Dream Vacations You Can Actually Afford... Just Use These Deals
By Kaeli Conforti
Think dream trips like Europe and Hawaii are totally out of reach? You’d be surprised how many affordable packages are out there to help. Here’s our ultimate list of dream trip adventures—plus, the travel deals to help you get on your way.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu was the number one thing on my personal dream trip list, and I was finally able to do it in April 2014 thanks to a super-affordable 8-day vacation package by G Adventures. (Luq1/Dreamstime.com)
I have to admit, this was the number one thing on my personal dream trip list, and I was finally able to do it in April 2014 thanks to a super-affordable vacation package by G Adventures. The Machu Picchu Adventure 8-day tour starts in Lima, where you’ll get a chance to soak up the food scene—try the lomo saltado, a delicious dish made of tender beef, veggies, rice, and french fries, or stick to ceviche—and take a walk by the Pacific after dinner. Then, you’ll board a one-hour flight to Cusco and spend the next five days exploring the sites of the Sacred Valley, visiting ruins in Ollantaytambo, relaxing in the hot springs of Aguas Calientes, and of course, taking a bus ride up the mountain to view Machu Picchu at sunrise, definitely a memorable experience.
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You’ll love hearing about the legends and stories of the Inca from native Quechua guides and locals along the way—all that stuff you’ve learned in school about the Conquistadors doesn’t quite sink in until you see places where they demolished once-beautiful Inca temples and built gigantic churches on top of them. Plus, with G Adventures, you’ll have a great mix of guided tours and free time to explore the cities of Cusco and Lima on your own, as well as exclusive access to a traditional Quechua women’s weaving cooperative and restaurant, experiences with the locals that you’ll never forget.
Book It: Machu Picchu Adventure, G Adventures, from $1,399 per person, land only.
Vietnam
Visit the ancient town of Hoi An during your trip to Vietnam with World Spree. (Xuefeng Nong/Dreamstime.com)
Home to beautiful beaches, vibrant cities, and a wealth of historical sites, Vietnam definitely deserves a spot on your dream trips list. World Spree offers an 11-day tour that includes airfare from San Francisco (or L.A., or New York City for an additional charge), making this amazing county more accessible than ever. The trip also gives you time to explore Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Hue, Hoi An, Hanoi, and includes an overnight cruise around scenic Ha Long Bay. All transfers, ground transportation, and intra-Vietnam flights are also part of the package price, as are most meals, a comprehensive sightseeing itinerary, and the services of English-speaking guides throughout. Several optional tours are also available for a little extra, including a half-day trip to see the infamous Cu Chi Tunnels ($40 per person) and a half day historic tour of Hanoi’s “Old Quarters,” the “Hanoi Hilton,” that ends with a traditional water puppet show ($50 per person), but you’ll have a number of guided tours along the way that are included as well.
Book it: 11-Day Amazing Vietnam, World Spree, from $1,899 per person including airfare from San Francisco.
Hawaii
Hawaii is a pretty expensive place, but like everywhere else, there are ways to get around it. (Idreamphotos/Dreamstime.com)
Ah, a place that’s probably on everybody’s dream trip list. So much so that my parents’ dream was to live on Oahu, a beautiful place they’d lived after they first got married, and where we lived from 1994-2001. I’m not going to lie, Hawaii is a pretty expensive place, but like everywhere else, there are ways to get around it. Check for flash sales and other discounts offered by Hawaiian Airlines, which started flying non-stop from New York City in June of 2012, so no more excuses, east-coasters! Their website even offers bundled vacation packages combining several nights’ accommodations with airfare and other island activities on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island. If you’re a cruise-lover and can only spare a week of vacation time, you’re in luck! Norwegian Cruise Lines offers a 7-day cruise onboard the Pride of America, taking you around the Hawaiian Islands with stops in Kahului, Maui; Hilo and Kona on the Big Island; and on Kauai before returning you to Honolulu, a great way to get a taste of the islands.
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Book it: Pride of America, Norwegian Cruise Lines, from $899 per person for a 7-day cruise. Always check NCL’s Last Minute Cruise Deals page, you know, just in case.
