Budget travel | International destinations you can visit in less than 500 dollars

With COVID-19 tightening the purse-strings for several , travelling on a shoe-string budget is looking up. Maldives reopened its borders for South Asian countries from July 15.

As of August 2, 2021, India and Bhutan have an aviation arrangement which allows commercial flights to ply between the 2 countries. However, this is often a short lived arrangement and tourists are advised to see Covid restriction before making any bookings.

Entry to Nepal is allowed but the Kathmandu airport can’t be used for transit to a 3rd country.

Check Covid-guidelines for entry before booking flight/hotels.

(Flight cost not included for Cape Town and cities in Kenya).

1. Cape Town (South Africa)

While in Cape Town , South Africa , visit Table Mountain for a wide ranging view of the town .

Accommodation: Deluxe Twin Rooms Private Ensuite at 91 Loop: INR 1,408 per person/day including free breakfast, WiFi, city walking tours. Other great accommodation options near city center with dorms averaging INR 1,000 per person/day include MoTown Backpackers, CurioCity Cape Town , Mojo Hostel & Market.

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Food: Free breakfast is typically available at the accommodation. Lunch and dinner at mid-sized restaurants cost under INR 500 per person per meal (inclusive of tax and tips).

Wi-fi: Free Wi-Fi are often accessed at the most hostels, B&B, cafes, restaurants and public libraries across the town .

10 low-cost activities:

• Bo-Kaap: Walk with an area (INR 1,146);

• Kayaking (INR 2,344);

• Constantia gathering Tour (INR 3,385);

• Taste Malay dishes with a home chef (INR 3,640);

• Buki Culture Tours (INR 1,302);

• Make jewellery in Woodstock (INR 1,805);

• Horse riding within the vineyards (INR 2,526);

• Cape Town Water Biking Ocean Adventures (INR 3,385);

• Cape of excellent Hope Tour (INR 3,541);

• Amazing Cape Town during a Day (INR 4,947).10 free attractions/activities:

• Hike up Lion’s Head or Signal Hill;

• Swinging stumped Point Promenade;

• Visit the 2 Oceans Aquarium;

• Swing In Your Hammock at De Waal Park;

• Visit waterfalls in Cecilia Forest;

• log on At Muizenberg Beach;

• hear Live Music cornered Harbour Market;

• Join a Free City Walking Tour;

• Visit a Gateway of Fun at the V&A Waterfront;

• Head right down to Kalk Bay Harbour – ranked one among the good neighbourhoods by Forbes.

Plan Your trip on the official South Africa Tourism website

Currency: 1 South African Rand = INR 5.22

2. Bhutan

Dancers prepare for a performance during the Thimphu Tshechu festival in Bhutan.

Entry: Drukair and Bhutan Airlines fly into Bhutan. All three land border crossings (Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar) are along the Indian border.

Backpacking: it’s cheaper in lean season (peak season is March-May and September-November). As a solo backpacker, travelling to Bhutan can get expensive; accompany with other backpackers to minimise costs.

6D/5N flight-inclusive trip to Bhutan by Women on Clouds is priced at Rs 58,500+ tax (twin sharing).

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Accommodation: Village home stay (VHS) is that the most affordable option; prices start at Rs 1,500 per night. There are 158 VHS properties across 13 districts in Bhutan.

Festivals: The 2021 Thimphu Tscechu festival is from September 16-18, 2021. For tentative festival dates in 2022, see this document.

Plan Your trip on the official Bhutan Tourism website

Currency: 1 Bhutan Ngultrum = INR 1.00. Indian currency (except Rs 2,000 notes) are widely accepted in Bhutan.

