Getting a vacation requires a significant amount of money. It is not surprising that travelers are looking for affordable holidays. A travel expert shares tips for planning a budget-friendly vacation, especially when traveling to Europe.

According to Amy Doherty, owner of Travel by Luxe, there are opportunities to find affordable vacations amidst the competition in the tourism industry. “There are still brilliant deals out there, but you have to approach planning with a bit more strategy than you did five or ten years ago,” she said, as quoted from Express UK.

After finding the best discounts or determining the right time to travel, you can save money without sacrificing quality. Here are some tips from Amy Doherty that are often used when traveling to Europe.

1. Book hotels via mobile

One of Amy’s main tips is to always book hotels on a mobile device, rather than a laptop. Hotels often offer exclusive discounts to mobile users because apps usually have a better conversion rate.

“If you check the same hotel on your phone versus your desktop, the mobile price is frequently lower. Websites like Booking.com or Hotels.com are particularly good for these deals,” she said.

2. Set price alerts

The most effective trick for getting cheap airline tickets is setting price alerts from the beginning so you’re notified when prices drop. Travelers can use platforms like Skyscanner and Google Flights to set price alerts. When the price drops, they will be notified and can book before it rises again. Travelers who monitor prices for several weeks usually pay much less than those who book impulsively.

3. Choose destinations where your money is more valuable

According to Amy, the cost-of-living crisis affects how people choose vacations. If the destination choices are more flexible, look for destinations with really low daily costs. Travelers can also use comparison tools like Numbeo to compare restaurant, transportation, and accommodation costs before deciding on a destination.

4. Use installment options

When attractive offers appear but it’s not yet payday, installment services can help. Amy explained that platforms like Booking.com and Expedia now offer such features. “It means you don’t lose out on a brilliant price just because the timing isn’t ideal,” she said.

5. Avoid booking last minute

It’s no longer the era of last-minute bookings. According to Amy, UK operators like Jet2holidays or TUI, the most stable low fares usually appear two to six months before departure. If you book too close to the departure date, you might only be scrambling for remaining rooms, and the prices rarely drop.

She suggested that March is one of the best months for smoother and calmer travel, while September and October often offer lower fares and quieter destinations. As for flights, choose Sundays to get lower prices.

6. Travel around Europe by train

Traveling by train in Europe can be much cheaper than flying, especially if booked early. Amy said that the European train network offers early discounts that are rarely matched by airlines.

7. Stay flexible with dates

If you need to change your departure or return dates, try not to exceed one day. This is because the fares can change drastically. “Airlines charge more on peak days, so playing around with your schedule is one of the easiest ways to save,” she said.

8. Getting more legroom

If you want extra comfort without paying for a seat, choose the right side near the bulkhead, or the back often has more space. Most airlines will seat families together for free if they check in early and do not choose seats. Conversely, if they check in late or when the flight is very full, they will sit separately.

9. The hotel is more cost-effective than Airbnb

Amy referred to a recent Which? A study found that in most major destinations, hotels are much cheaper than Airbnb for a single room. She said hotel prices are clearer, with daily cleaning, and often include breakfast, so the value is greater. To save even more, she suggested booking hotels on Thursdays.

Every year, travel lists promise discovery. And every year, they quietly deliver the same places, repackaged with a new adjective. The result is a strange flattening of the world: cities reduced to backdrops, countries condensed into a single neighbourhood, whole cultures filtered through a café table and a caption.

I’m bored of travel that feels like homework. Of cities reduced to three landmarks and one restaurant everyone tells you to book months in advance. Somewhere between surge pricing and “hidden gems” that are no longer hidden, the joy of discovery has been replaced by logistics. And frankly, I’m done organising my holidays like a military operation.

So, these are my top picks for 2026.

Komodo Island, Indonesia

I mean, yes, you do find the Komodo monitor lizard here and that’s how it earns the name. But Komodo Island is so much more than that. It’s earned it’s keep and it’s not another Bali 2.0. In fact, it’s on the list because it’s exactly the opposite. Indonesia attempted something rare here: slowing tourism down before it collapses under its own weight. The government has introduced sharper visitor caps, higher park fees and tighter controls on trekking routes to avoid overtourism and crowding. And that’s actually helped maintain most of its beauty. The reefs here sit at the crossroads of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, making them among the most biodiverse on the planet; manta rays, reef sharks, and coral systems thrive here.

Chefchaouen, Morocco

Chefchaouen’s blue-washed medina has been flattened into visual shorthand by social media, but the town’s relevance lies in its past. Founded in 1471 as a defensive settlement, it absorbed Muslim and Jewish refugees from Andalusia, shaping its architecture and closed-off character. The blue came later. Step away from the main square and you’ll find functioning local markets and access points into the Rif Mountains, where hiking routes thin the crowds quickly. It’s worth visiting before northern Morocco’s expanding road infrastructure folds it more tightly into mass itineraries.

