There has never been a better time to travel and experience exotic getaways than right now. Many countries are experiencing economic downturns, making trips to their shores more affordable than ever before. Other budget-friendly destinations are located in historically depressed areas, offering you the chance to take in beautiful sights for very low prices. The five destinations below represent the best hot spots for budget travelers this year.

San Diego

San Diego ranks as one of the U.S.’s most visited cities. It offers travelers a wonderful sunny climate, miles of pristine coastline, and attractions galore. In San Diego, you can spend the day lounging on the beach or surfing the wonderful waves of the Pacific Ocean. If the beach isn’t enough, Sea World, the world-famous San Diego Zoo, and over 40 more attractions are only a stone’s throw away. Traditionally, Southern California has not been very friendly on the pocketbook. However, the city is serving up excellent bargains for travelers this year. Beach and bayside rooms can be found at numerous locations for as low as 120.00 USD per night.

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Azores

This volcanic island chain 930 miles off the coast of Portugal is home to stunning scenery and wonderfully friendly people. Here you can spend the day relaxing on stunning black sand beaches, taking in the lovely baroque architecture, or visiting any number of the unique crater lakes that can be found on the islands. The recent economic troubles in neighboring Portugal have made its way to Azorean shores, thus making a stay in this charming country amazingly low. You can find charming beachside hotels providing rooms for only 100.00 USD per night.

Cabo San Lucas

Some areas of Mexico are experiencing high numbers of violent crime as of late, but there are still many safe and enchanting locales for you to enjoy. Cabo San Lucas, on the Baja Peninsula, is a world-famous sport fishing destination and a favorite getaway for southern Californians. Other than first-class fishing, Cabo San Lucas also offers a wonderful climate, lovely beaches, terrific shopping, lively nightlife, and excellent authentic dining options. The historically poor Mexican economy makes it a terrific destination for the budget-conscious.

Athens

Athens is a must-see for most, and offers history lovers the experience of a lifetime. You can spend your days viewing hundreds of historical sites in and around the city, visiting museums, gazing at ancient architecture, eating at fabulous cafes, and taking in the never-ending nightlife. Right now is the perfect time to visit Athens and the rest of Greece. The country’s recently dire economy is providing extremely low room rates and reduced prices on goods and services.

Panama

There is plenty to do in this beautiful Central American country. Surfers can enjoy excellent surf along the Pacific coast. A day trip into the interior takes you through gorgeous mountain landscapes and charming towns. The Caribbean coast is home to Bocas del Toro and some of the most mesmerizing beaches and waters in the world. Though Panama is becoming increasingly popular as of late, the country is still an inexpensive travel destination.

Hannah is a Frugal Travel Expert from Brisbane, Australia. She has been around the world many times and says that these five destinations are the best hot spots in the world for budget holidays. She recommends Travel Insurance Direct for the best cheap holiday insurance packages to suit your needs.

The photo below is the busy street of Bodh Gaya taken from our hostel.  Bodh Gaya is a religious site and place of pilgrimage where it is believed that Gautama Buddha obtained Enlightenment. I think it would be better if cars and other vehicles will not be allowed on this area to have a peace atmosphere what I mean only rick-shaw should be allowed and not cars that can cause noise.

The main temple in Bodh Gaya is called Mahabodhi Temple. Visiting on this place you will see a lot of monks on different ages, around the district  was also different temples from different country like Chinese and Thai Buddhist Temples.

Traveling to beautiful places all over the world is something that I love doing. Exploring different exotic destinations and learning about their cultures firsthand gives me a certain satisfaction that I can never get from just reading about them in books and magazines or by simply watching travel shows like Lonely Planet or An Idiot Abroad. Although I do not get to travel as much as I want to because of my busy schedule, I told myself that I will try to squeeze in at least two trips in a year. There are many more countries waiting to be traversed. I am not even half way through the list.

[Image from Wikipedia]

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[Taj Mahal - Agra, India]

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[Varanasi, India]

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