Here are Mobal World Phone customers’ suggestions of the 15 cheapest countries to travel in…

1. Argentina

“Argentina.  Good restaurants and cheap prices!

Have fun”

MM

2. Cambodia

“My sisters and I just returned from Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Food, lodging, transportation, and wonderful Cambodian-made products were all inexpensive. The Cambodians use the U.S. dollar, so there’s the added benefit of not having to mentally convert to and from a foreign currency.”

Becky

3. China

“We just got back from China and found things really cheap there. Examples:

- An hour ride to the airport - $21
- A three-star hotel room with two bedrooms and a kitchenette - <$100
- Dinner for four at a good restaurant, including beer - $25-30
- A van, a driver and a private tour guide for all day for four of us -  $140 in Beijing; $100 in other cities.

Also the bargaining on the streets for all sorts of items makes them really cheap. But you have to learn how.  The exchange rate is really in the US favor right now. And there’s no tipping.

How nice”

“No question about it, CHINA.

Last November I visited Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou and all were really inexpensive.  In addition to being a cheap place to travel you virtually do all your business with a credit card or American dollars.

No need to exchange for Chinese Yuan.”

4. Czech Republic

“On a trip to the Czech Republic we were pleased to see the “old Europe” prices still exist there.

Reasonable hotels (nice), cheap food (good), and public transportation.

Thanks!”

Bruce Baker

5. Egypt

“Egypt - friendly, fascinating and cheap.”

6. France

“We were in Paris last November and even though the exchange rate was 1:1.5 we were able to do it inexpensively by staying in a small boutique hotel and eating in local eateries especially on the left bank.”

7. Latin America

“Stick to the “unpopular” South and Central American Countries.

They always have a good exchange rate. You have to go native to get the real deals. The plane ticket to Turkey would be expensive from the U S. Spirit airlines has cheap flights to South, Central and Islands of the Caribbean.

You could backpack anywhere in the world and travel on a budget.”

8. Mexico

“So far Mexico seem to be the cheapest countries to travel to.”

9. Montenegro

“In Europe, Montenegro is VERY inexpensive. One example: my husband had a double espresso and I had a cappuccino (with the best foam I had during our three week trip, most of which was in Italy).

The drinks came with little individually wrapped biscuits and several kinds of sugar and sweeteners. It cost 1,80 euros. Amazing!”

Michelle Giger

10. Poland

“Hi—as of last Sept, Poland was the cheapest.

Such a relief to come from Spain (euro equals well over a dollar) to a place where the zloty was 3 to the dollar.  A $48 zloty dinner in fact cost  about $14.

A wonderful city to visit—Kracow.”

Virginia Kamke

“My husband and I spent a few very enjoyable days in Krakow, Poland during our two weeks in eastern Europe in October 2006.

We ate one lunch at a government subsidized “milk bar” -we each had a plate of pierogies, kielbasa soup and a coke “light” and it all came to about $6 US.

We also took a mini-bus out to the Auschwitz museum (about 1&1/2 hrs from Krakow) and it cost the equivalent of $7 US dollars each.”

11. Portugal

“Both the cheapest and friendliest = Portugal.

Most expensive = Paris, France, where the metro was twice the cost of that in Lisbon and Barcelona last month!!”

Jean Martinelli

“Just returned from Portugal.  Although they use the Euro, prices for hotel and meals are very reasonable, and I will return to this country before the rush of American tourists.”

12. Slovenia

“We haven’t been out of the country since fall 06, and of course things have skyrocketed.

However, as I’ve been looking for possible places to go this fall, it comes back to my favorite, Slovenia.  Hotels in Lju still very high, but lots of other reasonable alternatives, from apartments to B&Bs.  Also, it’s easy to find reasonably priced food if you stick with the locals.

And you can drive from the beach (Piran) to the Mountains (Julian Alps) on a tank of gas!  The friendliest, kindest, most down-to-earth folks, too. ”

Carol

13. South East Asia

“Malaysia,  Indonesia and Thailand remain reasonable travel bargains.

However, travel expenses are up about 20% over last year. Good hotel
rooms are still affordable, and the net work of discount airlines,
mainly AirAsia,  are still a bargain.

Great food is still very inexpensive.  Its my favorite place to travel anyway.”

Jerry Boughton,
Louisiana

14. Turkey

“The Turkish Lira is the weakest in the world. A clean room for about $2.00. Buffet lunch about the same. But not in Istanbul. Try Ismir or Pammukele.”

 15. USA

“Riding my 21 speed on all the great biking trails of the US. Wonderful.”

Johanna Hocker

Do you have a suggestion of a cheap country to travel in?  Leave a comment below…

1. How To Release A Stuck Zipper On The Road

I’m enjoying the travel tips … and have a recommended addition to # 26 re: the “stuck zipper”. While lip balm or candle wax aren’t always available to free up a stuck zipper, soap always is! And it’s free. And it washes away easily when necessary. I’ve used it for decades and it ALWAYS works. It is also useful when the slide-away handles of rolling luggage get stuck … just rub the rails of the slider with any bar soap and voila … as good as new!

