Price of Travel - Make a budget at a glance

Cheapest Caribbean destinations are even cheaper in summer

Roger Wade — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:55:42 +0000

We all know that the Caribbean is at its peak of popularity during the winter months, primarily because it’s consistently warm and dry so it’s a perfect getaway from the cold weather in the north. However, the weather in the Caribbean is almost identical through the early summer, so it’s still incredibly nice if you are staying at a beach resort. Even when school is out for the kids, fewer people head to the Caribbean, so prices tend to come down.

In a year when flights to Europe feel like they are only affordable to trust-fund types, it might be worth considering a cheap week in the Caribbean instead. On most islands you can get a nice mix of culture if you want, or just hang out on the beach during the day and enjoy some drinks and affordable tropical meals at night.

The cheapest Caribbean destinations

Early last winter we researched and published our list of the Caribbean’s cheapest islands and destinations. It’s very difficult to compare one to another, but since so many people are curious about which islands are the bargains and which are only for the rich, we gave it a shot.

The list contains 32 destinations, including several different parts of a few islands, and Cancun, Mexico because it’s cheap and has a tropical island feel.

And now we’ve run the same price checks on the cheapest 7 destinations to see how things stack up in June. Nearly all of them are cheaper in June than in March, which isn’t surprising. Later in the summer prices tend to go even lower as the wet season begins, and many people have an irrational fear of getting hit by a hurricane. We’ll cover those topics on an update soon, but for now we’ll compare prices even for when the weather is perfect in June.

Package deals tend to be even better

It’s also difficult to compare package deals because often they include various extras from one month to the next, but generally you can get the best deals by booking a flight and hotel all at once from an online agency. The best of these is CheapCaribbean, and you can view all of their current specials here:
Cheap Caribbean Hot Deals

Cheapest Caribbean destinations comparing March to June

Here is a comparison of the 7 cheapest Caribbean destinations with price levels in March, which is late in the high season, and June, which is early in the low season.

Flight prices are for the cheapest flight from New York City during the period, and all prices are in US dollars.

1 – Cancun, Mexico

March cheapest NYC flight: $350
March cheap 3-star hotel average: $36.50
June cheapest NYC flight: $370
June cheap 3-star hotel average: $30.50

The bottom price group of 3-star hotels in Cancun are amazingly cheap in spite of generally positive guest reviews. Obviously you “get what you pay for” to some degree, but at least for those looking for a cheap beach holiday in June, it’s very affordable.

2 – Negril, Jamaica

March cheapest NYC flight: $340
March cheap 3-star hotel average: $66.75
June cheapest NYC flight: $300
June cheap 3-star hotel average: $51.75

The cheapest of the main resort areas in Jamaica, Negril is a short shuttle ride from the Montego Bay Airport, which also has lower prices in summer. For a real island feeling, this is a steal in June.

3 – San Juan, Puerto Rico

March cheapest NYC flight: $250
March cheap 3-star hotel average: $103.50
June cheapest NYC flight: $200
June cheap 3-star hotel average: $96.75

Flights to San Juan are cheaper during summer, and resorts along the nearby beaches are a bit cheaper as well, but it’s not a great bargain except for those only going for a weekend (a cheap flight and 2 or 3 nights hotel).

4 – Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

March cheapest NYC flight: $390
March cheap 3-star hotel average: $64.50
June cheapest NYC flight: $450
June cheap 3-star hotel average: $68.75

Interestingly, flights to Puerto Plata are a bit more expensive in June, and resort prices are a bit higher as well, so value-conscious travelers can probably find better deals elsewhere. The DR is known for all-inclusive hotels and packages, however, so those might be bargains even if they don’t fit this survey.

5 – Barbados

March cheapest NYC flight: $410
March cheap 3-star hotel average: $85.25
June cheapest NYC flight: $350
June cheap 3-star hotel average: $71.75

Again, flights to Barbados are cheaper in summer, and the fabulous resorts are about 20% cheaper as well. This island is a bargain all year long and especially during the summer months.

6 – Ocho Rios, Jamaica

March cheapest NYC flight: $290
March cheap 3-star hotel average: $106.75
June cheapest NYC flight: $310
June cheap 3-star hotel average: $87.25

On the other side of Montego Bay is Jamaica’s second-cheapest resort area in Ocho Rios. Things tend to be at least a bit more upscale here, even with budget friendly prices.

7 – St Lucia

March cheapest NYC flight: $450
March cheap 3-star hotel average: $86.50
June cheapest NYC flight: $440
June cheap 3-star hotel average: $80.25

Admittedly, prices in this survey are only down a bit in summer compared to March, but it’s still worth noting that St. Lucia a bargain island with a surprising number of affordable beach resorts.

Cheap package deals

>>>Cheap Caribbean Hot Deals

Top photo courtesy of Lynn Coulombe on Flickr

Cheapest cities for 5-star hotels: 101 Global destinations by price

Roger Wade — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:53:25 +0000

Are you a budget traveler who has wondered where in the world you’d actually be able to afford a 5-star hotel room? You are not alone. Those of us who prefer to (or must) sleep cheap can easily get tired of tiny rooms with few frills, and we dream of what it would be like to be staying in that swanky 5-star with the perfect location.

Well, wonder no more, because we’ve checked prices in 101 of the most popular tourist cities and destinations around the world to find the cheapest 5-star hotel rates. There are some encouraging results, but of course it’s a complicated situation.

You can’t get a room at the Four Seasons (city name) or the InterContinental (city name) for a budget price anywhere in the world, unfortunately. But you can actually find luxurious hotels at affordable rates in different cities, especially if you go in the low season.

No international standard for “5-star”

It must be said now that only parts of Europe are actively attempting to standardize the definition of hotel stars, and any international standard is still a long way off. In general, it’s the hotels themselves that pick the star rating, and there’s certainly a wide range that claim to be 5 stars.

The good news on this subject is that thanks to the new prominence of guest reviews (AKA TripAdvisor), it’s much harder for hotels to profit by grossly misrepresenting their facilities. We’ve clearly seen expectations play a huge part in post-stay ratings by guests, so any hotel that racks up a large number of 1-star ‘THIS IS NOT A 5-STAR HOTEL!!!1′ reviews, won’t be able to carry on like that for long, and they were excluded from the data below as well.

How we made this list of 5-star hotel prices

With different high, shoulder, and low seasons around the world, it’s impossible to rank all cities on one list that works the whole year round, so to compromise we checked prices for one night – Tuesday, September 25, 2012 – for all of the cities below using the metasearch site kayak.com. A weeknight in late September, checked more than 4 months in advance, should represent the ‘shoulder season’ in almost every city on the planet, and won’t include any special last-minute deals. (For Munich, a late October date was used.)

For many cities there was one or more self-reported 5-star hotels that were cheapest that also have an unusually low average on TripAdvisor average scores, so these were thrown out and the cheapest 5-star hotel with at least 4 (out of 5) TripAdvisor guest stars was used instead.

The price ranges below represent:

Hotels reporting 5-stars in systems used by Kayak.com
Hotels with a minimum 4 out of 5 in TripAdvisor guest ratings
The quoted price including all taxes and fees
‘Airport’ hotels were also excluded from the ranges

Cheapest cities for 5-star hotels in the world

Prices in US dollars as of mid May, 2012 for late September stays

(Cheapest 5-star room – Cheapest room at most expensive 5-star – city – # of hotels)

$56 – $874 – Phuket, Thailand (53)
$67 – $166 – Goa, India (19)
$68 – $407 – Bangkok, Thailand (60)
$68 – $749 – Siem Reap, Cambodia (16)
$71 – $368 – Macau, China (35)
$74 – $856 – Beijing, China (118)
$77 – $2,103 – Marrakech, Morocco (120)
$78 – $248 – Fez, Morocco (24)
$78 – $383 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (35)
$82 – $546 – Shanghai, China (105)
$82 – $553 – Chiang Mai, Thailand (16)
$84 – $291 – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (18)
$84 – $308 – Cairo, Egypt (35)
$86 – $308 – Luang Prabang, Laos (5)
$90 – $198 – Hanoi, Vietnam (13)
$91 – $402 – Budapest, Hungary (23)
$91 - $504 – Quito, Ecuador (6)
$92 – $1,130 – Istanbul, Turkey (78)
$94 – $302 – Mumbai, India (31)
$98 – $209 – Sofia, Bulgaria (9)
$99 – $337 – Krakow, Poland (10)
$99 – $896 – Las Vegas, USA (14)
$101 – $605 – Cape Town, South Africa (60)
$102 – $402 – Athens, Greece (35)
$102 – $1,271 Dubai, United Arab Emirates (99)
$105 – $458 – Auckland, New Zealand (21)
$107 – $372 – Taipei, Taiwan (26)
$110 – $353 – Riga, Latvia (9)
$111 – $198 – Bucharest, Romania (13)
$111 – $531 – Barcelona, Spain (33)
$111 – $551 – Mexico City, Mexico (17)
$118 – $416 – Delhi, India (31)
$119 – $125 – La Paz, Bolivia (5)
$126 – $368 – Warsaw, Poland (12)
$128 – $836 – Kuta, Bali, Indonesia (105)
$130 – $341 – Berlin, Germany (29)
$130 – $375 – Santiago, Chile (9)
$133 – $319 – Lisbon, Portugal (26)
$135 – $545 – Lima, Peru (9)
$137 – $1,236 – Florence, Italy (24)
$140 – $275 – Manila, Philippines (18)
$142 – $221 – Phnom Penh, Cambodia (4)
$142 – $632 – Buenos Aires, Argentina (30)
$144 – $915 – Prague, Czech Republic (43)
$145 – $350 – Kathmandu, Nepal (8)
$150 – $210 – Vientiane, Laos (2)
$157 – $1,010 – Melbourne, Australia (31)
$159 – $282 – Amman, Jordan (15)
$163 – $754 – Sydney, Australia (31)
$166 – $231 – Bratislava, Slovakia (5)
$167 – $273 – Tallinn, Estonia (6)
$168 – $877 – Vienna, Austria (23)
$170 – $307 – Belgrade, Serbia (6)
$172 – $325 – Hamburg, Germany (16)
$173 – $407 – Beirut, Lebanon (26)
$174 – $194 – Zagreb, Croatia (3)
$174 – $458 – Dubrovnik, Croatia (15)
$174 – $944 – Hong Kong, China (35)
$175 – $539 – Seoul, South Korea (26)
$178 – $2,187 – London, England (91)
$183 – $203 – Montevideo, Uruguay (2)
$185 – $1,056 – Miami Beach, USA (16)
$186 – $430 – Helsinki, Finland (4)
$186 – $472 – Edinburgh, Scotland (23)
$187 – $275 – Panama City, Panama (6)
$187 – $538 – Madrid, Spain (26)
$189 – $1,030 – Milan, Italy (19)
$194 – $500 – St. Petersburg, Russia (13)
$200 – $455 – Dublin, Ireland (12)
$200 – $1,149 – Venice, Italy (17)
$203 – $361 – Caracas, Venezuela (6)
$203 – $453 – Brussels, Belgium (16)
$211 – $668 – Tokyo, Japan (24)
$215 – $470 – Tel Aviv, Israel (9)
$217 – $293 - Luxembourg City, Luxembourg (4)
$220 – $607 – Munich, Germany (12)
$226 – $1,814 – Singapore, Singapore (40)
$228 – $305 – New Orleans, USA (3)
$231 – $393 – Montreal, Canada (3)
$233 – $508 – Nice, France (12)
$236 – $443 – Vancouver, Canada (7)
$240 – $592 – Cancun, Mexico (15)
$241 – $650 – Amsterdam, Netherlands (18)
$243 – $419 – Cartagena, Colombia (10)
$245 – $425 – Naples, Italy (6)
$250 – $402 – Copenhagen, Denmark (5)
$262 – $635 – Los Angeles, USA (15)
$285 – $470 – Stockholm, Sweden (10)
$292 – $1,108 – Moscow, Russia (23)
$293 – $806 – Zurich, Switzerland (12)
$321 – $540 – Oslo, Norway (3)
$333 – $738 – Rome, Italy (34)
$343 – $427 – Kiev, Ukraine (5)
$345 – $1,204 Paris, France (25)
$349 – $515 – Honolulu, USA (4)
$423 – $731 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (7)
$443 – $562 – Washington DC, USA (11)
$453 – $570 – Toronto, Canada (4)
$473 – $601 – Chicago, USA (5)
$485 – $1,486 – New York City, USA (26)
$511 – $927 – San Francisco, USA (5)

