If the countries listed here are on your travel itinerary, swap the popular tourist lures for the new entrants that share a rare commonality — affordable lodging.
Bay of Fires, Australia
This little-known stretch of white sands and lush forests in Tasmania has been ranked by the Lonely Planet as the hottest destination for 2009. As demand increases, the prices are bound to go the more popular Gold Coast way, where a dorm bed alone costs around Rs 1,200 a night. Nature is the big attraction here and that is free for all.
Family cabins cost about Rs 3,500 a night
Waiheke Island, New Zealand
The whoops and hollers of the adrenaline junkies easily drown out the fact that New Zealand is more than just an adventure sports paradise. A 35-minute ferry ride from glitzy Auckland will take you to a more sedate world, one with vineyards, olive groves and gastronomic delights. The average hotel tariff is Rs 3,000 per head, per night compared to Rs 5,000 in Auckland.
The average room rate is Rs 3,000 per night
Koh Tao, Thailand
The world’s obsession with Phuket made it the most expensive resort destination in Thailand. Then came Koh Samui. Now, industry watchers predict that the average room rates at the tropical island will surpass those in Phuket. For similar, if not better, diving options, a more laidback pace and a true taste of Thai culture, give this tiny isle a chance.
Bag 40% off on Koh Tao Resort’s new wing
Chiloe Archipelago, Chile
The Easter Island may be the most popular—and more pricey, with hostel rooms starting at Rs 1,000 per night—but this year the spotlight is on the archipelago. The only inhabited island here, the mist- and myth-shrouded Isla Grande has recently seen the opening of an ecological reserve to lure tourists.
A hostel double room costs around Rs 650
Budoni, Italy
When the roving billionaire, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, founded the Costa Smeralda in the 1960s, Sardinia evolved into a playground for the rich and famous.With Budoni’s arrival on the tourist map, you can holiday at the same Mediterranean coastline, but with a fraction of the crowds, at up to 40% cheaper rates. You can easily find hotels and B&Bs to suit all budgets.
Rent apartments for Rs 2,500 onwards
The Big Island, Hawaii
The average daily price for lodging and meals at Honolulu is nearly Rs 16,500 per head and the more glam islands like Maui are headed that way. Thankfully, you can still go to Hawaii on a budget. The Big Island is the next big place boasting everything from active volcanoes to exotic beaches, where the sand is green because of volcanic glass.
Stay in a tent for just Rs 1,200 a night
Yunnan Province, China
From rice fields and tea gardens to fossilised towns like Dali and Lijiang and rafting down the famous Tiger Leaping Gorge…this untamed southwestern area, far from the razzmatazz of the eastern flank, has it all. Better still, it’s easier on the wallet than the big cities. However, the nightlife does not consist of more than a beer in a shack after a gruelling jungle trek.
Guesthouses charge Rs 400-800 a night
Riviera Nayarit, Mexico
Marketed as a tourist destination just last year, the Riviera packs quite a punch, offering everything from golfing to fishing. But despite its proximity to the done-to-death Puerto Vallarta and sharing the same famed Pacific coastline, bed and breakfast (B&B) options at Nayarit are up to 30% cheaper.
B&B rates start at Rs 2,500 for two
