8 exotic but cheap vacations

Morocco: This northern African nation "is practically rowing distance from Europe," in Leffel's words, yet a world away: exotic marketplaces, ancient fortresses and the wail of the muezzin calling faithful Muslims to prayer five times a day. Get out of the big, chaotic cities of Tangier and Marrakech as quickly as possible, Leffel advises, and head for the uncrowded beaches, beautiful mountains, cedar forests with their Barbary apes and old towns on the Sahara's edge. "The cities can be maddening after a while, but older kids will love the camel rides, desert walks and mountain hikes," Leffel said. A budget-minded couple can get by on about $50 a day, while those looking for more creature comforts might spend twice that.

Peru: The Incan ruins of Machu Picchu are the country's biggest tourist attraction, but there are plenty of others, including Amazon rain forests, colonial cities, whitewater rafting and mountain trekking. "Adults enjoy the low prices and wealth of sightseeing opportunities," Leffel said, "while kids will enjoy all the animals and colorful Andean costumes."

With the exception of a few gustatory oddities, like roasted guinea pig, "most of the food will be recognizable to children, including plenty of pizza," he said. Meals tend to cost $1 to $3 in local restaurants, or $2 to $5 in places catering to tourists. Midrange travelers might pay $50 to $80 a night for lodging in the Lima or Cuzco, but elsewhere the rates are typically lower.

Thailand: Here's where even the most frugal traveler might want to cut loose for a night or two, since even the most amazingly luxurious, five-star hotel rooms routinely go for $300 a night or less (a couple of examples include the Oriental, routinely named as one of the best hotels in the world, and the Four Seasons). Otherwise, budget travelers can live on $30 to $40 a day, and beachfront bungalows can be had for $20 or less. Thailand, mostly recovered now from the 2004 tsunami, "truly has something for everyone, from backpackers to jet-setters, honeymooners to families with kids," Leffel said. "Stunning beaches and snorkeling/diving, sailing, hiking, elephant rides, floating fruit markets, historic sites and glowing golden temples." And don't forget the shopping; custom, handmade suits with tailored shirts run $80 to $200.

Turkey: People who visit tend to rave about this nation that straddles Europe and Asia, and Leffel is no exception. He calls it "one of the greatest countries in the world for sightseeing" and "one of the best values on the planet," despite prices that have crept higher as tourism expands and businesses switch to the euro. Roman ruins, Ottoman palaces, Byzantine art, ancient churches and eye-dazzling mosques will keep your days busy in the cities, while the coast includes plenty of resorts that cater to families. Kids will go nuts over the weird, alien landscape of Cappadoccia with its strange rock formations and underground cities (you can even spend the night in a cave room for about $10). Turkey's a good country to visit with a midrange budget, and $70 to $150 a day will buy two people nice hotel rooms and three good restaurant meals a day. Turkey's also a good bet for women traveling alone, as females are rarely hassled on the street.

If you're thinking about visiting one of these countries, or one of the many others that offer great value for your dollars, consider the following tips:

If you have only a week off, consider Latin American destinations. You can get to many Central American destinations with a four- or five-hour flight. Even South American cities that take longer to reach will still be in the same general time zones as the U.S., so you won't lose a day (or more) to jet lag. Latin Americans are still pretty friendly to Americans, and you probably already know at least some Spanish: hola (hello), gracias (thank you), una cerveza, por favor (a beer, please).

If you're visiting Asia, consider an around-the-world ticket. You can get a flight to Bangkok from Los Angeles for about $900. For $1,299, Air Brokers International allows you to add stops in India and Europe. For $1,449, you can add Hong Kong and Singapore to your itinerary. The more time you have, the better, but I once visited London, New Delhi, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Taipei in 11 whirlwind days.

Turkey and Morocco can be exotic budget-saving breaks in a more expensive European vacation. These two countries are a relatively short hop from more traveled European capitals, and you'll be stepping into a far more exotic (and affordable) world. Other less expensive possibilities: Hungary, Romania and the Czech Republic.

Liz Pulliam Weston's new book, "Easy Money: How to Simplify Your Finances and Get What You Want Out of Life," is now available. Columns by Weston, the Web's most-read personal-finance writer and winner of the 2007 Clarion Award for online journalism, appear every Monday and Thursday, exclusively on MSN Money. She also answers reader questions on the Your Money message board.

Updated Dec. 19, 2007

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