Everyone deserves a great vacation, which is why affordable travel is so important. While many of the world’s finest beach destinations lean on the luxury side, these spots are within reach for travellers with moderate budgets. They’re also not the typical spots south of the United States, meaning you get to enjoy an extraordinary international travel experience while hitting up the beach.
Thailand
Once you get past the international flight, Thailand is shockingly affordable. It’s also a place where you can more easily upgrade to the kinds of luxury travel experiences that you might be priced out of elsewhere. With delicious and affordable food at celebrated restaurants and street stalls to a wide range of accommodation types that will cater to your interests, Thailand is a great value destination. It’s also chock full of beaches across the south, from the famous sights of Phuket, Koh Samui, and Krabi to lesser-known Hua Hin, Koh Tao, and Koh Phangan.
Bali
A beach vacation to Bali is more affordable than you think. Great food is plentiful, the local travel infrastructure is well-established and competitive, driving down prices, and seasonal travel patterns mean you can often secure a great deal while travelling outside of high season. Also, a great beach trip to Bali isn’t only about the beach. While the sands of Seminyak, Nusa Dua, and Jimbaran will lure you to the famous Indonesian island, you can easily pair several days at the beach with a jungle escape in the interior. Bike through rice paddies, spot curious monkeys in lush forest environments, and tour gobsmackingly gorgeous temples such as Ulun Danu and Uluwatu.
Cook Islands
Of the various South Pacific island nations, the Cooks Islands often unfairly gets short shrift. It shouldn’t, as it’s a beautiful destination with famously friendly people, white-sand beaches, year-round warm weather, and some great snorkelling opportunities. It’s also affordable as far as Polynesian islands go. And the longer you stay, the better rates you can often get, so consider a long-stay vacation of several weeks to escape the winter back home. The beaches are gorgeous too, especially the world-famous white sands of One Foot Island Beach on Aitutaki. It provides the kind of tropical paradise environment you can only dream of.
Panama
Panama is often overlooked in favour of more famous northern neighbours like Mexico and Costa Rica. But this nation that bridges the Americas and connects the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean is also a great beach destination. People might think that it’s only a place to see the Panama Canal and maybe spot a few sloths while passing through the jungle, but the beaches are superb. Head to Bocas del Toros to see the famous Red Frog Beach, hang out on the San Blas Islands to swim the famously clear waters, or hunker down at a resort on Playa Blanca for a week.
Egypt
Yes, Egypt! You might think of Egypt primarily as the place to explore the pyramids, but it’s also home to some beautiful beaches, namely Sharm el Sheikh on the Sinai Peninsula. This area is flush with gorgeous sand as well as great value resorts, clear waters, and exceptional diving spots. The Red Sea is one of the best diving sites in the world so if you want to explore tropical coral reefs and shipwrecks, book a trip to Sharm el Sheikh. There are also many beach spots near Alexandria on the Mediterranean that are favourable if you’re wanting to break up time in the cities with a few afternoons at the beach.
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You might say that Aren was destined to become a globetrotter after his family took him to Germany two times before he was four. If that wasn’t enough, a term spent in Sweden as a young teenager and a trek across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand confirmed that destiny. An independent writer, director, and film critic, Aren has travelled across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. His favourite travel experience was visiting the major cities of Japan’s largest island, Honshu, but his love for food, drink, and film will take him anywhere that boasts great art and culture.
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