10大花钱最少的国家

Top 10: Bargain Countries

Looking for a cheap getaway, but want to avoid civil war and strife? Check out our list of top 10 bargain countries. These are countries where your American dollar will go the farthest, and you’ll have tons of ways to spend it. The more attractions each of our bargain countries have and the better their exchange rates, the higher they rank on our list.

Whether these bargain countries boast the perfect spots for scuba diving, dining and partying, or they have the best beaches, our list of top 10 bargain countries covers it all.

To illustrate the great value you’ll find in these bargain countries we’ve also created the Beer Index, which calculates in American dollars how much a pint of beer costs in each country.

Ready for good deals on great sights? Shop around our list of top 10 bargain countries.

Number 10
South Africa
Do you want to see a great white shark, watch a pride of lions close in on a pack of water buffalo, drink wine at a world-class vineyard, place bets at a casino, then wake up early to surf some of the best waves on earth? Few countries have this kind of itinerary, much less for this kind of price. Currently, 1 U.S. dollar goes for about 7.5 South African rands. You’ll find some areas that are pricier than others, but overall this country gives you a lot more bang for your buck. Plus with so much to do you may need another vacation to catch up on sleep. The bonus: With your savings from this favorable exchange rate, you’ll have a much better chance of affording one.

Beer index: $1.98 a pint

Number 9
Turkey
From classic architecture to culture to cuisine, this country has plenty to offer travelers. And thanks to the U.S. dollar exchanging at 1,260,400 Turkish new lira, you can take advantage of a lot more of it. Visit its largest city, Istanbul, where you can shop at its grand bazaar -- a huge outdoor series of shops, some consider the oldest of its kind in the world. At its cafes and restaurants you can snack on kebabs, smoke a hookah, and finish with a caffeine upper cut from a strong Turkish coffee. Plus you can easily go through a memory card of photos shooting its ancient mosques and distinctive architecture. Finally, make Indiana Jones proud with a visit to Istanbul’s museum of archeology that has a collection of artifacts that are hard to rival. Book soon; with everything this country has to offer, it won’t stay one of our bargain countries for long.

Beer index: $2.50

Number 8
Estonia
Look north to find Estonia on a map. It’s a Baltic state that shares land borders with Latvia and Russia, and sea borders with Finland and Sweden. Its strong high-tech culture has inspired people to give it the nickname “E-stonia;” this means you shouldn’t have much trouble finding an internet connection. Also its capital, Tallinn, is considered one of the nuttier party spots in the region. Just make sure to visit in the summer for its Beer and Music Festival.

Do you like the outdoors? This bargain country has plenty of national parks to hike in and visit. Here’s the great part: 1 U.S. dollar equals around 10 Estonian kroons. You’ll have plenty of cash to sample the local beer (Saku) and local vodka (Vironian White) with lots left to cover a Bloody Mary and Tylenol in the morning.

Beer index: $1.95 in Tallin

Number 7
Ecuador
Thanks to the nearby Galapagos Islands, its chunk of the Amazon and the Andes, this country is one of the most bio-diverse in the world. And with its official currency being the U.S. dollar, you can take in its diversity on a healthy budget. Check out Quito, Ecuador’s capital and World Heritage city that offers museums, plus the world’s second highest cable car that tows you up to a summit to look down on the city. For sports, visit Banos where you can go rafting, mountain climbing and hiking. Also you can take a dip in its natural spring mineral bath. For a beach, go to Esmeraldas, a coastal city that has one of the country’s most popular beaches. Here you can catch a nightlife scene in its clubs and bars. For its access to wildlife and activities, Ecuador is one of our genuine bargain countries.

Beer index: $1.50

Number 6
Philippines
Dive off the island of Boracay or Palawan, then kick back at one of its postcard white-sand beaches for a massage and some fresh fruit. The best part: 1 U.S. dollar exchanges for about 42 Philippine pesos. Not only can you live like a king in the Philippines, one of the top bargain cities in the world, but you can do it for a while. Other spots to see include the country’s capital city, Manila. Here join in the hustle of activity and check out one of its sections, Quiapo, to strike deals over local food. For nightlife, many travel to the Philippines' own sin city, Angeles City. A spot filled with gambling, entertainment and women. Also you can visit the island of Bohol for whale and dolphin watching and more diving and white sand. In all, Phillippines’ attractions and good value make it one of our solid bargain countries.

