The Most Affordable Destinations for Summer Travel

With sunny days to spare in the summertime, Montreal, Quebec, is as beautiful as it is affordable. With 3- to 4-star accommodations available near the city center priced well below $100 per night, travelers can use the extra savings to indulge in some of the outstanding food that Montreal is famous for. Staples like the Montreal Pool Room offer cheap eats, including hot dogs stacked with toppings for under $2, while Bixi, the city’s bikeshare system, provides a budget and eco-friendly way to sightsee for under $5 a day.

Not only could you rent a villa in Kuta, Bali, for the price of a hostel in a major European city, but this tropical locale hosts a buffet of cheap and free things to do. It’s not difficult to find meals starting around $1 here, and why not forego a rental car and hire a daily driver for a comparable rate? Lounge on no-cost coastlines, such as Legian Beach, or take the kids to Waterbom, where a family of four can gain entry to an expansive waterpark for under $100 total.

When it’s peak travel season and globetrotters are on the lookout for hot savings, Panama City, Panama, is a destination that delivers. Lodging and vacation rentals are reasonably priced per night, and cozy restaurants like Nomada Eatery offer quality coffee and modestly priced fare. Stroll through Casco Viejo, also called San Felipe, for a delightfully diverse eyeful of gorgeous architecture, including colonial homes, historic churches, and the Palacio de las Garzas (aka Heron’s Palace), where the coastal birds can be seen in the courtyard.

As one of the more inexpensive capital cities in Europe, Bucharest, Romania, is accessible to travelers looking to stay frugal this summer. Nicknamed “Little Paris of the East,” Bucharest has its own version of the Champs-Élysées. Mosey down Calea Victoriei, a well-known avenue lined with monuments, local landmarks, and museums, including the National Museum of Art of Romania, which offers free admission every first Wednesday of the month. Find generous portions of food starting at around $6, and nap in lavish lodgings for less in this easily walkable metropolis.

With extremely low-cost hotels and Airbnb rentals, accessible regional food prices, and near-free attraction entry fees, Ho Chi Minh City — also known as Saigon, Vietnam — is a bargain hunter’s dream. If you're in town, you’ve got to have a banh mi sandwich, which you can find for under $1 pretty much anywhere, including at the Ben Thanh Street Food Market. Without spending a dime, relax under one of the 1,000 large trees at Tao Dan Park for some respite from the summer sun.

Show up to Louisville, Kentucky, ready to have a fantastic time without the tab. Take a free tour of Schimpff’s Confectionery to witness candy being made, reserve free tickets for a show at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, and visit the Museum of American Printing House for the Blind, where you're invited to touch everything but your wallet! For the best summer savings, consider booking a vacation rental over a hotel stay to save moolah.

Save money on a tour guide and, instead, do advanced research about the history of Zanzibar City, Tanzania, before arriving. Go on a self-guided tour of Stone Town, where wanderers can discover the aromas of fragrant spices, hear the sounds of the city, and see the former home of Queen's Freddy Mercury. Retire to one of the many breathtaking beaches, like Bwejuu Beach, where you can spread out on the sand or go for a swim and explore the reef. Grab inexpensive small bites at local eateries, like Joshi’s, a local vegetarian establishment that serves Indian food.

One of the best places to binge on museum visits and cost-free activities, Washington, DC, is a haven of history for travelers sticking to a summer budget. All Smithsonian institutions are free to enter, including Smithsonian's National Zoo. Stay in lower-priced vacation rentals, use public transportation, and you’ll be able to keep costs down while enjoying the many monuments and buildings, including the Lincoln Memorial and stunning Library of Congress.

Summer jetsetters should look for accommodations a bit outside of the city center of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, in order to find the best deals. Once settled, grab a beach blanket and hop around the sands of the island, from Bavaro Beach to Juanillo Beach, where free beach chairs seem to make the palm tree-lined scene that much more enjoyable. On a rainy summer day, try out the free tour of ChocoMuseo, where you can learn about the nature of the regional cacao tree.

Lace up your walking shoes and get ready to explore fascinating Belgrade, Serbia, by foot. Join one of the free (donation-based) walking tours in the city to learn about the Belgrade Fortress, and explore interesting neighborhoods, like Kosančićev Venac and Savamala. Peer out at the city from one of the bridges along the Sava River to find a stellar lookout point, or connect with nature in the forested Avala area, and spend less than $3 to peer from the observation deck of Avala Tower.

Countless free and inexpensive things to do are everywhere in Santiago, Chile, with easy-to-find accommodations that are both affordable and close to the city center. While there are several places to walk to for impressive views of the cityscape, including near picnic-perfect Bicentenario Park, landmarks such as the Bahá’í House of Worship of South America offer a unique opportunity to navigate a new perspective, with gardens that welcome serene contemplation. When it’s time for lunch, eat and drink like a local at places like El Hoyo, or other casual bars with good menus and cheap eats.

One of the most fun and family-friendly beach towns you can find, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is also known to accommodate the budget-conscious traveler. Multiple boardwalks around town, including the popular Broadway at the Beach boardwalk, provide room to stretch your legs when they’re not covered in sand from lounging on the coast. Listen to live bands play nightly at various locations throughout summer, including at Garden City Beach Pier or downtown North Myrtle Beach. Consider casting a line at Murrells Inlet for some summertime fishing, or just sit back and watch the waters as others reel ‘em in.