The world’s 50 greatest travel bargains right now

It’s winter in Australia and that means many Australian travellers will be heading off (or dreaming of doing so) to places warm, sunny and summery. But pundits are predicting it to be the most expensive European and UK summer ever for travel.

Airfares have soared, hotel rates have increased and restaurant prices keep rising – and that’s not just in the northern hemisphere.

“As we go into the second half of the year, we’re seeing an appetite for international travel,” says Sarah King, a spokeswoman for Expedia. “However, Aussies are being savvy with their holiday choices and prioritising value for money and wallet-friendly destinations.”

Low-season Bali travel can reap dividends … Ayana Resort and Spa Bali.

Indeed, Booking.com’s 2024 Travel Trends report found 60 per cent of Australian travellers placed good value for money as the top destination motivator.

“Many factors can impact a destination’s affordability, including peak season, what type of accommodation you’re looking for such as homes versus hotels, and the region you are staying in,” says Todd Lacey, the platform’s general manager for Oceania. “We recommend booking as far as possible in advance, to avoid missing out on accommodation options.”

Lacey recommends popping sales periods such as Black Friday and Boxing Day in your calendar, and be prepared to pounce. This list of 50 of some of the best deals in travel isn’t definitive, of course, and it casts the net wide, from flights and places to stay, to budget beers and cheap eats.

Some of our listed bargains may have sold out by the time you try to nab them – that’s the ephemeral nature of travel deals. The point of the exercise, though, is to offer some nuggets of optimism, a few chinks of light amid the financial gloom.

We trust they’ll only inspire you to seek our suggestions out and include them in your own itinerary, but also to dig a little deeper, and find your own holiday bargains.

DOABLE DESTINATIONS

Buenos Aires is a city of fine boulevards and parks, ornate architecture and dazzling theatres that often sees it compared to Paris.Credit: iStock

A-plus for BA on value The Argentine peso has been falling steadily for a decade or more, and it saw a particularly heavy slump in December. The country’s dizzying inflation rate eats up a fair chunk of those savings, and you still have to fork out for your airfare, but once you are there, you get a hell of a lot for your holiday dollar. In the capital, Buenos Aires, you will find highly rated parrillas (grill restaurants) such as El Secretito offering great value. Public transport is extremely cheap, too, though the bus system can be confounding.

Cut-price Croatian islands Independent travellers will find it hard to beat the value offered by the Croatian islands. Village rooms in the Old Town on Korcula generally cost from $80-$120 a night, for example. A locally run website features room and apartment listings as well as other attractions and holiday ideas (korcula.info.com) with Hotel Odisej (hotelodisej.com) on the nearby island, Mljet, has been offering high season rooms for as little $200-$250 a night for two, including breakfast.

All-inclusive all the way Australians tend to be more independent in their travels but there are reasons for the huge popularity of all-inclusive holidays with other nationalities. They include all meals and drinks in the upfront cost, so they attract fans both for the certainty they offer those who want to keep to a budget and their sheer good value. The Club Meds (clubmed.com.au) and the “Costas” (visitcostadelsol.com) – the Spanish beachside regions bursting with all-inclusive resorts that are so popular with Brits – offer a no-wallet-required style of break.

The oft overlooked northern city of Thessaloniki in Greece scores high on value.Credit: Getty

All Greek to me, and loving it So you fancy a Greek Islands escape (who doesn’t?) but high-season rates on fashionable Mykonos can leave you gasping. Qantas Holidays (qantas.com) reports the best value locations in the Greek Islands right now include Kos, Naxos, Paros, Kefalonia, and Rhodes as well as the capital, Athens, and the oft overlooked northern city Thessaloniki on the mainland.

Not the one and only Indonesia has more than 17,000 islands of which Bali is but one. Obviously, not all of those are holiday destinations. But some of those Indonesian isles, like the under-visited Flores (indonesia.travel), offer culture, beauty, nature and value. There are high-end resorts, but also budget options that are simpler offerings with often breathtaking views and friendly staff.

