Note: This post was updated in February 2019, and we still these places are great travel destinations!
The year is not even halfway over yet, which means you still have plenty of time to plan a trip before the year runs out. Since our focus is on affordable luxury, we stay away from recommending places that might be out of budget for many. With that said, we’ve picked four destinations, two in the United States and two abroad, that we think travelers and solo travelers alike would enjoy. This list is designed for everyone, from the person who loves road trips to the traveler who wants to fly halfway across the globe to relax on a beach somewhere.
United States
San Antonio Riverwalk. Photo by Trey Ratcliff via flickr
1. San Antonio
It’s not unusual to find San Antonio on a recommended list of places to travel in the United States. Travel + Leisure even ranked it in the top five cities for an affordable getaway. The Texas city is known for attractions such as the Alamo, marketing firms, and other historic missions throughout the city.
Travel + Leisure also shared a fun activity in San Antonio: “Along the Mission Reach section of the Riverwalk, a 15-mile stretch of urban ecosystem restoration, you can rent bicycles (through B-Cycles) for $10 a day.” The city even has a Mardi Gras festival in the springtime for those who love New Orleans as much as we do.
2. Atlanta
Not only does Atlanta have a hot food scene, the city is the largest in the South and there are tons of inexpensive options for staying and playing. Kiplinger says the average cost of a hotel room per night is under $100 and the cost of a meal out is around $30, despite the “ascendant restaurant scene.” The Hartsfield-Jackson airport is also a major hub, one of the busiest in the world, so finding flights that won’t break the bank is easy if you want to skip driving there.
“Once you're in the South's largest city, you'll find plenty of cheap stuff to do,” shared Kiplinger. “Centennial Olympic Park, the site of the 1996 Olympic Games, hosts frequent concerts and festivals, many of them free. The Martin Luther King Jr. historic site charges no admission, and the city's science center and contemporary art museum both cost less than $10.”
International
Photo by Murray Foubister via flickr.
3. Chile
While you may be familiar with Santiago, the capital of Chile, many of us haven’t yet ventured around the rest of the country. Annie Fitzsimmons, digital editor at Virtuoso and editor-at-large at National Geographic, told Forbes, recommends the small lakeside town of Puerto Varas, a lesser frequented area than the busy capital at the northern start of Patagonia. Do yourself a favor and search Google Images for Puerto Varas right now. This place is gorgeous. Fitzsimmons says Puerto Varas is a great starting point for renting a car and driving to other nearby, inexpensive areas.
“Europe is on everyone's list of value-added trips this year and for good reason — the exchange rate is more favorable for American travelers than it has been in years,” Fitzsimmons told Forbes. “But the destinations I most dream about and long to return to are in South America, a destination that has long given travelers great value for money.”
A snapshot from Lisbon
4. Portugal
Portugal has all the history, beauty and culture of many of its neighboring countries, but even the capital, Lisbon, is less expensive than other comparable cities such as Barcelona or Athens. For 15 things to do in Lisbon as a solo traveler, read this blog post. The country has it all: beaches for relaxing, exploring or surfing, cities for sightseeing, and small towns to get lost in.
After spending several months in Portugal, Indie Traveller reports that prices are very reasonable and there’s a lot to see across the country. “With glamorous beaches in the Algarve, charming cities like Coimbra, Aveiro, and Porto, and a lovely vineyard-clad countryside, you wouldn’t soon get bored in Portugal.”
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For more affordable luxury ideas, tips, tricks and advice, explore some of the posts below!
Author: Julia Ballard
Julia was the first member of the Astrid Solo Travel Advisor team, and has helped shape our unique approach to travel writing which focuses on affordable, luxury ideas for the solo traveler. She is on top of all the cutting-edge in everything from technology to travel, and works to share her insights with our audience. To read more about her and each one of our Solo Travel Advisors, head over to the About page!
For some, the pursuit of authentic travel experiences will take them to the far-flung reaches of the globe; to unexplored territory and distant landscapes. For others, however, their quests might lead them to places a little less, shall we say, ambitious. Perhaps their journeys will lead them to bustling cities, famous attractions, and well-documented historical landmarks. But whether you find yourself exploring in Paris or Timbuktu, the opportunity to discover wonderful and amazing things is the same. I truly believe that one of the most important factors in facilitating an authentic, fulfilling travel experience is the right mindset.