Interesting observations on the above list

Most of the cheapest destinations above are in “low season” in late September, so those rates might be only available for short periods of time, and will certainly be much higher in high season.

India in particular, is known for lower hotel standards than are found in most of Asia, so even a “5-star” hotel with good guest reviews in Goa would probably have to call itself 4-stars or even 3-stars most anywhere else, at least those on the bottom of the price range.

The best bargains of all might be in the gambling destinations, with Las Vegas (at US$99) far cheaper than any other US city on the list, and Macau (at US$71) near the very top. It’s obvious that casino hotels are confident that they can make up revenue in other ways, so non-gamblers (and winners!) benefit.

On average, US hotels are similar prices to European hotels, so it’s a bit surprising seeing US cities dominating the pricey end of the 5-star hotel list. In other words, even with no recognized standard, it seems that the self-reporting system in the US works well in keeping undeserving hotels from advertising above their true rank.

English-only speakers: Travel everywhere anyway, here’s why

Roger Wade — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:49:37 +0000

Usually I discuss economics and money-related topics on Price of Travel, but today I’ll branch out into one of those things that I wish I had learned myself much earlier about choosing destinations. For those of us who only speak one language (English), it’s easy to feel intimidated when visiting a country with a different primary language. But the world very much welcomes us, and I’ll discuss some of the reasons why below.

Our worst fears

Imagine you are living and working in the US (or any other English-language country) and a visitor from, say, Finland approaches you and asks you questions in Finnish, seemingly expecting you to understand him. All you could do is smile and tell him (in English) that you have no idea what he is talking about. Or if you are in a bad mood you might be a bit rude because he’s assuming you’ve learned his language instead of the other way around.

Fortunately, English speakers never have to worry about this happening in reverse. You might think it’s a bit culturally insensitive to invade a foreign land assuming they’ll speak in your foreign language, but it’s time to get over that fear.

Order of preferences on both sides

Imagine someone runs a small hotel or restaurant in Cambodia or Colombia. Here are their preferences in order:

Visitors come and learn some of the language
Visitors come and learn a few key phrases
Visitors come and never stray from English
Visitors stay home

Now imagine you are thinking about visiting Cambodia or Colombia. Here are your preferences in order:

Learn some of the language and visit
Learn a few key phrases and visit
Ignore the local language and visit anyway
Stay home

On both sides of the equation, staying home is the worst outcome. I guarantee that people in the tourism trade in countries around the world are extremely happy to welcome even visitors who ignore the local language. It’s not just about them wanting your money either, as we’ll discuss below. English speakers are actually in demand in some interesting ways all over the world, so you needn’t feel bad if you struggle to pick up even a few phrases.

Non-English speakers often are embarrassed about it

After decades of traveling all around the world a few times, the one thing that continues to surprise me is the attitude of people who speak no English. Much more often than not, they feel (or at least act) embarrassed by the fact that they can’t communicate with you in your language. It’s very humbling to put a local on the spot like that and then have them basically apologize for not being able to help you.

Needless to say, English (for better or worse) is absolutely the lingua franca for almost any two cultures around the world. If a Danish girl wants to buy a bottle of water in Greece, she’ll do it in English. If a Japanese man wants to check into a hotel in Vietnam, he’ll do it in English. And so on.

It’s a huge financial opportunity for people in non-English countries if they can speak fluent English, and most who can’t speak it realize this and have at least some regrets about it.

If you speak to someone who doesn’t speak English in another country the chances are about 100 times greater that they’ll help you find the nearest English speaker than that they’ll show anger towards you.

People all over the world love to practice English with us

Combined with the topic immediately above, it’s also humbling that English is so common and important that millions of people around the world love to seek us monophones out just to sharpen their own English skills. We might (and maybe should) feel bad that we haven’t at least learned a few introductory phrases for them, but this actually helps them because they can spend 100% of their time practicing English instead of awkwardly helping you learn “where is the toilet?” in their language.

This can get a bit tricky in some places (especially those with aggressive street merchants) because sometimes you’ll be approached under the guise of practicing English with someone who already seems to have it down pretty well, and next thing you know you are in his cousin’s carpet shop or jewelry store. But surprisingly often, you are only approached to practice English with.

I’ve had a case where a local college student in Istanbul offered to give me a free tour of a free mosque just for his own practice. And a couple of times the conversations go on long enough that they can get tedious, but this also seems to be rare, thankfully. People are grateful for even a 5-minute chat about your home and family, and this is a great help in their schooling.

Many countries are proud that they speak your language as well as you do

Generally, the less popular a language is outside of its own home country’s borders, the greater their motivation those citizens have for being fluent in English. For this reason, all of northern Europe (Netherlands, some of Germany, and Scandinavia at least) speaks English at native levels. They learn English in school at an early age and all of their imported TV shows and movies (which is a lot) are shown in English with subtitles rather than overdubbing.

In my experience, these people (and many like them in other countries) have great pride in the fact that they are totally fluent in two (or more) languages, so for them to speak English to you is a bit like showing off. It works well for everyone.

In fact, on one of my many visits to Amsterdam in the 1990s I asked a girl (about 25 years old) in a nightclub if she spoke English. She snapped back, “Of course I speak English! I went to school!” She was laughing a bit, but it was then that I learned that asking that question was actually an insult to someone of her age in Amsterdam. Ever since then, even when I lived in Amsterdam for a while in 2005, I just speak to everyone there in English and no one acts like it’s unusual or impolite.

Certainly, in many other European countries it’s polite to ask in the local language if they speak English before plowing forth, but over the decades that seems less and less necessary because English-only travelers are so common.

A few minor exceptions

Twenty years from now things will probably have progressed to where you can go anywhere on the planet and thrive in English, but for now there are a few places where it’s still not a walk in the park.

In Spanish-speaking countries, including most of Latin America and Spain itself, in the lesser-touristy areas you’ll find that people don’t speak much English. There are enough Spanish-speaking travelers coming through that English isn’t a big priority. In my experience they are always nice about it, if not apologetic as mentioned above, but still it’s not the easiest thing to deal with if you are off the main tourist trail.

Similarly, in the former Soviet countries, and even in Turkey (where I’ve been living lately) English is less common than it is almost everywhere else.

In Japan all students learn English in school, but almost all of them are so self-conscious about their abilities that they refuse to even practice with you, even if they know what you are saying. Fortunately, all the important signs (in the airports and elsewhere) are also in English, so it’s still easy to get by and do what you want.

Learning a few key phrases is worth the small effort

It’s a cliche but it’s also true that even if you attempt a greeting in their language that they’ll smile and treat you much better. And nearly everyone realizes that just because you’ve practiced “another beer please” in their language that it doesn’t mean you are fluent so they’ll fetch your beer and answer you back in English anyway.

For those who are good at learning languages and especially for those who really enjoy it, go for it.

But for those of us whose brains don’t specialize in language-learning, don’t let it stop you from visiting anywhere that you can dream of. They want you there and you’ll enjoy yourself while getting along surprisingly easy.

British English vs. American English: Which is less ridiculous?

Comparing European itineraries: Choose wisely and save big

Roger Wade — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:01:39 +0000

As summer approaches and airfares are at or near record levels for crossing the Atlantic, I thought it would be an interesting time to compare some classic European itineraries to see just how much further you can stretch your funds by choosing one region over another. There are probably many people who’ve given up on the notion of a European trip this year, and those people might actually still be in the game if they head to the best cities of Eastern Europe instead of to the west or south.

The data below is all based on our European Backpacker Index, which compares the same common expenses in 47 different cities, as well as our 3-Star European Index that covers the same 47 cities from the perspective of a couple/pair who prefer 3-star hotels and a bit more luxury.

Backpacker style budget comparison

For this comparison we’ll assume you are a backpacker who is staying in hostel dorm beds and using public transportation instead of taxis. The prices listed are for 4 nights in each city, including your bed, 3 meals, 2 public transportation rides, 1 paid attraction, and 3 beers per day.

Itinerary 1: Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris

Amsterdam – US$87.79/day = US$351.16
Brussels – US$90.13/day = US$360.52
Paris – US$80.06/day = US$320.24

12 days total = US$1,031.92

Itinerary 2: Rome, Venice, Florence

Rome – US$81.43/day = $325.72
Venice – US$91.43/day = US$365.72
Florence – US$68.70/day = US$274.80

12 days total = US$966.24

Itinerary 3: Prague, Budapest, Krakow

Prague – US$43.61/day = $174.44
Budapest – US$30.05/day = US$120.20
Krakow – US$23.83/day = US$95.32

12 days total = US$389.96

3-Star Traveler budget comparison

For this comparison we’ll assume you are a half of a couple (or pair of singles) who will be sharing a cheap 3-star hotel room in each city and taking 2 taxi rides per day (so each person pays for 1 ride). The prices listed are for 4 nights in each city, including your shared hotel room, 3 meals, 2 taxi rides, 1 paid attraction, and 3 beers per day.

Itinerary 1: Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris

Amsterdam – US$158.00/day = US$632.00
Brussels – US$166.00/day = US$664.00
Paris – US$146.67/day = US$586.68

12 days total = US$1,882.68

Itinerary 2: Rome, Venice, Florence

Rome – US$140.00/day = $560.00
Venice – US$186.00/day = US$744.00
Florence – US$126.67/day = US$506.68

12 days total = US$1,810.68

Itinerary 3: Prague, Budapest, Krakow

Prague – US$86.50/day = $346.00
Budapest – US$55.80/day = US$223.20
Krakow – US$57.06/day = US$228.24

12 days total = US$797.44

Factoring in flights and transportation between cities

I searched for the cheapest airfares between New York City and each city in each itinerary to find the optimal place to fly into for each one. Flights to Paris (US$1,018) were slightly cheaper than to Prague (US$1,082) and to Rome (US$1,219), and those were the cheapest for each group.

