5 Bargain Vacation Destinations Off the Beaten Path

Instead of Vail. . .

Your bargain vacation in Snowbasin, Utah

Colorado has a slew of ski resorts that draw plenty of season passholders and other visitors, thanks to a variety of terrain, high-quality facilities and plentiful lodging. To spend more time on the slopes and less time shivering in line for the lift, venture further afield.

The facilities at Snowbasin, an hour’s drive from the Salt Lake City airport, were revamped for the 2002 Winter Olympics (the resort hosted the downhill, Super G and combined races). But its location is just remote enough to put off the masses. 

Trails are suitable for all levels of skiing across more than 3,000 acres, and the terrain is varied, too. “Snowbasin has bits of Utah all in one place, from the rolling mountains of Park City to the steep, rugged terrain of Cottonwood Canyons,” said Evan Reece, co-founder of Liftopia, an online seller of lift tickets. 

An excursion to the nearby ski resort of Powder Mountain can be tacked on to the same trip. Facilities there are not as fancy as Snowbasin’s, but it has more than 8,464 skiable acres — more than any other resort in the U.S.

Your trip to Powder Mountain

• You’ll also pay less to schuss down the slopes. A lift ticket for a Saturday in February at Vail recently cost $260 online. For the same date, you could buy a lift ticket for $139 at Powder Mountain.

There are condos and rentals near both mountains. But in nearby Ogden, you’ll have your pick of accommodations and après-ski activities, including indoor skydiving, rock climbing and stand-up comedy. Public buses connect both Snowbasin and Powder Mountain with several stops in Ogden ($10 for round-trip fare). The bus ride takes about 45 minutes each way.

Instead of Barcelona. . .

Your bargain vacation in Lima, Peru

Fans of architect Antoni Gaudí may settle for nothing less than a trip to Barcelona, where his sculptural buildings and towering Sagrada Familia enliven the city. Barcelona also features dozens of museums, Catalan cooking, a thriving nightlife and sandy beaches. But you will be far from alone: The city hosts more than 30 million visitors each year.

If you simply want to spend a few days reveling in art, architecture and cuisine in a lively city, head south to Lima, Peru, instead. 

But Peru has some excellent cultural finds awaiting you. 

Lima-based restaurants offer cuisine ranging from Peruvian-Japanese “Nikkei” to ingredients sourced from different altitudes. Overall, restaurant prices in Barcelona are 50.1% higher than those in Lima, reports Numbeo.com, a database of costs contributed by users from around the world.

The old colonial town of Lima comes to life in its historic center, designated a Unesco World Heritage Site. You can tour the catacombs at the San Francisco Church and Convent for $5 or watch the changing of the guard outside Government Palace, the former residence of Francisco Pizarro, a Spanish explorer and founder of Lima. 

Or explore Huaca Pucllana, 1,500-year-old ruins that rise up in the upscale Miraflores district. On the artsy side, pre-Columbian objects and textiles are on display at the Lima Art Museum and the Larco Museum.

 Four-star hotels averaged $94 a night, compared with $233 in Barcelona, according to the latest available rates from budgetyourtrip.com.

Instead of Costa Rica. . .

Your bargain vacation in Nicaragua

Tourists flock to Costa Rica for its wildlife, lush rainforest, volcanoes and surfing beaches. But it’s no bargain; prices are comparable to those in the average U.S. beach city, said Tim Leffel, author of The World’s Cheapest Destinations. And the region is popular, drawing the most international tourists in Central America in 2022, according to Islander News.

People have been more hesitant to visit Nicaragua, Costa Rica’s northern neighbor, despite its similar attractions. Although the travel experience is not as cushy as in Costa Rica, you’ll pay about one-third the price, said Leffel. 

Plus, many of the country’s highlights — including the historic colonial cities of Granada and León, as well as the surfing mecca of San Juan del Sur — are within a two- to three-hour drive of each other and the capital city, Managua.

• Nicaragua has striking Spanish colonial architecture and a more untouched local culture. Granada and León boast colorful, centuries-old churches and cathedrals, and museums and street art in León trace the history of the revolution. Granada is also a jumping-off point for visiting the hundreds of tiny tropical islands, or isletas, in Lake Nicaragua.
• Restaurants are cheaper in Nicaragua, too. According to Numbeo, a three-course meal for two at a midrange restaurant costs about $29 in Nicaragua and $56 in Costa Rica. Or you can piece together meals from street stands for a couple of dollars.

