4 Affordable Bucket List Travel Destinations You Can Do On Any Budget

Mexico: $1,000

I could lowkey drop the budget for this trip to $800, but I left a little room for things like emergencies. Mexico is the land of tequila shots and turn-ups! It can also be a perfect place to have a wedding, or just get away for a weekend.

Flash sale flights from Atlanta to Cancun for around $250 are pretty easy to come by. My suggestion is to book your flight one to two months in advance to catch this kind of deal.

A few days in Mexico at a 4-star resort is cool but a 4-star All-Inclusive resort is like the cherry on a sundae! All-inclusive resorts are definitely the way to go in Mexico and a trendy beachfront stay will cost $150-225 a night depending on the time of year. If you like to party with a view, Mexico will definitely give you the most bang for your buck, can you say girl's trip?

My Recommendations:

Where to stay:Hyatt Ziva Cancun, a newly renovated all-inclusive resort with a private and public beach

What to eat: Anything at one of the 16 all-inclusive restaurants

What to do: Catch a $10 catamaran or party boat ride into the beautiful blue waters of Isla Mujeres, jetski on the resort for $35, or both!

How to get around:Canada Transfers (Try their upgraded champagne on arrival and departure option for $15 pp).

Turks and Caicos: $1,500

My absolute favorite place in the world is the beautiful Providenciales, Turks and Caicos! The people are warm and welcoming, the food is bomb, and the beaches are to die for! You can snag a flight here for less than $400 from Atlanta many months throughout the year.

Your hotel accommodations are where you will spend most of your budget. A 2-star hotel may cost you up to $200 a night, whereas a 3-4 star hotels can cost $400 and up. I added this trip to this budget range because of this, however, the transportation is easy and the food is cheap! Every time I visit, I find that a scooter rental is substantial and, if absolutely needed, a taxi is not that expensive. Typical hotel transportation should be less than $30.

The island also has many exciting excursions such as parasailing, horseback riding on the beach, and, my personal favorite, party boat snorkeling cruises! These excursions range anywhere from $80-$150, so one or two excursions will do.

Caribbean destinations are definitely just as easy to snag on a budget as Mexico destinations. Have a rum punch for me!

My Recommendations:

Where to stay:Grace Bay Suites

What to eat: For lunch, have a seat directly on the beach as the waters gently wash ashore at your feet, all while enjoying a fresh meal! For dinner, Las Brisas is a fancy yet cozy dining choice over the bay.

What to do: Horseback ride through the beach and catch a fresh conch to eat at Bungaloos.

How to get around: If you stay in the main city of Provinciales, motor scooters are an easy yet fun way to move around.

Paris: $2,000

The Eiffel Tower, the Mona Lisa, the French Fries (I'm joking)! But seriously, Paris is one of the most magical cities I've ever visited, and you can see it too for less than $2000, trust me.

Flying from Atlanta will cost you about $650 with proper research and schedule flexibility. A five-day stay is required at minimum to truly experience the City of Lights. The hotels in Paris are available to the masses in all price ranges. There is a hotel or two at every block in the city of Paris. In fact, there are several 3.5-4-star hotels near the Eiffel Tower that will cost you under $125 a night. Even at $600 for the week, you can still stay well under your budget, or even opt for a lower-priced hotel. Airbnb is another smart choice and offers a better variety of nice stays within this budget range.

The train system is a great way to get around the city without paying a grip on taxis (because yes they cost a grip). Many of the popular landmarks are also in the same areas, so one-stop may place you in the middle of five attractions to see! The best thing about being a tourist in Paris is that most of the must-see places in Paris are, you guessed it, FREE! With the exception of museums like the Louvre, you can expect to pay very little to get out and be active. If you visit Paris, I hope you think of ya girl! One more tip: visit the Eiffel Tower at least once at night and thank me later.

My Recommendations:

Where to stay: Airbnb is the best way to go! There are hundreds of hidden gem apartments, many with breathtaking views of the city.

What to eat: Lunch at Epicure is a little pricey but the Parisian vibes are worth it. Besides, you're saving major bucks so live a little!

What to do: Go into full tourist mode! My absolute favorites were the Louvre Museum and Basilica du Sacre-Couer de Montmartre.

How to get around: Catching a taxi in Europe is fairly easy and the train system is very efficient and cost-effective.

Dubai: $2,500

The ultimate luxury destination has to be Dubai, right? This man-made island is fit for a King, no really you might luck up! The flights are undoubtedly the most painful part of this vacation but it's so worth it. A flight to Dubai is around $700 round trip if you have little flexibility in your schedule and can book as soon as you're alerted on a price drop (please tell me you have the Skyscanner app).

The beautiful thing about planning a trip to Dubai is that despite what you may think of such a luxurious place, it's not that expensive to stay, you can easily find a 4-star hotel for $100 a night or less here! I would also plan to stay at least five days. A daily budget of $160 is a safe number to comfortably enjoy yourself and eat three times a day, as well as move around the city.

Everyone wants to experience the famous desert safari and camel ride when they visit Dubai, and guess what? That's cheap too! A half-day desert excursion will cost you $80, and after all of this, there's a big chance that you'll return home with money in your pocket from this trip...winning!

My Recommendations:

Where to stay: Grand Hyatt Dubai or Coral Beach Resort Sharjah (because, the beach).

What to eat:Moana Seafood is an on the water delight, and a fancy dinner at Atmosphere in the Burj Khalifa, one of the tallest buildings has views to die for!

What to do: Visit the Dubai Mall, which has an aquarium by the way, and take a day excursion to the desert to ride camels and ATVs!

How to get around: Not so fun fact, women are not allowed to drive here. However, there is a train system and taxis are an option as well. Feeling athletic? The city is also accessible by bike!