Close your eyes and picture this: it’s 9 p.m. and the sun has just begun to set. The location is somewhere beachy and warm, maybe Spain or the Philippines. You’re at a restaurant sitting across from your new hostel friend, and the two of you are sipping Aperol Spritz’s. You know that there’s a night of adventure ahead.
The dream? Yeah, I think so too.
Traveling in your twenties is something that many people long to do, whether that be solo or with a group of friends. It’s the last part of life before responsibility kicks in and your knees start to hurt. However, it’s also a part of life prone to small or nonexistent paychecks.
Don’t worry, this article isn’t here to remind you about life’s hardships. After all, life is a gift and may I remind you, when there’s a will, there’s a way! And when there’s an article explaining the best and cheapest places to travel while young, there is also a way!
Let’s dig in! Here I’ve compiled a list of some trendy and cheap locations around Europe and Asia to travel to, based on personal experience, connections, and some research.
There’s a focus on Porto, Portugal here as well, detailing not only expenses but the ins and outs of a vacation there.
Europe
1. Budapest, Hungary
Rumor has it that this is one of the best places to visit! From free hikes and sightseeing spots to the famous thermal baths, Budapest has a lot to offer young travelers.
Here’s the best part: it’s pretty cheap! Hostelworld lists dorms to stay in for as little as €8 per night.
To eat, you’d be able to get a pretty good meal for about €10, and local beers are only €1.50! Easy money!
Overall, it’s looking like you’d just have to splurge on a flight there and once you hop the pond, everything is available to you! I’ve had many friends visit Budapest while interrailing, and they’ve all told me it’s one of the most magical places they experienced.
2. Prague, Czech Republic
I heart Prague!! I’ve actually visited this one myself and can attest to the excellent energy for young people. It was also decently cheap.
Hostelworld offers dorms starting from €15, and a classic Czech meal would be about €6, with a beer for only about €2.
The food is excellent and usually served with a side of the famous bread dumplings. It’s not a very vegetarian-friendly country though, just as a warning. Most dishes are meat-based, especially if you’re traveling on a budget and want to try the local cuisine.
A recommendation
There’s a really trendy place nicknamed Dog Bar, where you pay what you want at the entry and get a certain amount of tickets, then you can use those tickets inside for drinks. They only take cash though! American dollars accepted. There is an ATM nearby for those of you who never carry cash like me.
Check out the TikTok above offering a tour of the Dog Bar. It’s a super spunky place that definitely offers something new compared to your average bar.
Also, Prague is famous for its five-story nightclub, The Karlovy Lazne. So, grab those friends and head out there to get dancing!
3. Porto, Portugal
Porto, Porto, Porto.
I am head over heels in love with this city, so I’ll take my time on it for you.
Not only is it cheap and exciting, but it’s a city so full of soul. It’s buzzing and alive.
Consider it the star of this article.
Food is cheap, usually coming out to about €20 for a sit-down meal with a drink for me. You have to try the delicious pastel de natas, an original Portuguese dessert. Those are super cheap as well and sold everywhere!
Accommodation
Porto is home to arguably the best hostel in Europe, The Passenger Hotel. The exact cost depends on when you go, but you can expect the price to be around €40 in the summertime with breakfast included.
This hostel is hidden within the Porto Sao Bento Railway, the famous train station decorated with blue mural artwork.
The Passenger Hotel focuses on helping their guests have the maximum amount of fun, with their group nighttime activities and helpful maps and event listings posted in the lobby.
Inside voices
I reached out to 23-year-old Tadhg, an employee at the Passenger Hotel. He explained that he showed up with no real plan and has lived in Porto for over a year now after falling in love with it.
For there to be a great social atmosphere, people have to want there to be. Our job is simply to facilitate it! It is an incredible job to have. You meet people from all over the world, of all walks of life. You make contacts and create great connections in short amounts of time. Really could not wish for a better experience in my 20s.
Tadgh
Go give him a visit at the Passenger Hotel!
