If you are planning to explore the world in 2020, the good news is that you don’t need to be rich for that. There are plenty of destinations that you can check out in order to have some relaxing time with your loved one
Here is a list of some of the best destinations you can visit in 2020 without breaking the bank
Bulgaria
Bulgaria is an affordable destination with a interesting culture. The main cities have shrugged off the weary Communist-era image and have become vibrant and attractive, with a string of cultural attractions, varied shopping and lively nightlife keeping visitors entertained. In contrast, many towns and villages have preserved the authentic Bulgarian spirit and hospitality – the country is especially proud of its rich folklore traditions. No visitor to Bulgaria can fail to be impressed by its religious art, from vast gold-domed churches to miniature icon paintings. Sofia’s Aleksander Nevski Church and 10th-century Rila Monastery draw visitors and pilgrims galore, while Tryavna’s wood carvings and Bachkovo’s apocalyptic murals are gathering fame. But Orthodox churches in even the tiniest villages have much to admire: emotive paintings of saints, often set in carved wooden screens (iconostases), appear magical when bathed in the flickering candlelight. Almost as spectacular are the settings of many sacred buildings: granite cliffs, thrashing streams, and lonely mountain passes.
Mexico
Mexico has great food, awesome nature, and very convenient prices. This will be an incredible adventure to try out in 2020 and an experience to cherish for life! Palm-fringed beaches, chili-spiced cuisine, steamy jungles, teeming cities, fiesta fireworks, Frida’s angst: Mexico conjures up diverse, vivid dreams. And the reality lives up to them. With steaming jungles, snow-capped volcanoes, cactus-strewn deserts and 10,000km of coast strung with sandy beaches and wildlife-rich lagoons, Mexico is an endless adventure for the senses and a place where life is lived largely in the open air. Mexico’s pre-Hispanic civilizations built some of the world’s great archaeological monuments, including Teotihuacán’s towering pyramids and the exquisite Maya temples of Palenque. The Spanish colonial era left beautiful towns full of tree-shaded plazas and richly sculpted stone churches and mansions, while modern Mexico has seen a surge of great art from the likes of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. Popular culture is just as vibrant, from the underground dance clubs and street art of Mexico City to the wonderful handicrafts of the indigenous population.
Hawaii
If you think that Hawaii is expensive, think again. There is something for everyone here. In the amazing culture and beaches of Hawaii, you can enjoy a nice and long vacation on a budget. It’s easy to see why Hawaii has become synonymous with paradise. Just look at these sugary beaches, Technicolor coral reefs and volcanoes beckoning adventurous spirits. Snapshots of these islands scattered in the cobalt-blue Pacific Ocean are heavenly, without the need for any embellishment by tourist brochures. Sunrises and sunsets are so spectacular that they cause for celebration all by themselves, such as atop Haleakalā volcano on Maui. Whether you’re dreaming of swimming in crystal waterfall pools or lazing on golden-sand beaches, you can find what you’re looking for here.
Go hiking across ancient lava flows and down fluted pali (sea cliffs). Learn to surf, the ancient Hawaiian sport of ‘wave sliding,’ and then snorkel or dive with giant manta rays and sea turtles. Kayak to a deserted offshore island or hop aboard a whale-watching cruise. Floating all by itself in the middle of the Pacific, pretty much everything here feels easy-going, low-key and casual, bursting with genuine aloha and fun. You’ll be equally welcome whether you’re a globe-trotting surf bum, a beaming couple of fresh-faced honeymooners or a big, multigenerational family with rambunctious kids.
Montenegro
Montenegro should be a lot more popular than it is. This country offers a very rich culture and very good food at convenient prices. You can try boat tours and make some very good friends here! Bursting at the seams with majestic mountains, breathtaking beaches, and larger-than-life locals, minuscule Montenegro proves once and for all that good things do indeed come in small packages. It’s not even 300km from tip to toe, but Montenegro’s coastline crams in some of Europe’s most spectacular seaside scenery. Mountains jut sharply from crystal-clear waters in such a way that the word ‘looming’ is unavoidable. Ancient walled towns cling to the rocks and dip their feet in the water like they’re the ones on holiday. In summer, the whole scene is bathed in the scent of wild herbs, conifers, and Mediterranean blossoms.
