17 Unforgettable Countries You Can Visit for Less Than $50 a Day

When you ask Americans why they don’t travel abroad, the top reason they cite is cost. But once you get on that plane to a cheaper part of the world -- Southeast Asia, say, or Central America, or even, yes, Northern Europe -- man do the prices drop. You won’t realize how rich you are until you land in one of these countries where the pint you pay $6 or $8 for at home is now less than a buck, or the bottle of wine at a fine restaurant runs all of $4.

How you get to these countries near and far is up to you (though you can score cheap airfares and save money on flights in all sorts of ways). Once you get to your destination, though, you’ll find yourself having adventures, exploring beaches and jungles, and still living cheaper than you do at home. What’s the most underrated reason to travel abroad? Turns out, it’s also cost.

KRKA NATIONAL PARK, CROATIA
KRKA NATIONAL PARK, CROATIA | Ajan Alen/shutterstock

Croatia

Pristine coastline and medieval castles, plus world-renowned cheese, oysters, and wine
Escape Dubrovnik, where you will blow through all 50 of your dollars just looking for parking (though a rental car can still be a wildly affordable way get around Europe). The exquisite coastline of Croatia is remarkably budget-friendly. In Zadar, rooms at Tequila Bar Hostel or Hostel 4 can drop down to the low $20s. Go in off-season (November through March) and the national parks are heavily discounted. The entrance fee to Plitviče Lakes National Park -- home of those bonkers-looking waterfalls you see all over Pinterest -- will cost you around $8 (up to $26 in high-season) and Krka National Park is just $5 (around $30 in summer). Krka is less well-known, but -- I shout to you from my online soapbox -- a better pick than Plitviče because you can actually swim in the waterfalls.

Head to Bota Šare in Mali Ston (less than an hour from Dubrovnik) where what many consider to be the finest oysters in the world are cultivated. They also come with a seaside view along the salt flats, and you can pick up some of the rock salt to take home. Sounds like it should be pricey, right? Wrong. You can mix and match oysters for just a few bucks, and the most expensive dish -- an excellent seafood risotto in black squid ink -- is still under $20. If you’re continuing up the coast, stop at the island of Pag and buy some of its famously delicious cheese with your spare change.

If you get a chance to splurge: No matter what, you should try a glass or two of Croatia’s red Dingač wine, which might run you $5 or so. But walk a few minutes up the road from Bota Šare and you’ll find an array of wineries. Our pick is Matuško Winery, where the underground wine cellar is legendary and the wine tasting is free as long as you buy something. Look for a bottle of their award-winning Dingač Reserve for around $45, plus maybe a syrupy dessert wine for good measure. Oh, and they do olive oil too. -- Kastalia Medrano

Andalusia, Spain
Andalusia, Spain | DeltaOFF/Shutterstock.com

Spain

In Andalusía, the best things in life are (almost) free
Life is good in Spain’s sunny south, where you can go to almost any bar and fill up on cañas (half-pours of fizzy yellow beer) and carb-y tapas like croquettes and patatas bravas for less than 10 euros. In Granada, some spots still offer botanas (portions of food get larger with each round of drinks you order), so if you play your cards right, dinner is basically free. When all else fails, you can always spike a 2-liter of Coke with rum and join the local teens in a botellón (technically illegal street parties) down at the plaza.

But even highbrow culture is everywhere, and often free. Take a self-guided walking tour of historic architecture, wander into museums admission-free, or stumble on government-sponsored concerts and fairs (yay, socialism!). A hostel bed can be had for around $25/night, tickets to a bullfight run as little as 10 euros, and while you can easily pay $50 for a flamenco show in Madrid or Barcelona, the art form actually originates in the south, where you can catch some of the world’s best dancers, singers, and musicians performing for tips in dimly lit underground peñas.

If you get a chance to splurge: Jamón, jamón, jamón. -- Maya Kroth

Vang Vieng, Laos
Vang Vieng, Laos | Avigator Thailand/Shutterstock.com

Laos

Southeast Asia’s only landlocked country keeps your wallet fat
If we’re being honest, in a country like this, it’s hard not to roll big. Prices for accommodations vary around the country, but you’ll be hard-pressed to spend much more than $5 a night. Meal in a restaurant? How does one dollar sound? A beer? Another dollar, please. Unlike neighboring Cambodia, you’ll need to exchange your American dollars for bundles of the local notes, kip (exchange rate: 1:8,360). You won’t be able to do much with these outside the country, so make sure you spend them all before you leave. This may prove a challenge.

