Need A Vacation?
I’m one of those people with that insatiable wanderlust thing, but let’s be real here, most people don’t have endless amounts of money to throw at vacations. When I was in college I was lucky enough to live abroad in Florence, Italy for close to four months. (When I say “lucky,” I seriously feel like the luckiest girl to have experienced living in Europe.) Obviously, I got addicted to being being a different city every weekend, but that’s not exactly cheap.
I had to be really smart about planning the trips so that I could make the most of my money. I learned a lot about travel, the tips and tricks behind it all and the best places to go for the best prices.
My favorite destinations are a mix of cities that I’ve been to and places I’ve never been, but have dreamt about forever (and planned a million times for fun). Below are my top 3 destinations that you and your wallet will love.
C R O A T I A
Croatia is a mediterranean paradise. I was lucky to have seen a few different places in the country, but my favorite has to be Krka National Park. The park was filled with tons of waterfalls and dreamy wooden paths on the water that lead through the forest. There are a few pictures from Krka in the gallery below, but it was super flooded from the recent rainfall. So, I’m including some photos of the park at the bottom so you guys can see how gorgeous it is during peak season. I also got to see three of the small little islands off the coast of Croatia that were all amazing in their own ways. Croatia has tons of boat tours and I highly suggest you try it out if you’re ever in the country. If you’re into seafood, they usually provide a fresh-caught seafood dinner on one of the islands.
1 USD ≈
7 Croatian Kuna | 20 USD ≈
140 Croatian Kuna
The total price of airfare and a week’s stay in a luxury hotel would cost anywhere from $1,000 – $2,000 (*priced from New York). To provide you with something to compare that to, my flights to Europe, alone, usually cost $1,500 or more. Better yet, the exchange rate from USD to Croatian Kuna is really beneficial for spending. It’ll definitely help you make the most of the money that you’re spending, which is super helpful when eating at restaurants.
Croatia also has super nice coastlines and port towns. The boardwalk area by the coast of Split, Croatia was lined with amazing little eateries with the most picture-perfect outdoor seating areas. If you’re already in Europe, Croatia is super inexpensive to get to, but in the chance that you’re taking a one-stop trip, I recommend using a price comparison site to find the best deal on flights and flying on weekdays.
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G R E E C E
You’ve more than likely seen 1,000 different photos of Greece on Instagram, because it actually is that beautiful. Places like Santorini and Mykonos will cost you more money, but an island called Corfu off the coast of mainland Greece is just as great and a lot less expensive. When I was in Greece, I stayed in the Pink Palace on the island of Corfu. I went in the off-season, so it wasn’t the crazy party place it’s famed for being during peak times. The hotel is all inclusive, so the food was provided. The beach was absolutely gorgeous and the city center looked like a fairytale.
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1 USD ≈ .94 EURO | 20 USD
≈ 19 EURO
Despite the USD being less valuable in Greece, the price for a week long stay in Corfu Greece plus airfare costs between $1,300 and $2,500.
If you feel like spoiling yourself, the more expensive end of the price range will afford you a week long spa and resort retreat in a top hotel.
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T H A I L A N D
Thailand might be the number one place to go if you want to get the most experience for your money. I’ve never been lucky enough to go, but since I’m half Thai, it’s always been somewhere on my must-see list. I’ve planned this trip out a bunch of times because eventually, I’ll go and I want it to be the best trip it can be.
Getting to Thailand is the most expensive part of the trip, and can seem like a lot, especially if you’d be traveling from New York, like me. Luckily, hotels and villas are extremely affordable in Thailand. You won’t believe the hotels and villas you can stay in for $600 a week. Personally, when I go to Thailand I’ll visit 3, maybe 4 cities. Travel between the different major cities is super affordable and since the food, hotels, shopping, and pretty much everything else is inexpensive, you might as well experience more of Thailand for your money.
1 USD ≈ 36 THAI BAHT | 20 USD
≈ 707 THAI BAHT
The conversion rate from USD to Thai Baht is really crazy. It makes it really easy to have an awesome, luxurious trip for less money. The country is famous for having the most beautiful beaches in the world, if I were you, I’d see as many as you can.
I’ve included some photos of Thailand in the slideshow above that are guaranteed to make you feel like buying a plane ticket ASAP.
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The places listed above are destinations where the exchange rates will get you a lot more for your money (luxury hotels, better and bigger excursions, shopping for less). The price ranges are rough estimates assuming that you guys would take advantage of being able to afford luxury in these places. These trips can be taken for even less money if you stay in the hostels, some for as low as $9/night with free breakfast in Thailand, and as low as $30/night in Croatia.
If you’re looking for amazing, but inexpensive trips inside the US, I’ll be posting more travel tips & tricks on my blog, so subscribe or check back for updates!
Katherine Tran says
I really want to visit Greece, thanks for sharing this!
http://www.myclusterofthoughts.com/
gypsysunday_bybritt says
You definitely should! The country is amazing and it’s super affordable if you visit the right places.
Claire Talks Beauty says
I have also heard of Corfu and how beautiful the beach is there ! i really would like to go there one day !
clairetalksbeauty.com
gypsysunday_bybritt says
It’s so beautiful! At night on the beaches you can look up and see the entire milky way. It’s amazing.
Yana says
Gorgeous places. I definitely need a vacation, and would love to visit Greece. Thanks for writing this post. So useful to those who plan on traveling. 🙂
http://www.lifeofardor.com/
gypsysunday_bybritt says
So glad you liked it! Thanks so much for the feedback.
Mary says
Wow, now I’ve got my eye on Croatia! Your pictures are so beautiful and it looks like a gorgeous place to visit!
http://www.the-redhand.com
gypsysunday_bybritt says
You have to go! It’s really gorgeous. One of my favorite places by far.
Susanne Bavinck - Bender says
I love to go to Croatia and Greece one day!! I really loved our holiday in Thailand, so I can recommend anyone of you to go! Thanks for sharing babe! Xx Susanne – http://bagatyou.com
gypsysunday_bybritt says
So jealous that you’ve been to Thailand! It’s my dream trip. Thank so much for the feedback love!