Frommer’s got its start in 1957 with a series of guidebooks about seeing the world on $5 a day. As you might have noticed, prices have gone up a little since then.
But there are still places across the globe where U.S. travelers can get plenty of bang for their bucks. This list gathers some of the best options for a cost-conscious international getaway.
Unless otherwise noted, prices have been converted to U.S. dollars.
(Credit: Richie Chan / Shutterstock)
Mexico
1 USD = 17.96 Mexican pesos (2026)
The dollar goes a long way south of the border right now, meaning hotel bargains are easy to find and you can budget for gluttonous meals in the land of mole and tortas. Getting there is pretty affordable, too, with numerous airfare deals to and from major U.S. cities.
To find the biggest savings in Mexico—as well as a rich and rewarding experience—skip the been-there, done-that beach resorts along the Caribbean, heading instead to magical villages with colorful architecture, tequila tastings, natural landmarks, and mysterious ruins. Visiting cutting-edge art museums and sampling world-renowned street food in Mexico City are other worthwhile ways to put pesos to use.
Pictured above: Guanajuato
(Credit: Pixabay)
Poland
1 USD = 3.60 złoty (2026)
A smart strategy for saving money in Europe is to travel east. Prices for hotels and airfare tend to drop as you move away from Western Europe.
In Poland, three cities ranked in the top 10 among Europe’s most affordable places on the 2025 City Costs Barometer compiled by the U.K.’s Post Office: Warsaw (pictured above) in third, Gdansk in seventh, and Krakow in eighth. All three places make compelling cases for visitors interested in castles, historic squares, and wide-ranging cultural experiences.
South Africa
1 USD = 16.37 rand (2026)
Bucket lists are easily vanquished in South Africa, where elephants lumber through national parks, waves crash into craggy cliffs at the Cape of Good Hope, and cable cars ascend the iconic Table Mountain for dazzling views of the Atlantic Ocean and the vibrant city of Cape Town. The country also has beaches, vineyards, and, most important, penguins.
Though airfare to South Africa is usually steep, Americans benefit once they get here from a favorable exchange rate and midrange hotel rooms that often go for around $100 a night (or less). Once in a lifetime? At these prices, you might be tempted to come back again and again.
(Credit: Quangpraha on Pixabay)
Vietnam
1 USD = 26,276 dong (2026)
Prices in Vietnam are famously low. Going, which specializes in airfare deal alerts, figures you can “easily” get by here on a daily budget of just $25–$35, and that includes hotel accommodations, restaurant meals, and transportation.
Beyond the French Colonial architecture and cosmopolitan vibe in Ho Chi Minh City and the unparalleled street food in bustling Hanoi, Vietnam offers budget-friendly adventures on its rivers, beaches, and historic sites such as the centuries-old shops and temples of Hoi An.
(Credit: marchello74 / Shutterstock)
Brazil
1 USD = 5.37 Brazilian reais (2026)
Though Brazil’s real continues to rebound from its plunge in late 2024, the currency remains weaker than the dollar. That gives U.S. travelers more spending power while visiting South America’s largest country and its famed beaches, vibrant cities, awe-inspiring natural wonders, and impressive cultural landmarks.
The comparatively low prices will help offset the extra charge tourists from the United States have to pay for Brazil’s visa requirement, which relaunched in 2025.
Thailand
1 USD = 31.32 baht (2026)
A favorable exchange rate and low cost of living combine to make Thailand an enduring hot spot among budget-minded international travelers. Whether lazing on beaches, popping into palaces and Buddhist temples, or sampling the nonstop commotion in Bangkok, you’ll spend so little on transportation, renowned street food, and entertainment that you’ll likely have plenty left over for a White Lotus–worthy splurge at a luxury resort—hopefully minus the criminal hanky-panky and pervasive anxiety.
Pictured above: Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen in Bangkok
(Credit: Omar Elsharawy on Unsplash)
Egypt
1 USD = 47.26 Egyptian pounds (2026)
A perennial dream destination for many, Egypt has experienced a range of economic challenges in recent years, but many analysts say the situation has begun to stabilize. Nevertheless, the country’s weakened currency makes meals, Nile River cruises, and tours of storied ancient sites remarkably affordable for international visitors. Additionally, you may find pharaonic luxury within reach at ritzy hotels near monuments and at beach resorts in Sharm el-Sheikh next to the Red Sea.
(Credit: Pixabay)
Argentina
1 USD = 1,461 Argentine pesos (2026)
Persistent economic issues have caused a dramatic devaluing of the Argentine peso. Consequently, the U.S. dollar stretches as far as the view from Mount Aconcagua. After strolling Buenos Aires‘s wide boulevards and stopping in at cafes and art museums, you’ll have plenty to spend on the country’s favorite reds—wine and meat—or you could put those savings toward airfare, which tends to be expensive to Argentina from North America.
You might even have room left in the budget for a trip to the Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia or, up along the Brazilian border, mighty Iguazu Falls (pictured above), which makes Niagara look like a trickle.
(Credit: Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash)
Indonesia
1 USD = 16,757 rupiah (2026)
Indonesia’s extremely favorable exchange rate, along with residents’ knack for simple, low-cost living, add up to one of the most affordable destinations on the globe. Hotels in the Southeast Asian archipelago can be booked for well under $100 per night, and you don’t have to skimp on meals, tours, and spa days, either.
Bali—long the country’s tourism capital—is a mainstay on lists of the world’s cheapest travel spots. But for a less crowded experience, head for equally fascinating isles like Sulawesi, Lombok (pictured above), and Komodo. Adventures involving hidden temples, surfing beaches, monkey-filled forests, and giant lizards are easy to find and easy to pay for.
Turkey
1 USD = 43.04 Turkish lira (2026)
Famously straddling Europe and Asia, Turkey (aka Türkiye) has historic, cultural, and natural wonders to rival any spot on either continent. And the country outdoes many of them—especially on the European side—when it comes to affordability.
Beyond the low rates for meals and accommodations, “domestic flights and intercity buses are well priced,” too, according to the Daily Dive travel site, making it possible to budget for a multistop itinerary stitching together storied Istanbul (pictured above), rocky Cappadocia, and the beachy Turquoise Coast.
That said, financial analysts do advise travelers to watch out for price changes caused by Turkey’s economic volatility and high inflation.
A previous version of this story has been updated for 2026.
