Top Budget Travel Destinations for 2011
From China to our own backyard, here are ten places that you can't afford to miss.
Dublin's Ha'penny Bridge
Photo: Courtesy Thorsten Pohl/Wikimedia Commons
Months in the making, Budget Travel's annual list of the hottest budget destinations focuses on destinations that are as fun as they are affordable. Some of our picks (like Estonia's capital, Tallinn) are up-and-coming, while others (like Dublin) are classics that have recently dropped in price. Best of all, we don't just tell you where to go, we also share the ideal season to visit, where to stay, and what airlines to fly to maximize your savings. Wherever we send you, the key is in the timing: right now.
Dublin, Ireland
Why in 2011: Ireland's banks are struggling-the country recently accepted a $112 billion bailout from the European Union-but the economic turmoil has an upshot for tourists: kind prices. Exchange rates have improved by 7 percent over last year and lodging prices are the lowest of any major city in Western Europe. In fact, scoring a bed in Dublin costs 7 percent less than it did in 2009. Restaurants are similarly well-priced; even the Michelin-starred Chapter One is offering a four-course, pre-theatre menu for $65-a bargain when you consider that a full meal is $105. And transportation is equally cheap: Dublinbikes, the city's cycle-share program, rents out bikes for $2.50 for three days, and rides clocking in at 30 minutes or less are free. Even the $13 tax levied on Dublin International Airport travelers will soon be slashed to $4 in an effort to boost tourism.
A popular street in Lisbon
Photo: Courtesy billnorman/MyBudgetTravel
Lisbon, Portugal
Why in 2011: As Portugal liberalizes-it became the sixth European nation to OK gay marriage in May 2010-its capital is ransforming into a hotbed of dining, shopping, and art. According to Hotel.com's 2010 Hotel Price Index, Lisbon is the third city in the world (after Warsaw and Marrakech) where luxury comes cheapest: on average, a five-star hotel room rings up at a mere $153 a night. Plus, four-star hotel rates have fallen 5 percent since 2009. In spite of its much publicized money woes, the country has beefed up infrastructure in recent years, spending millions of dollars to improve highways and Lisbon's public-transportation system ($5 buys you a one-day metro pass). Best of all, because Lisbon is a major European hub, flights are abundant. U.K. budget airline easyJet will open a base in Lisbon this winter, so even if you can't fly direct from the U.S., you can score a cheap connecting flight from lots of European cities, like London and Barcelona (even now, one-way flights to Lisbon from London start at $44).
Sunset on Tallin's Old Town
Photo: RachaelOBanion/MyBudgetTravel
Tallinn, Estonia
Why in 2011: Two decades ago, this tiny republic was in the clutches of the Soviet Union; now it's a full-fledged member of the EU (it adopted the Euro on January 1) and it's fast becoming one of Eastern Europe's vacation hotspots. Long eclipsed by nearby (and much pricier) destinations like Helsinki and St. Petersburg, Estonia's capital offers everything from stunning architecture (in particular, the cathedrals in the medieval Old Town) to funky restaurants (one to try: Cafe VS, an Indian restaurant set in a dance club) to raging nightlife (liquor is dirt-cheap; a shot of Estonian vodka averages $1.75, and a bottle of domestic beer generally costs $2.50). On January 1 Tallinn kicked off a yearlong schedule of 7,000+ events-concerts, dance festivals, museum exhibits and more-to celebrate being crowned a 2011 European Capital of Culture. Plus, increasing flight capacity means airfares are likely to decrease-Estonian Air will double its flights to London in March and discount carriers EasyJet and RyanAir are boosting their number of trips to Tallinn.
Sam Houston Park in Houston, Texas
Photo: Richard Cummins/Corbis
Houston, Texas
Why in 2011: Houston is home to Texas's biggest shopping mall at 2.2 million square feet; 56,000 acres of green space; and the third most Fortune 500 companies in the country, but when it comes to prices, the U.S.'s fourth-largest city is all about scaling down. Hotel rates have dropped 5 percent since 2009 and four-star rooms are going for $96 according to a recent Hotwire report. And while the city has 8,000 restaurants and a growing culinary scene-local restaurateurs Bryan Caswell and Monica Pope both snagged Best Chef nominations from the James Beard Foundation-good grub doesn't require a splurge. The typical meal in Houston runs $32.50, more than $2.50 cheaper than the national average. Plus, the city is flexing its cultural muscle (the Houston Zoo just unveiled its African Forest exhibit), and encouraging tourists to explore to their heart's content with the Houston CityPASS, which offers access to any combination of six attractions-Space Center Houston, Houston Aquarium and Museum of Fine Arts included-for $39 (a bargain when you consider that a similar pass goes for anywhere from $64 in San Francisco to $79 in New York).
