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Everyplace is safe. In my experience, India is probably the cheapest. Africa is expensive everywhere, considering the level of the infrastructure and the poverty of the people. Not bad in British countries, but very high in French countries. African visa fees are horrendois. aroud $100 for most countries. In East Asia, Laos, Philippines and Indonesia are cheap, Cambodia probably is, too, I havent been there. Nepal was cheap, but I don't know the current situation there. In the middle east, Syria and Egypt are pretty cheap. Europe is not cheap anywhere. Even Turkey and Portugal are higher than Mexico. In Latin America, all of Central America is fairly cheap. The Andean countries of South America are quite a bit cheaper than elsewhere--that would be Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia. In Mexico, there are plenty of hotels with doubles for around $10-15, and you can eat Mexican food for about $2 a plate---but not near the border.
This would refer to paying for basic, no-frills accommodations that are clean and reputable, and eating at food stalls or working-class restaurants. In the countries I've named above, two people can get by easily on $15-20 a day, food and lodging. As little as $10 with a little effort.
When I say everyplace is safe, I mean don't go out after dark where the streets are empty, and don't drink at all, and stay out of crowds, and don't trust people who approach you on the street and are overly friendly. If you do those things, everyplace is UNsafe. If you set your bags down at the station, stand on a strap or loop it around your ankle. Invest in a real moneybelt ($5, army surplus stores have them), and not a fannypack.
I agree with those basic rule. Although, I would say do not go to places of war. That's common sense. My mom, who is a white southern gal, married a Costa Rican and went there in the mid-80's. Although, Costa Rica was not at war, the people were not happy with America's involvement in the conflict (thanks Regan.) She was spit on, and yelled at. My uncle had to punch out a guy on the bus. Just be careful of conflicts.
Thailand is very cheap and so is much of South east Asia. India can be very expensive depending on where you go/stay. For instance the Mariott in Goa will run you $300/night. I don't consider that cheap. In contrast I got a quote for the 5-star Sofitel in Bangkok for $80/night.
Visit St. Croix. This small island is located a short distance from Puerto Rico and has great beaches, plenty sunshine and is a hot spot now since it is festival time.There are nice hotels that are less than $300 a night. If you are a cheap person, you can live anywhere. It is unsafe in every part of the world. We can all escape danger by using common sense.
Thailand is very cheap and so is much of South east Asia. India can be very expensive depending on where you go/stay. For instance the Mariott in Goa will run you $300/night. I don't consider that cheap. In contrast I got a quote for the 5-star Sofitel in Bangkok for $80/night.
When people ask for the cheapest place to go,. they are not asking about the Marriott. I bet there are plenty of Marriotts in the world that are couble that or more. You can go to any city on earth, and there will be at least one hotel there who will run the plastic handed them by a businessman on an expense account and very happily accept $500 a night. And then say "Wow that was easy" and raise the rates to $750.
Thailand and Malaysia are pretty cheap, compared to Taiwan or Korea, but still a little bit higher than what I wouls have considered my upper limit.
I have never booked on line, but just for the exercise, I checked Expedia for the local hotels here. All prices quoted were at least double what I know I can get at a nice, unlisted Indian-run motel down the street. I then phoned the hotels that were listed on Expedia, and found that I could get the same rate or less tonight, on the phone. None of them have nicer rooms than the Indian place, they just have additional amenities.
$300 a night in St. Croix? Cheap? I won't even go to a country, if I can't stay 30 nights for $300. I pay $400 a month rent.
Depends how you want to live, i have being to Vietnam, India, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia and they are all dirt cheap if you are prepared to rough it a bit and live like the locals do. If you a willing to forgo things like flush toilets, hot showers and western style beds, eat off the street and catch non tourist buses etc. You will have a great time on less than $20 a day, including a good night at the local drinking establishment every night of the week!
What I tend to find however is the less developed a country is the more you have to pay for modern luxuries. As other posters have stated if you want to stay in 5 star luxury accomidation, in say vietnam or india, its going to cost you heaps and is often far more expensive than their equilivents in developed countries.
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Depends on how you define cheap. I think Poland is pretty cheap, so is Hungary. You have to do your homework and find non-chain hotels to get the best deals.
I hear Dominican Republic has really good deals on all-inclusive resorts and the beaches are nice.
Western Europe/UK is outa sight price wise. Even with the decline of the Euro, its out of my price range now.
Here is how much more your US Dollar is worth now, than it was worth last summer. These are approximations, due to daily fluctuations. Remember, though, that last summer the dollar was very weak, and exchange rates in many places are now quite similar to what they were two or three years ago. For example, the Euro is now about the same as it was in October '06, Brazil the same as June '05. But Mexican Peso remained very steady for many years before suddenly dropping this fall. Southeast Asia follows the dollar fairly closely, and still does. Eastern Europe currencies generally follow the Euro.
Brazil 50%
Mexico 40%
Australia 35%
UK Pound 30%
Euro 25%
Canada 25%
India 20%
Switzerland 15%
Southeast Asia 5-10% (Thai, Malaysia, Singapore, etc.)
China 0% no change
Japan -10%
Last edited by jtur88; 12-08-2008 at 10:42 AM..
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