Booking on a Budget? Here Are 9 Cheap Places to Travel Right Now

Inflation, housing prices, groceries. There's no doubt about it… simply existing in 2025 is expensive. But that's not stopping us from travelling far and wide! In fact, we found that 43% of Canadians are planning to spend the same amount on vacations this year as last year, and 37% plan to spend even more!

Despite vacation budgets remaining intact for many of us this year, 86% of Canadians are rethinking how they spend money on travel to prioritize affordability and make the most of every dollar. Safe to say finding cheap places to travel has never been more important. We're talking double the experiences for half the price! From affordable airfares and favourable exchange rates to easy trade-offs you can make to save money on the road — we've taken it all into consideration.

So, without further ado, here are nine of the most affordable destinations for Canadian travellers looking to get more bang for their buck right now.

• Spain
• Mexico
• Japan
• Argentina
• Vietnam
• Australia
• Netherlands
• Costa Rica
• Canada

As far as budget-friendly travel destinations in Europe go, Spain is a fantastic option for anyone in search of amazing food, rich history and a vibrant culture. Our booking data found that flights to Spain are down approximately $178 from last year, with airfares currently costing Canadian travellers an average of $1,218. We did the math, and you could buy an extra 20 rounds of tapas in Barcelona with those savings — and that's being generous!

If you're on an especially tight budget, trade major cities like Barcelona, Madrid and San Sebastián for more affordable spots like Seville, Granada or Valencia. No matter where you go, you'll also want to make the most of all the delicious, reasonably priced local food on offer (remember the tapas we mentioned?).

Pro tip: It pays to be organized! We've crunched the numbers, and our customers generally bagged the biggest savings when booking their vacations three to four months in advance. Chat with your Travel Expert today to get the ball rolling!

Tacos, tequila, gorgeous beaches, all-inclusive resorts — there's a lot for you and your wallet to love about Mexico! With return flights costing an average of $522, it's an affordable spot for those in need of a beach break and some sunshine.

All-inclusive hotels and resorts, especially in areas like Playa del Carmen and Cancún, are a great way to cut out excess spending since pretty much everything you'll need (food, drinks and activities) is taken care of without leaving the resort.

Prefer the cultural buzz of Mexico City? Here you'll find delicious street food and super cheap eats to fuel your travels without breaking the bank — perfect for those on a shoestring budget.

Cheap flights and a weaker yen over the past few years have made Japan a much more budget-friendly place for Canadians to visit right now. In fact, we've seen the cost of flights to Japan from major Canadian cities drop by approximately 28% over the last 12 months, resulting in average savings of $451 for travellers.

And as if that wasn't enough reason to pack your bags and head straight for Tokyo, your Canadian dollars will stretch roughly 37% further in Japan today than they would have five years ago. This means you can splurge on sushi and the Shinkansen for less!

Pro tip: Ask your Travel Expert about ways to cut your transportation costs in Japan. For example, a Japan Rail Pass may be an excellent way to save some money depending on where you're going. 

Argentina is an often overlooked destination, but it's easily one of the best budget travel spots in South America right now.

Due to extreme inflation rates and economic instability, the Argentine peso continues to weaken dramatically against other currencies. Just five years ago, $1 CAD was equivalent to about $100 ARS — today that same Canadian dollar will get you over $900 ARS, making Argentina a very cheap country for international travellers to visit.

With your dollar stretching further than ever, a trip to Argentina is a good opportunity to experience affordable luxury. Think boutique hotels and high-quality dining, all for a fraction of what you'd expect to pay elsewhere. Not to mention bucket-list natural wonders like Patagonia and Iguazú Falls on the cheap. Sign us up!

Perfect for those on a backpacker's budget and considerably more affordable than other vacation spots across South, East and Central Asia, Vietnam is the perfect budget destination for your next vacation.

Flights to Vietnam may be long, but once you arrive you'll be met with deliciously cheap street food, affordable local transportation and budget hotel options. The Vietnamese dong has also been steadily weakening since January, meaning your dollars will buy you more now than they would have at the start of the year!