Tsum Valley, Nepal

Chefchaouen’s blue-washed medina has been flattened into visual shorthand by social media, but the town’s relevance lies in its past. Founded in 1471 as a defensive settlement, it absorbed Muslim and Jewish refugees from Andalusia, shaping its architecture and closed-off character. The blue came later. Step away from the main square and you’ll find functioning local markets and access points into the Rif Mountains, where hiking routes thin the crowds quickly. It’s worth visiting before northern Morocco’s expanding road infrastructure folds it more tightly into mass itineraries.

Tsum Valley, Nepal

Zanzibar matters because it refuses to be just a beach destination. Stone Town—now a UNESCO World Heritage Site—was once a major Indian Ocean trading hub, shaped by Omani sultans, Swahili culture, Indian merchants, and European colonial powers. Its narrow alleys, carved wooden doors, and former slave markets tell a far more complicated story than most island escapes care to engage with. Beyond town, spice farms, mangrove forests, and reef systems offer substance.

Verona, Italy

Verona survives Italy’s tourism crisis by being stubbornly functional. While Rome and Florence strain under visitor numbers, Verona’s Roman arena still hosts opera, its medieval streets still house offices and schools, and its wine culture—Valpolicella and Amarone country—is treated as agriculture. Shakespeare may have borrowed the setting, but the city’s real identity comes from two millennia of uninterrupted urban life.

Oaxaca, Mexico

Oaxaca belongs on this list because it hasn’t been flattened into a capital-city proxy. Power here has always been decentralised — politically, culturally, gastronomically — and that matters in a country where indigenous systems are often treated as heritage rather than infrastructure. Zapotec and Mixtec communities still shape foodways, markets, and local governance, which is why Oaxaca’s culinary reputation doesn’t feel like a trend cycle. It’s continuity. In a global food culture obsessed with reinvention, Oaxaca’s refusal to reinvent itself is the point.

San Sebastián, Spain

Yes, San Sebastian continuously punches above its weight. But the city is not only interesting because it eats well, but because it institutionalized taste. Nowhere else will you find the highest concentrations of Michelin-starred restaurants per capita in the world. This city has truly built an ecosystem where casual pintxos bars coexist with experimental kitchens and neighbourhood bars. That flattening of hierarchy is very Basque, and very deliberate. The city’s confidence comes from repetition, not novelty, which is why it has outlasted every food-world hype cycle thrown at it.

Hampi, Karnataka

Hampi resists narrative. Although it was once the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, one of the wealthiest cities of the 16th century (before being violently sacked and abandoned), today it’s a sprawling amalgamation of temples, marketplaces, and even vineyards. It’s also a UNESCO site that still feels under-interpreted, allowing visitors to engage directly with scale and ruin rather than curated narrative. Few places in India offer this degree of historical openness.

Chongqing, China

Chongqing matters because it breaks the mental model most outsiders have of Chinese cities. This is not imperial, not coastal, not legible at ground level. Built into mountains at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, it grew vertically out of necessity. The city can literally break your brain because of how confusing it is to navigate. Its density, infrastructure, and food culture — especially its famously punishing hotpot — are some of the few best reasons to visit.

Kraków, Poland

Kraków surprises people who arrive expecting solemnity. Yes, it carries the weight of history — but it’s also one of Central Europe’s most energetic nightlife cities, fuelled by a massive student population and cheap, very good alcohol. What makes Kraków interesting is the tonal whiplash: medieval architecture by day, aggressively alive after dark. And yes, it’s absurdly affordable. Five-star hotels at three-star prices. Michelin-acknowledged dining without the Michelin attitude. You can eat extremely well, drink better, and still wake up without financial regret.

Paros, Greece

Paros benefits from proximity without proximity fatigue. Well-connected by ferry but largely ignored by cruise traffic, it offers Cycladic architecture, swimmable beaches, and agricultural villages that still produce their own food. Tourism exists, but it hasn’t displaced daily life.

Sardinia, Italy

This is old money Europe on holiday.  Also dubbed the “billionaire’s playground”, Sardinia is where Italy goes when it wants privacy. The Costa Smeralda is unapologetically wealthy — think Porto Cervo marinas lined with superyachts, private beach clubs, and villas owned by European royalty and discreet billionaires. Along the Costa Smeralda, beaches like Spiaggia del Principe, Capriccioli, and Cala Brandinchi deliver that almost-unbelievable shade of blue, backed by private villas and Porto Cervo’s superyacht scene.

