most like to go to?
How would you make sure your trip is as cheap as possible?
2 people like this
11 responses
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
6 Oct 11
I hope to visit the Philippines one of these years. I wish to go island hopping and snorkeling. I would fly into Cebu and visit Bohol Island. It has the Chocolate Hills. I would like to visit Boracay Island. Most of all I would love to go to Coran and Palawan Island.
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
5 Oct 11
The Gambia is cheap so is Tunesia and Turkey. I think with most countries it depends what you call paradise (for me it's mostly dessert) and what you call cheap.
Perhaps it's cheap if you already are on Zanzibar? But the country is way more expensive as many others and the flight over there is 2 till 3 times more expensive as the flight to many other African countries.
I seldom go for the beaches, ofcourse it's great if there are but I am not the kind of person that is able to lie on the beach for hours/days/weeks.
At this moment I don't know what cheap destination I like most. In december I think I will be in the Gambia for the last time. Next year I will see where to go that year (next to Hungary a few times a year and my planned visit to Romania).
I spend most money on the trip to get over there. I don't care about the kind of hotel or guesthouse I am staying, same with the food. I mostly eat local, we (me and my kids) have no problem to drink the local water either (don't ask me why).
We also don't mind to walk over to somewhere for some hours or part of the day (so no cabs etc unless we are deadly tired).
If I make (touristic) visits I seldom use the touroperator, I do it the local way. (Also interesting many times flight + hotel + transfer is much cheaper as just the flight). I always take cash with me so I can only spend what I have with me (most of the time I have money left over which is great if you come back home).
1 person likes this
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
6 Oct 11
Thanks for your excellent response. I have visited both Turkey and Tunisia and found them very cheap. Yes, getting to Zanzibar would be pricey from Europe but cheap if the person was working in Kenya. I found Hungary to be a cheap destination. I would love to visit the Gambia but until they are older I don't want to take my kids to a country that has Malaria. It is fantastic that you come home with cash and don't spend all your travel money on your trip.
@frankiecesca (2489)
•
5 Oct 11
I love Cuba for a cheap Caribbean destination and in particular it would have to be the cayo's just off the mainland. This area is really beautiful and less touristy than somewhere like Varadero
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
6 Oct 11
Hi Frankie. I would love to visit Cuba and know a visa is necessary. Cayo looks really beautiful from photos I have seen of it. I prefer less touristy places. I like the Central American countries and some of these have a Caribbean coastline. I loved going to Caye Caulker in Belize.
@tenrajj (911)
• Bhutan
5 Oct 11
Sad that you are not aware of tiny Himalayan country Bhutan. It is a real paradise but it is not cheap place. Today it is one of the most expensive place in the world to visit but yet one of the destination for tourist. Country has got unique and rich culture and tradition and also very rich biodiversity.
@mohkanari (1957)
• India
5 Oct 11
My native place is Kerala and feel proud seeing the name in your selections.Kerala is also known as God's own country among tourists. Main tourist centers are in rural and hilly areas.That may be the main reason for the low cost tourism in Kerala. I think Wayanad may be be the least cost but best place in Kerala Tourism as there isn't any city in that vast hilly area.
@mivvvy (174)
• Netherlands
7 Oct 11
Kerala, indeed God's own country. (and Kerala tourism is doing a great job). I loved the climate, the food and the friendly people, but was less impressed by the countryside. The back waters looked so familiar to me as if I were at home. (I live in the Netherlands, we have lots of the same stretches of water, but no houseboats)
@cyclops1000 (38)
• New Zealand
6 Oct 11
New Zealand is a paradise and while not all of it looks like scenes out of Lord of the Rings you don't have to go far to find a spot
It's not the cheapest destination but it's a lot cheaper than a lot of places and there isn't the rampant commercialism that abounds in some tourist spots
@cyclops1000 (38)
• New Zealand
7 Oct 11
Did you make it to 90 mile beach ?
Or if you prefer metric 144km beach
@marguicha (222756)
• Chile
7 Oct 11
For me ,living where I live, the most important expense when travelling is the air fare. Of the places you mentioned, I could get cheper air tickets for Dominican Republic and Brasil. Asia is out of the question and I´ll just have to see it in movies or at the web.
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
19 Oct 11
Thanks for sharing this information max
Tajmahal of india is considered as paradise on earth by many, i have visited that place many times with my family members
i have a desire to visit all such places on the globe, but health issues are real problem for me these days lol
Best of luck.
Professor
@romscabs (310)
• Philippines
5 Oct 11
It is cheaper to visit Cebu or Bohol. You can also try Boracay. These places are all located in the Philippines. If you prefer nature, you can try Palawan. But if you love the sun, city and the people, you can try Cebu or Bohol.
It is literally cheaper to live here even. Also if you come here as a tourists and wants to stay longer than you planned, visa extensions is affordable. Tourist can stay up to 18 months in the Philippines. You only have to extend your visa every 59 days by either going directly to the immigration office locally or your travel agency for a fee.
Thailand is a cheap country to go too.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
6 Oct 11
One of my friends wants to live abroad low cost and the Philippines might be ideal for him. Staying up to 18 months would be perfect for him and he likes doing voluntary work. I hope to visit the Philippines one of these years. I would fly into Cebu rather than Manila. I would visit Bohol and Palawan to see the landscapes. I am also into palm fringed beaches and snorkeling. Yes, Thailand is also great for island hopping plus it is cheap.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
6 Oct 11
New Zealand is my third favorite country and it is good value if the person stays in dorms in backpacker hostels. It is a small country and train, bus plus ferry is a superb way to travel around it. I adore Northland and the Coromandel Peninsular. Indeed it does look like paradise. I kept saying the North Island was beautiful but the South Island was even better. Wow!
@mivvvy (174)
• Netherlands
7 Oct 11
My cheap paradise is Goa in winter (from the point of view of a European). Goa is India's smallest state just south of Mumbai. In a way it is 'India for Beginners'. The State of Goa used to be Portuguese and that is still visible - in the food, religion (catholic) and the architecture (lots of crumbling Portuguese mansions). Goa also has miles and miles of wide sandy beaches. Flights from Europe are very reasonbly priced.