In other words, the flights to get there are within the same general price range, and they can vary depending on your starting point and preferred dates, of course.

Taking trains between Amsterdam, Paris, and Brussels will cost more than taking them between Rome, Florence, and Venice, and also quite a bit more than between Prague, Budapest, and Krakow. So if you factor in the city-to-city costs the last group looks even cheaper.

Conclusion: The top-tier East cities are less than half the price

If you’ve researched this subject at all before it should be no surprise that the cheapest cities are the ones in Eastern Europe. However, you may be shocked to see just how much cheaper they are. You can literally spend half as much per day without changing your level of comfort or style of travel.

Everyone should try to visit Paris and Rome and all the rest during their lives, and this isn’t to say that visiting Krakow will be exactly as enjoyable as visiting Rome and at half the price. But each of these cities has a lot going for it and those on lower budgets might head east until they are better prepared to splash out for a proper visit to the famous and important cities of Western Europe.

Caveat: The longer the stay the more choosing cheap cities counts

The above comparisons are for a 12-night stay in Europe, which is pretty typical for American and Canadian travelers. Considering that the flights are all fairly similar in price, it shouldn’t take a math degree to notice that the grand total will be affected far more on a longer trip than on a shorter one.

In other words, if you are a backpacker and you can only spend 6 nights in Europe then the difference between the Paris itinerary and the Prague itinerary is only about US$300 instead of the US$600 shown above. In that case you might just spend the extra and head to the expensive cities.

On the other hand, if you can spend a month in Europe then the difference between itineraries becomes enormous, and the flights there are a smaller portion of the total.

Another way of looking at it is that for the exact same money you can spend about 30 days in Eastern Europe or about 12 days in Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam.

With more than two weeks off you might instead consider heading to Asia where your money goes even further. Check out the Asia Backpacker Index to see that you can spend 2 months in Southeast Asia instead of those 12 days in Western Europe.

Currency shifts have created some new bargains for summer 2012

Roger Wade — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:36:22 +0000

As the summer travel season is approaching I thought it would be interesting to look at the currency situation for travelers. The most interesting and perhaps unusual thing is that almost all major currencies have been quite stable against the US dollar (and against each other) for the past year. This contrasts to a couple years ago when the US dollar was tanking against almost everything.

These exchange rate charts can be a bit misleading because there are often notable swings within a few months, and a visitor can get either lucky or unlucky depending on which way it went.

Still, I think it’s useful and interesting to see where things have gone in the past 6 months and past year to see which countries are at least better bargains than they were exactly a year ago.

Major currencies in the last 12 months

(currency – year ago – 6 mo – now – USD rise/fall)

Brazilian real – 1.58 – 1.75 – 1.87 +18%

Turkish lira – 1.53 – 1.85 – 1.79 +17%

Indian rupee – 44.30 – 49.40 – 51.80 +17%

Iceland kroner – 111 – 120 – 128 +15%

Poland zlotych – 2.80 – 3.15 – 3.20 +14%

Mexican peso – 11.60 – 13.4 – 13.1 +13%

Czech koruny – 16.95 – 18.0 – 18.96 +12%

Croatian kuna – 5.15 – 5.40 – 5.72 +11%

Euro – 0.70 – 0.73 – 0.77 +10%

Argentine peso – 4.07 – 4.25 – 4.40 +8%

British pound – 0.61 – 0.63 – 0.63 +3%

Canadian dollar – 0.96 – 1.02 – 0.99 +3%

Australian dollar – 0.95 – 0.96 – 0.96 +1%

Japanese yen – 82.50 – 77.20 – 81.31 -1%

Bargains compared to last year

Again, most currencies have been quite stable for the past year against the US dollar and each other. But here are the highlights of some good destinations that now are at least a little cheaper this year compared to going into summer 2011.

Brazil

The Brazilian currency had been quite overvalued for a while, and now it’s come back to a more reasonable level. Inflation overall was only about 5% in Brazil in 2011, so it’s somewhat cheaper now.

Rio de Janeiro has nice weather year round so it’s a good choice in the off season with cheap hotels. The rest of the country is even cheaper, of course.

If you can find a cheap flight Brazil can be quite inexpensive as long as you avoid December through Carnival time, and the weather will still be pretty nice.

Turkey

Istanbul has gotten surprisingly expensive in the past decade, but the rest of the country is still quite cheap by European standards, and it has a lot to offer, including summer resorts. The weakened currency has also helped make it more affordable.

Antalya is an increasingly popular holiday spot for the sunshine crowd, and it is teaming with interesting ruins and sights in addition to its restaurants and nightlife. Cappadoccia is a must-visit for anyone in the country, and fortunately it’s as cheap as it is lovely.

India

India has an inflation problem of its own, but at least its currency has been coming down along with it, so at least in some cases things are cheaper for foreigners than they were a year ago.

India is also the cheapest country in the world for budget travelers, still, as long as they aren’t picky about “international standard” hotels and such.

The key to visiting India is to minimize your time in the big cities like Delhi and Mumbai, partly because those are fairly expensive anyway, and head to the smaller towns and even the beach resorts, including the world famous Goa.

Iceland

It’s now become clear that the currency crash in Iceland a few years ago wasn’t just a temporary phenomenon. The country, especially Reykjavik, is still relatively expensive, considering they have to import almost everything from long distances, but at least it’s reasonable now compared to the astonishing prices tourists were facing in the prior decade.

Most people only spend a day or two in the capital before renting a car or taking a bus tour around the island to visit the various outdoor highlights. Depending on how that’s done, it can be quite cheap these days.

Eastern Europe

For most people, London, Paris, and Rome are still quite expensive and not much has changed. But the good news is that most of the currencies of the countries just to the east have weakened notably over the past year. They were already cheaper than their more popular cousins, but now Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Croatia are among those where foreigners are getting even better deals this year.

Check out the 3-star Europe Index and the Europe Backpacker Index for 2012 and you’ll see a long list of interesting cities that are far cheaper than the obvious ones.

Argentina is no longer a bargain

Even though Argentina’s currency has been weakening at a steady rate over the last year, the inflation rate is now out of control, eating up the difference and a lot more. Prices for many things, including public transportation, have literally doubled in the past year or two, and there are no reasons to think it’s going to stop soon.

Buenos Aires is truly one of the world’s great cities, and it’s still a relative bargain with prices a bit lower than, say, Paris or Rome, but a few years ago it was half that price and a few years from now it might be quite a bit worse. Go now or you may not get the chance.

World’s cheapest overwater villa holiday is now in Malaysia: US$112 per night

Roger Wade — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:55:44 +0000

Ever since that movie came out and everyone started using the expression like they’d been using it all their lives, millions of people now have a spot on their “bucket lists” to spend a holiday in an overwater bungalow or water villa. The problem for most of us is that those things are damn expensive and they go up from there, at least until now.

In 2011 the Golden Palm Tree Resort & Spa slowly opened up, featuring 392 overwater villas, off the coast just south of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. When it opened room prices started over US$350 per night and they included meals, but recently things have changed and they are offering online specials starting at US$112 per night (plus tax) not including meals (edit: I’ve now seen a rate as low as US$106 per night). This rate is per room for two people, not per person, and it’s a brand-new luxurious resort with a location that is convenient to most of the world.

Comparing holiday prices for overwater villas around the world

While these new online special room rates are stunning on their own, when you put the cost of getting to a resort into context it’s an even better deal. Unfortunately, pretty much every alternative is expensive and complicated to reach and then more expensive once you get there.

Tahiti

Flight from Los Angeles: US$1,200+/person
Flight from New York: US$1,600+/person
Flight from London: US$2,200+/person
Overwater bungalows: US$308+ per night per couple

Bora Bora

Flight from Los Angeles (via Tahiti): US$1,550+/person
Flight from New York (via Tahiti): US$2,200+/person
Flight from London (via Tahiti): US$3,000+/person
Overwater bungalows: US$395+ per night per couple

Maldives

Flight from Los Angeles: US$1,350+/person
Flight from New York: US$1,350+/person
Flight from London: US$950+/person
Speed boat or sea plane from airport to resort island: US$150 to US$900/person
Water villas: US$270+ per night per couple

Kuala Lumpur – Golden Palm Tree Resort & Spa

Flight from Los Angeles: US$960+/person
Flight from New York: US$1,110+/person
Flight from London: US$700+/person
Then a 45-minute and US$10 taxi ride from the airport to the resort
Overwater villas: US$112+ per night per couple

Caribbean

Until 2013 when the Sandals St. Lucia Grande debuts its 26 overwater bungalows, all the Caribbean overwater bungalow resorts offer “eco-resorts” that are great for scuba diving but quite unlike the “honeymoon-style” overwater bungalows in the areas above. All of them have remote locations and prices start at around US$250 per night in off season, except for the most “rustic” ones.

Why such a difference?

Most of the 5,000 or so overwater rooms in the world are in the Maldives, which is just southwest of India. Room rates are quite reasonable if you shop around for online specials, but it’s a long and expensive flight to a remote airport, followed by either an expensive speedboat ride or a more expensive sea plane ride to your resort.

For those from the United States and Canada they can more cheaply get to the overwater bungalows in Tahiti, Moorea, or Bora Bora, and that will include an expensive flight between Los Angeles and Tahiti, plus quite a bit more to get to Bora Bora or if you are starting from somewhere other than Los Angeles. The best Bora Bora resorts also charge for the speedboat ride from the airport to the private islands they are located on.

The Golden Palm Tree Resort is by far the largest overwater resort in the world, so its operating costs per room are much lower. It’s also located a short taxi ride from one of the best airports in Asia, with cheap flights coming in from around the globe. Kuala Lumpur prices for most things are much cheaper than those other areas as well.

Take a look at our list of the world’s cheapest water villas and overwater bungalows for more specifics.

What you should know about the Golden Palm Tree Resort

The Golden Palm Tree Resort & Spa just opened in stages over the course of 2011, so it’s new and located in an area with no other water villa resorts. The original promotions they offered started at around US$365 per night including meals, and it appears that they have moved to an ‘a la carte’ pricing plan, bringing rates WAY down in the process.

The rate of US$112 per night for a Premier Traveler Palm Villa was spotted for a 3-night stay in August, 2012, which is one of the busier and drier months in the area. That rate includes a 30% Early Bird Discount and is only available on Agoda.com. Two-bedroom and 3-bedroom water villas are available at marginally higher rates, but still amazing deals at the moment. The promotional deals available on the resort’s official website aren’t nearly as good.

A caveat

The resort does not allow guests to bring in outside food and drinks in, so evidently their crazy room rates are partially supported by guests eating and drinking in the 7 restaurants and bars on site, and those are likely not quite as cheap. Also, it appears that most activities aside from sitting by the infinity pool cost extra, including sailing and windsurfing, so those who want to do a lot might end up spending a lot more.

