Cheapflights.com's Affordable Vacation Picks Let You Go Farther for Less

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwired - May 4, 2016) - While it might be tempting to chill at home and pocket the savings this summer, this is no time to linger close to home. In fact, there's no better time to go farther afield. Thanks to the strong dollar and low airfares, many bucket-list destinations around the world are more affordable than they've been in years.

To help you go farther this year, the travel experts at Cheapflights.com, the online leader in finding and publishing travel deals, have pulled together their picks for affordable getaways that take you far, far away. Have a peek at Cheapflights.com's list of International Destinations That Won't Break the Bank, and then start packing.

Here are five great spots that topped the list:

• Wellington, New Zealand - The current exchange rate of $1 to NZ$1.42 means New Zealand is a great value once travelers are on the ground. Whether driving or flying between destinations, everything is close. Buses are a great way to explore (fares start at $1) and a social way of seeing the country. No matter the destination, there is a range of accommodation options for the budget traveler, including campgrounds, hostels, motels and budget hotels. Stiff competition among domestic airlines also means there are often cheap domestic airfares to places like the highly walkable Wellington, which boasts many free attractions like New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa O Tongarewa, and the Weta Cave, a movie lover's showcase of props and collectibles. Wellington isn't the only penny-wise place to visit. Go bungee jumping at the first commercial bungee jump in Queenstown; visit the private farmland of Hobbiton, the movie set from "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit"; get immersed in Māori culture and geothermal activities in Rotorua; tackle the one-day Tongariro Alpine Crossing in Mordor; and go wine tasting in Marlborough, New Zealand's largest wine-producing region and home to the picturesque Marlborough Sounds.
  
  
• Kandy, Sri Lanka - Most travelers to Sri Lanka stop in Colombo, the capital and largest city on the island, but escape the bright lights of the big city and head to the hill country and cooler climate in Kandy. Located 71 miles from the capital, the ancient capital of Kandy is the Sri Lankan center of Buddhism. With the U.S. dollar strong and inexpensive boutique hotels in the hills surrounding Kandy, visitors can more affordably explore the National Museum, Ceylon Tea Museum, Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth Relic), Kandy Lake and monasteries. The best time to visit is during Esala Perahera (Tooth Festival), a 10-day festival with nightly elephant parades that occurs after the full moon in August.
  
  
• Goa, India - Partiers on a budget should head to the southwest state of Goa, India. Goa's golden-sand beaches that look out on the Arabian Sea, laid-back vibe and party scene are easy on the eyes and the wallet. But it's not all about fun in the sun. There are plenty of temples, churches and forts to explore, not to mention stunning Indian, Portuguese and Islamic architecture. Don't leave without sampling the state's signature savory fish curries.
  
  
• Lima, Peru - No matter where you go in Peru, bargains await. The capital, Lima, offers a variety of options for travelers, from lazy days tanning on the beach to dining at some of the top restaurants in the world. Make time to explore Machu Picchu, the ancient "Lost City of the Incas" that was built atop a mountain range 7,972 feet above sea level. Located in the Sacred Valley 312 miles from Lima, Machu Picchu is possibly the best example of Incan architecture. Only 2,500 visitors are allowed each day to visit this remote sacred sanctuary set atop grass terraces cut by nature along the mountain's slope, but it doesn't cost much to get there except a few days' time.
  
  
• Taipei, Taiwan - Taiwan is known as Ilha Formosa (beautiful island) and it lives up to its name. It's significantly cheaper than traveling to popular Asian destinations like Hong Kong, Tokyo and Beijing. Travelers coming from North America can also take advantage of its free stopover program for extra savings. Those looking to book a quick stopover or a full vacation have many options for postcard-worthy places to explore. The capital, Taipei, is an easy and fun starting point. Explore the National Palace Museum, eat your way through the bustling night markets, take a dip in the hot springs, and go to the top of Taipei 101, the bamboo-shaped building that is one of the tallest buildings in the world. Make sure to take time to explore outside the city. Take a day trip to the winding, lantern-adorned streets of Jiufen and you'll see why it has served as the backdrop for many movies. Then launch lanterns in the hopes your wishes will come true in the old mining town of Pingxi.
  
  

With destinations like these, this is no time for a staycation. And there are five equally awesome destinations to add to the list as well: Tallinn, Estonia; Banff, Canada; The Bahamas; the Czech Republic; and Zanzibar, Tanzania. For more details and Cheapflights.com's complete list of International Destinations That Won't Break the Bank head to www.cheapflights.com/news/international-destinations-wont-break-bank.

About Cheapflights.com, part of the Momondo Group
Founded in 1996, Cheapflights is a leading global flight comparison and deals publishing platform. It is now a market leader in the UK, U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand generating over $3 billion in global downstream revenue for its partners as it expands into numerous other territories. More than 120 million users visit its websites and apps each year, receiving more than two billion search results a month from across 900,000 routes. The 10 million strong opt-in subscribers to the Cheapflights newsletter receive the best deals from over 120 travel businesses -- for whom it has driven more than $65 million in revenue this year. Together, the Cheapflights platforms generate enough bookings for its partners to fill a Boeing 747 every five minutes.

In 2011, Cheapflights became part of the privately owned online travel search and inspiration network, Momondo Group.

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