So what’s a baller to do? In a word: relax. Go to Vang Vieng and float down the Nam Song River in an inner tube. If you get thirsty, just tie up at one of the riverside bars for a drink. If that’s too slow a pace for you, rent a motorbike for $5 a day and visit the region’s breathtaking cliffs and waterfalls. Or head south to Don Det and learn the true meaning of chilling in a $2-a-night bungalow overlooking the Mekong River. They don’t call it the Lao PDR for nothing -- Please Don’t Rush.

If you get a chance to splurge: A sunrise hot air balloon ride over the hills and valleys of Vang Vieng is unforgettable. -- Conor O’Rourke

Tbilisi, Georgia
Tbilisi, Georgia | Joyfull/Shutterstock.com

Republic of Georgia

Extra cheap without skimping on nightlife
Westerners may be pleasantly surprised by the cleanliness, safety, rambunctious nightlife, and genuinely lovely people in Georgia, a former Soviet republic that gives “cheap” an entirely new meaning. In the capital of Tbilisi, the Old City overflows with cafés and ultra-inexpensive wine bars -- a nice bottle goes for $5. Your $3 lunch will include organic grilled meat, a fresh salad, and a 20-oz draft. At night, the cobblestoned alleys fill with good-time-loving young people who’ll gladly show you the way to the nearest dance club.You’ll also meet a fair share of expats renting apartments for $150 a month. Snag a bunk for $8 at Fabrika, a former Soviet-era garment factory that’s been converted into a dazzling hostel and community center, or go for something a bit more upscale at a quaint old city hotel.

If you get a chance to splurge: This enchanting land boasts incredible geographic and experiential variety -- binges you can afford. Sip one of Georgia’s 500 grape varietals at Rooms Hotel Kazbegi while beholding 16,560-foot glacier-capped Mount Kazbek. Puff a hookah in Batumi (the Republic’s shiny vacation metropolis by the Black Sea), or get massaged in Borjomi after a mountain hike leading to outdoor sulphur baths. -- Bruce Northam, American Detour

Caye Caulker island, Belize
Caye Caulker Island, Belize | Aleksandar Todorovic/Shutterstock.com

Belize

A beachside Candyland where happy hour is every hour
Sitting on the southeast border of Mexico, you can spend your days in Belize on the coast, soaking in the white and golden sand. You will hop among tiki bars. You will scope out many a sea creature. Or you can shower the sand off and hike through ancient caves and trek Mayan ruins. San Pedro’s chromatic beachside hotels can range as low as $15-$20 a night, while Belize City stays are closer to $25. In both cases, local snacks like panades -- sort of a fried, fishy empanada -- can cost as little as 50 cents. Stumbling on an affordable happy hour while barefoot on the beach won’t be a challenge, either -- cocktails will only set you back a buck, maybe two.

If you get a chance to splurge: On the south side, the 16-mile long Placencia Peninsula is an oasis bursting with marine life and every kind of water activity imaginable. Taking yourself on a bike tour won’t cost more than a $12 rental, but a kayak tour along water reserves where you can spot manatees will cost a little extra. Another option is heading to the Toledo District (aka the “forgotten land”). You’ll get to swim through caves and walk through the jungle right into some ruins. -- Leora Yashari

La Paz, Bolivia
La Paz, Bolivia | Peek Creative Collective/Shutterstock.com

Bolivia

Vibrant indigenous culture at some of the lowest prices in South America
There’s a reason La Paz is a steady fixture on the Latin American backpacker highway known as the Gringo Trail. It’s a high-altitude city with rock-bottom prices -- we’re talking $20 hotel rooms and $4 cocktails at steampunk-themed bar Diesel Nacional or psychedelic hippie lounge Cafe Magick. Bolivians are proud of their indigenous heritage, so prepare to encounter traditional culture everywhere. On the streets and in the plazas ladies go about their daily activities in customary cholita garb: oversized bowler hat, layers upon layers of petticoats, and a scowl for anyone who dares point a camera phone in their direction. Pavement vendors hawk meat-and-potato stuffed pastries, chola sandwiches with pulled pork and pickles, and endless permutations of corn. And in the open-air markets you’ll find folk cures for whatever it is that ails ya, from coca leaves for altitude sickness to dried llama fetuses for the chronically unlucky.