China
World’s Spree’s Timeless Beijing trip includes airfare from San Francisco or L.A. and several guided tours, including a trip to the Forbidden City (Tiantan/Dreamstime.com)
The Great Wall is not as far away as you think, thanks to these great travel deals by companies like World Spree. For starters, there’s the Timeless Beijing tour, giving you six nights in China’s capital city and round-trip airfare from San Francisco or L.A. from—are you ready for this?—$988 per person! You’ll also get three days of escorted tours—visit Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, the “Bird’s Nest,” home of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, and enjoy a full-day trip to the Great Wall of China and Sacred Way of Ming Tombs, including entrance fees—and have two-and-a-half days to explore the area by yourself. World Spree also offers a 9-day tour of Beijing and Shanghai and a 12-day tour of Beijing, Xian, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Shanghai if you’re looking to explore more of the country.
Book it: Timeless Beijing, from $988 per person. A Tale of China’s Two Great Cities, Beijing & Shanghai, from $1,129 per person. 12-day tour of The Middle Kingdom, from $1,719 per person. All tours are offered by World Spree and include international airfare from San Francisco or L.A.
South Pacific
As we’ve said in the past, yes, you CAN afford the South Pacific! We’ve often been surprised by how affordable the South Pacific can be, if you keep an open mind and are willing to travel during the shoulder season. Travelscene is offering a deal to the Cook Islands that gives you round-trip airfare from L.A. on Air Tahiti Nui and five nights’ accommodations at the Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa, along with daily breakfast and round-trip ferry transfers between Tahiti and Moorea when you travel by May 31.
Book it: Travelscene’s 6 Day Magical Moorea Getaway starts at $1,919 per person and must be booked by Apr. 30 for travel by May 31, 2015.
Europe
The lounge at the Generator Hostel in London. (Courtesy: Generator Hostels)
While the idea of visiting Europe might already make your wallet nervous, keep in mind that there are always ways to get around the big-ticket items like airfares, hotels, and activities—especially now that the euro is the lowest it’s been in years. Check for airfares on sites like AirFastTickets.com or Hotwire.com for flash sales, or keep an eye out for seasonal sales by Irish airline Aer Lingus, a great budget-friendly option that I use every time I travel with my family to Europe—we even mentioned them on our list of Best Budget Airlines. If you’re up for spending more money on what you do outside the room, versus spending heaps on a fancy hotel, opt for Generator Hostels, a revolutionary new style of affordable accommodations that’s taking Europe by storm. You’ll end up spending about half of what you’d expect to pay normally, stay in a great location not far from the city’s main attractions, have access to hostel-only activities like movie nights and live music in the lounge, and have the opportunity to meet travelers from all over the world without ever leaving the lobby.
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The old way of thinking about hostels has changed—Generator’s largest percentage of clients are a mix of families who rent out an entire dorm room and business travelers of all ages who yearn to mingle rather than stay cooped up in some fancy schmancy hotel. Buildings and rooms are stylish, and if you really want to avoid sharing a room with your new friends, single and double private accommodations (with your own washrooms) are always an option. Generator Hostels can now be found in London (I stayed there last year and will definitely keep these in mind for future European travels!), Dublin, Berlin, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Venice, and Paris.
If you’re between the ages of 18-35, try a Contiki tour around Europe, like their Amsterdam to Barcelona tour, for a fun, affordable way to get a taste of several European cities.(Daria Angelova/Dreamstime.com)
Of course, if you are between the ages of 18 and 35 and are looking for an exciting way to see the continent and make new friends from around the world, opt for a good old-fashioned bus tour by Contiki, a company that’s been around since the 60s and is still full of young people traveling abroad for the first time whether they’re from the U.S., Australia, or everywhere in between. The best part about Contiki: you’ll get a ton of included guided tours, day-trips, and exclusive access to cool places (like a behind-the-scenes tour of a popular French Perfumery with special discounts in the gift shop!) as well as a mix of free time to go out and explore the city you’re visiting. There are different levels of tours and accommodations depending on your budget and the kinds of places you want to stay in, and several meals like daily breakfasts and the occasional lunch or dinner are part of the deal. I took my first group tour with Contiki in 2013, spent 10 days getting to know London and Paris with really fun people from several different countries, and had so much fun, I came home and booked my next one from Amsterdam to Barcelona for the following summer! You tend to bond quickly with your travelmates on a bus tour—I’ve had several new friends from Australia and Canada visit me in New York since then and have kept in touch with many others post-trip thanks to social media.
