Dreaming of taking a Big Trip in 2007? Finances a bit tight? Well, take a look at the following destinations.
Magic, thrills and adventure, yes. But for the budget-conscious globe-trotter, whats equally important is that these are places where your dollars will stretch a long, long way. As a travel writer, Im lucky enough to have experienced all 10–but Id love to revisit every single one as a vacationer.
Vietnam
Vietnam packs a lot into its borders. Highlights include misty Halong Bay with its fairytale seascapes of limestone outcrops and islands; the Mekong delta with its floating markets; the old Vietcong tunnels at Cu-Chi near Saigon–now officially known as Ho Chi Minh City. (Dont worry about getting stuck: one tunnel has been specially widened for westerners.) Backpacker beds are exceptionally cheap, but decent hotels often cost less than $40. A filling bowl of pho bo beef noodle soup or six seafood spring rolls is less than a dollar. In local hangouts, Saigon Export beer costs 40 cents a bottle.
For the ultimate traffic tale to tell the folks back home, head for Hanois old quarter. Any attempt to cross the road turns into a...