If you get a chance to splurge: The most popular activity for travelers is to mountain bike the beautiful, precarious Yungas Road -- colloquially referred to as “Death Road” due to the constant possibility of falling off the edge of a cliff. If cheating death isn’t your idea of a good time, treat yourself to the Bolivian fusion tasting menu at Gustu, a fine dining restaurant and social enterprise from NOMA co-founder Claus Meyer. -- Sarah Theeboom

Famous Conwy Castle, Wales
Famous Conwy Castle, Wales | Samot/Shutterstock.com

Wales

Sweeping coastlines, historic castles, and shockingly few tourists
This is your (nearly) English vacation for people who don’t want to pay England’s prices. Skip the luxury seaside hotels and opt for a hostel like YHA Cardiff Central, which offers rooms for as low as $11 per night in the heart of Cardiff’s city center. With a bit of strategy, sightseeing in Wales can be done admission-free. Hikers can take their pick between the Wales Coast Path, which lets you trek the country’s coastline in its entirety, or shorter historic walks like the Teifi Estuary route, which takes you past the 12th century St. Dogmael’s Abbey and medieval castles. Going all the way to Wales without seeing a castle would be like going to Italy and not trying the pasta -- a few offer free tours, like Dryslwyn Castle and Dinefwr Castle.

If you get a chance to splurge: More castle tours! Many offer admission for under $10, like Raglan Castle, Laugharne Castle, and Kidwelly Castle, the iconic fortress that appears in the opening scene of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. -- Alicia Lu

Rice terraces at sunrise, Bali, Indonesia
Rice terraces at sunrise, Bali, Indonesia | Anton Petrus/moment/getty

Indonesia

Street food, scuba diving, and rooms by the sea
You’d have to try really hard to work through more than $50 a day here. On the island of Bali, one of the top travel destinations in Southeast Asia, you’ll routinely find hostel rooms for under $10, including at the Bali Fab Dive Center hostel which costs just $7 a night. Next morning, go dive the USS Liberty wreck for around $21. Feel free to skip the Denpasar area, which can get touristy and irritating, but do make your way just north of it to Ubud, where you’ll find boutique shopping and innovative restaurants (and more single-digit-price hostels).

For an exceptional dinner with an exceptional view that will still cost a fraction of a Seamless order in the States, go to Lesehan Segara Tegeh (don’t sleep on the fresh juice; $1). Truly, though, you could live here simply on street food, and you could do it for, like, $3 a day. Hit the Ubud Market early -- 5:30am, when the locals go. By 8:30am, everyone’s done their shopping and cleared out and the vendors essentially convert it into a tourist thing. Pick up some fruit and satay skewers and practice your bargaining.

If you get a chance to splurge: I guess you could go somewhere fancy? At Indonesian restaurant Merah Putih, you sit beneath light-reflecting solar films as rainwater is funneled down around you into tiny indoor rivers. Dinner entrees are still around $20, max. -- Kastalia Medrano

Bosnia-Herzegovina
Saravejo, Bosnia-Herzegovina | Boris Stroujko/Shutterstock.com

Bosnia and Herzegovina

History and adrenaline in Europe’s most diverse country
Bosnia is an amazing slice of the past in present-day Europe, a glimpse of a time before the homogenized nation-states we know today became the norm. Its eclectic mix of religions and cultures fascinates with the exotic, and then surprises with the familiar. It’s cheap, too: Dorms in hostels go for $10, and a restaurant meal will set you back $5 or $10, with street food costing significantly less. Beer is about a buck, and you can get excellent local wine for similar prices. That is, if you pay at all -- Bosnians are notoriously friendly and thrilled to have visitors, so don’t be surprised if they try to treat you.

It’s also filled with natural wonders and amazing, tragic history. Sarajevo has ruins from the 1984 Olympics that are freely explorable (just watch out for landmines -- I’m not kidding) and a great river canyon for hikes. An ancient, rickety train threads its way through the mountains between Sarajevo and Bosnia’s other great city, Mostar. For a terrifying early morning voyage, part history lesson, part slow-motion roller coaster, pack into dirty-windowed wooden cabins with cigarette-smoking laborers, eat your börek (basically a Bosnian sausage roll), and watch the Balkan Mountains fall away beneath you.

