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Beijing, China

Hall of Prayer by Fong Chen

Flights: From $720 each

Accommodation: $837 for seven nights for two people

Average meal cost for two: NZ$34

 

China is not the easiest country to travel in. There is a language barrier, the lack of Facebook and Google maps and a big cultural difference. Even the traffic alone can give the average Kiwi nightmares! But it’s an incredible place to visit. Visit the Great Wall, The Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, The Summer Palace and explore the Hutongs in the city.

 

Eat classic Peking Duck, pancakes stuffed with crispy skin duck, spring onion and sweet tangy sauce. Or try a breakfast pancake ‘jianbing’, a wheat pancake filled with pickles, crispy fried crackers, herbs, spring onions and topped with hoisin or chilli sauce. Grab cheap noodles or dumplings street-side for a few dollars- eating cheaply is easy here.

Manila, Philippines

Manilla Bay

Flights: From $800 each

Accommodation: $397 for seven nights for two people

Average meal cost for two: NZ$24

 

Fly to Manila and then take a cheap internal flight to Palawan. From there, you can tour the Underground River, swim under Estrella Falls, scuba dive in El Nido or just spend time snorkelling and exploring the spectacular beaches. The food here is amazing and the hospitality and friendliness of the Filipino people second to none.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi at night by Greg Hayter

Flights: From $853 each

Accommodation: $411 for seven nights for two people

Average meal cost for two: NZ$28

Hanoi is an incredible city that would take easily a week to explore. It’s got history thousands of years old – the old quarter is a warren of wire-draped lanes lined with shops selling everything from sequins to welding.

The food in Vietnam is amazing, starting the day with a bowl of steaming Bo Pho, fragrant with herbs. Then fresh spring rolls or hand cut noodles for lunch, and then try a bunch of snacks for dinner. The local street-corner ‘bia hoi’ (pub) offer delicious draught beer for next to nothing, and platefuls of snacks. Point at what others are eating- fresh tofu stuffed with herbs and served with nuoc cham dipping sauce. Crispy sticky pork ribs. Make-your-own spring rolls. It’s all very, very good. The Vietnamese are incredibly friendly and love children- take your family and the kids will be spoiled and treated with much love.

Delhi, India

Akshardham Temple in Delhi, India

Flights: From $1052 each

Accommodation: $148 for seven nights for two people

Average meal cost for two: NZ$25

India has got a reputation that some would say it deserves. But it can be safe and the vibrancy and colourful chaos of Delhi makes it a truly memorable place. It’s a short drive/ train ride to Agra, where you can see the Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri. In Delhi itself, there’s the impressive red fort, Humayun’s Tomb, Qtub Minar and Lodi Gardens.

The food in Delhi is famous throughout India and the world. Head to he old city, Chandni Chowk. The food stalls seemingly stretch on forever, with everything from cheese stuffed kulcha breads and aromatic curries to snack foods. Indian food isn’t just about chilli, try the chaat. Pani puri is a mixture popped into a crisp shell, topped with a watery sauce- eat it in one go and feel the crunch of the shell followed by the taste explosion from the sauce. Vegetarians rejoice- India is heaven for those who don’t eat meat.

Bali, Indonesia

Besakih, Bali by Uwe Aranas

Flights: From $714 each

Accommodation: $358 for seven nights for two people

Average meal cost for two: NZ$22

Only a ten-ish hour flight from Auckland, Ubud in Bali has become one of the most loved destinations for Kiwis and Aussies. It has beautiful beaches with great surf, amazing inland volcanic peaks, a vibrant nightlife scene and loads to explore. It’s also relatively safe and cheap- it has been developed a destination for tourists with a huge range of food options and cheap beer!

As well as natural beauty, there are also plenty of historic attractions- Tanah Lot water temple, beautiful rice terraces and the Pura Ulun Danu Batur Temple are all highly recommended. Kids will love a tour of the monkey forest!

Get your skates on!

No matter what you want- relaxation on the beach, a buzzing city to get lost in or to explore history in ancient surroundings- there is a budget location for you. Get travel insurance from a company like State, then check if you need a visa, and escape the drudgery of real life.

* All prices calculated on Kayak.com for May 2019 ex Auckland