These 7 Budget Destinations Are Cheaper (and Hotter) Than Ever in 2025
Want to see the world without selling your soul (or your AirPods)? 2025 is your year. With airfare deals, low-cost hotspots, and hidden gems popping up across the map, savvy travellers are swapping overpriced city breaks for affordable adventures that deliver sunshine, culture, and cocktails – without killing your credit score.
Here are 7 ridiculously budget-friendly destinations that should be on your radar right now.
1. Albania – The ‘New Croatia’ Without the Crowds
Imagine sapphire waters, mountain villages, and beach bars where a mojito still costs less than your oat milk latte. Albania is climbing the cool charts fast – but it’s still gloriously under the radar. The Albanian Riviera is home to charming towns like Himarë and Ksamil, where turquoise bays meet rugged cliffs and hospitality comes with a smile (and often a glass of raki).
Budget-friendly buses and coastal ferries make it easy to explore, and accommodation ranges from family-run guesthouses to boho beachfront hostels. Add in Ottoman-era architecture, epic hiking in the Accursed Mountains, and UNESCO sites like Gjirokastër and Berat, and you’ve got a Mediterranean dream for a Balkan price.
💰 Average daily spend: €35
2. Turkey – Luxury for Less on the Turquoise Coast
With a weakened lira and ever-growing infrastructure, Turkey is having a serious travel moment. From Istanbul’s rooftop cafes and hammams to the dramatic coastline of the Turquoise Coast, you can live it up for a fraction of what you’d spend in Western Europe.
Base yourself in Fethiye or Ölüdeniz for cheap flights, affordable hotels, and jaw-dropping views. Explore Lycian ruins, take a gulet cruise, or just eat your body weight in meze. Street food is a revelation (get the simit and doner), and intercity buses are comfy, cheap, and reliable.
💰 Average daily spend: €30
3. Georgia – Europe’s Best-Kept Secret (with Wine)
Tbilisi is buzzing with backpacker energy, quirky cafes, and wallet-friendly accommodation. But it’s the countryside that steals the show – ancient monasteries, stunning hikes, and the kind of warm hospitality that includes homecooked meals and a lot of wine.
Take the scenic train to Batumi for beaches or head into the Caucasus Mountains for untamed beauty and tiny villages. Georgian food is hearty, delicious, and budget-friendly. (If you haven’t had khinkali yet, you’re missing out.)
💰 Average daily spend: €25
4. Vietnam – Street Food Heaven for Pennies
Vietnam continues to be unbeatable for food, culture, and bang-for-your-buck adventure. Slurp pho in Hanoi, zip through rice paddies on a scooter, cruise Ha Long Bay, or explore lantern-lit Hội An.
Budget guesthouses and homestays offer comfy lodging, while local buses and trains help keep costs low. Food is the star here – think banh mi, spring rolls, and endless bowls of noodles.
💰 Average daily spend: €20
5. Colombia – The Comeback Kid of South America
Colombia is finally shaking off old reputations and emerging as a must-see destination. From colourful Cartagena and colonial towns to buzzing Medellín and coffee country, it’s a feast for the senses.
Public transport is cheap and improving, and domestic flights help you get around fast. Whether you want Caribbean beaches, Amazon jungle, or Andean villages, you’ll find it here – and often for half the price of neighbouring countries.
💰 Average daily spend: €25
6. Bulgaria – Europe’s Cheapest Ski and Beach Combo
Bulgaria is perfect if you want a mix of culture, nature, and coast. Sofia is a hip, affordable capital with great nightlife and mountain access. Plovdiv offers Roman ruins and art galleries, and the Black Sea coast (especially Sozopol and Nessebar) is ideal for a cheap summer escape.
In winter, hit the slopes in Bansko or Borovets – ski passes and equipment hire are significantly cheaper than in the Alps. You’ll also find plenty of hiking trails and historic monasteries worth detouring for.
💰 Average daily spend: €30
7. Sri Lanka – Tropical Island Meets Backpacker Dream
Sri Lanka offers elephant safaris, ancient temples, tea plantations, and laid-back beach towns – all within a few hours’ drive. Trains snake through the highlands, coastal buses are dirt-cheap, and locals are famously welcoming.
Stay in family-run guesthouses or beachfront hostels, eat spicy curries and hoppers, and surf or snorkel your days away. It’s tropical, diverse, and affordable, with a pace of life that invites slow, mindful travel.
💰 Average daily spend: €22
Hot Tip: Travel in the shoulder season (May-June or September-October) to score even better deals and skip the crowds. And always check visa policies – most of these destinations have flexible entry requirements for UK and EU travellers.
🌍 So, where’s your next cheap(ish) escape?
You could be sipping rakija in the Balkans or eating noodles in Hanoi by next week – all without blowing your savings. Ready to pack?
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