budget and non/budget destinations in 2013/4

you must really have a lot of money, #9, if cost doesn't impact your travel plans! i confess to being jealous. we have pretty much given up on western europe because we can't afford it....

Bulgaria is still very much a low budget destination, whereas Romania (next door) used to be but now isn't anywhere near as cheap. Both countries had a very similar daily budget for the low spending tourist. Bulgaria still does, but Romania is fast catching up with other countries in Eastern Europe.

Well kummingirl I would not say I have a lot of money. As I wrote, what money effects is how long I can go for, not where I go.

So while I might be able to go to a cheaper country for a month and a W. European country for only a week, nevertheless, if where I want to go is in W. Europe, then that's where I will go.

Some people really don't seem to have any preference in where they go. That's fine if for example all you want is a sun and sand vacation and really aren't interested in the culture or history or anything else of a country. But if you are, there is no use being interested in say Swiss architecture and going to Bulgaria instead because it's cheaper.

I used to own a bar on a Greek island. I had a map of Europe on a wall and sometimes I would say to a tourist, 'if you can show me on the map where we are, I'll give you a free drink.' I never gave out a free drink doing that. Mind you, I picked which tourists I asked. The point is, they had no clue where they were. They just booked a package vacation to a sun and sand destination. It really didn't matter to them where they were in the world.

Too often here on the TT I think people suggest places based on price as if that is the most important criteria in a decision of where to travel to. I disagree completly unless you don't care where you go. So to me this thread is pointless.

If someone wrote, 'I have X amount of money and am equally drawn to country A and countryB, in which will my money go further?' That question would make sense to me since both are of equal interest it then makes sense to look at average costs. But even then it still leaves, what will you do next time?

A more sensible question to me would be, 'I have X amount of money and wish to visit country A. Given the costs there, does anyone have any good tips on cheaper places to stay etc. to extend my time there?' In answer to that question for example, let's say you were talking about Scotland. I could tell you of a hotel that has a spring and fall special deal where they give you 5 nights for the price of 3. That would extend your time for the same cost. Now we are talking about travelling smarter on a given budget.

#8: Colombia has become much more expensive in no-time. Medellin, BGT and all the coast around CTG is as expensive as Brazil or Argentina, both leading expensive countries in Latin America.
The only area which is affordable is the south, next to more cheapy Ecuador.

Hmm, this is an interesting thread. I can see travelinstyle46 is thinking about being very specific about potential destinations, and to an extent I'd agree, the cost of a location would influence duration, but that over simplifies matters I'd say.

For example, I'm a single girl in my early 30's relatively well travelled around Western Europe and South East Asia. I'm interested in travel and seeing the world. I'm not hung up on specific elements of one or another culture rather I have a thirst to see it all! I can't afford to do it all in one trip nor do I have an unlimited budget.

For me, what's cheapest now is where I'll go. Europe as others have rightly said has become a bit of a no go for me. While a week's diving holiday in Egypt costs what a month in SE Asia costs. I'd be insane to decide to go to Egypt now when the prices aren't favourable and there's no obvious reason why I'd have to go now.

So, in answer to the original question,
Cheap: Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Borneo.
Expensive: Singapore, UK, Europe.

This is a forum for people who are interested in travel, therefore it shouldn't be assumed that because you're price-based shopping for destinations you're a bucket and spade holidays sort who just wants to drink and lay on the beach! It's about being smart with your money to get the best value for now. Currencies fluctuate and as countries become more developed, prices go up. I applaud the idea of this thread, sharing knowledge about cheaper and more costly destinations can help with holiday planning.

Daily expenses within a country are all very well, but add in the cost of getting there and that can bump up the figure quite considerably, particularly if you only stay a short time, so it's all a bit relative.

Last summer we visited the Dordogne (France) and spent £22 per person per day all in.
Travelled from UK by ferry, with our own motorbike, camping, only a few restaurant meals (but plenty of wine!)

Earlier this year I spent 6 weeks in India, stayed in small hotels, ate out all the time, travelled in AC trains - in country expenses were only £12 pp/per day, but the cost of the flight and visa increases the overall figure to £25 pp/per day.

So surprisingly, a holiday in France (expensive Europe) averaged out cheaper than a holiday in India (cheap as chips Asia).

I can't see the point of only visiting a country because you think it's cheap, or dismissing one because you think it's expensive. Adjust how you travel and visit the places you want to see.

If the intention is just to spend as little as possible, might as well go and stay with the parents.....

hmmm. since i have to travel to both europe and asia by air, nor do i have my own motorbike to drive in france, i'm still limited by money! though of course it's reasonable and logical to take the cost of getting there into account. on the other hand, though it costs me the same to fly to the states as to asia, the daily cost per person really makes a difference. i think the point we're all making on this thread is that we have to balance our desire to travel with the limits of our budgets, and also with what level of conditions we want in the destination. in your case, #15, you could afford a higher standard of living (accommodations, restaurants, AC trains) by adding only 3 pounds a day. not bad!