If you love to travel, you know what an amazing opportunity it can be. You also know how expensive it can be to go on all of the adventures you’re daydreaming about. If you’re looking for cheap yet exciting travel destinations to add to your bucket list, this list of twelve should help you out.
January: Santa Fe, New Mexico
January and February are both a part of what is considered to be the “off-season” in the travel industry so you will find many affordable yet exciting vacations during this time. Santa Fe, New Mexico is a great wintertime destination, especially if you love skiing. There are many popular ski resorts throughout the region so you can enjoy incredible opportunities to hit the slopes without the high prices of other ski resort areas.
February: Rome, Italy
You can still enjoy great travel deals in February as the busy season doesn’t start until mid-March. This means it’s a great time to take advantage of travel deals to locations that would typically be expensive like Europe. Rome is far less crowded in February than it is throughout the rest of the year. You’ll just have to bring a heavy jacket to deal with the colder weather but the opportunity to book accommodations and activities at lower prices is rare!
March: Cambodia
Cambodia is a cheap place to visit throughout the year and visiting during March ensures that you’ll have the best chance at nice weather. You’ll also be able to beat the crowds and while you’ll never be able to see sights like Angkor Wat completely devoid of crowds, you’ll have your best chance at seeing it without too many around.
April: Aspen, Colorado
Aspen is a ski resort town and a year-round outdoor recreation destination in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. You can enjoy some fantastic high-class dining as well as a variety of outdoor activities. If you visit in April, you’ll likely be able to enjoy the tail end of the ski season – the slopes are one of the major draws of Aspen.
May: Cancun, Mexico
Cancún is one of the most famous vacation spots and with good reason too. This Mexican City lies on the Yucatán Peninsula, which borders the Caribbean Sea. It’s known for its beaches, resorts, and nightlife. El Centro is the more traditional downtown area, and Zona Hotelera is comprised of high rises and miles of beaches. It’s a popular spring break destination, but the high crowds and high prices that come with that show up in March and April. By May the crowd numbers (and prices!) have stabilized, making it a great place to visit.
June: San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, the capital and largest city of Puerto Rico, is a great place to visit especially in June. The early days of the summer travel season have amazing weather but far fewer crowds than you’d see in July or August. The Isla Verde resort strip, which is known for its bars, nightclubs, and casinos, is fronted by its widest beach. Colorful Spanish colonial buildings and 16th-century landmarks such as El Morro and La Fortaleza, massive fortresses with sweeping ocean views, as well as the Paseo de la Princesa bayside promenade, can be found in cobblestoned Old San Juan.
July: Niagara Falls, Canada
Although the summer is a popular time to visit Niagara Falls, it’s actually a great time to save money. There are so many tour options or chances to bundle tickets that will allow you to see more for less. Although there is also an American side where you can visit Niagara Falls, it’s far better to head over to the Canadian side. Not only are there better viewpoints to see the waterfalls and the rock and water features that surround it, but there is also far more to do in general. There are exciting restaurants, shops, and activities to participate in.
August: Las Vegas, United States
While Las Vegas is always going to be a bustling and exciting place, August brings fewer crowds than you’d expect. The intense heat of the Nevada desert is enough to deter some tourists so if you go during this time you’ll be able to enjoy low prices as well as potential deals at some of the hotels and casinos in the area. Las Vegas also has plenty of shows and activities and you may be able to find tickets at low prices.
September: Romania
Romania is a wonderful country to visit. Many visitors come to see the Transylvania region or to visit historic sites associated with Count Dracula, the legendary vampire. A visit in September allows you to enjoy the sights without the crowds as well as the low prices that come from visiting during the off-season.
October: Banff, Canada
Banff is an idyllic resort town in Alberta, Canada in the beautiful Banff National Forest. It’s quite a popular place to visit but if you head there in October, you can avoid the crowds as well as the high prices.
November: Washington, D.C.
There’s plenty to do in Washington, D.C. besides see the White House and other monuments in person The city has its own thriving culture, and when you visit you can grab a half-smoke at Ben’s Chili Bowl or listen to live music – the city is the birthplace of Go-Go music and it was also an important place in the early days of American punk music. If you want to visit this iconic city, don’t visit between March and September (unless you want to be overrun by groups of 8th graders!) Instead, come in November when the crowds are minimal and –you’ll get to experience a milder side of Washington DC’s summer.
December: Costa Rica
If you’re looking for a place to escape the cold weather December typically brings, Costa Rica is a great place to consider. It’s also not as expensive as you’d expect, with many hotels and resorts offering great deals. You can spend your time in Costa Rica hiking and exploring and enjoying the warm weather.