If traveling is on your bucket list this year and you looking for best value for your travel dollar then consider these destinations for you to explore. Napal is where close friends of our call home. We love with the passion for the people who call it home. Napal is filled with friendly community where you can thrive in adventures. I personally have explored much of Portgual and can tell you it is one of my favourite destinations for culture and value. We hope these suggestions will get you connected to your sense of adventure!
1. Nepal
Nepal is bouncing back from earthquakes and a fuel strike that made getting round the country tough. It remains a fabulous choice for budget-conscious travellers, who can access the best of its world-famous trekking routes and underrated wildlife for well south of US$50 a day. Visitor numbers are slowly recovering and the time is ripe to get back to Nepal’s mighty mountains; wherever you go, you’ll receive a warm welcome, as your visit brings much-needed income to communities getting back on their feet.
RETURN TO THE PEAKS OF RECOVERING NEPAL
Trekkers descending from Nepal’s Thorung La, the highest mountain pass in the world © Feng Wei Photography / Getty Images
2. Namibia
Namibia’s dollar, pegged to the South African rand, has been depreciating in value against many currencies for a few years, making now an opportune time to experience this amazing country. And what experiences are on offer: desert- wildlife spotting in Etosha National Park, the incredible wilderness hike through Fish River Canyon and sand surfing at the mighty Sossusvlei Dunes. Avoid South African and European school-holiday times, especially late December and January, for the best-priced flights, which generally connect through Johannesburg, or look for seasonal charter flights from Frankfurt (Germany) operated by Condor. The great blue sky, contrasted with the clear starry nights that remain the longest in the memories of many visitors to Namibia, won’t cost you a dime.
The Namib Desert contains some of the world’s tallest sand dunes © Westend61 / Getty Images
3. Porto, Portugal
Here’s a European city that still manages to fly under the radar. It hardly seems believable given Porto’s stunning setting on the Rio Douro and excellent, affordable eating and accommodation – not to mention the fleet of budget airlines from around Europe and the direct flights from New York that make getting here better value than ever. Portugal’s second city has a clutch of inexpensive museums, cheap vintage trams to delight the transport nerd in your party and a pebbly beach an hour’s walk along the riverbank. Atmospheric wine caves offer inexpensive tours and tastings, and day trips to vineyards are easy to arrange. The city’s signature sandwich, the heart-stopping Francesinha, will fill your stomach with steak, ham, sausage, melted cheese and a lively tomato sauce, and might be the only meal you need to eat all day. As a bonus, one is often more than enough for two.
An aerial view of Porto from the Teleférico de Gaia cable car © Emma Sparks / Captured on Samsung Galaxy S7 / S7 edge
4. Venice, Italy
Value and Venice: two things that don’t often go together – yet the Lagoon City is unmissable, and scores of travellers arrive every day hoping to see it without breaking the bank. Traditionally the advice was to stay in Mestre, or even Treviso, and take the train in for the day, but this didn’t allow for late-night strolls or evenings checking out the city’s osterie (bars). Now, with locals letting out rooms and apartments on Airbnb and sites like it, you can stay in Venice itself and save money at the same time. Billeted in an area of the city away from the tourist throngs and with a kitchen at your disposal, you can have some meals in, avoid transport costs in and out of the city, and make sure you’re first in the queue for Venice’s heavy hitters.
