A Vacation Spot For Every Budget

Planning a vacation is a mammoth task, but if you already have a budget in mind, then we have some brilliant ideas for your next holiday.

Choosing a vacation destination can be a bit tricky. Sure, you want to go EVERYWHERE, especially to all those fancy places your friends post pictures of on social media. Unfortunately, the problem lies in deciding on the right vacation spot in accordance with your budget. After all, you should avoid maxing out your Credit Card in one go just to get onto a fancy world cruise.

It’s very easy to get carried away when you’re planning a vacation especially if you haven’t set a budget for yourself. You can easily go overboard and find yourself under a pile of debt if you don’t estimate your expenses in advance. This is why it is imperative that you first decide on how much you can afford to spend on your vacation and only then choose your destination.

Additional Reading: 7 Ways To Clear Holiday Debt

The last thing you need is to go broke after a lavish vacation. And just so that you don’t end up eating soup for dinner until your next pay check, we’ve put together vacation spots you can visit based on different budgets.

But first, the rule of thumb is to start saving for your vacation. Now, we wouldn’t really recommend taking out a loan to go on a holiday. However, you should definitely consider investing in Mutual Funds if you’re willing to wait for a while.

After all, a holiday should be all about rest and relaxation. There’s no point if you come back with a huge debt burden to deal with post your vacation.

Additional Reading: 5 Ways To Raise Funds For Your Foreign Holiday

1. Budget = Rs. 50,000 

With a budget of Rs. 50,000 you can explore a bunch of options both domestic and internationally. If you can put away Rs. 5,000 every month, then at the end of 10 months you will have saved up enough to book your tickets and accommodation for a nice short break. 

Domestic Option: Goa

Duration: 3 nights and 4 days

The air fare to Goa varies depending on the season. Visiting Goa during peak season (November to February) may turn out to be quite expensive. However, this is also a great time to visit Goa due to all the festivities and celebrations.

The carnivals, the shacks on the beaches and the wonderful weather simply makes Goa a perfect destination if you’re looking to unwind. If you book in advance, you can get good rates for both hotels and flights to Goa.

International Option: Sri Lanka

Duration: 3 nights and 4 days

Return tickets to Sri Lanka will cost you around Rs. 16,000 per head. And if you were to explore Airbnb options for your stay, you could find decent places starting from Rs. 3,500 per night.

This island country has about 24 wildlife reserves, pristine white sand beaches and mouth-watering local cuisine. If you love water sports like snorkelling and scuba diving, you can head down south towards Galle and Mirissa to explore the underwater world. Mirissa is also popular for whale watching.

Additional Reading: 9 Tips To Make Holidays Affordable

2. Budget = Rs. 1,00,000 

With a slightly bigger budget you can, of course, live it up a bit. To save Rs. 1 lakh for your vacation, you will have to start putting aside a relatively higher amount each month. If possible, try and set aside Rs. 10,000 or more at the end of each month to arrive at this holiday budget.

Domestic Option: Jaipur

Duration: 4 nights and 5 days

This Pink City of India is truly one of the most magnificent tourist destinations in the country. Jaipur is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the Jantar Mantar and the Amer Fort.

Jaipur has tonnes to offer in the field of arts, crafts, literature and performing arts. If you find yourself in Jaipur make sure you experience royalty in its true form by staying over at one of the Palace Hotels in the city.

Prices for these hotels are slightly steep and can range from Rs. 12,000 up to Rs. 25,000 per night. Air tickets to Jaipur can also cost you anything between Rs. 8,000 – Rs. 12,000 depending on the time of the year.

Additional Reading: 6 Ways To Nail Those Air Ticket Bookings

International Option: Bhutan

Duration: 4 nights and 5 days

One of the most talked about vacation spots of 2017 is Bhutan. Located in the eastern Himalayas, Bhutan boasts absolutely breath-taking landscapes and panoramic views.

Home to several peaks and mountains, Bhutan will definitely give you an adrenaline rush if you love trekking. Don’t miss visiting the famous Paro Taktsang, which is a Buddhist monastery and sacred site that is located in the ciffside of the upper Paro valley.

Bhutan has perennially ranked as the “happiest” country in all of Asia, which means there are slim chances of returning unhappy from this vacation. Air tickets to Bhutan will cost you Rs. 25,000 per head and you’ll find great accommodation options starting from Rs. 3,000 per night.