Barton Hodes, Tucson, Arizona

2. Ladies, How To Pack Light

PACK LIGHT, WOMEN, REGARDLESS OF LENGTH OF STAY:
Avoid waiting at the airport or worse yet, experiencing lost luggage. For a spring, winter, or fall trip to England: Travel with just a carry-on and a smaller purse/bag. In two-gallon Ziplock bags, pack 3 short-sleeve knit shirts, 2 long-sleeve knit shirts, 1 sweater, and two pr. of black wrinkle-free dress pants. (two shirts or pants per bag. Makes for easy retrieval of your clothes, especially if you have to dump everything out at the airport, and keeps clothes from getting wrinkled.)

Also pack two Cudl-Duds t-shirts and two Cudl-Duds long johns. Works for pjs and layering if the weather is cold. On the plane, wear black wrinkle-free dress pants, long-sleeve knit shirt, polar fleece zip jacket and rain-repellent lined jacket with hood. Wrinkle-free black pants and black shoes always looks semi-dressy. Take Tide packets and a clothesline.

Whether you’re going to be gone for 7 days or 17 days, these clothes, along with a few undies and sox, will be plenty for the entire trip, since you can do mini-laundry every few days. Of course you’ll take the toiletries that fit into a quart ziplock, copies of your documents, and your camera.

3. How To Avoid Holding People Up On Metro Systems

DON’T HOLD UP THE QUEUE:
For quick passage through Tube Turnstiles, keep your Visitor Travelcard or Oyster card in your inside left breast pocket of your jacket (if right-handed) and right inside breast pocket (if left handed). If you don’t have an inside pocket, sew one in by hand. It’s very handy for quick retrieval and safe-keeping of your travelcard.

Judy

4. How To Avoid Jet Lag

ANOTHER JET-LAG AVOIDANCE TIP:
Don’t change your watch until you get to your destination. That way, you’ll avoid the extra meals they try to give you on the plane. When you look at your watch and it’s only 2 A.M., refuse the breakfast they want to give you, although you should drink a lot of water in flight. Make your first meal of the day the one that coincides with a meal at your point of departure. The worst thing is to arrive at your destination full and miserable because you’ve eaten meals that would have been, back home, the middle of the night! And plan to go to bed early that first night.

Judy

5. How To Safely Store Your Emergency Cash And Credit Cards

Hi, love all the tips but I add this to protecting travel documents (copies), the extra credit card and cash I have no intention of needing or using. I place it all in an envelope and duct tape it to the underside of the liner. This way it cannot be found or accidentally misplaced during security searches. Thanks, Katy

If You Have A Travel Tip, Please Leave It In the Comments Box Below Or Email Me At michael@mobalphone.com

1. How To Ensure You Get Coffee How You Like It Around The World

I really do not like my coffee black, but for years while traveling in countries where dairy products are not safe to drink, I drank my coffee black. Now coffee creamers are available in individual packets by the box in your grocery store. Put some of the packets in a ziplock bag and tuck in your luggage. Now you can have your coffee the way you like it, anywhere in the world!

Kristin Moyer, Oakton, Virginia

P.S. My Mobal phone was a big help last fall when I was traveling alone in a rental car in Sweden; it is going with me on my next trip to SE Asia.

2. A Simple Reminder On How To Pack Properly

ALWAYS use a packing checklist before you go.  Pack your stuff, THEN look at the list.  That way you never forget anything.

Paul Voorhees
Seabeck, WA

3. How To Halve The Price Of Your Car Rental

When booking a rental car, look for in-town locations of the rental agency instead of at-the-airport locations. When I booked a trip to Seattle, it was HALF the cost to rent in town as it was at the airport, and that was through the same company and with the same size car! Even with a taxi trip in town, I saved about $100 (and I was upgraded twice for free)! Best of all, I was able to return the car at the airport location without any extra charge. Extra bonus: my rental agency was walking distance from downtown, so I was able to get my car, lock my luggage in it, and then walk down for some sightseeing without having to find public parking!

4. How To Get Cheaper Spa Treatments On Cruise Ships

If you want a spa treatment on a cruise ship, you can get them deeply discounted if you book them during a shore excursion. While the ship is more or less empty, spa treatments are cut in cost to lure any remaining passengers.

Laura Poole

5.  That Little Thing To Help You Keep Things Together

I very much enjoy the monthly newsletters and find the suggestions very useful. Here’s a tip from me:  Pack one or two plastic clips in your cosmetic bag–keep skimpy towels together after a shower–or drapes that don’t quite close.

Sheila Martin-Stone