Cruises at cruisey prices Repositioning cruises, when ships relocate for the upcoming season, provide particularly good bargains. For example, a 22-day voyage from Seattle, US to Sydney, via Honolulu, Papeete, Morea and Suva (departing on September 19 on board Carnival Luminosa), is on sale from $2298 a person twin share in an inside cabin (carnival.com.au). That’s $104 a day (plus the cost of a flight to the US to join the cruise).

Find great deals for Indonesia between June to September … AYANA Resort Bali.

When lateness is a virtue Having a little patience and doing your research on when other nationalities travel can bring big dividends. Qantas Holidays (qantas.com) notes that between June and September, you can find great value in Phuket and Koh Lanta or Bali. Check out the Qantas Holidays’ deal for the AYANA Resort Bali for that period that represents savings of 36 per cent.

One for the jet-setters If you travel to multiple destinations around the world, you will definitely save by buying an annual travel insurance policy. As long as you stay within the stated maximum duration for any one trip (usually 31 days), most will allow you to travel as often as you like throughout the year for a single fee.

CHEAP SLEEPS

High-value propositions The recent Holiday Value Guide by Expedia (expedia.com.au) lists Osaka as having the best value accommodation in Japan; Lombok, Indonesia, being cheaper than Bali; Chiang Mai offering significant savings over Phuket and Koh Samui in Thailand; Hanoi coming in cheaper than Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, and in Malaysia, Langkawi proving to be far cheaper than the even affordable capital Kuala Lumpur or popular Penang.

Bang for your Bangkok buck Hotel rates now chop and change, so the picture is always shifting, but for the honour of cheapest city-centre five-star, the Raweekanlaya (raweekanlaya.com) in Bangkok, Thailand, is a grand, old-fashioned, 19th-century hotel near The Grand Palace and the National Museum (tourismthailand.org) where you can often find rooms for $123 a night.

Rooms from $123 a night at The Raweekanlaya, Bangkok.

Chateaus on the cheap Hotel prices in Paris are among the world’s dearest; not so in rural France, where there are some fantastic bargains. The three-star Chateau Hotel de la Cote (chateau-hotel-dordogne.com) is a 15th-century turreted gem in the Perigord Vert, between Perigueux and Brantome. Rooms from $155.

Sign your life away With air miles, racking up sufficient points for anything worthwhile can seem to take forever, but some hotel loyalty schemes can offer meaningful savings. Three in particular: World of Hyatt (world.hyatt.com), Marriott Bonvoy (marriott.com) and Booking.com, are worth signing up for.

Well, Well, Well Scandinavia is on the up and up for Australian travellers seeking a different take on Europe. Well, (thewell.no), which opened as a spa in 2015 in peaceful woodland outside Oslo, Norway, is worth considering. The hotel was added a few years later and offers amazing value, especially considering Norway is one of the most expensive countries in Europe, if not the world. Doubles from $284 bed and breakfast, including spa access

Hit the huts Britain’s Mountain Bothies Association (mountainbothies.org.uk) is entirely manned by volunteers who maintain and run dozens of remote bothies, best described as humble huts, in often stunning locations in remote Wales, Scotland and the north of England, and get this: they are free to use (though a donation is always welcome).

DINING SAVERS

Michelin improbable: world’s cheapest starred meal You’ll have to queue, and the atmosphere will be entirely different from a top-notch restaurant, but you can enjoy Michelin-starred cooking for relative peanuts at Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle (taihwa.com.sg), on Crawford Lane in Singapore. Depending on portion size, you could pay just $8 for a bowl.

Cheap and cheerful … Bouillon Chartier.

Bargain bouillons The bouillons of Paris (bouillon-chartier.com) were conceived as bargain places to eat more than a century ago and some still survive, offering a great Belle Epoque atmosphere and extraordinary value for those prepared to queue for a table. One of the best is Chartier, where starters range from $1.63 to $12.25, yes, you read right. Main courses from $11.40 to $22.50.

When Venice plays nice The best bargain in Venice, in fact one of the few bargains at all in Venice, remains the cost of an Aperol Spritz, with the price becoming cheaper the further you venture from crowded St Mark’s Square. In certain spots off the tourist trail, the famed aperitif can cost not much more than $3, sans accompaniments such as olives and chips.

