Cheap traveloptions, including cheapfares, cheapdeals, cheap airplane tickets, cheap auto rentals, discount hotel rooms, discounttravel deals, and cheap vacation packages allcan play a major role in keeping a trip on budget. However, another key factor is thedestination you choose.
Falling hotel rates, new attractions, some perenniallyaffordable sights and restaurants make the following cities attractive to visitthis year, according to Budget Travel:
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CapeTown, South Africa is a must visit for wildlife lovers. Hotel rates have dropped eight percent acrossthe country. Tourists can choose a range of activitiesfrom seeing the big five on a safari or checking out the free roaming penguinson Boulders Beach. Kruger National Parkis one of the most impressive parks in Africa and only charges a $20 entrancefee. Beach lovers flip for Cape Townsbeaches, at the intersection of the Atlantic and Indian oceans. The Atlantic side is great for sunbathing andwatercolor sunsets, whereas the Indian side is best for swimming and surfing.
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Venice,Italy is where you can float down picturesque Venetian canals in agondola. This city is more affordablethan ever with hotel rate down an average of seven percent from last year. Visiting the Piazza San Marco is a must withthe Sansovino Library and the Ducal Palace standing on either side. Art lovers will be enchanted with the worksof Venetian masters, including Vittore Carpaccio, Tiziano Vecelli, andGiorgione, all of which can be found at the Gallerie dellAccademia. Great modern art can be found at the PeggyGuggenheim museum which includes work by Picasso, Dali, and Pollock. You should take a boat ride to Murano, wherevisitors can see traditional glass blowing on a small tour.
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DominicanRepublic is a big draw because of its affordable all-inclusive resorts. For a little more than $200 per couple youcan stay at the five-star all-inclusive Majestic Colonial Beach Resort in PuntaCana. A rustic trip can be enjoyed atthe up and coming Las Terrenas, a relatively unknown former fishing village inthe Samana province, which is easy on the wallet and heavy on pristinebeaches. Nature lovers should visit theLos Haitises National Park, a protected virgin forest. Rent a kayak for $3 (plus a licensed guide)and glide through lagoons and mangrove canals to view wildlife such as brownpelicans and endangered leatherback turtles.
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BuenosAires, Argentina is often referred to as the Paris of South America. This city sports a cosmopolitan feel and ishome to many museums, historical sites and nightlife. Hotel rates have dropped eight percent thisyear. Take in Argentinean culturethrough the eyes of its artists at the Museum of Latin American Art of BuenosAires, where the works of Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and others reside. The affluent Recoleta neighborhood is famousfor its high end shopping. Reasonablypriced tickets (about $9) can be had at the Teatro Colon, in downtown BuenosAires, home to opera and ballet performances, and concerts by the Buenos AiresPhilharmonic Orchestra, as well as other classical concerts by musicians fromaround the world.
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Orlando,Florida is home to the big three including Disney, Universal and SeaWorld andhas seen its hotel rates fall by an average of seven percent. The big three theme parks have introduced newattractions including Universal Studios Transformers: The Ride 3D; the forever expandingFantasyland at Disney World, including the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train which willopen this year; and Antarctica: Empire ofthe Penguin, SeaWorlds current biggest attractions, where the temperature iskept at 30 degrees. Downtown Orlando iswhere you can find several restaurants featuring local sourced fare fromFlorida farmers, such as the Rusty Spoon.
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Philadelphiasarts and food scene has never been more enticing. The famous Barnes Foundation art collectionhas moved from the suburbs to a new downtown home. A building boom has resulted in new state ofthe art buildings for several institutions including the National ConstitutionCenter, the Please Touch Museum, and the Philadelphia Theatre Company. Visitors must make a point of walking alongthe Avenue of the Arts (a.k.a. Broad Street). Museums including the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts line the avenue,as do great restaurants and watering holes.
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WarsawPoland is particularly appealing to history buffs, with hotels priced 20percent less this year. Lazienki Park,also referred to as Royal Baths Parks, is home to both architecture andgardens. Summer time visitors shouldmake certain to take in a free piano concert held next to the parks statue ofChopin every Saturday and Sunday. OldTown was almost completely demolished during World War II, but has since earnedUNESCO World Heritage status because of its restoration. Old Town now teems with cafes, galleries, andrestaurants.
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