9 affordable travel spots that feel like a splurge but aren’t

Ever notice how some places just feel fancy—grand buildings, candlelit dinners, sunset boat rides—yet the bill is surprisingly gentle?

That sweet spot between champagne vibes and seltzer prices is my favorite place to travel.

As Rick Steves puts it, “Travel is intensified living… one of the last great sources of legal adventure.”

That spirit guides this list, plus my inner former financial analyst who can’t resist value-for-money.

If you’re ready to upgrade your travel experience without the gold-card panic, here are nine destinations where luxury is more about atmosphere than expense.

One note before we dive in: prices fluctuate, but if you peek at cost-of-living dashboards, you’ll see cities like Istanbul, Tbilisi, and Penang typically sit far below major U.S. hubs—one reason your dollar stretches further while your days still feel plush.

1. Porto, Portugal

Porto is the cinematic Europe of your daydreams: cobbled lanes, azulejo-tiled churches, and the Douro River flashing silver at sunset.

Everything looks five-star—especially when you’re sipping a port tasting in a vaulted lodge across the bridge in Vila Nova de Gaia.

The trick here is to skip the waterfront hotels and stay in a restored guesthouse up the hill; you still get those terracotta-roof views on your morning stroll.

I like to splurge on a river cruise (just one) and save with tasca lunches, where a hearty prato do dia costs less than a cocktail back home.

Need a pinch-me moment? Ride the vintage tram along the Atlantic and picnic with market cheeses and olives.

Money-savvy tip: book port lodge tastings in advance (many include generous pours), then take the free riverfront walk between lodges at dusk.

The atmosphere does the rest.

2. Oaxaca City, Mexico

Oaxaca feels like an art film—with paletas in hand.

Think candlelit courtyards, centuries-old churches, and mezcalerías with hand-painted tiles.

Boutique guesthouses hide behind wooden doors, and the produce markets are so exuberant they double as sightseeing.

I plan my days around food: a morning chocolate atole, market tlayudas at lunch, and moles at dinner. You’ll feel utterly spoiled—especially if you book a cooking class with a market tour.

Even “splurges” like mezcal tastings or textiles workshops stay reasonable, and many museums are free or donation-based.

Money-savvy tip: take a collectivo out to Monte Albán early, then return for a long, languid lunch.

You’ll get UNESCO-level history, golden-hour photos, and a feast that doesn’t dent your budget.

3. Hoi An, Vietnam

Lantern-lit nights, riverside cafés, and tailored clothes made in a day—Hoi An is pure romance without the bill to match.

Rent a bike and zigzag past rice paddies to An Bang Beach in the morning, then wander the Ancient Town at dusk when the candles glow.

A splurge that isn’t? Having a tailor craft a linen set or a simple dress.

Keep designs classic and fabric natural; you’ll wear them for years.

Street food—cao lầu noodles, bánh mì, fresh fruit shakes—keeps costs low while the vibe stays high.

Money-savvy tip: buy a multi-site ticket for the Old Town’s heritage houses and temples, then space your visits between snack breaks.

The calm rhythm is part of the luxury.

4. Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is a masterclass in “little cost, big theater.”

Neo-Baroque baths. Operatic architecture. The Danube shining like a runway beneath the Chain Bridge. The famous thermal baths (Széchenyi, Gellért, Rudas) feel like palaces you can swim in.

Ruin bars turn faded courtyards into art installations, and tram rides offer river panoramas for pocket change.

Choose a mid-range hotel on the Pest side and walk everywhere—Grand Boulevard cafés, the Central Market Hall, the Parliament’s silhouette at sunset.

Money-savvy tip: visit a bath early on a weekday, then cap your day with a free stroll up to the Fisherman’s Bastion for one of Europe’s best skyline views.

5. Istanbul, Türkiye

In Istanbul, your “splurge” is atmosphere: the call to prayer, ferry horns on the Bosphorus, a kettle of tea arriving with a silver tray.

Palaces and mosques are lavish set pieces, but your budget shines on the everyday indulgences—baklava at Karaköy Güllüoğlu, fish sandwiches by the Galata Bridge, and a Bosphorus ferry ride that doubles as a cheap, scenic cruise.

Stay in a small hotel in Cihangir or Kadıköy for cafés and street life, then hop the ferry for those postcard views.