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Book it: Visit Contiki’s website to learn more about sales on travel packages to Europe and all over the world. I went on their London & Paris, Plus Paris Extension tour in Oct. 2013 (from $1,545 per person, land only), and their Amsterdam to Barcelona tour in May 2014 (from $2,299 per person, land only).
Caribbean Cruise
The Norwegian Breakaway’s 7-day cruise to Bermuda includes only-in-New York themed experiences, and, as on every Norwegian ship, a wide variety of restaurants to satisfy your every craving. (Todd Taulman/Dreamstime.com)
For a little affordable fun closer to home, opt for one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s finest. The Norwegian Getaway sets sail from Miami on a 7-day adventure to Phillipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas. Don’t miss brand new waterslides, Legally Blonde The Musical, and dinner-and-a-magic-show in The Illusionarium, among other family-friendly onboard activities. Adults will love the Svedka Ice Bar, onboard casino, and tons of entertainment ranging from nightclubs and live music to an improv dueling pianos bar. The Norwegian Breakaway sets sail from New York City on a 7-day trip to Bermuda and offers Broadway show Rock of Ages and other only-in-New York themed experiences, and, as on every Norwegian ship, a wide variety of restaurants to satisfy your every craving.
Book it: Cruises onboard Norwegian Getaway start at $599 per person. Cruises onboard Norwegian Breakaway start at $599 per person. Great news for solo travelers: Norwegian’s ships offer a special section full of studio-style staterooms that help to lower costs if you’re traveling alone.
African Safari
Ready for some face time with lions? SmarTours is having a sale right now on a 9-day trip to South Africa that includes airfare from New York City and an open-vehicle guided safari in Kruger National Park. (Marsel82/Dreamstime.com)
Who says you can’t afford to take a safari in Africa? You just have to know where to look. Keep an eye out for sales at tour companies like G Adventures, Intrepid Travel, and others that frequently run tours to Africa. SmarTours is having a sale right now on a 9-day trip to South Africa that includes airfare from New York City on South African Airways, four nights’ accommodations in Cape Town, two nights’ accommodations in Kruger National Park, the flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg, a guided tour of Cape Town, and a full-day open-vehicle guided safari in Kruger National Park. If a Kenya safari is more your style, Intrepid Travel offers an 8-day trip to Nairobi, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Loita Hills, and gives you time at the Masai Mara National Reserve.
Book it: SmarTours’ sale for the Cape Town & Safari Express tour ends on April 23, so if you want to take advantage of the sale price (from $1,899 per person including airfare from New York City), don’t wait—prices go up to from $2,399 per person once the sale is over. The Kenya Wildlife Safari tour is available from Intrepid Travel, from $1,105 per person, land only.
India
Catch a glimpse of this Indian Water Palace on Jal Mahal Lake in Jaipur, India.(Sergeychernov/Dreamstime.com)
Although technically India did earn a spot on Budget Travel’s To Go Or Not To Go: 2014 list due to 2013’s violent streak against women, things seem to be calming down now, and with strength in numbers, you’ll be fine with a group if you go. SmarTours offers a great, affordable 8-day tour that includes international airfare from New York City on Air India and five nights in three different Indian cities: one night in Delhi, two nights in Agra, and two nights in Jaipur. The trip includes all transportation within the country, daily breakfast, and a farewell group dinner, and an extensive sightseeing plan that includes guided trips to the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, the Red Fort in Delhi, the Memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, and an elephant ride to Amber Fort in Jaipur.
Book it: You’ll have to act quickly on this one as SmarTours is currently having a sale that prices this tour from $1,299 per person if you book by April 23. After that, the prices rise to $1,799 per person, so don’t wait! World Spree also has a brand new Incredible India travel package that includes international airfare from New York City, L.A., San Francisco, or Vancouver; 9 nights’ accommodations in five-star hotels; an extensive sightseeing program including entrance fees; all transfers and transportation within the country, and most meals, from $1,499 per person for a 12-day trip.
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