Travel the world, fall in love again, and still afford guac at Chipotle when you get home.
So, you've found someone who tolerates your snoring, shares your deep passion for snacks, and agrees that Netflix counts as "quality time." Congrats! Now it's time to "test the relationship" the way the ancient gods intended: by traveling together on a budget.
But fear not, dear frugal romantics! Just because your bank account is allergic to luxury doesn’t mean your love life has to suffer. Here’s a list of budget friendly travel destinations for couples who want to explore the world together without accidentally triggering a joint bankruptcy filing.
1. Eastern Europe: Romance on a Ramen Budget
Why go to Paris when you can go to Prague and tell everyone it's just as romantic (and significantly cheaper)? Eastern Europe is filled with charming cobblestone streets, medieval castles, and the general vibe of a Netflix drama, without the price tag.
Perks:
1. Wine that costs less than bottled water
2. Castles on AirBNB that cost less than your studio apartment
3. Pretending you’re cultured because you went to a museum once
Best for couples who love history and vaguely affordable public transportation.
2. Thailand – Love, Pad Thai, and Very Questionable Decisions
Thailand is perfect if you like beaches, street food, and riding scooters together while screaming. It's the land of $5 massages, hostels that smell vaguely of lemongrass and regret, and island sunsets that make you forget you just argued over how to pronounce “Phuket.”
Perks:
1. Tuk tuk rides that double as thrill rides
2. Delicious food that may or may not destroy your digestive trust
3. Instagram worthy beaches (heavily filtered of course)
Ideal for couples who like heat, both meteorological and metaphorical.
3. Portugal – Europe’s Best Kept Budget Secret (Oops, We Just Told Everyone)
Lisbon and Porto have that old world charm you can use to convince friends back home that you're sophisticated now. You can sip wine on a rooftop for under €5 and watch trams go by while pretending your relationship isn’t built on mutual caffeine dependency.
Perks:
1. Pasteis de nata: because nothing says love like shared diabetes
2. Ocean views and wine that fuel 80% of your personality on vacation
3. Public transit so charming you won’t even miss Uber
Great for couples who want Euro vision without Euro prices.
4. Mexico – Tacos, Tequila, and Relationship Tests on Tour Buses
Sure, Cancun is full of spring breakers and people who peaked in high school, but Mexico is so much more. From the colorful chaos of Mexico City to the chill vibes of Oaxaca, it’s the perfect place to bond over street tacos and Montezuma’s Revenge.
Perks:
1. Food tours that cost the same as a Starbucks run back home
2. Ruins to explore (as metaphors for your emotional baggage)
3. Beach resorts where you can pretend you’re rich for 48 hours
Perfect for couples who believe salsa dancing is a love language.
5. National Parks (USA) – Romance, Nature, and No Cell Signal
Want to test your relationship? Go hiking together. In matching backpacks. Up a trail that someone definitely said was “easy” on AllTrails. America's national parks are stunning, budget friendly, and come with the added thrill of “Did we pack enough snacks or are we going to die here?”
Perks:
1. Campfires and existential conversations
2. Cute wildlife to distract you from mild arguments
3. Free therapy courtesy of nature (and mosquitos)
For couples who love the outdoors and don’t mind mild dehydration.
6. Vietnam – Beauty, Banh Mi, and Motorbike Induced Panic
If you want jaw dropping landscapes and a crash course in “how to not die crossing the street,” Vietnam is your spot. It’s stunning, wildly affordable, and gives you endless opportunities to say, “This would’ve been a great place for our travel blog.”
Perks:
1. Meals that cost under $2 and still slap
2. Overnight train rides that redefine intimacy
3. Lantern festivals where you can make a wish that the Airbnb has hot water
Ideal for couples who love adventure and street food with personality.
7. Greece (but like... the off brand islands)
Everyone wants to go to Santorini until they see the price of a sea view hotel. Enter: Temu Greece. Hit islands like Naxos, Paros, or Crete, where the views are still chef's kiss and you can eat moussaka without taking out a small loan.
Perks:
1. Romantic ruins that remind you nothing lasts forever
2. Cheap wine that tastes like heartbreak and sunshine
3. Fewer influencers, more actual experiences
For couples who like their romance with a side of feta and low expectations.
Final Thoughts
Love doesn’t have to be about lavish over water bungalows, private jets, or matching Gucci luggage. Sometimes, it’s just about arguing over a crumpled paper map in a city where neither of you speaks the language and somehow still wanting to hold hands after.
So book that cheap flight, pack too much into a shared carry on bag, and embrace the chaos of traveling broke, but in love.
Pro tip:
If you survive sharing a hostel bunk bed and one outlet for charging both phones, you're basically ready for marriage.