Beer index: $1.17

Number 5
Vietnam
Right now 1 U.S. dollar goes for about 16,215 Vietnamese dong. That means you get to see every aspect this country has to offer for a good price. Visit the capital, Hanoi, to check out its many museums ranging from fine art to historical. Here you can also see a Downed Aircraft memorial plague that commemorates a U.S. Navy aircraft crew that was shot down. Read closely and you’ll notice U.S. presidential candidate John McCain’s name on the plaque.

Be sure to check out Ho Chi Minh City for its bustling action and nightlife. Here too, enjoy a bowl of “pho” (Vietnamese soup) and cool down with a bittersweet Vietnamese coffee. Other attractions: Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site where you can visit caves. Ride a boat up the Mekong Delta, plus check out the party beach culture at Nha Trang. In all, Vietnam makes a great bargain vacation.

Beer index: $1.30

Number 4
Mexico
With a landmass that stretches from the Pacific to Atlantic Ocean and a capital city with 25 million times the people than the entire population of our No. 9 country, Mexico offers a wide variety of things to do. Crave the sun? In this bargain country it’s a permanent ingredient at a Pacific beach resort in Cabo San Lucas, snorkeling in the Mayan Riviera or anywhere else you’re walking in the country.

Are you a partier? Visit Acapulco, Cancun and Tijuana. Are you a history buff? See the country’s Mayan ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula like Chichen Itza -- one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Are you a sports fan? Cheer on the luchadores at a wrestling match or matadors at a bullfight in Mexico City. One U.S. dollar translates into 10 pesos; so, you can pack in tons of tacos, tequila and tamales for a bargain. Just beware of one unwanted bargain: “Montezuma’s Revenge.”

Beer index: $1.30

Number 3
Honduras
Already revered for great scuba diving off its island of Roatan, Honduras has a packet of great attractions. One of the biggest is The Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve. This is a World Heritage site with a huge section of undisturbed rain forest that’s home to some of the world’s rarest and most endangered species. In this region called La Moskitia (“the mosquito coast”) you can visit several fishing lodges to fish in one of the best spots on the planet for tarpon.

Do you have a taste for history? Check out the town of Copan to see some of the most intricately sculpted Mayan ruins in the world. If you’re bathing in sun and fun on Roatan, you can add action to the mix by swinging through the forest canopy on a pulley run. With the exchange rate at 1 U.S. dollar to 19 Honduran lempira, you can be sure you’ll get more than your fill in this bargain country.

Beer index: $0.96

Number 2
Thailand
Want to party like it's 1999 every year? Here’s your spot. Plus you can do it on the cheap: 1 U.S. dollar trades for around 32 Thai baht. Stop in Bangkok to experience the city’s fast pace, then visit Pattaya a renowned sin city filled with crazy sights. For a slower pace, but for no less of a party, kick back at any one of the beaches in Phuket. Just soak in the sun during the day and blow out with fun at night. Plus you’ll enjoy great food from curries to fresh fish to shrimp and meat, all for next to nothing. For an exotic spot that won’t cost you a mortgage, Thailand is a solid spot.

Beer index: $3.00

Number 1
Chile
The diversity and depth of this country’s attractions, activities and culture are extraordinary. Like wine? Sample some of the world’s best at its vineyards. Surf? Visit the beaches to surf the same waves professionals surf. Ski? Hit one of the snow peaks in the Andes. Like to hike? Go to any of the country’s national parks to see lakes, glaciers and walk a Patagonian trail. Like to party? Go to the country’s capital, Santiago.

Now the best part: 1 U.S. dollar goes for about 467 Chilean pesos -- that means you’re getting a lot more for a lot less. Make sure you book soon; with the truth of this country’s affordability out of the bag, it’s a good bet Chile’s prices won’t last forever, and it won’t be on our bargain countries list for much longer.

Beer index: $1.55 in Santiago

cheap travels
Some countries have a weak currency, but Herculean attractions for budget travelers. From the land of the sun in Mexico to Honduras’ scuba diving to great wine and waves in Chile, our top 10 bargain countries hit the mark. Make sure you book your trip quickly, however; the more people who know about them, the less chance they’ll stay a bargain for long.