After Six Years of Travel, These Are The Most Beautiful Destinations To Visit On a Budget

Hi, my name is Pritham, I am a traveller, writer, photographer and singer, and for the last six years, I’ve been taking slow and small solo backpacking trips around the world in search of the world’s most beautiful destinations whilst being on a budget.

Among the highs and lows of low-cost travel, including sketchy public transport, sometimes noisy accommodation or even occasionally getting lost, there were so many amazing people, stunning sights and places that I could have called home, that will refuse to leave my memory. Here are just some of my highlights:

And as a Pisces, there is something magnetic and nourishing that will always bring me back to my favourite place - water. In the spirit of staring out at the ocean across to the end of the World, here are some of the very best beach destinatations that I have found so far on my travels that won’t break the bank. You might want to save or bookmark this for later!

Koh Lanta’s Long Beach in Thailand

This lesser visited Thai island is the vision of a postcard paradise, with white sands, pristine waves, and just enough nightlife and activities to stop you getting bored.

San Sebastian’s La Concha Beach, in Spain

This is the gem of the Basque region, which has incredible gourmet foods, a small surfing scene, and a touch of ancient history whilst being totally affordable

Uvita’s Whale Tail Beach in Costa Rica

You might want to get here fast before more people find out about this spot. Spectacular sunsets, empty beaches, unique geographical sandbanks, and a whole lot of whale and dolphin spotting

Caye Caulker in Belize

This is a magical spot where Jamaica meets Latin America - think dollar barbecued lobster as street food, whirlpools and cheap rum cocktails in waist-high warm waters, and ditch the shoes as everyone walks around here barefoot

Holbox and Isla Mujeres islands, Mexico

Ditch the overhyped Tulum, and don’t even think about Cancun. Take a ferry to either Hotbox island or Isla Mujeres for stunningly local vibes and even prettier beaches. Expect roads with no cars, family run restaurants, local small beer breweries as well as some of the best scuba diving in Mexico. Ole!

Positano and the Amalfi Coast, in Italy

Now don’t believe the rumours - while Positano can be an expensive break, staying in a guesthouse in one of the surrounding towns and taking the excellent public transport in is not. Make sure to check out the local trattorias and grocer shops for seasonal freshly made paninis under 5 euros, and take a cheap public water taxi to nearby Capri island for a full day out walking and exploring. Live La Dolce Vita for cheaper.

Garraf, in Spain

Forget Barcelona’s swamped city beaches  - catch a cheap regional train one hour out to the local and gorgeous fisherman’s village of Garraf, where the Costa Brava truly shines with clean, quiet, and powdery soft beaches, and a cup of cava is a fraction of the price that it would be in the Catalan Capital.

Samara in Costa Rica

Locals in the know travel from across the county for the unbeatable surf here in this local beach town near the Nicoya peninsula, and there are also cheap and well-appointed surf schools here for learners, but it’s the walkable little town with great restaurants, and the paradise beaches 30 minutes either side - as well as the oil-painting sunsets that make this spot far better than the instagramer inundated santa teresa nearby.

Crystal Bay on Nusa Penida island in Bali, Indonesia

I’m just gonna say it guys, Bali itself doesn’t have the best beaches, but if you take the ferry to Nusa Penida island, you will be blown away by spectacular beaches like Crystal Bay, and Kellingking Beach with some of the most amazingly blue ass water and a unique dinosaur shape that I have never seen anywhere else in the world. Also don’t forget you can snorkel with the giant mantas!

Koh Rong Samloem, in Cambodia

This is the quieter, more secluded and more local sister island to Koh Rong, so you will only find tiny villages of fisherman and a few long-stay expats, serving up fusion Cambodian grilled food and the odd sleepy hammock between palms. Switch off by day and be dazzled by the phosphorescent plankton by night

Laguna Bacalar, Mexico

Now I know this is not really a beach per se, but this does stand proud as one of Mexico’s largest freshwater lakes with sandy bays. Travellers in the know call this the Maldives of Mexico and it’s only 2 hours away from Tulum, and in my opinion, so much better. Come here for local food trucks seeing up Mexican sushi, stand-up paddle boarding at sunrise, and all the kayaking and water sports that you could ever want!

Let me know in the comments if you are inspired to travel, and where you end up.

Px