As more luxury hotels pop up, the country is shedding its backpacker reputation. For example, the Hospes Palacio de los Patos, a palace-turned-hotel in Granada, has rooms starting at $150 per night in January when the average temperature is 82 degrees. (These rates do not include the first week in January which is the tail end of the holiday travel period.)

The country is also an emerging destination for yoga retreats. The Aqua Wellness Resort offers daily yoga classes on an outdoor platform overlooking the Pacific Ocean, as well as a private cove for snorkeling and spa treatments that include body scrubs derived from volcanic clay. 

We found treehouse rooms starting at $131.50 per night in January; some feature private plunge pools or outdoor showers. Neighbors may include howler monkeys and parrots in the surrounding forest, or sea turtles nestled in the sand.

Instead of Santorini. . .

Your bargain vacation on the Greek island of Paros

Santorini, famous for its whitewashed homes with cobalt-blue accents that climb the steep hills of Oia, draws millions of tourists — especially to watch the sunset over the island’s sea-filled volcanic crater. In fact, it's one of the most popular ports in the country.

But you’ll also find gleaming, sun-kissed villages on nearby Paros. The island is larger than Santorini and has fewer visitors, which translates to lower prices and a more laid-back feel.

Many activities revolve around the clear blue Mediterranean waters. For example, Golden Beach is a windsurfing hub. Or you can try a free spa treatment by coating yourself in clay at Kalogeros Beach. 

In the island’s capital, Parikia, you’ll find an archaeological museum and the historic Panagia Ekatontapiliani church. Or sample wines at the Moraitis Winery in the village of Naoussa. There are several caves to explore on the island, as well as inland walking trails that pass by Byzantine churches and castle ruins.

Flights to Athens spike in the summer, but keep an eye out for periodic dips. To get to Paros, you can hop a 40-minute flight from Athens. Or take a ferry from Athens; fares on Blue Star Ferries start at $42 each way. 

Plenty of boutique properties are affordable all year round. For example, the beachside Senia Hotel is a short walk from the center of Naoussa and features a heated infinity pool. Doubles start at $288 in the July–August high season. On average, four-star hotels went for $150 in Paros in the summer of 2023, compared with $270 in Santorini, according to Expedia.

Instead of a Safari in Kruger National Park. . .

Your bargain safari at the Shamwari Game Reserve

Kruger National Park, in northeastern South Africa, is teeming with animal life. It’s also one of the most popular safari destinations in Africa, along with the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania.

• For more-secluded sightings of lions, giraffes, rhinoceroses and other wildlife, head to a private game park in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, such as the nearly 62,000-acre Shamwari Game Reserve. Port Elizabeth, the closest town, is a short flight from Cape Town. And unlike Kruger National Park, Shamwari is malaria-free.
  The land is fenced, meaning there is no natural migration of animals as there is in Kruger, but private reserves also limit the number of vehicles allowed at a sighting (typically to two). And you will encounter only guests who have paid to stay overnight, rather than day-trippers.
  “The volume of people who go there is much lower than Kruger, so it feels like you and nature,” said Sherwin Banda, president of African Travel Inc., a luxury tour operator.
• The upscale lodges at Shamwari cost about 20% to 30% less than similar properties in the private reserves around Kruger, said Murray Gardiner, co-owner of Giltedge, a luxury tour operator in South Africa. You can save money and hand off the logistics by joining a tour.
  For example, Lion World Travel recently offered its seven-night “Tented Safari in Style” for $2,999 in 2023, excluding round-trip flights from New York. In addition to a few days in Cape Town and wine-tasting in the Stellenbosch region, the package includes three nights at Shamwari in a detached safari tent with heating and air conditioning, a private plunge pool, and an outdoor shower. Guests will embark on game drives and guided bush walks, with a pause at sunset for cocktails.

For a more independent, ground-only option, Giltedge offers a self-driving tour starting at $2,300 in 2023. It includes three nights in Cape Town, two nights at a town along the Garden Route, and three nights in a lodge next to Shamwari, where you can partake in game drives and bush walks.