3-4. Nairobi & Masai Mara (Kenya)

Leopard at the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

Accommodation:

(4 nights, Nairobi CBD): Inks Hotel: INR 3,503+; Medina Hotel: INR 5,971+; Elysium Studio Apartments: INR 7,165

(4 nights, Masai Mara): Masai Mara Sunset Samp: INR 7,013; Aspervia Apartment: INR 11.942. Check entry fee for Maasai Mara park .

https://bit.ly/3DIV36U budget hotels

More accommodation options, and Safari options, are available.
Travel tip: Credit cards won’t be accepted in smaller/rural towns, so keep cash handy.
Beer: USD 1 for local brand, USD 2-3 for foreign brands.
Plan Your trip on official Kenya Tourism website
Currency: 1 Kenyan shilling = INR 0.69

5. Kathmandu (Nepal)

Accommodation: Overall Best Hostel in Kathmandu: Alobar1000; Best Hostel for Solo Travelers: Zostel Kathmandu; Best Cheap Hostel: Wander Thirst Backpacker Hostel.
4 nights (excluding taxes): Hotel Blue Horizon (Rs 6,600); Thamel Grand Hotel (Rs 7,100); Thamel Home (Rs 1,494); Rest Up Kathamandu Hotel (Rs 1,100)
Breakfast is typically cheaper than lunch/dinner.

Budget hotels: https://bit.ly/3DIV36U
Check for Wi-Fi; Wi-Fi connections are very patchy.
Trek: 6-day Annapurna base Camp Trek cost per person: USD 599 (all meals included); 8-day Everest base Camp Trek cost per person: USD 999 (all meals included)
Plan Your trip on official Nepal Tourism website
Currency: 1 Nepalese rupee = INR 0.63
6-7. Colombo & Kandy (Sri Lanka)

Accommodation:

• (5 nights, Colombo): Seconds Hostel: INR 2,220+; Stay Lost & Found (Colombo): INR 8,853+; Hotel 111: INR 5,598+.
• (5 nights, Kandy): city center Hostel: INR 746; White Rose Hostel: INR 1,493+; Kandy City Rest House: INR 2,015.
• A 5D/4N sight-seeing tour of 2-3 cities starts at INR 18,500. 7D/6N Adventure tour package across 5 cities starts INR 28,000.
• Average meal cost is USD 1-3; coffee: USD 3; beer USD 1; bus tickets start at USD 3.
• Plan Your trip on the official Sri Lanka Tourism website
• Currency: 1 Sri Lankan Rupee = INR 0.37

8. Dubai

Accommodation: There are five hostels in town that cost 55-146 AED ($15-40 USD) per night. Price for five nights: Gulf Inn Hotel: INR 3,881+; Bed in Dormitory: INR 3,950; Global Hostel: INR 4,369; Bed Space for Females: INR 4,609. There’s a really active couch-surfing community.

Free activities:
• Visit Aquaventure at Atlantis, The Palm hotel for free of charge on your birthday;
• Visit Coffee Museum;
• inspect the art at AlSerkal Avenue;
• See the Ras Al Khor flamingos;
• AiroTour offers free walking tours round the city for 2-20 people at a time.
Budget hotels: https://bit.ly/3DIV36U

• Happy hours: Find Happy Hours where you’ll rise up to 50% off on food & beverage.
• Metro: Avoid taxi, use the metro (AED 8) that cuts through the center of the town , also goes to the marina, airport, and Old Dubai.
• Discount: Check Groupon Dubai for discounts.
• Plan Your trip on official Dubai Tourism website
• Currency: 1 UAE Dirham = INR 20.29

9. Maldives

Despite Maldives being referred to as an upscale holiday destination, you’ll roll in the hay on a shoe-string budget, as little as USD 50 each day : $30 each day on a personal room during a guesthouse; $10 each day on food; and $10 a day on activities.

Accommodation for 4 nights (excluding taxes): iHaven Thulusdhoo (INR 6,4490); Dhiffushi Inn (INR 8,956); Galaxy Sunrise (INR 9,673); Summer Villa Guest House (INR 9,852)

There’s a really active couch-surfing community. make sure if you are doing not want to spend a penny on accommodation.

Most accommodations serve an outsized free breakfast spread.

Local ferries cost USD 2-4 for a 3-hour journey.

Local trip cost (per person): Fishing trips (USD 50); sand banks (USD 25); island hopping round the atoll (USD 50)