Also, it’s worth noting that the initial reviews for the Golden Palm Tree Resort were somewhat mixed. Most guests loved the rooms, but as the resort was in the process of its initial opening some complained that things were disorganized and inconvenient. It appears that more recent reviews are consistently better, but it’s still a good idea to keep your expectations in line with the room price, as usual.

What makes a good digital-nomad destination?

Roger Wade — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:43:19 +0000

I hope this site – Price of Travel – is a useful resource for long-term travelers as well as those looking for value on shorter trips. We’ve included typical costs for over 110 major destinations around the world, in addition to monthly weather information, which should quickly give you ideas of where to go and when. See the World Backpacker Index for 2012 to see all countries ranked from cheapest to most expensive.

But there’s a different kind of traveler out there in increasing numbers, including yours truly. The so-called “digital nomad” earns a living while traveling, or at least never having a permanent home. I’d love to get feedback and ideas from anyone out there on this subject because it seems clear that this lifestyle will only get more popular as time goes on.

What are the key ingredients for a good digital nomad destination?

Having worked while traveling for many years now, including more than two years solid all over Asia, I’ve discovered that it’s rarely obvious as to which places are better than others for stays of one to six months. For a week or two you’ll only need a hotel room with wi-fi nearby, and if you are staying indefinitely then it’s a different set of considerations. It’s that in-between length of stay that can be tricky, so below are the things I think are important.

1 – Affordable and accessible housing

Part of the idea of being a digital nomad is that you can exist or thrive cheaper as a visitor in some parts of the world than you can in the US or Western Europe etc. If you wanted to stay in New York City or Tokyo for a month it would likely cost a fortune so those aren’t popular on this circuit.

So yes, a digital nomad destination has to be relatively cheap, and you need to be able to get a furnished apartment (if not a serviced apartment) on short notice without spending a fortune. Fortunately, this seems to be quite possible in many places.

2 – Desirable weather

Again, part of the equation is that you are going to places that are appealing, so it’s ideal to go somewhere where you’ll be happy with the weather while you are there. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but what’s the point in going somewhere where sheets of rain are normal or it’s too cold to go outside?

Interestingly, most of the cheapest places on the planet also happen to be in the Tropics, so it’s usually a matter of dodging the rainy season or perhaps the scorching sun for a month or two (like Bangkok in April, for example).

3 – A legal means of staying long enough

This is far more complicated than one might initially think. Many countries require a visa before you arrive, and many of them typically only issue Tourist Visas for 2 to 4 weeks to meet the needs of the average tourist. On the other hand, there are many countries where you don’t need a visa or you can buy a cheap one upon arrival, and then get it renewed at a consulate or at a border again, indefinitely.

More complicated still, the rules seem to be ever-changing, so even countries that have a friendly attitude about longer stays are often threatening to clamp down, and sometimes they even do it. A good digital nomad stop should allow for at least 60 or 90 days, and hopefully an extension beyond that.

4 – Access to modern conveniences

The “digital” in digital nomad usually means that you’ll be working on a laptop and that you’ll need a decent internet connection. Fortunately that can be found in many places, but for longer stays I think it’s also important to have things like a kitchen and a bathroom that you are comfortable with, plus a way to get foods and other daily items you like.

It might sound romantic to move into a tiny village and sleep on a pile of hay and wash yourself in the river like the locals do (as long as you have a wi-fi card that works), but it’s much harder to be happy doing that over longer periods. People are more productive when they are comfortable, so for more than a week or two it’s necessary to strive for some comfort.

5 – English-language resources

This is another one that might seem too idealistic, but I think if you don’t know the local language well then it’s important to have reliable English-speakers nearby. Thankfully, this is achievable in most of the world’s cities, but certainly not always in smaller towns.

When I spent 6 weeks living and working from a hotel in Nha Trang, Vietnam, I needed some computer accessories, and until I later found the expat community there, I was dead in the water. The hotel clerks knew a few hundred English words, but not enough to help me get what I needed. Had it been a health issue rather than a technology issue, it could have been much worse.

6 – An expat social scene of some kind

Another that might not be obvious or feel frivolous, I think it’s pretty much necessary to have access to at least some kind of expat community, even if the expats aren’t from your same country. It’s easy to daydream about moving to a tiny and remote village to write a great novel or whatever, but having no one around to talk to can get really old faster than you might imagine.

Thanks to email and Facebook and Skype it’s quite easy to keep up with friends from anywhere on a daily basis, though you’ll still feel social isolation without anyone locally to compare notes with, at least once in a while.

Some popular digital nomad destinations that qualify

Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand

Bangkok seems to be the most popular digital nomad destination in the world, and it easily ticks all the above boxes. Chiang Mai isn’t far behind, and it’s actually cheaper, easier to deal with, and has better weather most of the year.

Elsewhere in Southeast Asia

You’ll notice on the Asia Backpacker Index list that most of the world’s cheapest tourist cities are in and near Southeast Asia. Thanks to this, you can (and I have) live in nice hotel rooms with decent wi-fi for around US$10 per night in much of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Malaysia is more expensive (and internet usually frustratingly slow) and Singapore is more expensive still.

Bali, Indonesia

One of my favorite places in the world and possibly my home starting in 2013, Bali is very popular with travelers and expats alike. Relatively slow internet is a common gripe, but in most other respects it’s a star.

India

Traveling through India is not without complications and frustrations, and you don’t hear about many people wanting to live there long-term unless they have a highly-paid job to report to. However, it’s very cheap for the most part, very sunny, fascinating, and the internet is generally pretty fast and easy to find.

Turkey

More on this below, but Turkey is where I’ve made my home for almost a year now and it’s got a lot more going for it than you might expect. Istanbul is actually quite expensive compared to other places on this list, though the rest of the country is still quite a bargain.

Berlin, Budapest, Prague etc.

Most of “Western Europe” is very expensive for anyone but long-term residents, but many cities that were once behind the Iron Curtain are still quite cheap. Prague used to be a magnet for foreigners, but now that it’s gone up in price many are going to Budapest and Krakow among others. And Berlin is booming for creative people and entrepreneurs, with weirdly-cheap rent mixed with extremely modern conditions.

Latin America

Parts of Mexico are popular with digital nomads, as are most of Central America and a good selection in South America. Buenos Aires is getting quite expensive, it seems, but perhaps still worth it. I have only traveled through this region as a tourist so I can’t be too specific, though I do know that it’s just as popular as Southeast Asia for many Americans and some others.

Kaş, Turkey: Highly recommended for digital nomads

I hadn’t heard much about Turkey (except for Istanbul) as a good digital-nomad destination until I started researching it, and I found it has a lot going for it. As mentioned above, Istanbul is very popular for people from all over, but it’s actually as expensive as the mid-range European cities, and the climate is crappy most of the year as well.

Almost by accident, I stumbled into Kaş (rhymes with ‘posh’), Turkey almost a year ago, and I haven’t left since. This is an example of a place that has everything on the list above, and more. It’s a stunningly beautiful fishing village on the Mediterranean that has become quite touristy, yet is still devoid of even a single chain restaurant or chain hotel.

I’ll go down the list from above to describe it for those who are curious. There are several other nearby towns and cities along this coast that most of this applies to as well, including Antalya and Fetiye, but I haven’t spent enough time in those to know for sure.

1 – Affordable and accessible housing

When I first arrived in town I stayed for a week in a nice hotel room for under US$20 per night, including fast wi-fi and a huge breakfast. In fact, one of my projects is that I’m building a Kaş, Turkey hotels guide from the perspective of someone who knows the town. It’s worth noting that the town is jammed full of tourists in July and August, so prices are much higher and availability is sketchy, so avoid those months if you want to keep it cheap.

Apartments are even better value here. For longer stays you can find unfurnished apartments in the town center for around US$300 per month, and I’ve rented two different furnished places that are large, very well located, and come with fast wi-fi and utilities for under US$400 per month (700 Turkish lira to be exact). I got them with no deposit, no contract, and on a month to month basis. It might be a bit more complicated for most people, but unless you arrive in June, July, or August, finding a place shouldn’t be tough.

2 – Desirable weather

This part of the Mediterranean gets about 300 days of sunshine per year, so it’s almost relentlessly sunny. July and August do get quite hot, but never too humid, so it’s surprisingly nice even at the peak. The winter brings about 30 total days of rain, sometimes hard rain, but rarely more than two days or so in a row. Honestly, the winter weather here is nicer than anywhere in Europe, so likely I’m coming back next year.

3 – A legal means of staying long enough

As an American I can get a 90-day Tourist Visa upon arrival for €20, and until recently I’ve been able to get a new one every 90 days by taking the ferry across the harbor to the little Greek Island of Meis. The rules have changed, for now, to a Schengen-style “90 out of 180 days” but Turkey actually makes getting a residence permit for stays of 1 or more years quite easy. Also, many people predict they’ll loosen the rules again to allow consecutive Tourist Visas, but no one can be sure.

4 – Access to modern conveniences

One of the best things in Kaş for me is the local internet is 8Mb down and very reliable. I can download huge files in minutes instead of hours it would take in, say, Kuala Lumpur.

There are 5 supermarkets here, ranging in size from small to medium, with pretty much everything I have desired (except for ramen noodles, for some reason), and everything is no more than a 5-minute walk from where I live. There’s also an open-air market every Friday where I can get cheap fruits and veg, plus clothes and household items at very low prices. A few things, like beef, are quite expensive, but generally prices of food in Turkey are quite low. I can and do cook three times per day at home spending maybe US$6 or $7 total, including at least some meat (usually chicken) in every meal.

There are also a few small electronics shops and mobile-phone shops, so I can get most things I’d need within minutes.

5 – English-language resources

One thing that surprised me is that English, or at least fluent English, is quite rare still in Turkey. Fortunately, Kaş is a pretty touristy town so even if the person I’m dealing with doesn’t speak English, someone standing nearby does. Also, there are many English expats living here who now speak fluent Turkish, so I have access to translators even for complicated things.

6 – An expat social scene of some kind

Another happy accident for me is that I stumbled directly into the British expat scene here almost immediately, and within a month or two I could spot someone I knew by name almost every time I walked (5 minutes) across town. There are a handful of Americans here and quite a few Germans and Scandinavians, though they mostly keep their own social scenes, it seems.

What are your favorite digital nomad destinations?

On this site I typically consolidate research on prices and such so there isn’t much feedback, but this time I’d love suggestions on good digital nomad or long-term traveler destinations, or any other wisdom on the subject.

It looks like I’m heading through eastern Europe starting in late May and I’ll be spending the summer in Berlin, and then perhaps coming back here. Where else is good and why?

Europe 3-Star Traveler Index for 2012: 47 cities by price

Roger Wade — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:21:18 +0000

In our quest to help travelers sort out which global cities are the bargains and which are unusually expensive, we are happy to reveal the fully-updated Europe 3-star Traveler Index for 2011 below. We’ve added 7 new (mostly cheap) cities this year, just as we’ve done for the European Backpackers Index for 2012, which is aimed at budget travelers.

