8 Amazing Budget-friendly Travel Destinations For Every Travel Style

Traveling on a teacher’s budget (with student loans, a car note, and a mortgage to pay) can be tough, but I still manage to take a trip just about every month.  Budget-friendly travel destinations are my secret to traveling so often.  While I will save up and splurge on a pricier trip every once and a while, most of my travel is very budget friendly.  

I know from my crazy, care-free hostel dorm days almost any trip can be done on a budget, but at this point in my life, I’m older and a little pickier about where I lay my head. While I still love the social atmosphere of hostels, I love to stay in a nice boutique hotel with a comfy bed and nice pool as well. Finding a destination with affordable luxury is a dream come true. Getting off the beaten path from popular destinations is one way to find these kinds of deals, although some popular destinations will surprise you too! 

Here are my favorite budget-friendly travel destinations that will make your wallet (and your bougie side) happy. 

If you love adventure:  Nicaragua

Nicaragua has such a diverse landscape and amazing adventure experiences.  It’s a fairly small country so it’s pretty easy to pack a lot in in just a week or two as well.  Zipline and explore jungles and volcanos one day, then drive off to surf the Pacific Coast the next. Flights into the capital Managua are pretty quick and affordable from the USA as well making a great budget-friendly travel destination.  If you’re craving some amazing outdoor  adventures, you should put Nicaragua on your list!  

Also, If you love gorgeous boutique hotels, Nicaragua is the place for you.  There are so, so many amazing colonial style mansions turned hotels in Managua, Leon and Granada.  Also, you can legit rent out a private beach house for less than $100 a night. If you haven’t visited yet, you so need to!

If you love scuba diving:  Cozumel, Mexico

While it’s definitely not off the beaten path by any means, don’t let this popular tourist destination slide by your radar.  If you love scuba diving, you need to visit! It’s home to the famous Meso-American reef and has some of the most amazing dive sites in the world.  It’s also one of the most affordable places I’ve visited to dive.  I stayed at 2 Tank Dive Hostel. The hostel included a free dorm accommodation for each day a 2-tank dive was booked. Scuba can be pretty rough on the wallet so this deal is pretty sweet if you love to dive, but are short on cash. 

 I don’t usually stay in dorm accommodations much anymore, but since everyone is getting up early in the morning for diving, the vibe here is super relaxed and chill. Quiet time starts at 10pm, and they mean it! The staff comes through and shuts off most of the lights in the common areas at that time. They also offer private rooms which are very affordable as well if you prefer to have your own private space. 

The hostel is currently closed due to the pandemic. Their facebook page says the dive shop is still operating, however. There are also many other affordable accommodations in Cozumel–especially if you stay in the town center.

If you love to ski/snowboard: Flagstaff, Arizona

I’ll admit I have only had a winter sports adventure once.  Living in Louisiana my access to snow is pretty much nonexistent, but I was dying to give it a try.  I had never thought of Arizona as a ski destination, but it is actually a great place to give skiing or snowboarding a try without breaking the bank.  Arizona Snowbowl is just a short drive from downtown Flagstaff.  You can get free gear rental and a day pass when you book a lesson.  Also, your lesson pass is good for the whole day!  After I completed my 2 hour lesson, I wasn’t feeling quite ready to snowboard on my own, so I joined another lesson group. Also, if you’d like to ditch the snow and spend the day hiking, the Grand Canyon and Sedona are close enough to visit for the day as well.  

I recommend getting a hotel close to downtown and the university–there were some great restaurants and bars in this area.

If you love a big-city, luxury hotel experience: Panama City, Panama

If rooftop pools, sunset cocktails, fancy restaurants, and shopping are your thing, you need to put Panama City on your list!  The Casco Viejo neighborhood looks so similar to Cartagena with the old, colorful buildings entwined with blooming vines. If you live in the US, it makes for a great weekend trip as well with direct flights from most major hub airports. Panama City is also a great way to end a more adventurous trip and pamper yourself with a luxury hotel.  You can find 5 star hotels with infinity pools for around $100-200 USD a night! This was a great treat for me after camping for 3 days in the San Blas Islands. 

If you want your own (almost) private island: Tobacco Caye, Belize

Think overwater bungalows are a once in a lifetime splurge?  Not here!  Tobacco Caye is a small island near Dangriga, Belize but it feels worlds away from any city.  There are just a handful of small hotels and guest houses on the island.  My favorite was Tobacco Caye Paradise with their colorful overwater bungalows. Bungalows are only $80 USD a night for double occupancy. The meal plan including breakfast, lunch and dinner is an additional $40 USD. If you’re looking to truly get away from it all and relax, it doesn’t get much better than this!

If glamping is your thing: Terlingua, Texas

Located right outside of Big Bend National Park, Terlingua, Texas is a super unique former ghost town.  There are only a handful of restaurants and stores in town, but what they have in abundance are unique glamping accommodations.  Teepees, yurts, airstreams, bubble tents, adobe houses… pretty much any glamping experience you can think of, they’ve got it out here with something for every budget!  I stayed in Basecamp Terlingua’s Lotus tents and I have been spoiled forever. Spend your days hiking in Big Bend and come back to enjoy an amazing view of the night sky. Terlingua is dark sky compliant so there’s zero light pollution to obstruct your view of the stars! 

If you’re a foodie:  Mexico City, Mexico

Like most major cities around the world like New York or Paris, Mexico City has a huge, and amazing, culinary scene.  Whether you’re a fan of Michelin star restaurants or more into grabbing some street food, you can have it all without going completely broke!  A major cosmopolitan city, you can find cuisine from all over the world, though while in Mexico, why not enjoy authentic Mexican dishes?  I had a blast eating my way through Mexico City and can’t wait to go back! My list of restaurants to try on my next return trip is ever growing! 

The Roma Norte and Condesa neighborhoods are full of beautiful boutique hotels at all budgets and price points. 

If you love mountains: Arkansas

Arkansas is one of the most underrated states in the USA–and a great budget-friendly travel destination.  I’ll admit, I hadn’t given it much consideration until scrolling past a photo on my Instagram feed one day of a fall scene of the Buffalo River, embanked by rocky outcroppings and a mosaic of fall foliage in the background.  Living in neighboring Louisiana, I had pretty much resigned myself of never seeing true autumn without hopping on a plane. I was beyond stoked to find out a fall hiking adventure was just a short drive away in neighboring Arkansas.  What a perfect weekend getaway! 

Hotels and restaurants throughout the state were very affordable. If you’re looking to experience the outdoors, there are so many cute cabins for rent throughout the Ouachita and Ozark mountains.  Or, if you’re looking to fit in a little city-break along with your hiking adventures, check out Little Rock! 

Travel doesn’t have to be expensive!  There are so many great budget-friendly travel destinations all over the world.  What are your favorite budget-friendly destinations?  Share them with us in the comments!