If you get a chance to splurge: Bosnia’s mountain rivers provide some of Europe’s best whitewater rafting, and companies run tours from most major cities. -- Conor O’Rourke 

Marrakech, Morocco
Marrakech, Morocco | Matyas Rehak/Shutterstock.com

Morocco

The desert destination where your pockets never run dry
Locals will try to separate you from your money by “guiding you to your hotel,” or overcharging for, like, poor-quality argan oil. But what you need to know about Morocco is just don’t walk around wide-eyed, and there are many bargains to be had. In Marrakech alone, you’ll find a comfortable double occupancy in a riad for less than $40, breakfast included. Go dirt-cheap and you might score a highly rated hostel for $3 to $6 a night. A luscious meal is $5 or less, entrance fees to attractions and museums are anywhere from $1 to $6, a day trip to Ouzoud waterfalls is only $30, and cosseting at a good yet affordable hammam will set you back $10. Then there’s the shopping. At souks, bargaining is key. Haggle hard and take home a pair of leather sandals for $8 or a well-made lantern for under $20.

If you get a chance to splurge: Get an ultra-glam, herculean riad suite for $150 so you can pretend you’re royalty. Or go on a multi-day desert tour where you’ll wine, dine, and slumber under the stars. -- Michelle Rae Uy

Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany | elxeneize/Shutterstock.com

Germany

Europe’s party capital is still bizarrely affordable
OK, let’s not kid ourselves here. Berlin is going to put your budget to the test; it can be hard to exercise restraint in a city with so much on the menu. But here’s the beautiful thing about Berlin: Everyone here is as broke as you are. Sure, you might knock out a third of your budget -- let’s call it $20 -- on a room for the night. But after that you’re home free, and in great company. Feeling hungry? Grab a döner ($4). Thirsty? A beer costs $1.50 at the corner store, and they’ll open it for you, too: Drinking on the street isn’t just legal here, it’s encouraged! And don’t toss that empty -- bottles come with an 8 cent deposit.

During the day, head to a park or to one of the city’s many lakes for an afternoon of people-watching, on the house. Transit is no problem, either: This city operates on the honor system, so if you’re feeling lucky, just hop on and hope for the best (ticket: $3; getting caught without a ticket: $70). The more famous parts of Berlin’s nightlife might be a bit out of reach, but there are tons of popular free (or at least cheap) options for dancing -- try Club der Visionäre, Birgit & Bier, Bohnengold, or Paloma Bar.

If you get a chance to splurge: If you’ve managed to scrounge up a spare $20, that will get you into just about any party in the city -- Renate, Tresor, even the famous Berghain. -- Conor O’Rourke

Palenque, Mexico
Palenque, Mexico | Madrugada Verde/Shutterstock.com

Mexico

Postcard beaches, Mayan ruins and cricket tostadas for pocket change
To have your mind blown with tropical jungles, canyons, waterfalls, and 2,500-year-old ruins, head south to Oaxaca and Chiapas. In backpacker-friendly places like San Cristobal de las Casas and Palenque, you can find single rooms at a hostel for as little as $12 a night. Tour companies offer daylong adventures that let you climb Mayan ruins and splash around in the turquoise waterfalls of Agua Azul for around $25 per person. Surfing and hanging out on Oaxaca’s world-class beaches doesn’t have to cost a dime. In Oaxaca city, fill up on a tlayuda, a manhole-cover-sized tostada spread with beans, cheese and steak (or toasted insects, if you’re cool), and you’ll still have pesos left over for a couple shots of the best mezcal on Earth, served right at the source.  

If you get a chance to splurge: Check into one of Mexico’s many designy boutique hotels (like Hotel Bo in San Cris), where, thanks to a favorable exchange rate, you can have a five-star stay at Holiday Inn prices. -- Maya Kroth

 Amman, Jordan
Amman, Jordan | Richard Yoshida/Shutterstock.com

Jordan

The safest, most affordable country east of the West Bank
Amman has everything you need to get your Jordanian adventure started. Here you can find rooms for $14 a night, while amazing street food (falafel, tabbouleh, barbecued meats in bread -- i.e. kebabs) will cost next to nothing. Visit during Ramadan and the city becomes a carnival of exotic foods. From here you can plan your visit to the Wadi Rum Desert for $10 or the Dead Sea for $50. Or just chill with the locals, check out the local Roman ruins, and saunter through the city’s art galleries.