Aperol spritz get cheaper the further you venture from St Mark’s Square.Credit: Getty

Chow down in Cape Town You can find plenty of bargain places to eat in different cities around the world, but the latest iteration of an annual survey of major tourist destinations by the UK’s Post Office Money reveals it’s Cape Town in South Africa (southafrica.net) that delivers the best value overall. You can typically find a three-course evening meal – including a bottle of wine – for just under $70 for two people.

Cheap and cheers-full Among the cheapest beers around the world’s main holiday spots is in Vietnam, where a glass will set you back about $2.20 in a typical bar. In Europe head east, where Prague, Sarajevo and Sofia are among the capitals with the cheapest pints.

Winning on the wine Wine drinkers will do best to make for the Algarve on the south coast of Portugal where a glass of decent Portuguese red will cost about $3, and a whole bottle can be had from a wine shop for less than $8.

Bargainous red at coastal holiday favourite Algarve.Credit: Getty Images

Dodge the wounded bull effect Whether you are splashing out or picking up a bargain accommodation in holiday destinations around the globe, you want to make sure you pay for it in the cheapest way possible. Cash is expensive to buy and exchange, and some cards can also levy stiff charges when you use them abroad. Go for one which doesn’t add charges and doesn’t take a cut on the exchange rate either – or do either of these minimally. These include Wise (wise.com), Up (up.com.au), HSBC (hsbc.com.au), Ubank (ubank.com.au) and Revolut (revolut.com).

IN THE AIR

Hop around the world Multi-stop round-the-world airfares are certainly not as cheap as they used to be, but if you have a few weeks you can set aside for a big trip, they are an incredibly good-value way of ticking off some bucket-list destinations. Prices vary hugely, but Flight Centre (flightcentre.com.au) was recently offering a ticket that gave some iconic stops – Sydney-Singapore-London-New York-Los Angeles-Hawaii-Sydney – from $3733 for travel mid-October to mid-December this year.

Cross continents with help from budget carriers like Norse Atlantic.Credit: Getty Images

Switch to the ditch One route that remains especially competitive, simply because there are so many flights available, is London-New York. You have to duck and dive a bit to find the bargains (your departure time makes a big difference), but you may find returns from Gatwick in the UK to New York’s JFK with a low-cost carrier such as Norse Atlantic (flynorse.com) for about $600.

High society, Bolivian-style The eight lines of La Paz cable cars, which form a network around the Bolivian capital, are arguably the world’s most spectacular public transport system. Not only are they a great way to see the city, but they are incredibly cheap. One-way fares cost from as little as 65 cents.

Mi Teleferico in La Paz in Bolivia has 10 lines with astonishing views.Credit: iStock

Ryanair’s lowest fares The deals and the destinations come and go, so you will have to pick and choose and adjust your timings. But low-cost airline Ryanair (ryanair.com) still offers amazing prices, particularly with minimal baggage, for those willing to be flexible and open to destinations perhaps off the European greatest hits list.

ON THE TRACKS

Cheaper tickets to ride Whether you’re planning a grand tour of Europe, or a loose itinerary with a lot of flexibility, a Eurail pass can be the way to go (eurail.com). Because rail fares in Europe, like airfares, are more expensive the closer you book to the date of travel, plus cost more if you want some flexibility, a Eurail pass can take the hassle out of planning everything well in advance. Eurail Passes also often include discounts for attractions and restaurants. The Swiss Travel Pass includes unlimited travel on all of the country’s public transport, free access to more than 500 museums and up to 50 per cent discounts on cable car rides.

Trenitalia trains at Milano Centrale Train Station.Credit: iStock

Green(backs) with envy The 51-hour rail journey from Chicago, Illinois, to Emeryville, California, (amtrak.com) is one of the most rewarding ways to cross the US, and it can be incredibly cheap: from about $150 one-way if booked a few months ahead.

This deal is a real Goa It takes about 28 hours to cover the 2094 kilometres down the spine of India from New Delhi to Goa (seat61.com/India) But it is a lot more relaxing and much cheaper than flying. A sleeper-class ticket costs less than $20 (or less than $100 in first class air-conditioned sleepers). See seat61.com .