Shimosuwa, Japan

Sitting in Nagano Prefecture, this small lakeside town was once a post station on the Nakasendō route connecting Kyoto and Edo, but today it’s quietly relevant for a different reason: sake. Several historic breweries operate here, fed by alpine water and colder climates that favour slow fermentation. It’s also one of the few places where Shinto shrines, industrial workshops, and everyday domestic life still sit side by side. There are no Kyoto-heavy crowds here.

Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An gets written off as quaint, which misses the point. This was one of Southeast Asia’s most important trading ports between the 15th and 19th centuries, linking Japan, China, Europe, and the subcontinent. That layered mercantile history still shows up—in architecture, food, and the fact that the town works best after dark, once day-trippers leave. Tailor shops aside, Hoi An rewards slow nights, long dinners, and river walks.

Atacama Desert, Chile

Atacama doesn’t care whether you’re comfortable. It’s one of the driest places on Earth, used by NASA to test Mars rovers. The appeal isn’t just stargazing—though it’s world-class—but the confrontation with scale. Salt flats, geysers, and lunar valleys stretch without concession. There’s no urban distraction here. You go because you want the world stripped down to physics.

Bled, Slovenia

Bled looks ornamental, but Slovenia has quietly become one of Europe’s most competent small countries. Lake Bled is the entry point: glacial water, a medieval castle, and just enough restraint to avoid Alpine kitsch. What makes it work is access—Ljubljana’s creative scene, Triglav National Park’s serious hiking, and wine regions like Brda within easy reach. It’s picturesque, yes, but also refreshingly unsentimental.

Nazare, Portugal

It’s famous for the largest surfable waves on the planet, created by an underwater canyon that funnels Atlantic swells into absurd vertical walls of water. But beyond the spectacle, it’s still a working fishing town, stubbornly intact beneath the global surf economy layered on top.

Noto, Italy

Rebuilt entirely after the 1693 earthquake, it’s one of Europe’s most cohesive Baroque cities—honey-coloured stone, theatrical staircases, and proportions that make even a short walk feel deliberate. What elevates it is restraint: fewer crowds than Taormina, better access to vineyards, beaches, and the Val di Noto hinterland.

Salento, Colombia

Salento sits inside Colombia’s coffee axis, where agriculture still structures daily life. The surrounding Valle de Cocora, with its towering wax palms, is visually dramatic, but the real interest lies in how openly the region integrates tourism into production. Coffee farms remain farms first, experiences second. Evenings are quiet, social, and local. No one is trying to turn this into Medellín’s countryside extension.

Wadi Shab, Oman

Wadi Shab feels almost confrontational in how untouched it is. A narrow gorge carved by water through rock, leading to emerald pools and a hidden waterfall cave, it’s one of Oman’s most accessible natural sites—and still largely uncommercialised. There are no cafés, no ticket counters, no guardrails. Oman’s tourism model prioritises preservation over volume, and Wadi Shab is the best example of that.

Kotor, Montenegro

Kotor is medieval drama set against Adriatic excess. The old town is compact, heavily protected, and hemmed in by mountains that make expansion impossible. Cruise ships dock, yes—but stay overnight and the city changes entirely. Locals reclaim the streets, bars fill quietly, and the Bay of Kotor becomes glassy and still. Montenegro’s appeal lies in this contrast: Balkan grit wrapped in Venetian architecture and yacht money.

Jeju Island, South Korea

Jeju operates as South Korea’s pressure valve. Volcanic terrain, black sand beaches, lava tubes, and a matriarchal diving culture (the haenyeo) define the island far more than its resort infrastructure. Domestic tourism dominates, which keeps the rhythm grounded and the food uncompromised.

Vík, Iceland

Vík is less a town than a threshold. Black sand beaches, basalt columns, and violent Atlantic weather define the landscape, with human settlement feeling almost incidental. Iceland’s tourism boom has passed through here aggressively, but the environment remains dominant.

Madeira, Portugal

Madeira is Portugal’s most underrated destination. A subtropical Atlantic island with brutal hiking routes, old-money hotels, and a tax structure that quietly attracts European wealth. Funchal balances cruise traffic with residential calm, while the island’s levadas—irrigation channels turned walking paths—cut through cliffs and forests with alarming beauty.

Here’s a look at top 8 countries that practice slow living.

Bhutan: It promotes happiness over economic growth, famously measuring progress through Gross National Happiness. Life is centred around spirituality, nature, and deep cultural values. With serene landscapes, mindful traditions and communal way of living, Bhutan offers one of the purest forms of slow living in the world.

Costa Rica: It popularized the phrase “pura vida” meaning “pure life”, capturing the country’s relaxed, joyful way of living. With emphasize on well-being, outdoor living, and balance, Costa Rica is a global symbol of mindful, slow paced living.

Denmark: It has mastered the art of a warm and cozy lifestyle focused on presence and everyday comfort. It follows everything from cycling culture to uncluttered home design and a strong work life balance.