If you get a chance to splurge: OK, entrance fees to the “rose-red” city of Petra, famously featured in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, have risen in the past three years to an astronomical $90 per day. BUT, pro-tip: If you go by night then it’s only $23, and will probably photograph better anyway. -- Daniel Cole

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | Saaton/Shutterstock.com

Dominican Republic

All the turquoise waters, far less of the price and pretension
On a budget, don’t even glance at a resort. Instead, head to a far more charming and quirky hostel, like Macao Beach Hostel. Not only do they offer accommodations for just $10 a night, but the hostel is minutes from Macao Beach, one of the most beautiful and least crowded beaches in the DR, and situated in a small town so you still have access to the essentials. For food, acquaint yourself with the street vendors, who will grill up tasty treats like tostones (fried plantains), croquetas (croquettes), and pica pollo (Dominican fried chicken) made to order for just a few bucks. If you want to treat yourself to a sit-down restaurant, a typical meal at a inexpensive joint is still less than $10 while a pint of domestic beer will set you back two big ones.

If you get a chance to splurge: Take a guided tour of the 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua, a natural wonder considered by many to be the “coolest thing to do in the DR.” -- Alicia Lu

Ionian Sea Coast, Albania
Ionian Sea Coast, Albania | Landscape Nature

Albania

The last great stretch of under-visited Mediterranean coastline
How to roll big on the cheap: During the Balkans wars of the ’90s, as refugees tried to escape across the Adriatic to Italy, Albania banned speedboats along its coast. Partly as a result, the country is home to some of the last affordable and unmolested portions of Mediterranean coastline. You’ll find secluded azure lagoons and long stretches of rolling dunes speckled by hardy green shrubs; inland, the Albanian alps provide staggering snow-capped peaks and ample hiking trails.

Should you opt for the former, you can easily secure a room with a beachfront view for $10-$15 a night; native beer cost just 81 cents a pint. Uncork some locally sourced Kallmet wine by the sea, or sip some ironwort tea on a mountain. Then eat some Mishavin, a rich curd made by blending cow, goat, and sheep’s milk. It’s usually served in a bag; it’s basically just a big sack of very rich cheese (it’s good with the wine). Fifty bucks, actually, will have you rolling like a Rockefeller in a country where a reliable standard daily budget is about $30.

If you get a chance to splurge: If you feel extra flossy, you can go jet-skiing or parasailing for as little as $38. -- John Marshall

Prague, Czech Republic
Prague, Czech Republic | cge2010/Shutterstock.com

Czech Republic

History and beer abound in this formerly Communist country.
How to roll big on the cheap: You can see most of Prague on foot, ambling down its famously fairytale cobblestone alleys, soaking in the remarkable mix of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. This medieval city delights the senses, and most of its iconic sights are out in the open and gloriously free. Walking tours will usually only set you back a tip for your guide, a worthy investment in a city with so many layers of history right under your nose. Mosey across the Charles Bridge (early morning is best, to avoid crowds), snap a picture at the graffiti-covered Lennon Wall, enjoy the city views from the top of Petrin Hill, and watch the 600-year-old Astronomical Clock strike a new hour in Old Town Square (just be wary of pickpockets).

Prague is heavily touristed, and as a general rule, the further afield you roam from Old Town Square the cheaper your goulash and dumplings will be. You can find a pint of pivo for around $2, and street food -- think sausage, sweet pastries, fried cheese (Smažený sýr) -- can also be had for next to nothing.

If you get a chance to splurge: Spend on culture. Catching a ballet or opera in Prague’s breathtaking National Theater is an experience not soon forgotten. In the Jewish Quarter, a tour of the synagogues and Old Jewish Cemetery, one of the oldest of its kind in the world, is absolutely worth it if you can spare the $15 ticket. -- Allison Ramirez

Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica | Jordan Adkins/Shutterstock.com

Costa Rica

Get in touch with your wild side in this tropical nature lover’s landscape
Costa Rica has two stunning, lush coastlines worth exploring -- for the most part, hikes are free and waterfall entrance fees are less than $10. Just beware pricey tourist traps; the more well-trafficked areas will hike up prices for food and parking, but a fresh fish dinner can still be had for $5 to $10 at smaller cafes. Instead of soaking in the Tabacon Hot Springs in Arenal (fees are pretty steep at $94), opt for a lazy day of lounging at the Tabacon River. In Tamarindo you can rent a surfboard for $10 before catching happy hour on the beach -- many bars have karaoke and will give you a free shot every time you sing.

If you get a chance to splurge: Tour the cloud forest in Monteverde. Admission, plus a guide (you’ll want one to point out the howler monkeys, sloths, tree frogs and other wildlife) is $28. -- Allison Ramirez

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