Far out, it’s the Far North The UK is famous for its extortionate rail fares, but there are some isolated exceptions, such as the regular service on the Far North Line (scotrail.co.uk) in Scotland. Following the coast north from Inverness to Wick, it is one of the UK’s most spectacular lines, yet a day ticket for the four-and-a-half-hour return journey costs just $56.

Eurostar is still an economical way to country hop.Credit: Rail Europe

Take a star turn with Eurostar If you’re visiting London and fancy an entirely achievable side-trip to the Continent for a few days, it’s hard to beat the Eurostar (eurostar.co.uk) services from St Pancras Station. Although it’s getting harder to find affordable fares, especially to Paris, you can still get good deals to Brussels (Belgium) if you book a few weeks in advance, with prices from $150 return in standard class.

Goodness gracious you This journey takes 10 hours (averaging 16 kilometres an hour), crosses 950 bridges, stops at 33 stations, and climbs to almost 1220 metres through some of India’s most stunning Himalayan scenery and the snow-capped Dhauladhar range. And the price of a one-way ride on the astonishing Kangra Valley Railway (indianrailways.gov.in)? Eighty cents.

Rail travel in Italy Italy’s rail network (trenitalia.com) is a fascinating combination of rickety old local trains and the latest high-speed inter-city services like the Red Arrow. But there is one constant – the fares are excellent value. A random check found a single ticket all the way from Naples to the north-west coast of Italy – that’s about nine hours on the train – for $59

BY WATER AND ROAD

Slowly (by boat) does it Fancy a change of scenery from Lombok or Bali? Try the Gili Islands. There are various operators offering water transfer, and you can take the fast versions or the slower public boats. It is, of course, the slower versions that are the most budget-friendly. The key is to either book ahead or, for the slow boats, ignore all touts and pay at the kiosk to avoid getting ripped off.

Gili Meno Island, Indonesia. Credit: iStock

Star still shines in Honkers You could take the metro, but the Star Ferry (starferry.com.hk) is by far the most atmospheric way of crossing the strait between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island and (so to speak) immersing yourself in the atmosphere of one of the world’s greatest harbours. There are two links – between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui and between Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui. The 10-minute crossing will cost you just 77 cents or $1 for a seat on the top deck.

Star Ferry, Tsim Sha Tsui port of Hong Kong.Credit: iStock

We’ll have Staten Island, too You may not be able to afford to sail into the Hudson River by cruise liner and be welcomed by the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline, but anyone can get a taste of that feeling on the Staten Island Ferry (siferry.com) which runs between St George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island and South Ferry in Manhattan. The 25-minute journey, which passes Ellis Island and the statue, is free.

Corfu for you Not all the ferry services between the Greek mainland and its islands are the bargains they used to be. But the 90-minute link to Corfu (corfuferries.gr/en/home-en) from Igoumenitsa on the mainland is a supremely relaxing way to travel to the island (or do a day trip to the mainland) and costs just $8.20 one-way.

Abras cadabra A ride on a traditional abra boat from one side of the at times frenetic Dubai Creek in the United Arab Emirates to the other side or next stop costs less than 50 cents. An hour-long private charter aboard an abra along the Creek will set you back less than $50, still good value, and you get to to see the earthier side of this glitzy city.

The traghetti provide the quickest and cheapest means for crossing the canal.Credit: Getty Images

Gondola in 300 seconds A standard tourist’s gondola ride in Venice costs $196 to hire the boat for about 25 minutes. But large gondolas – known as traghetti – are still used by locals in the city at seven different crossing points on the Grand Canal. You can hop aboard for the five-minute transit for just $3.30.

These joints are pumping Sure. You are unlikely to be taking advantage of this bargain because DFAT advises “do not travel” to Venezuela. But for the record, this oil-rich nation is where you will find the world’s cheapest petrol prices: two cents a litre. Of more interest to travellers are Egypt (40 cents), Malaysia (65 cents), Vietnam ($1.50) and the US ($1.60), where the car remains king. Of course, you could always go electric.