Staying in hostel dorm beds is great for some people, but obviously the majority of us prefer to stay in a private hotel room. Interestingly, some cities that are quite cheap for backpackers are farther down the list for 3-star travelers, and others are quite a bit higher, so it’s worth looking at the list that fits your travel style more.

In case you are new to Price of Travel, we track prices for over 115 cities around the world, and automatically convert it into US dollars or any other currency you choose, to help you compare destinations and make a budget at a glance.

How the 3-Star Traveler Index works

We take a fixed set of typical expenses that every traveler will encounter, and apply them to each of the 47 major European tourist cities. Local prices are obviously a huge component in the final total, but currency exchange rates can heavily influence the total as well. Some cities can be quite affordable one year and a bit pricey the next, even if the only thing that’s changed is the exchange rate.

Note: The 3-star Traveler Index is based on two people sharing hotel rooms and taxis.

Costs for each city

One night in the cheapest 3-star hotel available with a desirable location and mostly positive reviews. Hotel prices are per person based on double occupancy, so the full nightly rate is double what is listed for each city here.
Two 3-kilometer taxi rides per day (one ride paid per person)
One cultural attraction, such as a popular museum, per day
Three meals per day using the top end of the range of our “budget meals” for each city
Three beers (or wine) each day as an “entertainment fund.” Non-drinkers might have dessert and coffee or attend a local music performance instead, so this is a general benchmark that should be proportional for each city.

Price of Travel’s European 3-star Index for 2012

From cheapest to most expensive

Exchange rates were calculated in late March, 2012

1 – Sofia, Bulgaria (cheapest)

It’s not easy to reach for most travelers and there is a lack of classic and famous sights in Sofia, but those who do reach Europe’s cheapest tourist city can at least stretch their budgets a long way.

Currency: Bulgaria Leva
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Bon Voyage Orlando Hotel – 32.21
Transportation: 4.00
Meals: 24.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 9.00
Attractions: 2.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: BGN71.21 = US$48.11/day

>>>Sofia prices and weather

2 – Bucharest, Romania

It may be relatively cheap, but Bucharest still isn’t inviting a flood of cultural tourism. The slow-moving build-out of the tourist infrastructure is among the issues that keeps most travelers stopping elsewhere in Romania.

Currency: Romanian leu
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: EastComfort Bucharest Apartments – 74.47/night
Transportation: 11.00
Meals: 58.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 18.00
Attractions: 12.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: RON173.47 – US$52.57/day

>>>Bucharest prices and weather

3 – Riga, Latvia

A real surprise considering how close it is to Scandinavia, Riga is still very cheap for Europe. This former Soviet area is not the sort of place you end up in accidentally on your way from one city to another, so the remoteness might help contribute to the fact that it’s not terribly well discovered by many Westerners yet.

Currency: Latvian Lat
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Best Hotel Riga – 10.16/night
Transportation: 4.00
Meals: 4.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 5.60
Attractions: 1.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: LVL28.76 – US$54.26/day

>>>Riga prices and weather

4 – Budapest, Hungary

An abundance of decent tourist hotels makes Budapest a fantastic bargain compared to other classic cities. During the busy summer season the cheaper hotels may be harder to find, however.

Currency: Hungary Forint
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Central Green Hotel – 4838/night
Transportation: 1350
Meals: 3500
Drinks/Entertainment: 1500
Attractions: 1200
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: HUF12388 – US$55.80/day

>>>Budapest prices and weather

5 – Kiev, Ukraine

Speaking of former Soviet cities that aren’t on the beaten path, Kiev is a long way from all of the popular Western European cities that travelers normally frequent, and this helps give it a frontier quality that will excite some and frustrate others. At least it’s quite cheap for the most part.

Currency: Ukraine Hryvnia
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Siesta – 208.27/night
Transportation: 35.00
Meals: 130.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 75.00
Attractions: 7.50
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: UHR455.77 – US$56.76/day

>>>Kiev prices and weather

6 – Krakow, Poland

Its great party scene and low prices have made Krakow a favorite among stag/hen parties in recent years, but it’s also a great bargain for cultural tourists and those looking to hang out and slow their travels down a bit.

Currency: Polish Zlotych
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Petrus Hotel – 91.60/night
Transportation: 20.00
Meals: 31.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 24.00
Attractions: 12.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: PLN178.60 = US$57.06/day

>>>Krakow prices and weather

7 – Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

One of the more troubled parts of former Yugoslavia, Sarajevo is fighting an image problem with older travelers, but at least it’s still very affordable and in between some other cities that are gaining in popularity. It’s struggling financially a bit as well, with most museums closed down as of early 2012.

Currency: Converted Mark (Euro used here)
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Hayat – 19.00/night
Transportation: 4.00
Meals: 14.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 6.00
Attractions: 2.50
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €45.50 – US$60.67/day

>>>Sarajevo prices and weather

8 – Belgrade, Serbia

The low prices have helped Belgrade start showing up on the lists of party cities for weekend breaks with Europeans who live a cheap flight away. This is a large city with a lot of history, and relatively few problems compared to some of its neighbors.

Currency: Serbian Dinar (Euro used here)
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Park – 25.00/night
Transportation: 4.50
Meals: 14.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 6.00
Attractions: 1.50
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €51.00 – US$68.00/day

>>>Belgrade prices and weather

9 – Warsaw, Poland

Warsaw is another city that rewards its visitors with reasonable prices, but is still not particularly popular, at least compared to the cheaper and more charming city of Krakow. Things do seem to be getting better though.

Currency: Polish Zlotych
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Arkadia – 118.65/night
Transportation: 20.00
Meals: 47.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 30.00
Attractions: 14.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: PLN229.65 – US$73.37/day

>>>Warsaw prices and weather

10 – Bratislava, Slovakia

Considering that it’s practically within bicyling distance of Vienna, Bratislava continues to keep a low profile among the traveling set. This is another that is becoming popular with the weekend-break crowd, partly due to its reasonable prices, but also due to the fact that it’s quite international for a former Eastern city.

Currency: Euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Club – 30.00/night
Transportation: 5.50
Meals: 16.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 6.00
Attractions: 4.50
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €62.00 – US$82.67/day

>>>Bratislava prices and weather

11 – Tenerife, Spain

Technically part of Europe because it’s run by Spain, Tenerife is in the Canary Islands off the northwest coast of Africa, and it’s the most popular of them for English-speakers. The mild climate is good pretty much all year round so it’s a popular escape at any time. Fortunately it’s relatively cheap as well.

Currency: Euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: RF Astoria Aparthotel – 22.50/night
Transportation: 6.00
Meals: 20.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 9.00
Attractions: 5.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €62.50 – US$83.33/day

>>>Tenerife prices and weather

12 – Prague, Czech Republic

Prague’s main tourist areas have been insanely crowded (especially during summers) for at least a decade now, but the herds keep coming. This is still a great-value city considering what it has to offer, but prices are likely to keep creeping up so there’s no time like the present. Check out our editor’s choice Prague hotels for great locations and very good prices at high-rated properties.

Currency: Czech krona
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Residence Vysta – 655/night
Transportation: 120
Meals: 520
Drinks/Entertainment: 120
Attractions: 200
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: CZK1615 – US$86.50/day

>>>Prague prices and weather

13 – Istanbul, Turkey

This massive city seems to be gaining more traction even as its prices creep up noticeably. In years to come visitors might have to sleep outside the better neighborhoods to find bargains, but for now Istanbul continues to offer decent value at all price ranges. For the best deals check our list of editor’s choice Istanbul hotels that are all great value with excellent locations.

Currency: Turkish lira
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Istanbul Comfort Hotel – 71.01/night
Transportation: 8.50
Meals: 33.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 27.00
Attractions: 15.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: TRY154.51 – US$86.80/day

>>>Istanbul prices and weather

14 – Saint Petersburg, Russia

Another city that seems likely to become more expensive faster than most of the others, Saint Petersburg is drawing larger crowds and becoming more tourist friendly each year. The top attractions here drive the cost up a bit, but are still well worth it. Getting a tourist visa isn’t easy for most, so you can’t just buy a ticket and pop on over.

Currency: Russian ruble
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Nevsky Countour Hotel – 1266/night
Transportation: 100
Meals: 570
Drinks/Entertainment: 420
Attractions: 350
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: RUB2728 – US$92.85/day

>>>Saint Petersburg prices and weather

15 – Dubrovnik, Croatia

As long as a visitor doesn’t insist upon being directly in the heart of the old town, Dubrovnik can be quite affordable, especially for a coastal resort city. This is another that seems likely to get more expensive faster than most of the others on this list.

Currency: Croatian kruna
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Vis – 196.00/night
Transportation: 65
Meals: 150.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 84.00
Attractions: 50.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: HRK545.00 – US$96.29/day

>>>Dubrovnik prices and weather

16 – Zagreb, Croatia

An apparent lack of affordable and good quality 3-star hotels has pushed Zagreb well down this list comparared to the backpacker version. The city likely suffers from some slowness in updating accommodation to meet Western European standards, though prices are still reasonable for most things.

Currency: Croatian kruna
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Laguna Hotel – 252.40/night
Transportation: 65
Meals: 140
Drinks/Entertainment: 66
Attractions: 30
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: HRK553.40 – US$97.77/day

>>>Zagreb prices and weather

17 – Ibiza, Spain

This famous party island off of Spain is a pretty good bargain for the budget travel crowd during the season, as long as they aren’t too interested in going into any of the huge nightclubs that charge a fortune at the door and crazy-high prices for drinks once inside.

Currency: Euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Algarb Hotel – 21.50/night
Transportation: 9.00
Meals: 23.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 12.00
Attractions: 8.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €73.50 – US$98.00/day

>>>Ibiza prices and weather

18 – Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is known for high standards among both hostels and hotels, and its reasonably prices help make it one of the better continuing travel bargains on the continent. The climate also helps make it one of the better spring or autumn destinations, so it’s a nice city-break for many Europeans.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Residencial Horizonte Hotel – 21.00/night
Transportation: 5.00
Meals: 25.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 15.00
Attractions: 5.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €75.00 – US$100.00/day

>>>Lisbon prices and weather

19 – Tallinn, Estonia

An interesting city with influences of nearby Scandinavia and its recent Soviet past, Tallinn isn’t too easy to reach and it doesn’t seem to be talked about much, but at least it’s quite affordable so it should appeal to adventurous types who like to see some remaining east/west contrasts.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Dzingel Hotel – 19.50/night
Transportation: 5.25
Meals: 32.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 15.00
Attractions: 5.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €77.00 – US$102.67/day

>>>Tallinn prices and weather

20 – Athens, Greece

Athens is another city that can be a relative bargain for the 3-star traveler, with some good and cheap hotels right in the main tourist zones. During summer the city does fill up, so it may not feel so affordable during high season. The recent troubles are keeping some people away, so it might be easier to find bargains this year.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Crystal City Hotel – 26.00/night
Transportation: 4.00
Meals: 26.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 12.00
Attractions: 8.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €78.00 – US$104.00/day

>>>Athens prices and weather

21 – Naples, Italy

Thanks to some surprisingly cheap hotel options, Naples comes out much higher compared to its position on our Backpackers Index for Europe list. Its mixed reputation seems to keep many 3-star and above tourists away, but at least it offers good value to those who give it a try.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Europa Grand Hotel – 31.00/night
Transportation: 7.50
Meals: 22.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 12.00
Attractions: 9.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €81.50 – US$108.67/day

>>>Naples prices and weather

22 – Madrid, Spain

Except for the height of the peak season, there are usually plenty of good hotel options in Madrid, which helps keep prices fairly reasonable. Check our Editor’s choice Madrid hotels list for great bargains that are well located and well reviewed. The season here is long as well, which helps spread visitors out beyond July and August.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hostal Residencia Don Diego – 29.00/night
Transportation: 6.00
Meals: 30.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 12.00
Attractions: 7.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €85.00 – US$113.33/day

>>>Madrid prices and weather

23 – Edinburgh, Scotland

Though its abundance of hostels does make Edinburgh a good stop for budget travelers, the choices in nicer 3-star hotels are more limited. The main attractions are also a bit pricey too, and of course during the August festival season you can expect to pay far more for a bed or room if you can find one at all.

