Love grows when you share new places, sunsets, and the last bite of street food. Even though the world is big, some areas look like they were made for two people to hold hands and laugh at inside jokes. Here are ten places, four towns, three islands, two mountains, and one desert, both cheap and beautiful, and where you will make memories that will make you smile years from now. Pick one, do not bring too much, and start the story.
Lisbon, Portugal
Pastel Streets and Cheap Wine
A lot of people and trams pass through Rossio Square. You can use the metro for seven euros to get to castles, lookout spots, and the riverfront. You can share a custard tart for one euro and then walk up Alfama streets at sunset without a ticket. Double rooms in a hostel start at twenty-five euros, and free walking tours and breakfasts are on the roof. A lot happens at night in small bars where a glass of local red costs two euros and the bartender knows your name.
Sintra Day Trip
Take a €2 train to castles from fairy tales. Take the trail that leads to Quinta da Regaleira. The park is only six euros, so you do not need to visit the house. Three euros will get you a picnic with bread and cheese from a market. In Lisbon, you can eat grilled sardines on the dock for four euros, and the moonlight makes the river look great.
Tulum, Mexico
White Sand and Jungle Ruins
The beach road in Tulum is full of bikes and food stands. You can rent a scooter for $15 daily and ride it from sunrise yoga to glow blue cenotes. A cabaña by the beach costs $60 for two people and comes with free bikes and blankets. I bought grilled fish tacos for dinner for $3 and fresh coconut water for $1.
Cenotes and Caves
The water in Gran Cenote feels like glass, and it costs ten dollars to get in. At dusk, ride your bike to the sites and pay $4 to watch iguanas climb up old rocks as the sun goes down.
Kyoto, Japan
Quiet Temples and Ramen Dates
Buses in Kyoto connect shrines, bamboo woods, and noodle alleys for two dollars each. Stay in a hostel made from old wood for $40 a night. There is a shared bathroom and free bikes. You can get a matcha latte for $3 under the maple leaves in the morning. In the afternoon, you can walk through the thousand gates of Fushimi Inari.
Gion Evenings
You can rent yukata robes for $15 and walk around the streets lit by lanterns. You can split ten-dollar yakitori skewers and watch geisha walk by like they are in a picture.
Santorini, Greece
Blue Domes and Cliff Sunsets
It looks like Santorini is pricey until you stay in Fira instead of Oia. For 35 euros, you can stay in a double hostel room with a view of the caldera and eat breakfast on the deck. You can also walk along the cliff path to Oia at dusk for free. There is no charge to share a gyro or swim in Amoudi Bay.
Volcano Day
It costs fifteen euros per person to sail to the volcano. You can swim in hot springs, hike on black rock, and then come back in time to eat seafood pasta at a taverna for twelve euros.
Bali, Indonesia
Rice Terraces and Spa Days
The rice fields in Ubud are glowing green, and walking around them is free. You can bike around Tegenungan for five dollars and look for waterfalls. For $30 a night, you can stay in a bamboo house and get dragon fruit bowls for breakfast. A couple massage in the afternoon costs $15 and is done under palm trees.
Sunrise Walk
Climb Mount Batur at 3 a.m.; it costs $30 for a guide and transportation. As you eat your eggs, watch the sun rise over the clouds.
Queenstown, New Zealand
Adrenaline and Lakes
Peaks surround Queenstown, which is built around a lake. For $40, you can stay in a hotel by the lake with a shared kitchen. For $150, you can all bungee jump together; for $25, you can ride the lift and watch paragliders paint the sky. For $12, you can get lamb burgers and craft beer for $ dinner.
Milford Sound Day
It costs $80 for both the bus trip and the boat cruise. Seals lie on rocks and waterfalls that are bigger than buildings, making the long ride worth it.
Banff, Canada
Turquoise Lakes and Cabin Nights
It is free to look at Lake Louise, which shines blue. You can rent a car for $30 a day and drive along the Icefields Parkway, which is lined with mountains that look like frozen rivers. You can stay in a hostel room for $45 a night and cook dinner together for $10.
Canoe Date
You can rent a boat on Lake Louise for $35 an hour. Watch the mountains show up in the water as you paddle to the far side and eat trail mix.
Sahara, Morocco
Desert Stars and Camel Rides
If you fly to Marrakech, you can take a $20 shared car to get to the desert. For $40 each, you can sleep in a Berber tent under the Milky Way. The price includes dinner. At night, ride horses, drink mint tea by the fire, and wake up to see the sun rise over the dunes. It was just sand and whispers; there was no Wi-Fi or clocks.
Budget Hacks for Every Trip
Cook One Meal a Day
Food costs half as much in hostel kitchens and Airbnb stoves. Food from the farm, a bottle of wine, and a bag of pasta cost less than one dinner bill.
Use Free Walking Tours
In most towns, tours are based on tips, so you can pay what you think is fair. Locals tell you about cheap places to eat and teach you about history.
Travel Midweek
It is cheaper to fly on Tuesday and take the bus on Wednesday. It is better to be flexible than to use a ticket.
Book Beds Early
The price of dorm beds goes up as the trip date gets near. If you book a month ahead, you can get the best deal.
Pack a Water Bottle
Fill up at waterfalls to save three dollars a day on water bottles.
Walk around
Pick a place to stay that is close enough to walk to attractions. You can find secret murals and cafés by walking around for free.
Pack Light, Wash Often
Bring only half of your clothes with you, and plan to wash them on the way. A travel-sized soap bottle costs two dollars and helps your bags weigh less.
Use Credit Card Points
Save the most money first, then cash in your points for flights or hotels.
Conclusion
You fall in love more when you share new views, spicy noodles, and quiet hostel porches. Pick one place to go, change the times, and do not bring as much as you think you will. When the seventh day ends and your phone has more laughs than money spent, you will know the trip was a success. Keep the flight passes; they will help you remember stories you want to tell on any couch in the future. Your hearts should still be wide open when the next morning finds you together.