The definition of an affordable travel destination varies from person to person - regardless of the location, holidays are always a significant cost. There are concrete ways of reducing costs at every step of the planning process and making dream holidays an affordable reality. Make your budget go further by considering alternate destinations or times of year, allowing travel to a country that was previously unaffordable.
For UK residents, the Royal Mail publishes an annual list of the Best Value Holiday Destinations (relative to the pound sterling). For travellers outside the UK, this list can still be a source of inspiration for researching holiday ideas for 2025.
As well as choosing the right destination, there are a number of personal measures would-be holidaymakers can take to keep costs down. From Couchsurfing to downloading a travel eSIM, discover some of the best budget holiday tips used by frequent flyers.
15 Cheap Places to Travel in 2025
1. Albania
Albania may be small, but it still contains 300 miles of Mediterranean coastline. This Southern European nation is one of the Mediterranean's most scenic but least-explored regions. The Albanian Alps, also known as the Accursed Mountains, straddle the border of Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo and match their Western European counterparts in the beauty stakes. In summer, they provide opportunities for hiking and mountain biking, while a small number of winter sports resorts and cross-country-skiing tours make them one of the best-value ski destinations in Europe. Year-round, they’re a brilliant place to discover Balkan and Albanian culture and the natural beauty of Southeast Europe.
2. Belize
Central America’s smallest country, Belize is filled with natural and cultural sites that make it an unforgettable holiday destination. It’s also more affordable than you might think. The national language of Belize is English, making everyday interactions a breeze. A subtropical nation, Belize stays warm year-round, meaning that even off-season travellers in December or January can enjoy sunny weather while potentially saving money on flights. Bear in mind that prices can rise during Carnival season in September.
3. Bulgaria
Every year, over 200 million people head to the historic cities and resort towns of the Mediterranean. If you’re looking for a similar experience in 2025, consider heading East to Bulgaria instead. The dramatic mountain landscapes of Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast has enabled the flourishing of a year-round tourist trade: in summer, a string of beach resort towns cater to Bulgarians and visitors alike, while in winter, snowsports resorts like Bansko and Borovets offer world-class skiing at a fraction of the price of their alpine peers. The capital, Bucharest, is an architectural gem, while beach towns like the historic Sozopol or the party town of Sunny Beach are easily reachable from Bourgas Airport.
4. Cambodia
Bordering Vietnam, Cambodia is another Southeast Asian country with an ancient history, lively cities and great food. The capital, Phnom Penh, is a wealth of architectural treasures from distinct eras in the country's history, while the Angkor Wat temple complex is one of the most breathtaking historic sites on earth. On average, day-to-expenses and accommodation in Cambodia are cheaper than Vietnam, making it one of the most affordable countries to travel in.
5. Czechia
This central European nation has a thriving tourism industry, and numbers of international visitors are set to rise even further in 2025. Part of this is the value of the Czech currency, the Koruna, has been steadily falling over the last year, meaning foreign visitors can make their money go further in Czechia. Regardless of economic fluctuations, Czechia has historically been known for serving the cheapest beers in Europe. This is due in part to the vast supply: Czechs drink the more beer per capita than anyone else, and the nation has an enormous number of breweries to support this. Despite rapacious tourism in recent years, Prague remains a relatively inexpensive European capital and is home to several of Europe’s best medieval sights. Other popular destinations include the spa town of Karlovy Vary and the University city of Brno.
6. Georgia
At the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Georgia has a long history of conquest, migration and trade, resulting in a distinctive architectural and cultural legacy that bears influences from Islamic, Eastern Orthodox and neoclassical art. The country itself retains a strong national identity, evident in its unique language and cuisine (Georgian wine is especially renowned). Georgia also one of the most wallet-friendly destinations in Europe. Kutaisi airport recently announced several new low-cost flight routes, cementing Georgia’s status one of the best budget holiday destinations for 2025.
7. Jamaica
"My friend is going to the Caribbean next year"
"Oh, Jamaica?"
"No, she's going because it's one of the best-value holiday destinations of 2025."
For many, the idea of a Caribbean holiday is the epitome of an unattainable luxury. With some careful planning, though, these islands can be visited for less than you may think. Even popular tourist destinations like Jamaica can be viable options for a budget holiday – in fact, the island is routinely voted one of the best-value in the Caribbean. 2025 is set to be no exception, with the price of hotel rooms, meals and drinks being, on average, lower than fellow Caribbean islands like Barbados or the Bahamas. Mitigate the costs of getting there by exploring our budget travel tips below.
8. Japan
Japan may seem an unlikely entrant in this list – Tokyo rents are famously among the highest in the world, and the city has more 3-star Michelin restaurants than anywhere else. Day-to-day living in Japan can be surprisingly affordable, however. Japan’s tradition of high-quality, low-cost diners (‘tonkatsu’) and ramen joints mean that, even in central Tokyo, a good meal out can be had for around $6. For residents, the cost of purchasing raw ingredients from a supermarket is often more than just visiting the local tonkastu or picking up a ready meal from a konbini convenience store. Drinks remain relatively expensive though. This, coupled with the Yen’s historically low value over late 2024 and early 2025 mean that international visitors will see their money go further in Japan.