Currency: British pound
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Piries Hotel – 23.00/night
Transportation: 5.00
Meals: 22.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 12.00
Attractions: 10.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: £72.00 – US$114.29/day

>>>Edinburgh prices and weather

24 – Hamburg, Germany

While Hamburg did legitimately come out quite cheap in this data, it’s really not known as an especially affordable city. The hotel scene can be overtaken by trade fairs and such, so depending on your timing it might be unusually cheap or frustratingly expensive.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Apartment-Hotel Hamburg Mitte – 34.50/night
Transportation: 7.00
Meals: 25.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 12.00
Attractions: 10.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €88.50 – US$118.00/day

>>>Hamburg prices and weather

25 – Reykjavik, Iceland

Continuing its remarkable turn-around from an affordability standpoint, Reykjavik isn’t much more expensive for higher-end visitors compared to backpackers, with relatively cheap hotels as long as you avoid the peak of summer. It seems likely that this new pricing structure will hang around for a while rather than be a short post-collapse fluke.

Currency: Iceland kronur
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: 4th Floor Hotel – 5727/night
Transportation: 1200
Meals: 4400
Drinks/Entertainment: 2700
Attractions: 1000
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: ISK15027 – US$118.23/day

>>>Reykjavik prices and weather

26 – Milan, Italy

Much like Hamburg mentioned above, Milan can be a real Jekyll or Hyde with hotel prices at nearly any time of year. During our test period we found great hotels at reasonable prices, which certainly means there are no trade fairs or other events in town. Most other times, Milan can be brutal for the 3-star and up hotel crowd.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Gala Milan – 31.50/night
Transportation: 9.25
Meals: 26.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 15.00
Attractions: 8.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €89.75 – US$119.67/day

>>>Milan prices and weather

27 – Moscow, Russia

With another large contrast between the backpacker list and the 3-star list, Moscow comes up quite expensive for the traveler who expects Western comforts. The city is crammed with hotels that earn low marks from most visitors, indicating that standards still need to improve greatly for the mid-range tourist to be happy, even if the 5-star visitor is doing fine here.

Currency: Russian ruble
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Maxima Slavia Hotel 1775/night
Transportation: 200
Meals: 870
Drinks/Entertainment: 360
Attractions: 320
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: RUB3525 – US$119.98/day

>>>Moscow prices and weather

28 – Dublin, Ireland

Ireland’s financial crisis appears to be taking the edge off what recently were some extremely expensive hotel prices. During our test period we found quite a few well-located 3-star bargains, so it might be time to consider visiting again after a run-up that put it out of many budget travelers’ budgets.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Jurys Inn Parnell Street Hotel – 27.50/night (including breakfast)
Transportation: 10.00
Meals: 31.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 18.00
Attractions: 8.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €94.50 – US$126.00/day

>>>Dublin prices and weather

29 – Florence, Italy

Depending on the week you decide to come, Florence is usually a bit cheaper than Milan, but again, the hotels can be full and expensive or empty and reasonable at almost any time. This is another city where if you choose the timing of your visit wisely you can stick to a fairly low budget.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Jane Hotel – 37.00/night
Transportation: 8.50
Meals: 32.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 10.50
Attractions: 7.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €95.00 – US$126.67/day

>>>Florence prices and weather

30 – Bruges, Belgium

While Bruges showed itself to be a good bargain on the backpackers list, it’s not quite so affordable for the 3-star set. The city has a huge number of hostels, which keeps the dorm-bed prices low, while the nicer hotels don’t compete so viciously. It’s still a lovely stop if you are in the area.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Floris Karos Hotel Brugge – 42.50/night
Transportation: 9.00
Meals: 30.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 15.00
Attractions: 5.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €101.50 – US$135.33/day

>>>Bruges prices and weather

31 – Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

Luxembourg City is another that is only a bit more expensive for the 3-star traveler than for the backpacker, probably due to better hotel competition and few hostel options. This city seems to be completely overshadowed by the neighboring countries, which is a shame.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Le Chatelet Luxembourg – 47.50/night
Transportation: 6.40
Meals: 30.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 15.00
Attractions: 3.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €101.90 – US$135.87/day

>>>Luxembourg City prices and weather

32 – Berlin, Germany

Normally Berlin would belong higher on a list of affordable European cities, but the 3-star and up hotel scene seems to be weighing it down. Even though it’s barely considered a “former East” city anymore, it does seem to share the difficulty of updating it’s nicer hotels to satisfy the “Western” tourist properly. Still, those who are a bit less picky can stretch their travel budgets nicely here. Check our recommended hotels in Berlin list for some great choices that offer very low rates when they aren’t full up.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Grimm’s Hotel – 41.50/night
Transportation: 9.50
Meals: 32.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 12.00
Attractions: 7.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €103.00 – US$137.33/day

>>>Berlin prices and weather

33 – Rome, Italy

Even with its relatively expensive (and very worthwhile) main attractions, Rome can be surprisingly affordable if you pick the right week to visit. During summer finding a good and cheap hotel can be very difficult, so it’s not an eternal bargain, but during spring and autumn there are sometimes great deals to be found. Choose from our recommended Rome hotels for some great bargains with very good locations and high quality.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Buonarroti Home Hotel – 41.00/night
Transportation: 8.00
Meals: 32.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 12.00
Attractions: 12.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €105.00 – US$140.00/day

>>>Rome prices and weather

34 – Munich, Germany

Munich is known as Germany’s most expensive city for tourists, and that can be dramatically higher depending on the season and what happens to be going on in town at the time. There are some slower periods where bargains are possible. During Oktoberfest, prices double or triple from this, so plan for that if you want to join in.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Belle Blue Hotel – 41.00/night
Transportation: 10.00
Meals: 32.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 15.00
Attractions: 8.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €106.00 – US$141.33/day

>>>Munich prices and weather

35 – Barcelona, Spain

With good hotel real-estate being harder to come by, Barcelona remains more expensive than Madrid in that department, but quite similar for most other things. During summer the rates jump much higher yet, so those trying to maximize their travel funds should consider a shoulder-season visit. See our recommended Barcelona hotels list for cheap and well located options that are highly rated as well.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Moderno Hotel – 46.00/night
Transportation: 5.75
Meals: 30.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 13.50
Attractions: 10.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €106.25 – US$141.67/day

>>>Barcelona prices and weather

35 – Vienna, Austria

Vienna is surprisingly expensive, but it’s worth a visit if you can manage it. Hotel prices here also tend to fluctuate pretty wildly from one week to the next so if you pick a week when not much is going on you might find a cheap hotel.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Pension Lerner – 47/night
Transportation: 8.50
Meals: 32.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 12.00
Attractions: 10.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €109.50 – US$146.00/day

>>>Vienna prices and weather

36 – Paris, France

Some things in Paris are extraordinarily expensive, but hotel bargains are possible during most times of the year. The fact that you can stay in almost any district and quickly get to the main attractions on the Metro seems to open up more options for visitors. During summer things can get quite crowded, however, even as half the locals have fled for the beaches. See our recommended Paris hotels for our editors’ picks for great value, location, and well-reviewed properties.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Montsouris Orleans – 41.50/night (including breakfast)
Transportation: 10.50
Meals: 31.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 18.00
Attractions: 9.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €110.00 – US$146.67/day

>>>Paris prices and weather

38 – Nice, France

As a major summer destination, Nice comes off as fairly reasonable on our data since we took hotel readings for May. During July and August this would probably be several places farther down this list, and the nearby towns of Antibes and Cannes are far more expensive still.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: De Kent Hotel – 49.50/night
Transportation: 10.50
Meals: 31.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 18.00
Attractions: 7.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €116.00 – US$154.67/day

>>>Nice prices and weather

39 – Helsinki, Finland

Perhaps a surprising entry here, Helsinki benefits from the fact that our test data was gathered for May hotel stays, and that’s still considered off-season here. During summer prices definitely go way up, but it’s still interesting to note that reasonable (for this area) prices are available just before the high season.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hilton Helsinki Strand – 53.00/night
Transportation: 12.00
Meals: 30.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 18.00
Attractions: 4.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €117.00 – US$156.00/day

>>>Helsinki prices and weather

40 – Amsterdam, Netherlands

The compact nature of Amsterdam’s city center seems to help make it more expensive for the 3-star traveler and the backpacker as well. Its never-ending popularity means that all the accommodation within the main canal rings tends to be expensive, and many who stay outside that zone are not satisfied with where they end up. Choose among our recommended Amsterdam hotels for great locations and great value.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Allure – €57.50/night
Transportation: 10.00
Meals: 24.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 15.00
Attractions: 12.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €118.50 – US$158.00/day

>>>Amsterdam prices and weather

41 – Copenhagen, Denmark

No surprises to see Copenhagen so far down this list, as it can be a budget-killer regardless of your preferred travel style. As lovely as it is, and as pleasant as the endless summer days can be, just about everything is weirdly expensive all over Scandinavia, and few bargains can be found even in the larger cities.

Currency: Danish kroner
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Best Western Hebron Hotel – 423.00/night
Transportation: 65
Meals: 175
Drinks/Entertainment: 150
Attractions: 60
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: DKK893.00 – US$159.18/day

>>>Copenhagen prices and weather

42 – Oslo, Norway

As mentioned on our backpacker list, the good news with Oslo is that it’s just a one-day stop for most people who are either on their way to or from the wonderful scenery elsewhere in Norway. The bad news is that pretty much everything here is amazingly expensive, especially alcohol.