Greece: It embodies slow living through its island lifestyle. In villages and islands like Crete or Paros, life lived outdoors, meals stretch for hours and people prioritise connection and simplicity over scheduled and speed.

Italy: People here prioritise connection, craftsmanship, and pleasure over speed. Life is guided by tradition, community and the joy of simple routines.

Japan: Japan’s slow living roots come from philosophies like wabi-sabi and ikigai, which values simplicity, purpose, and harmony with nature.

New Zealand: It embraces a peaceful nature focused lifestyle. Locals value outdoor time, minimal stress, and community connection.

Portugal: In Portugal, lifestyle is rooted in family, food, and neighbourhood culture. Long lunches, daily markets, and evening strolls shape a lifestyle centred on ease and contentment.

Move beyond Bali and the Maldives in 2026. Discover hidden beach destinations across Asia, Europe and Africa that offer untouched beauty and fewer crowds.

When was the last time you walked onto a beach and heard nothing but the sound of waves—no drone buzz, no influencer countdown, no queue for the “perfect” photo? For many travellers, Bali and the Maldives no longer offer that rare, spine-tingling sense of discovery. They’re beautiful, yes—but predictable.

As travel trends shift in 2026, seasoned explorers are quietly chasing beaches that still feel personal, places where sunsets aren’t timed for social media and the sand doesn’t feel trampled. From forgotten Mediterranean coves to car-free tropical islands, these lesser-known beach destinations promise beauty, authenticity and the thrill of finding something before the rest of the world does.

1. Koh Yao Noi, Thailand

Tucked between the tourist magnets of Phuket and Krabi, Koh Yao Noi feels like Thailand pressed pause. Fishermen glide past limestone cliffs at dawn, rice fields stretch inland, and the beaches remain blissfully calm. Luxury eco-resorts exist, but the island’s soul lies in its slow pace and village life.

2. Calaguas Islands, Philippines

If you’ve ever dreamed of standing alone on a beach that looks Photoshopped, Calaguas delivers. Its blindingly white sand and surreal blue waters rival Boracay—without the crowds or commercial noise. Electricity is limited, accommodation is basic, and that’s precisely the appeal.

3. Ksamil, Albania

Europe’s best-kept secret sits along the Ionian Sea, where turquoise waters lap against small island clusters. Ksamil offers Mediterranean beauty at Balkan prices, with quiet beaches, family-run tavernas and fewer tourists than neighbouring Greece—even in peak summer.

4. Pongwe Beach, Zanzibar, Tanzania

While most visitors head north, Pongwe remains a tranquil escape. The lagoon-like waters barely ripple, palm trees frame candle-lit dinners, and time slows dramatically. It’s Zanzibar at its most intimate—ideal for couples, honeymooners and solitude seekers.

5. São Tomé and Príncipe, Africa

This remote island nation off Africa’s west coast feels like a tropical secret whispered among explorers. Volcanic black-sand beaches, lush rainforests and empty shorelines define the experience. Tourism is minimal, and that raw, untouched beauty is its biggest luxury.

6. Îles des Saintes, Guadeloupe

A French-Caribbean paradise where pastel houses meet turquoise bays, Îles des Saintes feels effortlessly charming. Spend mornings swimming in calm coves, afternoons wandering historic forts, and evenings dining on Creole-French cuisine by the sea.

7. Marsa Matrouh, Egypt

Far from Egypt’s desert imagery, Marsa Matrouh stuns with Mediterranean blues, chalky white sand and crystal-clear waters. Popular with locals but overlooked internationally, it offers a refreshing, crowd-free alternative to the Red Sea resorts.

8. Little Corn Island, Nicaragua

Here, there are no cars, no roads and no rush. Little Corn Island is about hammocks, reef snorkelling and barefoot walks around the island. Days blend seamlessly into nights, reminding travellers why they fell in love with island life in the first place.

9. Kudle Beach, Gokarna, India

For those craving a quieter Indian coastline, Kudle Beach offers golden sands framed by cliffs, yoga shalas and laid-back cafés. It’s spiritual without being overwhelming, scenic without being showy—a soulful alternative to Goa’s busier beaches.

10. Tikehau Atoll, French Polynesia

Often overshadowed by Bora Bora, Tikehau is where travellers in the know go. Pink-sand beaches, vibrant coral reefs and intimate overwater bungalows make it feel exclusive yet unpretentious—a dream destination for 2026.

Why These Beaches Matter in 2026

Today’s travellers aren’t just chasing postcard views—they’re seeking space, silence and stories worth remembering. These hidden beach destinations offer what Bali and the Maldives increasingly struggle to provide: authenticity, calm and a sense of true escape. If your 2026 travel goal is to return with memories rather than just photos, these beaches might just be the places you’ve been waiting for.