9. Kenya
Highly geographically diverse, the Kenyan landscape encompasses mountains, savannahs, rainforests and miles of pristine beaches. Kenya’s developed tourist economy means that budget accommodation and transport to popular destinations like the coastal city of Mombasa or the Masai Mara National Park are both easy to arrange and easy on the wallet. As a tropical country, Kenya remains warm all year, making it a great-value option for an off-peak winter or autumn vacation. Flight prices and accommodation both drop during these periods to account for the lowered tourist demand.
10. Lithuania
Lithuania’s capital city, Vilnius, topped the Royal Mail’s annual ranking of the best value city breaks in Europe in 2024. The entire city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for the twisting lanes and spires of the medieval Old Town. Lithuania also has a well-priced domestic rail network, making it easy and affordable to get from Vilnius to the country’s Baltic coastline. With prices set to remain in place next, year, Vilnius is likely to retain its crown among cheap European travel destinations in 2025.
11. Malaysia
The Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur is a global business hub, while the neighboring city-state of Singapore is one of the most expensive countries in the world. It may be surprising then that Malaysia as a whole is considered a budget-friendly holiday destination. The UNESCO-listed city of Penang was voted as one of the best-value holiday destinations in the world by the Royal Mail. An upswell in digital nomad tourism has driven up prices across the country in recent years, but day-to-day expenses are still, on average, some of the lowest in Southeast Asia.
12. Romania
Another Black Sea entrant, Romania is a vast country with a wide range of potential holiday options. The coast is lined with resort towns and medieval villages, Bucharest is one of Europe’s best-value city breaks, and Transylvania is beloved by hikers, cyclists and road-trippers. Romania also has the added benefit of having some of the cheapest train journeys in Europe. A ticket the Bosphorus Express (destination: Istanbul) is around $10, while a ticket on the Soviet-era sleeper to Chisinau costs $33.
Travel eSIM data plans
13. Sicily
There’s a commonly held belief the further South in Italy you travel, the better the food. While this theory may be hotly disputed by northerners, it’s impossible to deny the quality of Sicilian cuisine. Much of the strength of the local food scene rests on inexpensive dishes, produced with high-quality ingredients. As a result, it’s one of the best places to eat well on a budget. The southern Italian climate also means sunseekers can take advantage of off-season travel and accommodation prices in Autumn while still enjoying swimmable seas and warm weather when they arrive. The island is rich with history and culture as well, from the ancient Greek ruins at Segesta to Palermo's Renaissance old town.
14. Sri Lanka
An Indian Ocean getaway may sound out of reach, and island destinations like the Maldives and the Seychelles remain luxury travel destinations. Sri Lanka is recovering from a period of economic stagnation: for international visitors, 2025 is one of the cheapest years in recent history to visit this country. Famous for its storied history, sandy beaches and well-preserved fortresses and temples, Sri Lanka offers countless possibilities for a holiday. Longer stays provide greater value, as travel to and from the island will likely account for the bulk of the cost of any journey.
15. Vietnam
Vietnam's selection of beaches, lively cities and historic sights have ushered in a booming tourism industry - especially among younger people and backpackers. This, in turn, has led to a large supply of low-cost accommodation catering to the budget holiday crowd, making it one of the cheapest countries to visit in South East Asia. Like all entrants on this list, Vietnam has no shortage of luxury activities for tourists who want to blow the bank, but travellers on a shoestring budget will also be able to discover the country.
Essential Tips for Low-Cost Getaways
Take advantage of airline sales and flight-comparison sites
Regardless of the destination, for many holidays, the most significant spend will always be getting there. After all, there’s no use comparing relative currency strengths when flights remain prohibitively expensive. The first point for budget holiday planning then should be finding cheap travel.
Depending on the means of transport, there are several ways to go about this.
Flight comparison sites like Skyscanner or Google Flights are one of the easiest ways to ensure low-cost tickets. By comparing hundreds of concurrent flights, users can find the cheapest available tickets on any route.
And if the destination isn’t a priority, spontaneous travellers can even select the ‘Explore everywhere' option to view the cheapest destinations anywhere in the world on a given date or time period.
Download a travel eSIM
After accommodation and travel, arranging mobile connectivity should be the next step in planning a vacation. When visiting another country, a reliable mobile internet connection is an invaluable travel companion. Everything from translating menus to booking a taxi, navigating and searching for dinner recommendations requires mobile internet.
A travel eSIM is the easiest and most cost-effective way to get online abroad. These eSIMs can be downloaded ahead of time, and connect your phone to the local mobile network so you don’t pay international roaming fees while abroad.
eSIM data plans
Visit during the off-season
Transport and accommodation prices are almost always fixed to supply-and-demand pricing models. Across the globe, these prices tend to fall during less busy times of the year. The Alps in summer, or Spain in winter can still offer once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences, with the double benefit of lower costs and fewer crowds.
Another option is seeking nearby alternatives to tourist hotspots – if your heart is set on Italy, for example, consider sidestepping the crowds of Venice or Florence and heading instead to less-touristed spots like Naples, Palermo or Bari.
Consider a home-swapping service
After transport, accommodation is usually the second biggest outlay on most holidays (provided you’re not planning a camping trip).
These costs can be partially or even entirely avoided by signing up to a home-swapping service. If you're lucky enough to live somewhere people want to visit, sites like Homeswap or Kindred allow users to switch houses and stay for free abroad.
Other options for low-cost holiday accommodation include the free hosting network Couchsurfing or the hostel-finder Hostelworld. As with any online accommodation platforms, its essential to do your research first and read previous customer reviews before agreeing to a holiday stay.
