Well hello to you my reader chum! Travel doesn't have to be expensive, as the world is massive and there are 195 countries to see and explore, you have your pick of budget locations. As I've spent all of my twenties so far travelling the world on a budget, I've experienced the cheapest and the most expensive places, where the majority sit in the middle and you can make them cheap.

If you're new to travelling in your twenties, here's my guide on affordable destinations worldwide you can visit.

European countries

I adore everything about Europe and love how many countries I've had the pleasure of experiencing and exploring. Europe has more to it than meets the eye with a diverse range of cultures, monuments, traditions and food to explore. From the UK, Europe is incredibly accessible with cheap flights to various destinations and most locations can cater to a small budget, if you plan effectively.

Krakow, Poland

Poland is the only country I've come home to with lots of money left over, I couldn't believe how cheap it was. Krakow is Poland's most known destination, making it easy for new travellers to explore with ease and find their way around. Krakow is a gorgeous city with a quaint old town, wholesome food experiences and plenty of sights, including the salt mines, Wawel Castle and Auschwitz. Krakow also features brilliant nightlife and cute places to shop, roam and admire.

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest has gained a reputation as a cheap European destination and a very young appeal, great for travellers in their twenties. It's home to the famous Szechenyi thermal baths, one of the reasons you'll find many hen-dos here. Despite the electric nightlife, Budapest is more than a booze city with plenty of sights to see and activities to fill your days, such as Gellért Hill and Buda Castle. As a backpacker-friendly place, you can find cheap accommodation, free sights and affordable eats.

Sicily, Italy

I adore Sicily, I wish I had more time there to explore as it is so incredibly gorgeous in every way, from the friendly people to delicious cuisine and endless beaches. Located in southern Italy, Sicily is very affordable overall, but specifically Palermo for a city break. Palermio is a dreamy destination because it's packed with historic sights, amazing food markets and plenty to do on a budget. It's also nearby to other destinations, such as Mondello beach which costs 1-2 euros to arrive on the bus.

Porto, Portugal

Porto is an amazing alternative to Portugal's capital, Lisbon and in my opinion is a more exciting city, and slightly less touristy. I found Porto exceptionally cheaper than Lisbon with endless gorgeous sights to keep you busy, such as Clerigos Tower, Porto Cathedral, Riberia and the Gardens of Crystal Palace. 

Bologna, Italy

I adore everywhere in Italy I've visited and had to mention another city and a favourite of mine, Bologna. As my favourite city up north, Bologna isn't as touristy as many other popular cities and has a more authentic Italian appeal. The food here is insanely delicious, from the classic ragu, tortellini, cured meats, and lasagne to gelato. Honestly, you can just eat around the city and enjoy some of the main sights, such as Piazza Maggiore, Torre Degli Asinelli and the San Luca sanctuary.

Asian countries 

Sri Lanka

I could rave about Sri Lanka all day long, the country is everything to me and one I have many amazing memories of. As I backpacked through for two weeks I fell in love with the nature, the people, the new cuisine and the endless sights. It offered me a diverse range of experiences, from an elephant safari,  UNESCO World Heritage sites, hiking opportunities and beautiful temples. Favoruite budget spots include Dambulla, Anuradhapura and Kandy. 

Vietnam

Vietnam will always be one of my favourite countries for many reasons, there's something about it that makes my heart soar. And for budget travellers, Vietnam is gold dust. The food, experiences and accommodations are exceptionally cheap, even though it's such a popular destination with backpackers. Vietnam is incredibly diverse, from the mountainous landscape, amazing food markets, beautiful pagodas, wild traffic and nature scene. Some of the best spots to visit include Hanoi, Hue, Cat Ba Island, Ha Long Bay and Hoi An.

Indonesia

Indonesia is more than only Bali and as much as I adore Bali, it's not the cheapest spot to visit in Indonesia but in many ways is worth it (and can still be done cheaply). Indonesia also includes the  Gili Islands, Komodo Island (although a tour here is on the pricier side), Malang and Yogyakarta. In Yogyakarta, you can visit some out-of-this-world temples and Malang does tours to Mount Bromo, an experience like no other.

Malaysia 

Malaysia is a country that surprised me in many ways, including its diverse culture and how cheap it was. I expected Malaysia to be more expensive as it's rather modern, compared to other south-east Asian countries. Some incredible locations include the Cameron Highlands (the best hiking experiences), Penang and Kuala Lumpur.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Where would you like to visit next?

Thank you for reading <3