Currency: Norwegian kroner
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Best Western Kampen Apartment Hotell – 352.00/night
Transportation: 115
Meals: 190
Drinks/Entertainment: 210
Attractions: 70
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: NOK947.00 – US$164.41/day

>>>Oslo prices and weather

43 – Brussels, Belgium

Another city that can be reasonable or very expensive depending on whether business people or bureaucrats are in town or not, Brussels is usually known for being pricey, but that isn’t always the case. It’s still debatable whether visiting is worthwhile at all, but it’s at least good to know that it isn’t always a budget buster at the same time.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Plasky – 62.50/night
Transportation: 9.00
Meals: 30.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 15.00
Attractions: 8.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €124.50 – US$166.00/day

>>>Brussels prices and weather

44 – Stockholm, Sweden

Even during May, which is still part of the off-season in Stockholm, hotels are very expensive. And during the high season of July and August things get ridiculous. This is truly a beautiful city filled with beautiful people, but it’s still hard to justify a visit when it’s so much more expensive than the cities above it on this list, most of which have plenty going for them as well.

Currency: Swedish kronor
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Hotel Appelviken – 444/night
Transportation: 77
Meals: 280
Drinks/Entertainment: 195
Attractions: 90
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: SEK1119 – US$167.77/day

>>>Stockholm prices and weather

45 – London, England

A huge supply of hostel beds helped put London much higher on the backpacker affordability list, but no such surplus of nicer hotels exists, so London takes its usual place as one of the most expensive cities in Europe. Those willing to stay in 1-star or 0-star hotels can find them in London, but prepare to be shocked at how little you get when you go that low. For our editors’ picks for excellent value accommodation see our recommended London hotels page.

Currency: British pound
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: London House Hotel – 46.00/night
Transportation: 8.00
Meals: 30.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 15.00
Attractions: 12.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: £111.00 – US$176.19/day

>>>London prices and weather

46 – Venice, Italy

Those who don’t mind staying on one of the nearby islands at night can save money while visiting Venice, though they also sacrifice much of the charm that can only be found before or after the huge tour groups set in for the day. This price reflects a good 3-star hotel in the heart of the main island, and it’s a bit surprising that prices aren’t higher. Check our list of recommended Venice hotels for great value and locations.

Currency: euro
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Locanda Ca Arte Hotel – 67.50/night
Transportation: 13.00
Meals: 39.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 15.00
Attractions: 5.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: €139.50 – US$186.00/day

>>>Venice prices and weather

47 – Zurich, Switzerland

No prizes for guessing this one, especially considering that Zurich also came out on top on our recent survey of world taxi prices. Even then, it’s remarkable how expensive things are in this city dominated by rich bankers and others on expense accounts. Fortunately, Switzerland has plenty of other and better tourist destinations, and even though they also tend to be pricey, at least there are some cheaper options available for those willing to look around or stay a bit out of town.

Currency: Swiss franc
Cheap/good 3-star hotel: Andwand Lodges Hotel – 74.00/night
Transportation: 21.00
Meals: 45.00
Drinks/Entertainment: 27.00
Attractions: 14.00
Daily 3-star Traveler Index: CHF181.00 – US$198.90/day

>>>Zurich prices and weather

Notes on the above data

The hotel prices were all gathered in late March for the exact same early-May dates for every city. A number of the more business-oriented cities had somewhat unpredictable outcomes, with most showing lower hotel prices than expected for our test period. It would be far more complicated to run these tests for each week of the year, so we mentioned these possible aberrations in the descriptions for each city. At the very least, this shows that these cities can be cheap if your timing is good.

For the food and drink prices we took the top-end of our estimates for “budget breakfasts” and so forth. This should allow for plenty of flexibility in choosing dining options in each city, but it does not account for Michelin-star restaurants, as this is a 3-star index rather than a luxury index. The prices for high-end restaurants vary far too much to be meaningful here, so we chose a reasonable and lower standard, that should allow for meals and drinks in hotel restaurants and bars, rather than at the cheapest places in town.

How to use the 3-Star Traveler Index information

The purpose of this index is to get a general sense of typical traveler costs in each city in Europe. As you can see, the cheapest city is over four times cheaper than the most expensive, so this information can help travelers choose destinations on based partly on how far their budget will go in each city.

The hotels chosen for this comparison are all of reasonably high 3-star standards and with good central locations. In many cities you can save a fair amount of money by staying in a 2-star hotel or staying farther from the city center.

Shopping, whether for souvenirs or clothing, is not included in these totals. Generally, souvenir prices will be proportional to the overall index price, but name-brand clothing tends to vary far less from one city to another.

You could use the main index price as a good indicator of a daily budget, per person, for each city, though obviously there are many ways to save or spend more wherever you go.

16 Cheapest overwater bungalow resorts in the world

admin — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:16:24 +0000

Show a person a photo of an overwater bungalow or water villa and suddenly they have a new goal in life. Unfortunately, most of the 130 or so resorts that feature overwater rooms are quite expensive, usually over US$400 per night, even in the off season.

Well, there is a bit of good news then as it turns out that not all of them are priced only for the super-rich. Thanks to the overwater bungalows and water villas guide, which lists every overwater resort in the world, we know that there are some affordable options out there.

In case you were wondering, about two-thirds of the 5,000+ aquatic rooms are at water villa resorts in the Maldives, spread around more than 75 private islands. The overwater bungalows in Bora Bora are the next biggest group, though they are all way out of this list’s price range. There are also smaller groups in Moorea, Tahiti, elsewhere in the South Pacific, plus over water bungalows in the Caribbean, Mauritius, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

If you are mostly just interested in an affordable holiday in the tropics you should check our list of the cheapest Caribbean destinations.

Cheapest overwater bungalows and water villas in the world

Prices listed are per room per night for two people, in the low-season in each location.

1 – Golden Palm Tree Sea Villas – Malaysia

From US$106 per night per room for 2 people

Only fully opened since late 2011, the Golden Palm Tree Resort & Spa has 392 water villas, which is nearly four times as many as the second-most in the world. The water villas range from roomy to enormous, with the largest having 3 bedrooms.

It’s located off the coast just south of the Kuala Lumpur Airport, so it could actually be a very cheap getaway when combined with an Air Asia flight from anywhere in the region. It’s worth noting that opening such a huge overwater resort has not been without complications, and some guests do have some minor complaints. The good news is that rates have been lowered quite a bit in 2012 so it’s a great bargain even if everything isn’t yet perfect at the hotel.

2 – Coral Lodge – San Blas Islands, Panama

From US$240

The cheapest of the overwater bungalow resorts in the southern Caribbean, the Coral Lodge Resort isn’t a typical “honeymoon hotel” but it is well suited to adventurous people. It has 6 overwater bungalows and no other rooms, plus two restaurants and a spa, so it does work for couples on romantic retreats.

The downside, for some people, is that it’s also an “eco-resort” and there is limited electricity, plus no TVs or internet available. On the other hand, there’s great diving and snorkeling in the area, plus loads of other activities and tours.

3 – Club Bali Hai – Moorea

From US$248

Sometime back in the 1960s, three friends moved from Newport Beach, California to Moorea (near Tahiti) in French Polynesia, and became the “Bali Hai Boys.” Two of them are still around, and according to their website they invented the first overwater bungalows, and still offer the cheapest such rooms in the South Pacific.

The Club Bali Hai resort is located deep within the gorgeous Cook’s Bay in Moorea, rather than out over the clear lagoon like most of the rest of them. Their overwater bungalows are also perched just off the shore, so it’s a slightly different experience, but on the other hand they are quite large and come with a full kitchenette, so they offer good value along with the stunning setting.

4 – Raiatea Hawaiki Nui Hotel – South Pacific

From US$252

While the photo might look tempting, be warned that the Raiatea Hawaiki Nui Hotel features 9 overwater bungalows that have a reputation for being among the oldest and most spartan anywhere. Located on Raiatea Island, this appears to be a 2-star hotel that was once probably much nicer.

The price could be a major temptation for some people who want to sleep in a proper overwater bungalow in the South Pacific, so this place does serve a purpose as long as expectations are in line, and you don’t mind the fact that there is no air conditioning and that the service is even more “relaxed” than most other inexpensive South Pacific hotels.

5 – Thulhagiri Island Resort – Maldives

From US$270

The off-season rates at the Thulhagiri Island Resort make is one of the best deals in the Maldives. The 34 water villas are roomy and filled with 4-star amenities, including a separate rain shower and oversized bathtub, plus a large private deck with steps down into the clear-water lagoon.

The resort has scuba diving, snorkeling, wind surfing, and most of the other water sports that are popular in the Maldives, plus a spa and a bit of nightlife as well. Needless to say, there are posher water villa resorts in the Maldives, but most of them cost double or triple these rates, so this could be a good choice for those who didn’t think they could afford a water villa at all.

6 – Anthony’s Key Resort – Honduras

From US$270

Located on a small private island just off Roatan Island, which is just off Honduras, Anthony’s Key Resort has 10 overwater bungalows that also barely fit the category. Perched just off the shore, these bungalows are part of a complex with 46 other rooms, operating fully on an all-inclusive basis so the value is better than it might seem.

This is sort of an adventure resort, with a long list of activities and local tours that will appeal to active travelers (and maybe not so much to honeymooners). At least there is air conditioning, plus quite a few other nice features that are not so common in this price range.

7 – Hotelito Desconocido – Puerto Vallarta

From US$270

Along the Pacific coast not far south of Puerto Vallarta you can find the Hotelito Desconocido, which has a handful of overwater bungalows perched over its estuary and more overlooking the ocean. This is another eco-resort where the power is solar-only, so guests should be prepared for romantic candle-lit evenings.

It’s an all-inclusive resort where rates seem to qualify each guest for a daily massage as well, though it’s kind of hard to tell on their confusing website. For anyone wanting to gamble on such a place along Pacific Mexico, this is worth a look.

8 – Medhufushi Island Resort – Maldives

From US$274

Another Maldives resort with surprisingly appealing off-season rates, the Medhufishi Island Resort has 46 water villas built out over its stunningly clear lagoon. The water villas are fairly large for this price range, and decked out in 4-star amenities as well.

Typical of nearly all Maldives resorts, there is a diving center and a long list of water sports and beach activities available. This place gets quite good reviews, especially considering the reasonable prices, so this one looks like a nice choice for those looking for value in the Maldives.

9 – Eclypse de Mar Aqualodge – Panama

From US$275

For those looking for an eco-resort with overwater bungalows in the southern Caribbean, the Eclypse de Mar Aqualodge is another candidate. The emphasis here is on diving and snorkeling, so it’s not really an ideal place for people just looking to relax in the room. There are only 6 overwater bungalows here, two of which are special Suite Honeymoon Overwater Bungalows.

The location a short boat ride away from Bocas del Toro is part of its appeal, as it’s quite isolated from pretty much everything. For divers and adventure types, this one might be perfect.

10 – Meeru Island Resort & Spa – Maldives

From US$278

With 106 water villas, the Meeru Island Resort has more overwater rooms than any resort in the world except for the Golden Palm Tree mentioned on top. There are also nearly 200 beach and island villas, so this is among the largest Maldives private-island resorts overall. The low-season rates here are great bargains for anyone looking for a tremendous number of activity and dining options.

