Top 10 Bang For Your Buck Destinations

"Budget friendly" is a strange phrase because everyone's budget is different. Some people look at the way I travel and think I'm completely insane and elitist. Others would never lower themselves to my paltry standards. So this isn't a list of the cheapest places to travel. I'm not a bargain hunter. There are destinations famous for cheap hotels, cheap drinks and backpacker crowds that you will never catch me near.

I care about value. Whether you're spending $1,000 or $100,000 on a trip, how much are you getting back for what you spend? Can you stay somewhere great, eat incredibly well, hire a private guide, do remarkable things and still look at the bill and think, that was absolutely worth it? It's one of the reasons I built the FAVE Score. These are the ten countries where your travel dollar buys an extraordinary amount of experience.

01

VIETNAM

I call Vietnam joyously affordable. You have an incredible dinner, take a private tour, get a great hotel, buy something you love, then convert the price back to dollars and basically celebrate. But cheap wouldn't matter if Vietnam weren't also one of my favorite countries in the world. It is. The food, cities, people, history and sheer number of things to do make the value almost ridiculous. I'm heading back as you read this.

02

COLOMBIA

Colombia may be the best combination on this list of modern amenities and remarkable value. Medellín especially lets you dial the experience up considerably with beautiful accommodations, excellent restaurants, private guides and great activities, all without watching the price rise at the same rate. You aren't saving money by giving something up. That's what makes Colombia so good.

03

PANAMA

Panama uses the U.S. dollar alongside the balboa, so Americans know exactly what everything costs. No conversion gymnastics required. What makes Panama particularly interesting is comparing it with nearby Costa Rica. You still get tropical landscapes, beaches, jungle, wildlife and adventure, but I consistently found the overall value considerably better. In some cases, twice as good for the same experience.

04

JORDAN

Jordan gives you some of the great travel experiences of the Middle East without requiring a Middle Eastern luxury budget. Petra, Wadi Rum, Amman, the Dead Sea, desert camps and extraordinary history can all fit into one trip. There is so much experience packed into a relatively small country that even the itinerary itself delivers great value. One of my favorite countries, period.

05

PHILIPPINES

The Philippines is genuinely inexpensive, but the trick is resisting the temptation to travel it cheaply. Use the price advantage to upgrade. Hire the private boat. Get the private guide. Stay somewhere better. Avoid the giant bargain tour groups and use the economics to create your own experience. Some of the most beautiful water and best adventures we found anywhere in the world were here.

06

SOUTH KOREA

South Korea isn't cheap in the way Vietnam or the Philippines can be. It makes the list because of what you get. Seoul delivers extraordinary infrastructure, food, technology, nightlife, culture and high end experiences at prices that still feel remarkably reasonable for a city operating at that level. If you want a polished Asian experience without automatically paying premium destination prices, Korea delivers.

07

CROATIA

Croatia is one of my favorite European value plays, particularly if you want to get on the water. Beautiful coastline, historic cities, islands, sailing, catamarans and spectacular scenery give you the ingredients of a very expensive Mediterranean vacation without necessarily requiring one. Expect to save close to 40% on comparable amenities elsewhere. Peak summer changes the equation, so timing matters here more than most.

08

SOUTH AFRICA

Cape Town alone could justify South Africa making this list. Then add wine country, beaches, incredible restaurants, wildlife and some of the best safari opportunities in the world. The dollar versus the rand makes almost everything remarkably accessible for American travelers. Even when operators try to price for tourists, the currency gap wins. This is where value becomes especially noticeable when you start upgrading guides, lodges and activities.

09

PORTUGAL

If you want Europe but don't particularly want European vacation pricing, start looking west. Portugal gives you history, architecture, beaches, great food and beautiful cities while still offering excellent value compared with most of Europe's marquee destinations. One caution: during peak European holiday season, bargain hunters from across the continent head here in numbers. Time it right and it's hard to beat.

10

MEXICO

Mexico is almost too obvious, but that's because it works. Get slightly outside the major resort zones and the value changes dramatically. I love Baja, but the same principle applies throughout the country. One step beyond the obvious hotel corridor and suddenly better food, interesting accommodations, local experiences and private adventures become remarkably accessible. You really don't have to try that hard.