Argentina
Latino cultures are always attractive and exciting. Argentina is one of the best countries to experience some of this intense vibe. You will not spend more than you want here as it is one of those countries that offer great hospitality for convenient costs. Beautiful, defiant and intense, Argentina seduces with its streetside tango, wafting grills, gaucho culture, and the mighty Andes. It’s one formidable cocktail of wanderlust. From mighty Iguazú Falls in the subtropical north to the thunderous, crackling advance of the Glaciar Perito Moreno in the south, Argentina is home to a vast natural wonderland. Diversity is a big part of it. The country that boasts the Andes’ highest snowbound peaks is also home to rich wetlands, rust-hued desert, deep-blue lakes, lichen-clad Valdivian forests, and Patagonia’s arid steppes. Wildlife comes in spectacular variety, from penguins and flamingos to capybaras, giant anteaters, whales, guanaco herds and more. In this vast country, stunning sights abound and big adventure awaits.
South Africa
Regardless of where you choose to go to South Africa, you will find unique cultures and very affordable prices. If you have the chance to get here, explore as much of it as possible! Black-maned lions framed against Kalahari dunes; powdery beaches lapped by two oceans; star-studded desert skies; jagged, lush mountains – this truly is a country of astounding diversity. South Africa is one of the continent’s best safari destinations, offering the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhino) and more in accessible parks and reserves. You can drive right into the epic wilderness at Kruger, Kgalagadi, and other parks, or join khaki-clad rangers on guided drives and walks. But it’s not all about big-game sightings – wildlife watching here also teaches you to enjoy the little things: a leopard tortoise ambling alongside the road, a go-away bird chirping its distinctive chant in the trees, or an encounter with seals, whales or a great white shark along the coast. South Africa’s landscapes are stunning, from the burning Karoo and Kalahari semideserts to the misty heights of the Drakensberg range and the massive Blyde River Canyon. Even in urban Cape Town, you need only look up to see the beautiful fynbos (indigenous flora) climbing the slopes of Table Mountain, while nearby, two of the world’s most dramatic coastal roads lead to Cape Point and Hermanus. Add the vineyards carpeting the Cape Winelands, old-growth forests along the Garden Route, wrinkly mountain ranges from the Cederberg to the Swartberg, and Indian Ocean beaches, and there’s a staggering variety to enjoy.
Italy
Home to many of the world’s greatest works of art, architecture, and gastronomy, Italy elates, inspires and moves like no other. The country is one of nature’s masterpieces, with extraordinary natural diversity matched by few. From the north’s icy Alps and glacial lakes to the south’s fiery craters and turquoise grottoes, this is a place for doing as well as seeing. In fact, Italy has more Unesco World Heritage cultural sites than any other country on Earth. Should you walk in the footsteps of ancient Romans in Pompeii, revel in Ravenna’s glittering Byzantine treasures or get breathless over Giotto’s revolutionary frescoes in Padua? It’s a cultural conundrum as thrilling as it is overwhelming. The root of Italian psychology is a dedication to living life well, and effortless as it may seem, driving that dedication is a reverence for the finer things. So slow down, style up and indulge in a little vita all’italiana (life, Italian style).
France
The land of elegance, style, and class is not as pricey as some might think. You can spend some time in France without breaking your savings. And you will love the people and the views. France is about world-class art and architecture. It seduces with iconic landmarks known the world over and rising stars yet to be discovered. This country’s cultural repertoire is staggering – in volume and diversity. after all, this is the world’s top tourism destination with some 89 million visitors each year who flock to the land of the Gauls to feast on its extraordinary wealth of museums, galleries, ateliers (artist workshops) and hands-on cultural experiences. The terroir (land) of France weaves a varied journey from northern France’s cliffs and sand dunes to the piercing blue sea of the French Riviera and Corsica’s green oak forests. Outdoor action is what France’s lyrical landscape demands – and there’s something for everybody. Whether you end up walking barefoot across wave-rippled sand to Mont St-Michel, riding a cable car to glacial panoramas above Chamonix or cartwheeling down Europe’s highest sand dune, France does not disappoint. Its great outdoors is thrilling, with endless opportunities and the next adventure begging to be had.