Pro tip: Travelling between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue and other big cities? Long-distance sleeper buses are a popular way to see everything this country in Southeast Asia has to offer without costing an arm and a leg. 

The land down under is just about as far away from Canada as it's possible to go. So, while that one-off expense of flights to Australia isn't inexpensive, according to our booking data they're $158 cheaper now than this time last year on average. In other words: if an Australian vacation is on your bucket list, now's the perfect time to make it a reality.

Whether you're hitting the stunning beaches in Queensland or exploring iconic cities like Sydney and Melbourne, one way to make the trip more affordable is to book budget accommodation options that come with a kitchen.

We found that 29% of Canadians have decided to limit dining out and prepare their own food while on vacation to make travel more affordable. And while we're definitely not suggesting that you skip Australia's food scene altogether, even being able to prepare your own breakfast (Vegemite on toast, anyone?) and a dinner or two can make a huge difference!

While the Netherlands may not be the cheapest country on this list, Canadian travellers are saving big on flights to Amsterdam this year. In fact, airfares have dropped a whopping 25% on average over the past 12 months, helping budget travellers to experience this top tourist destination for less. A Euro vacation for a fraction of the price? Yes, please!

Once you land in Amsterdam, there are plenty of ways to continue stretching the budget. Think cheap eats, free walking tours, budget hotel options with complimentary breakfast included and affordable bicycle transport. Plus, once you've got yourself over to Europe, hopping across to other countries like France, Germany, Belgium and the UK is a piece of cake thanks to ridiculously cheap domestic flights and the Eurostar.

Pro tip: Tourist attractions like canal cruises, the Rijksmuseum and Anne Frank House can add up quickly, so ask your Travel Expert about Amsterdam museum discount cards and city passes. Depending on which attractions you're planning to visit, this is often one of the cheapest ways to see everything.

If you're looking for cheap destinations in Central America, there are more than a couple of reasons to choose Costa Rica. For one thing, we've seen the cost of flights come down by approximately $127 compared to 2024, now setting Canadian travellers back just $483 on average for a round trip.

Despite being a relatively small country, there's plenty to see and do here for those travelling on a backpacker's budget or just keen to save some cash. Many of Costa Rica's top natural attractions — including hiking trails in Cahuita National Park, Rio Celeste Waterfall and Arenal Volcano National Park — charge very reasonable prices for entry, making it the perfect destination for budget travellers focused on nature experiences.

Pro tip: Trade-off for travel! According to our data, nearly four in five Canadians have passed up buying non-essential or luxury goods and almost 35% have skipped dining out to help fund their dream trip.

Last but not least, it should come as no surprise that one of the cheapest places to travel on a budget right now is our own beautiful backyard. Full of hidden gems and unique experiences, there's a reason travellers flock to Canada.

Explore the rugged coastlines of Prince Edward Island, take a city break in Québec or rediscover the Rockies in Banff and Jasper — Canada spans almost 10 million km², so we're pretty sure there's a destination or two that you haven't visited yet!

And the best part? Without the added expenses (and hassle) of currency exchange, visas, passport applications and international flights, you'll have more money to spend on experiences in your destination, helping you to maximize that travel budget.

Pro tip: Plan your trip in the off-season for more affordable prices and fewer crowds. According to our data, a staggering 94% of Canadians prioritize good value over the perfect weather when booking travel.

Ready to start planning your next budget trip but not quite sure where to start? You're not alone! More than a third (38%) of Canadians say that comparing prices and finding the best value is one of the trickiest parts of booking a vacation, and 36% say it's hard to find availability during affordable travel dates. But don't worry, that's where we come in!

Chat with your Travel Expert today so we can help you plan an affordable vacation that works with your wallet — without compromising on experience.

_{^{Exchange rates are approximate, correct as of July 2025.}}

_{^{Airfare prices and savings are based on Flight Centre Canada's booking insights, comparing March–May 2024 to March–May 2025.}}

_{^{Unless otherwise stated, all other data is based on a national survey conducted by YouGov in consultation with Flight Centre Travel Group in January 2025.}}