Cambridge, MA (Vocus) July 21, 2010
It’s officialafter several years of penny-pinching, staycations, and a weak dollar, travelers are ready to start exploring the world again. To help travelers get back in the game, Let’s Go Travel Guides has compiled a list of its top summer travel destinations for student travelers looking to splurge a little or save. The following destinations include:
10. National Parks
National parks, in the U.S. and abroad, get big thumbs up as a staycation alternative. Cheap, often relatively close, and undeniably beautiful, national parks around the countryand the worldoffer unique opportunities for the budget traveler. Campsites run for less per night than hotel rooms, smores cost a fraction of restaurant fare, and aside from modest park entry fees, mountains and trees tend to be pretty easy on the wallet.
9. Dublin
With a recent slowdown in economic growth and the weakening of the euro, Dublin is an increasingly budget-friendly travel hotspot. Despite its increasingly cosmopolitan reputation, modern Dublin still has the quirky flavor of a large town busily engaged in neighborhood pursuits. The citys distinctive neighborhoods, significant student population, blossoming art and theater scenes, and an ever-thriving pub culture help Dublin retain its youthful Guinness-fueled jaunt.
8. Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, or “fresh air”, is quickly becoming one of the most popular cities for study abroad in Latin America. Student travelers are bound to meet young people from every corner of the world, not to mention locals who grill until midnight and regard a night out that ends at 4am as a weak attempt. From the Recoleta (think the Upper East Side with a pinch of Paris) to Boca (canary-yellow townhouses that empty out for rowdy soccer matches every night), Buenos Aires isnt just a city of tango and opera anymore. Argentinas capital is like a European city at Latin American prices, with easy access to world-class skiing, wine, and beaches.
7. Paris
Intemperance? Gluttony? Sex addiction? Ballet? There isn’t a vice that hasn’t been indulged in by previous generations in Paris. Steeped in history and allusions right down to its sewers, Paris weaves a spell in stone and sunlight. With the euro weaker than its been in years, travel in the City of Light, though still expensive, is cheaper than it was a year ago. The saying: One mans debt crisis is another mans favorable exchange rate. is spot-on when talking about travel to Paris.
6. Thailand
With a unique mix of tiny islands and bustling cities like Bangkok, Thailand offers a truly uniqueand affordablegetaway. With a little guidance, its easy to find safe, cheap, and comfy beds after a long day of elephant riding or bowing before glittering golden Buddha statues. The flight to the “Land of Smiles” may be expensive, but once there, a thriving backpacking scene and inexpensive food and lodging make Thailand a budget-travel paradise for students.
5. Costa Rica and Nicaragua
From middle-aged cannabis enthusiasts to spring-breaking co-eds, budget travelers of every age seem to appreciate the wonders of Costa Rica. Stable politics and a top-notch tourist infrastructure have made it Central Americas tourist hotspot since the 1970s. Cheaper, less touristed, and with its political troubles behind it, Nicaragua is poised to give its neighbor to the south a run for its colonesor c
Top Ten Summer Travel Destinations From Let"s Go Travel Guides