3. Budget = Rs. 2,50,000 

With a relatively robust budget of Rs. 2, 50,000, your options are plenty. While most of us will not consider using a large budget to travel domestically, a well-planned international trip is what we recommend.

To save Rs. 2,50,000 for a big holiday you will have to invest smartly. In this scenario, a Fixed Deposit could be your best bet. Find a Fixed Deposit that gives you a high rate of interest and you are set.

International Option: Eastern Europe

Duration: 10 – 15 days

Travelling to Europe, in general, is expensive. However, you can experience the beauty of Europe in the eastern European countries as well. Since these countries are relatively cheaper to get in and out of, even air fare and accommodation to these countries are affordable and can be fit into a budget of Rs. 2, 50,000.

Some of the countries you can visit on this budget are the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Turkey etc. You can get flights to these destinations for around Rs. 35,000 – Rs. 39,000 if booked in advance.

And since Europe is quite famous for its hostels, you can bunk with other fellow travellers in these hostels that won’t cost you that much. However, if you’re not the hostel type and prefer a hotel or an Airbnb option, you will be able to find decent lodging starting from Rs. 3,500 per night.

Additional Reading: 5 Budget-Friendly European Holiday Destinations

International Option: Australia

Duration: 6 – 8 days

Well, here’s another great option for a vacation with a budget of Rs. 2.5 lakhs. A trip to the ‘Land Down Under’ is possible because you’ll only have to spend approximately Rs. 50,000 on return tickets while you can easily find hostels similar to the ones in Europe for fairly inexpensive prices.

The land of kangaroos has a lot to offer in terms of adventure sports, water sports and wildlife. If you happen to get there, don’t miss out on one of the shows at the Sydney Opera House.

International Option: Kenya (Africa)

Duration: 6 – 8 days

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see animals in their natural habitat? Going on an African safari in Kenya is an experience of a lifetime. You can start with the Amboseli National Park, the Great Rift Valley and then head to the famous Masai Mara and finally to Nairobi.

Air fare to Kenya starts from Rs. 60,000 and you will be able to find accommodation at the safari lodges and camps starting from Rs. 14,000 onwards per night. But, if you wish to skip the fancy stuff, then you can find relatively cheaper places starting from Rs. 4,000 per night.

Additional Reading: Travel Budgeting 101 

4. Budget = Rs. 5,00,000 

Spending Rs. 5 lakhs on a holiday may seem ridiculous, but a well-planned holiday will always be something you’ll remember for the rest of your life. After all, you can’t put a price tag on an experience of a lifetime, so if your budget allows you to spend Rs. 5 lakhs on a holiday, then we have some great options for you.

International option: Europe

Duration: 10-15 days

You won’t really get the essence of Europe if you just visit one country. If you plan on going all the way there, we suggest you visit a whole bunch of them. You can easily start with Italy, then head to Germany, come down to France, crossover to Spain and end in Portugal.

And if this isn’t an attractive itinerary you can always head to The United Kingdom and do a full tour by visiting England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Europe is known for its Baroque-styled architecture, cobbled streets and quaint little cafes.

Air tickets to any of these destinations will cost you around Rs. 45,000 – 55,000, so be sure to book your tickets in advance to get good deals on flight tickets. You will also need to apply for the necessary visas prior to your date of travel.

Additional Reading: Here’s How You Can Travel To Europe On A Frugal Budget

International option: The United States of America

Duration: 10-15 days

A 20 hour flight may seem exhausting, but a trip to the US is probably worth every hour you spend on that long flight.

Travelling to the east coast would mean a definite visit to New York and Wall Street. But, if you wish to see the silicon valley then head straight to the west coast towards California. And if your dream is to bump into Hollywood celebrities then you know where to go – Los Angeles! And if you’re still up for more fun, then a trip to Las Vegas is what you need.

But, if you’re tired of the concrete jungle then you can visit the pristine beaches in Miami and Hawaii.

While air fare to just about anywhere in the USA starts from about Rs. 70,000, the prices for your stay will totally depend on the city you’re in.

Additional Reading: Airline, Hotel & Travel Aggregator Offers On Credit Cards

Now that we’ve given you so many options to travel to for your next holiday, it’s time you start saving to make this dream turn into a reality. In the meantime, you can also use a Credit Card to get great deals on flights and hotels. Don’t believe us? Check them out for yourself.

Disclaimer: The prices of air tickets mentioned in the above post are approximates and are calculated keeping Bangalore as the fly out destination. The prices will vary depending upon the city you live in or wish to fly out of.