Bustling Bogotá, Colombia
Photo: John Coletti/Getty Images
Colombia
Why in 2011: Forget drug lords and violent political rebels-that's old news. Colombia is not only safe, it has mass tourist appeal thanks to attractions ranging from gorgeous colonial cities to Caribbean beaches to Amazonian jungles. In the first quarter of 2010, tourism in Colombia grew 10.8 percent from the same period in 2009, thanks in large part to an 11 percent reduction in airfare. (Colombia recently opened its runways to low-cost carriers like JetBlue and Spirit, as part of an effort to attract U.S. travelers). More ships are also sailing through the country's ports-ocean cruises increased 16.2 percent in the past year, and several major lines, including Royal Caribbean and Princess, are offering itineraries that dock in Cartagena. Plus, hotel deals abound after a construction boom across the country-the result of tax breaks and a strengthening economy. Of the 4,700 new rooms this year, nearly half of them will be in Bogotá, where a crop of trendy boutiques, restaurants and nightclubs has popped up.
Shanghai's Old Town
Photo: Courtesy dlj668/MyBudgetTravel
Shanghai, China
Why in 2011: Shanghai is one of the best values in China right now. Last year's World Expo ushered in a $45 billion facelift that outfitted the city with new roads and subway lines and made it one of the easiest cities for non-Chinese-speakers to navigate. As part of the building-spree, over 100 hotels were added to the city, and now that the Expo is over and demand for rooms has decreased, the city is flush with bargains; room rates fell as much as 47 percent from October to November 2010, and five-star hotels slashed prices to an average of $197, down from $334, according to Chinese travel website Qunar. Plus, Shanghai is one of the few cities in China that offers easy access via high-speed trains to nearby destinations such as Nanjing and Hangzhou-home to several ancient Buddhist temples and the scenic West Lake, respectively.
January 2011 photo of Panama City Beach, Fla.
Photo: Walter Bibikow/JAI/Aurora Photos
Gulf Coast
Why in 2011: The oil spill scared many tourists away, but the Gulf Coast is ready for business: the area's 1,680 miles of white-sand shoreline have been spruced up and its kitchens restocked with local shrimp. The average daily rate at regional hotels is down between 12 to 43 percent since 2009 depending on the destination, and tourism levels aren't expected to rebound until late 2011, which mean deals abound. Keep in mind: there's more to do than just sunbathe. In November, Biloxi unveiled its Frank Gehry-designed Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art, a 12-years-in-the-works project dedicated to Mississippi potter George Ohr (admission is $10). Golfers should tee up at Kiva Dunes in Gulf Shores, Alabama, ranked one of the top three public greens in the state by Golf Magazine (18 holes cost $78 after 1pm). For sun worshippers, Florida's Panama City Beach averages 320 blue-sky days per year and is easier to reach than ever thanks to a new, $318 million airport opened in May of last year.
Buddha statue in the town of Pelmadulla, Sri Lanka
Photo: Fridmar Damm/Corbis
Sri Lanka
Why in 2011: Finally free from more than 25 years of civil war, Sri Lanka has a goal: to get 2.5 million visitors between now and 2016. (Its tourism department even declared 2011 "Visit Sri Lanka Year.") The lush, pear-shaped island off the southern tip of India doesn't have to work hard to be attractive-it's known for its coconut trees, wild elephants, and daydream-worthy beaches. The country is also pulling out all the stops to draw visitors; a second international airport opened last year in Hambantota (the first is in the capital city of Colombo), and the country plans to build 30,000 hotel rooms over the next four years; with supply being so robust, rates are likely to take a dive. Several western countries, U.S. included, have had travel advisories for at least a year, and only recently lifted them in the spring of 2010. Airlines around the world are also reinstating service, which is likely to lead to even more fare drops. Don't forget that U.S. currency is mighty here: less than $1, for example, buys you a classic, Sri Lankan lunch of fish curry.
Jamaican beach
Photo: Sergio Pitamitz/Corbis
Jamaica
Why in 2011: Jamaica is already one of the most affordable Caribbean destinations-hotel rates in Ocho Rios and Montego Bay average less than $200 a night, far less than you'll find in neighboring islands like the Bahamas, St. Lucia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Now the island is on track to become even more wallet-friendly thanks to a new international airport that opened near Ocho Rios in December and a recent resort boom that flooded the island with 3,000 new hotel rooms (consequently, hotel deals such as resort credits and free nights can be found by the dozen). It's also more accessible this year: Six new direct flights to Jamaica were added in 2010, connecting the country to 16 U.S. cities, more than any other Caribbean island. Cruise arrivals will also get a bump with the launch of Historic Falmouth Jamaica, a new port of call on the island's north coast that opened this month (January). Affordability and accessibility spell popularity-visitor numbers have been jumping steadily since 2009, and Jamaica's Tourism Board is gearing up for 2 million travelers this year, its largest crowd to date.
Mountain goats take in the view at Banff, Canada
Photo: Courtesy heidem/MyBudgetTravel
Banff, Alberta, Canada
Why in 2011: Rising out of Alberta's Rockies, this all-season tourist favorite spans over 2,564 square miles and is credited with some of North America's best slopes, not to mention hot springs, bike trails, and golf courses. The fact that their 125-year anniversary was last year is a technicality they've conveniently chosen to overlook as they continue to celebrate in 2011 with cheap lift tickets (rates haven't increased since 2007 and will remain static this year) and the low 2010 price of $10 for park entry. Perhaps Alberta's 6.5 percent drop in visitors in the past couple of years is also a motivating factor behind the specials.
See more photos of the Top Budget Travel Destinations for 2011