An adventure tip
To circle back to the topic of prices, consider this your reminder that free walking tours are the best way to experience a new place while really getting some bang for your buck.
I reached out to Diogo, one of Porto’s best free walking tour guides, who highly recommended the activity.
Definitely, a free walking tour is a great way to see the main attractions of the place that you’re visiting while also including some tips and tricks regarding local food, history, main monuments and how to get around the city. Regarding people who are traveling on a budget, the free walking tour is tip based so you’re welcome to tip whatever value you think the tour was worth so you’re not stuck with prepaying for a tour. I would just recommend to be aware that the guide relies on those tips for a living.
Diogo
He went on to tell me that walking tours are also an excellent way to meet new talkative people when traveling.
If you want to hear more from Diogo, check out his Instagram. You can also schedule a walking tour via his Instagram. Definitely go give him a visit, he’s super cool.
Parting from Porto
To end the Porto section, I’ll leave you with some words from Tadhg.
I would absolutely recommend Porto to anyone looking to explore a new place, and it is one that won’t break the bank. Here you have a city with a lot of energy. The youth are lively, and rebellious. It is a very free place, you can be exactly who you want to be. It is big enough that there is always something new to do, and yet small enough that you see the same people in the streets every day. It is a place in which their culture is valued, by both the younger and older generations. If adventure for you is getting to know a new culture, and having a lot of fun while doing so, Porto is a great place to be.
Tadgh
Wow, beautiful words from a cool guy. You heard the man! Start booking those tickets.
Asia
1. Chiang Mai, Thailand
This place is top on my bucket list! Thailand is a country full of beauty, and Chiang Mai has been listed as the cheapest travel hotspot. You can get street food Pad Thai for as little as €1. Hostelworld offers dorms for €5. A local beer would also be about €1.
It’s looking pretty cheap to me!
As an avid Pad Thai obsessor, I spend way too much money trying to find the best dish near me. How awesome would it be to get it from the original spot?
This city offers many beautiful temples to visit both inside and outside the city gates.
Moving outside the city, this spot is optimal for day trips to the nearby nature. The Bua Thong, or Sticky Waterfall, is a 90-minute motorbike ride from the city center, so rent that thing and hop over there! There are also a few FREE one-day meditation retreats in that area. The Wat Saun Dok Buddhist temple offers them on Mondays and Fridays.
Chiang Mai is definitely not short of incredible things to do! Can you picture hiking a waterfall with your friends?
2. Coron, Palawan in the Philippines
Just look at this picture! This spot is in my future plans for sure.
Not only is it stunning, but very affordable! You could get a good meal for about €4, and drinks for just about as cheap. Hostelworld offers dorms starting at €7. How awesome would it be to go for a swim here?
This place is famous for its clear waters. And guess what? Beaches are free. Stay in a cheap hostel dorm near the beach, go there every day and boom! Your vacation is all set, and super inexpensive.
If you’re into scuba, there are a lot of cool shipwrecks to explore around the Coron area while you’re swimming.
It’s also worth looking into the prices of boat tours. For places like this, exploring by water is usually the best bet. If you’re with a group of friends, perhaps make a boat friend.
3. Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Vietnam would be a wonderful travel destination. From motorcycle tours to all sorts of activities, it’s a hotspot for young people. Street food would be about €2, with beers under €1. Hostelworld lists dorms for under €4. That seems pretty cheap to me!
You should take a tour of the city while you’re there, either on a motorbike or four-wheeler to get the full experience.
Also, the Cu Chi Tunnels are nearby and definitely a top attraction. You could get a full tour of the tunnels for just about fifteen bucks. Pretttty good.
Vietnam has been a huge hotspot for solo travelers in recent years as well, so this city is sprinkled with young adventurous people all brought together. How cool is that?
Go out and see the world
Well, fellow travelers, our time has come to an end.
Thank you for reading and I hope that this article can provide some guidance or perhaps a starting point for your upcoming world travels.
Start taking those steps, and relish being young and broke but FREE!!! Happy travels.