Money-savvy tip: book a traditional hammam, but choose a less-touristed option; the marble, steam, and scrub ritual deliver spa-level bliss without spa-level prices.

6. Tbilisi, Georgia

Tbilisi is all about texture: carved wooden balconies, sulfur-bath domes, and wine cellars that look like secret caves.

You’ll feel spoiled the minute someone pours you an amber qvevri wine and sets down khachapuri and pkhali plates for a song.

The old town’s bathhouses make a memorable (and affordable) treat—reserve a private room for the full scrub-down experience.

Save by using the metro (it’s simple) and splurge on a day trip to Kakheti’s vineyards or the hilltop monasteries.

Money-savvy tip: book a small family-run guesthouse and ask your hosts for their favorite supra-style restaurant.

You’ll get home-style hospitality and a table that keeps refilling like magic.

7. Medellín, Colombia

Medellín feels like spring on repeat—flowering trees, soft breezes, patio culture.

Your dollar stretches into rooftop cafés, cable car rides with mountain views, and modern museums for less than the price of a movie back home.

The city’s library parks and botanical gardens give you upscale-lush scenery for free.

Stay in Laureles or El Poblado for easy transit and safer walking at night, then ride the Metrocable up to Parque Arví for a picnic in the pines.

Money-savvy tip: book a coffee farm visit outside the city.

You’ll ride rural roads, smell fresh roasting beans, and drink a cup that tastes like a splurge—because it is, just not for your wallet.

8. Sri Lanka’s south coast (Galle, Unawatuna, Mirissa)

If your fantasy is a boutique villa, palm trees, and sunset swims, Sri Lanka’s south coast delivers—gently.

Galle Fort’s ramparts feel like an open-air museum, while beaches nearby offer wilder scenery and low-key cafés. Trains are scenic and cheap; rides between beach towns double as an activity.

Splurge on a once-in-the-trip safari to see elephants (book reputable operators), and keep meals simple: curry-and-rice thalis, fresh juices, and string hoppers.

Money-savvy tip: look for colonial-era guesthouses inside Galle Fort with breakfast included.

The morning spread—hoppers, fruit, and tea—feels luxe and powers you through a delightfully long day.

9. Penang, Malaysia

George Town is a living gallery: indigo mansions, street art peeking from alleys, and hawker centers where a few dollars buys a feast.

Penang’s real luxury is choice—Nyonya classics, Chinese-style char koay teow, Tamil-inspired curries—served fast and fresh at prices that make “fancy” irrelevant.

Save on lodging by staying in a restored shophouse hotel; splurge on a guided food walk, because the stories behind the dishes are half the joy. Even high-low dining blends seamlessly here: sip a kopi at breakfast, then try modern tasting menus using local produce at night.

If you need outside confirmation that your taste buds will be delighted for less, the MICHELIN Guide flat-out calls Penang one of Southeast Asia’s street-food capitals, with plenty of pocket-friendly eats.

How to make “affordable luxury” your travel superpower

A quick mindset shift turns these destinations from budget trips into glittering experiences:

• Build your day around one “treat.” A spa session, a ferry at sunset, a cooking class—anchor the day with your splurge, then let everything else be deliciously simple.

• Prioritize location over luxe amenities. In places like Porto, Istanbul, and George Town, stepping outside is the amenity. A well-located guesthouse beats a distant five-star every time.

• Use price asymmetry to your advantage. In cities with lower day-to-day costs, experiences that feel luxurious—tailoring, tasting menus, private baths—often cost a fraction of what they would at home. That’s your moment to lean in.

• Travel in shoulder seasons. You’ll get softer light, softer crowds, and softer prices—with the same “wow” factor photos.

• Eat where the line of locals is. I will die on this hill: in food-forward cities, a plastic stool and a paper plate can taste like a Michelin star (without the bill).

If you’re a practical optimist like me, you don’t have to choose between being responsible and being transported.

The game is deciding what to elevate—view, ritual, flavor, soundtrack—and letting the rest stay in easy mode.

That’s where the magic (and the savings) live.

Ready to treat yourself—without treating your card to a panic attack? Pick any spot above, book the small joys first, and let your days build around them.

Luxurious doesn’t have to mean expensive; it just has to mean intentional.