Savvy International Traveler Tips and Destinations

Traveling on a budget can be a difficult feat to manage. In fact, when you start adding up the cost of airfare, lodging, food, and activities, it can almost seem impossible, especially if your preferred destination is a touristy European city like London or Paris.

However, there are still plenty of ways to make traveling internationally affordable. Not far from the beaten path, many countries offer just as much history and scenery as their more famous European counterparts, but at a much lower exchange rate. Here are just a few affordable cities and countries for international travel with your homeschool family:

Cape Town, South Africa
Getting to Africa will be the most expensive part of your trip, but once you’re there, the costs can be quite minimal. Between the beaches and the city life that make up this coastal capital, there will always be something to do.

Morocco
Morocco is a vibrant country in North Africa with lots of local flavor and beautiful beaches. Bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, this “Kingdom of the West” has a mix of European flair and exotic flavor that makes it a country worth visiting.

Crete, Greece
Because of the current economic crisis in Greece, this Mediterranean island is one of the less expensive places to travel in Europe. It still attracts a lot of tourists, however, so the best bet in finding an inexpensive place to stay is Air BnB.

Belize
The cheapest option for accommodations in Belize is to search for Air BnB. There are private homes with beach views, as well as many with their own private pools that cost around or less than $100 a night. The food in this Central American country is cheap as well with street vendors offering delicious fares for just a few American dollars.

Vietnam
With $1.20 equaling 30,000 Vietnamese Dong, this Asian country on the Indochina Peninsula is definitely an affordable option for anyone. Once you arrive, you’ll be able to live lavishly while enjoying Vietnam’s jungles and beaches.

Although the most expensive part of traveling internationally is the cost of the airfare, there are a few hints and tricks to help savvy travelers minimalize that cost as well:

1. Have flexible travel dates. The best way to find affordable airfare is to not have set dates on which you need to travel. Not all travel search engines are created equally with some offering helpful features like flex searches and rates from non-domestic airlines (which can be much cheaper).

2. Choose a country that has a low exchange rate. If you choose a country where the local currency is weak, the dollar will take you much further than it would in a more influential European country.

3. Look for travel deals. Sometimes it can be much more cost-effective to travel internationally by buying a travel package that includes air and hotel. Some international travel packages even include food and tours.