Romania
The country has a history that stretches on two thousands of years and it is a very beautiful nature spot. The prices are also welcoming for everything this country has to offer. Rugged stone churches and dazzling monasteries dot a pristine landscape of rocky mountains and rolling hills. Transylvania, the land that gave us Dracula, has no shortage of jaw-dropping castles pitched precariously on rocky hilltops. There’s spooky Bran Castle, of course, with its spurious connection to Bram Stoker’s fictional count, but don’t overlook beauties such as Hunedoara’s 14th-century Corvin Castle or King Carol I’s sumptuous 19th-century pile, Peleş Castle. In medieval towns like Braşov, Sighişoara and Sibiu, cobbled walkways support chic streetside cafes, while a cacophony of sounds emanating from student bars and clubs echo off the Gothic and baroque facades in lively Cluj-Napoca. Transylvania’s Saxon villages boast fortified churches that date back half a millennium.
Iceland
Do you like ice and white snow but also fun people and very stylish restaurants? If you want to experience all that, you should put Iceland on the list! You don’t need a lot of money but you will have plenty of fun! It’s a vast volcanic laboratory where mighty forces shape the earth: geysers gush, mudpots gloop, ice-covered volcanoes rumble and glaciers cut great pathways through the mountains. Its supercharged splendour seems designed to remind visitors of their utter insignificance in the greater scheme of things. And it works a treat: some crisp clean air, an eyeful of the cinematic landscapes, and everyone is transfixed. It’s the power of Icelandic nature to turn prosaic into the extraordinary. A dip in a pool becomes a soak in a geothermal lagoon; a casual stroll can transform into a trek across a glittering glacier; and a quiet night of camping may mean front-row seats to the aurora borealis’ curtains of light, or the soft, pinkish hue of the midnight sun. Iceland has a transformative effect on people too – its sagas turned brutes into poets, and its stories of huldufólk (hidden people) may make believers out of sceptics. Here you’ll find some of the world’s highest concentrations of dreamers, authors, artists and musicians, all fuelled by their surrounds.
Hungary
Hungary is one of the most cultural places on the planet that you can visit if you are on a tight budget. They have attractive nature spots but also plenty of clubs and restaurants to enjoy your evenings at! Stunning architecture, vital folk art, thermal spas and Europe’s most exciting capital after dark are Hungary’s major drawing cards. Architecturally Hungary is a treasure trove, with everything from Roman ruins and medieval townhouses to baroque churches, neoclassical public buildings, and art nouveau bathhouses and schools. And we’re not just talking about its capital, Budapest. Walkthrough Szeged or Kecskemét, Debrecen or Sopron and you’ll discover an architectural gem at virtually every turn. Indeed, some people go out of their way for another glimpse of their favorites, such as the Reök Palace in Szeged or the Mosque Church in Pécs. Hungary has one of the richest folk traditions still alive in Europe. With exquisite folk paintings found on the walls and ceilings of the tiny wooden churches of the Bereg region and the wonderful embroidery that the women of Hollókő stitch to decorate smocks, skirts, and slippers, this is often where the country comes to the fore artistically.
Florida
Florida is a wonderful state where many Americans decide to take a vacation to. But people from all over the world choose this state as it is full of sunshine and grand palms to admire at fairly affordable prices. Maybe there’s no mystery to what makes the Florida peninsula so intoxicating. Beaches as fine and sweet as powdered sugar, warm waters, rustling mangroves: all conspire to melt our workaday selves. People come to Florida to let go – of worries and winter, of inhibitions, even of reality. Some desire a beachside getaway of swimming, seafood and sunsets. Others seek the hedonism of South Beach, spring break or Key West. Some want birding and wildlife spotting, with gators, manatees and the elusive spoonbill. Others will lose themselves within the fantasy realms of Walt Disney World® and Orlando’s other theme parks.
