1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Budget Travel

Book Review: The World's Cheapest Destinations

About.com Rating 4

By , About.com Guide

The Bottom Line
Tim Leffel outlines a strategy that is all but lost on most travelers: find an inexpensive destination, and your other money-saving plans become effortless. This short volume identifies 21 nations where your currency will stretch to amazing limits.
Compare Prices
Pros
  • A seldom-considered approach to travel planning
  • Helpful hints on individual nations
  • An entertaining read that can be finished in one sitting
Cons
  • Some destinations may be too exotic to be practical
  • You'll still need to purchase a detailed guidebook
Description
  • Published by Booklocker.com, Inc.
  • Publication date, 2003
  • 113 pages
Guide Review - Book Review: The World's Cheapest Destinations

Most of us pick a spot on the globe, and then begin finding low airfares, cheap food, or inexpensive rooms.

Tim Leffel says we've got it backwards.

This book proposes choosing destinations that are known money-savers.

For example, Leffel says Malaysia boasts some of the world's most beautiful beaches, and at a fraction of price for more frequently visited coastlines. Antiquities in Turkey and Egypt will cost less to visit than those in Greece. The castles of Hungary are cheaper to see than those of France.

This is not a book for the timid. Leffel proposes visiting places like Laos, Nepal and Venezuela. It's likely many of us barely have enough vacation time for Paris or London.

But Leffel's suggestions could be added to a so-called traditional itinerary. For example, add the Czech Republic to Germany/Switzerland; add Laos to a China/Vietnam journey.

Leffel describes huge, delicious meals purchased for a few US dollars. He visits places where extra money may not add much comfort. Of his visit to Morocco, Leffel says, "the worst hotel we stayed in was $8 (USD per night) and the best one we stayed in was $8. It just depends on where you are."

Although it won't take the place of a detailed guidebook, it provides enough specific information to warrant a small corner of your baggage.

Leffel's book should whet your appetite for a money-saving adventure of the first rank. If he at least gets you thinking about low-cost itineraries, we salute him!

Compare Prices
User Reviews Write Review
Explore Budget Travel
About.com Special Features

Holiday Central

What to eat, where to go, fun things to do and how to save money on the perfect gifts. More >

Hot Winter Travel Deals

Check out these tips on finding the best airfare, hotel rates and cruise deals. More >

  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Budget Travel
  4. Planning Tools/Strategies
  5. Book Review: The World's Cheapest Destinations

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.