The water villas are quite nice and fairly large so the reasonable rates seem to be due to the size of the place. There are more than a dozen restaurants and bars on the island, and even a small pitch & putt golf course. This place seems to have a lot of repeat guests, which is a good sign in this price range.

11 – Mango Creek Lodge – Honduras

From US$290

The photo to the right lets you know that this is more “rustic” than most of the others on this list, but the place is popular with consistently good reviews so it’s a great choice for some people. It’s another eco-resort that is mostly off the grid, with diving and snorkeling again being the focal point.

The rates here for the 4 overwater bungalows are all-inclusive, at least when it comes to meals and drinks, so it’s a better value than it might otherwise seem. The remote location off of Honduras adds to the solitude but is complicated to reach, so it’s best for stays of a week or so rather than a long weekend.

12 – Vilu Reef Beach Resort – Maldives

From US$291

Quite a few Maldives water villa resorts have a Jacuzzi in each room, and this is the cheapest of them. The 47 water villas here are very large and filled with luxury amenities, and the list of water sports and other activities is one of the best in the region. There’s also a luxury spa and a disco with a DJ, which is unusual in the Maldives.

The all-inclusive meal plans here are popular, and the food gets rather good reviews, as does just about everything else the resort has to offer. The high-season rates are decent, but it’s really the low-season (June through October) rates that make this place a fantastic value.

13 – KC Resort & Over Water Villa – Koh Samui, Thailand

From US$294

Another that barely fits into the category, the KC Resort & Over Water Villa complex set on a hill overlooking Chaweng Beach on Koh Samui in Thailand has 16 “Over Water Villas” that are in pairs built on stilts over private infinity-edge pools. This appears to be the first and only resort in the world that has taken the fully “overwater” style inland.

Since it’s not practical to build the classic style water villas out in the sea in this area, these things are quite amazing in their adaptation. You can swim in a beautiful infinity pool right under your room, and thanks to a large glass section of floor in the bedroom, partners can keep an eye on each other whether swimming or in bed. And for the price, this is a very luxurious and well regarded resort.

14 – Olhuveli Beach Resort & Spa – Maldives

From US$295

With 60 water villas, the Olhuveli Beach Resort & Spa is one of the better values in the Maldives. This is another fairly large resort with 106 additional rooms on the island, that also specializes in all-inclusive meal and drink packages.

Those looking for a bit more luxury can upgrade to the Jacuzzi Water Villas, each featuring a Jacuzzi on its private sundeck. They also have Honeymoon Water Villas that are larger still, plus 2 Presidential Water Suites that are enormous and come with 24-hour butler service. Those last two categories don’t come cheap, however, so it’s perhaps cruel to mention them on this list.

15 – InterContinental Tahiti Resort – Tahiti

From US$308

With the best prices of all the 4-star “honeymoon style) overwater bungalows in the South Pacific, the InterContinental Tahiti Resort is perfect for those who’ve dreamed of the experience but aren’t willing to pay US$600 or more per night. There are 32 overwater bungalows here, each perched just off of a small island in the lagoon.

The location just a short distance from the Tahiti Airport is another part of its appeal. Many people going on to Bora Bora or Moorea have to spend one night in Tahiti on their way in or out of the South Pacific, so this resort can come in handy. It’s a full-on luxury resort with over 200 total rooms, so there’s a lot to like here.

16 – Hilton Maldives Irufushi Resort & Spa – Maldives

From US$318

Most Maldives resorts keep their water villa prices at similar rates through most of the year, but the Hilton Maldives is known for drastic discounts when availability is high. In other words, the wonderful and huge water villas here usually go for over US$700 per night, but if you check when they aren’t too busy you can get a 5-star water villa at this 3-star price.

This is another fairly large private-island resort with many restaurant and activity choices, so it’s great for groups and families, but it’s also popular with honeymooners. Check the room rates here before you book elsewhere because you might find the best deal in all of the Maldives if you get lucky.

Important note: The room rates mentioned above are for low-season bookings. During high-season some resorts charge a bit more, and others charge a lot more.

If you are interested in going to a tropical island closer to the eastern United States or Europe you should check out our list of the cheapest Caribbean islands and destinations, which reveals where luxurious resorts go for a small fraction of the price of similar resorts on other islands.

8 Reasons you should or should not get travel insurance

Roger Wade — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:58:11 +0000

Travel is all about freedom, and topics like travel insurance can take the fun out of things, but it’s an important decision that will affect your journey. Some sources insist that everyone should always get travel insurance for every trip, but honestly there are plenty of cases where it’s probably not worth it.

Here at Price of Travel we like to consider value in addition to quality, so we won’t tell you that travel insurance is always the wise choice. It’s a complicated issue, and a very personal one as well, so below we’ll discuss four main examples or reasons why travel insurance might not be worth it, and then four reasons why you might actually want it.

It’s worth noting that there are many types of travel insurance, from a simple policy to cover your gadgets in case of theft, up to a comprehensive policy that will pay to air-lift you to the closest first-class hospital anywhere in the world. The cost obviously varies, as do the risks. Read below to decide for yourself, or you can get a travel insurance quote here to help you decide.

4 Reasons you should not get travel insurance

1 – Travel insurance doesn’t keep you healthy or safe

For all of the benefits of travel insurance, two things it doesn’t do are keeping you healthy or safe. Chances are great that you’ll return from your trip in one piece and with all your gear intact, and buying travel insurance before you go doesn’t improve those odds. In fact, it’s possible that people with travel insurance are more motivated to take chances (as we’ll discuss below), so it might actually increase the chances of something going wrong.

What travel insurance does do, of course, is to prevent you from going broke if something actually does go wrong. There might be rare cases where someone without insurance got air-lifted out of a canyon while without insurance they would have been left to die, but honestly, your chances of being killed by a falling coconut are probably greater in the long run.

2 – You might be going somewhere where risks are incredibly low

Some people insist on getting travel insurance regardless of where they are going, but for many kinds of trips it’s really a bad bet. For example, if you are going on a cultural tour of the United States or one of the richer parts of Europe, the chances of anything going really wrong are so remote that it’s just not worth the cost.

It’s common sense, really. Going on a golfing trip to Florida might increase the risk of a sunburn, but you might be adding 10% to the cost of your trip for the tiniest chance of ever needing insurance. On the other hand, if you are going zip-lining in the jungles of Costa Rica, the risks are real in many ways. Just don’t automatically get travel insurance for the lowest-risk trips.

3 – Travel insurance is basically betting against yourself

This is a psychological thing that keeps some people from getting travel insurance, for better or worse. Travel insurance – and really all insurance – is simply betting a small amount that something is going to go wrong. As mentioned up top, it doesn’t actually keep you safe, it just pays off if things go badly.

There are risks in everything, including in staying home instead of taking that trip. Some people feel that betting against yourself might increase the chances that something goes wrong. If you don’t make that bet, you might be more careful and financially better off as well.

4 – You might be better off self-insuring

The idea of self-insuring makes sense for some people in some situations, and yours may be one of them. Lets say you have $10,000 in the bank and you buy $1,000 for a new iPod and a laptop for a trip. If they happened to get stolen it wouldn’t cause much hardship because you can afford to replace them pretty easily. In a case like this, it doesn’t make any sense to pay more than a tiny amount to cover replacement costs if they get stolen. In the long run, you will be much better off never insuring your gadgets and just replacing them if they ever get stolen.

The same could actually be true for even medical costs, although there is the risk of a catastrophic event that you probably could never cover. Still, if you are going rafting down the Grand Canyon and you brake your arm on some rapids, you can probably come up with US$800 for the X-rays and cast at a clinic. If you have savings available then buying insurance to cover small things is probably a bad bet.

4 Reasons you should get travel insurance

1 – Your family would strongly prefer you had travel insurance

Most travelers are free spirits and are able to deal with some risk. Especially travelers who’ve been to a lot of places know that the world isn’t nearly as scary or dangerous as one might think in your home town. However, loved-ones of travelers are often freaked out about all the potential risks because they usually just hear about crime and accidents and disasters in other countries, rather than about the 99.9999% of people there who are just fine.

It doesn’t matter how old they are, if your parents are still alive, they are worried about you, and even more than usual when you are traveling around places they’ve never been. Getting travel insurance will feel like a security blanket to them, partly because it sends a signal that you aren’t a lunatic and you actually care about your own well-being.

2 – Being insured gives you more freedom

When you are in Disneyland, at any of their worldwide locations, you will see safety railings and big fences and gates to keep guests out of any dangerous areas. In most of the rest of the world, there are no safety railings. Many normal tourist activities are at least a little risky, especially in poor countries where there aren’t strong laws and armies of lawyers making sure no one ever twists an ankle on a loose rock.

Let’s say you are hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru or climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. It’s not too uncommon to get hurt on either one of those, and without travel insurance you might be terrified to leave the main part of the trail for fear of an accident. But if you are properly insured, you can bounce around like everyone else in the group with confidence knowing that even if something does go wrong, it’s all handled. Going on a trip and then having to skip things that seem risky is not an ideal way to travel.

3 – Not being insured might ruin your life

True story: A friend of a friend of mine went to Thailand, rented a motorbike to drive himself around Phuket, and was nearly killed by a local truck that hit him. The last I heard he was in a hospital there in terrible condition and his family was trying to raise money on the internet to help fly him back to the UK to get the operations he’d need to recover. I’m not sure they raised enough money or if he ever got out of Thailand.

Unfortunately, stories like this are more common than they should be. I know of other examples of people I’ve met, and in a few cases they will be broke for decades trying to pay off medical bills, or they didn’t get the proper care and their health continues to be affected. Renting motorbikes in particular seems to cause more than half of these incidents, so skipping that might be wise. But buying travel insurance is an even better way to know that an accident won’t ruin the rest of your life.

4 – Travel insurance is a great gift for a traveler

One really convenient solution for many people to all of the above is to get travel insurance as a gift from a loved-one. Especially if you are going on a longer trip of multiple weeks or months, many families will offer to help out by buying a backpack or some other gear. Your travel gear is usually very personal so you want to pick it out yourself, but travel insurance is hard to screw up.

It can actually be an easy sell to parents in particular, because travel insurance feels like a gift to them even though your name is on the policy. As discussed, parents will worry, but they’ll worry much less if you are properly insured. You’ll feel better and so will they, so it’s an ideal compromise for both parties.

Get a quote from the best company out there

If you decide you might want travel insurance then please get a travel insurance quote to see if it’s worth it for you. We have partnered with World Nomads, which is the Australia-based industry leader for travel insurance. They cover people from nearly anywhere going to nearly anywhere, with custom policies depending on the specific situation.

You might find a cheaper policy elsewhere, but there are some dodgy companies out there that are known for refusing to pay claims. If the whole idea is peace of mind, you don’t want to be rolling the dice on a cheap policy that might not actually be worth anything at all. World Nomads has a reputation to protect so they have to be fair to everyone, and that’s important.

6 Reasons ‘fast travel’ might be your best option