Drive your dollar further Enjoy independent exploring when you are on holiday? Car-hire prices have soared since the pandemic, but you can still find decent value in Lanzarote, a striking biosphere reserve marked by volcanoes, lava and otherworldly cliffs and beaches. This island, in Spain’s far-flung Canary group, has all-inclusive rental car rates from about $365 for a week.

CULTURE CLUB

A matter of Trust If you’re travelling to the UK from overseas you can buy a National Trust Touring Pass (nationaltrust.org.uk) to enjoy entry to more than 300 places in the organisation’s care including historic houses, castles, gardens, parklands, and more. Seven and 14-day passes are available for one person or two, and families, the latter offering exceptional value and start from $88.50 for one pass and ($146 for two).

Visit National Trust sites, like Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, where William Shakespeare’s wife lived as a child.Credit: Getty Images

The good German attraction The seat of the German parliament (bundestag.de) is not only a building of momentous historic importance, but from its terrace and huge glass dome, designed by British architect Norman Foster, also offers one of the best views of the city. And admission is free (though it’s important to register your visit in advance).

Paris unmatched The French capital has some of the most expensive museums in the world – general admission to the Louvre is $36. But it also has a handful of exceptions with outstanding collections and no entry fee. These include the Musee d’Art Moderne (mam.paris.fr), the Petit Palace (petitpalais.paris.fr/en), which celebrates the art and design of the Belle Epoque, and the Carnavalet (carnavalet.paris.fr) in the Marais, which explores the history of the city.

Get along to the Getty Another free treasure house is Los Angeles’s great Getty collection (getty.edu) which is housed in two locations on the northern edge of the US City of Angels. The Getty Centre is just off the 405 freeway and holds European art, while the original Getty Villa Museum, just north of Santa Monica, displays art from ancient Greece and Rome.

Days and nights in the museums Given the soaring costs of visiting museums in the vast majority of countries, London (visitbritain.com) deserves a special mention: the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, the British Museum, the V&A, the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Tate Britain and Tate Modern, the Wallace Collection … it’s easy to forget what astonishing collections you can enjoy for no charge whatsoever.

A blue whale skeleton at the British Natural History Museum.Credit: iStock

Man oh Manhattan Lots of parks are free, obviously, but Manhattan’s High Line (thehighline.org) somehow feels different, more of an experience than just a park, so the lack of an admission charge feels like a bonus. This amazing landscaped artery in New York has been created high above the streets on a disused elevated railway line that runs 24 blocks up from Gansevoort Street to the west side of 34th Street, with 10 staircase entry and exit points.

The price is right Sure, it’s only a matter of months since the Pantheon in Rome (italia.it), dating to AD 609, went from being open without charge to having a $8.20 admission fee. But consider that for less than the cost of a meal deal at the fast food joint that used to be across the way and is thankfully no more, you can enjoy one of the world’s oldest and most beautiful buildings.

Night moves in Madrid Admission to Madrid Spain’s Prado Museum (museodelprado.es/en) – which has one of the world’s greatest art collections – normally costs $25, but from 6pm to 8pm Monday to Saturday, or 5pm to 7pm on Sundays and public holidays, visits are free. Expect some galleries to be crowded, however.

Park yourself here Tickets to access all the Versailles palaces and museums (en.chateauversailles.fr) cost a hefty $52 a person. But the park itself – which is, for many, the most scenic and enjoyable part of the visit – is entirely free. The only exceptions are on days when the Musical Fountains are operating – so check in advance before planning a visit.

High notes, low prices Many of the world’s greatest opera singers come from Eastern Europe, and if you are looking for a sweet spot between high production values and bargain ticket prices, without enduring a partial view from the gods, you will find it in Poland. At the Polish National Opera (teatrwielki.pl/en), in the astonishingly grand Teatr Wielki, you can sit in decent seats in the circle for about a tenth of the cost of a big production elsewhere in Europe and the UK.

This is an adapted version of an article which originally appeared in the UK’s Telegraph. Featured prices were correct at the time of writing and may now differ. Let us know your own favourite travel bargains at [e-mail] or post a comment below. We’ll publish the best suggestions.