If you had 550 euro to spend on a holiday for a week, where would you go?
This was my question for the survey that I conducted to find out about students' preferences when it comes to holidays. The gap between the two answers is considerably high: 74 % opted out for destinations in Europe and only 26% considered travelling on a different continent.
The reasons for which people chose Europe as their destination include fast and low-cost flights and familiarity with the specific culture or language. But other amazing places are waiting to be discovered, and why not do it?
Indeed, travelling to Europe can be cheap but mostly in terms of transport. You can easily find affordable plane, train, boat and even FlixBus tickets for only 99 cents when on sale! However, the accommodation is generally pricey, especially if you were to stay in a hotel; not to mention other expenses including food, drink, leisure, local transport, buying souvenirs, etc.
So instead of paying a low price for flights but spending more on amenities why not consider doing the vice versa: pay more for the tickets and spend less while on an exotic destination which will offer you a different experience compared to most places in Europe?
Why precisely 555 euro? This blog post offers you suggestion on group holidays for seven days and six nights for five people, paying below 500 euro each. The rest can be allocated individually for expenses, but most likely, you won’t even spend it all since most places very cheap. Before saying that it is never going to happen, check out below the top destinations for budget group travel outside Europe!
I have researched what is the cheapest and best month to visit each country in terms of flight tickets on www.skyscanner.com and found budget-friendly deals for accommodation on www.booking.com. The best options when travelling as a group is to share an apartment or guest house as you will not only save up to 30 euro per night but also have more fun together.
1.Marrakesh, Morocco
If you ever wanted to explore the diversity of nature such as deserts and mountains, this is the perfect location to do it. Some places include the Agafay desert, The Atlas Mountains, Ouzoud waterfalls where you can ride a quad, go hiking, canyoning, get in a hot air balloon and even ride a camel! Other reasons to visit one of the largest cities in Morocco include the subtropical climate all year round (for those who like sunny weather), its tasty cuisine, souks and markets and luxurious services offered at an affordable price even for those travelling with a low budget
Visit Marrakesh – www.audleytravel.com
Cheapest month: may.jpg?width=325&name=download%20(1).jpg)
Flights €13
Accommodation €48
Meals €70
Local transport €28
Total: €277
2. Bangkok, Thailand
For those looking to get a beach holiday and to discover the Asian culture, Thailand is among the best options. The cheapest places to fly to are Bangkok and Chiang Mai. From there you can easily get to other famous sites such as Krabi or Phuket by ferry for less than 25 euro ticket per person. Do not get scared by the high flight ticket price, because once reaching the final destination everything including food, drink and leisure is so cheap that you can spend no more than 100 euro on everything for your seven days stay. The main activities in Bangkok include trying the street food, go to night markets, get a Thai massage, swim in the most amazing beaches and visit sacred temples.
Cheapest month: September
Flights (if to depart from London) € 362 + €28 return ticket London'Dublin)Accommodation €43
Meals €42
Local transport €25
Total €500
3. Cairo, Egypt
Living a lifetime and not see at least one of the seven wonders of the world is a pity! The famous pyramid of Giza, the Great Sphinx, the valley of Kings and other ancient mosques and temples in Egypt are like no others in the world. The art, culture, food, landscapes and beaches will fascinate every visitor who has chosen Egypt for their holidays. For those passionate of diving, the Red Sea in Egypt is one of the best to explore the submarine world or, you can get a group adventure in the Safari and discover the black desert and the oasis.
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Cheapest month: March
Flights €280
Accommodation €42
Meals €56
Local transport €28
Total: 406
4. Saint Petersburg, Russia
Party like a Russian they say! Well, let's immerse yourself in the Russian culture for at least seven days to see what exactly people mean by this statement. Not only the nightlife or the lifestyle of the Russians will surprise you, but also their delicious food, impressive museums and monuments. Since the flights to Moscow and the overall expenses can reach higher than €500, I advise you to visit Saint Petersburg which is known as the second capital of Moscow or the city of white nights in the peak of summer. The city is also called 'the Venice of the North' thanks to its network of canals and bridges where you can take a cruise around the town and explore the most famous landmarks. Once there do not miss the spectacle of the Neva Bridges which open for a few hours during the night, the Palace Square, fortresses, theatres and museums.
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Cheapest month: March
Flights €120
Accommodation €30
Meals €100
Local transport €28
Total €278
5. Tbilisi, Georgia
If you and your friends are passionate food lovers, then you should consider going to Georgia. One week would probably not be enough to taste the wide variety of dishes they have including the famous khachapuri (cheese bread), khinkali (dumplings), ajapsandaly (vegetable stew) and many more, also not to forget about the great wines they have. Must visit places include breath-taking landscapes, Black Sea beaches, caves, green valleys, etc. It is a great place to go camping or hiking and stop overnight in local people's lodgements who are very welcoming and hospitable. For those who are not fond of long flights, Georgia is the perfect destination as you will get there in less than four hours on a plane. Its capital -Tbilisi has a rich history, unique architecture and hosts numerous music festivals throughout the year.
Cheapest month: April
Flights €209
Accommodation €30
Meals €42
Local transport €14
Total €295
What are you waiting for? If you are adventurous, want to discover new places around the world, familiarize yourself with other cultures and passionate about travel, do not hesitate to organize a group holiday with your peers. You don’t need to be rich to explore the world, all you need is desire to travel, a group of friends, a week off and 555 euro in your pocket!
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