If you had 2-2.5 weeks to go somewhere mid September-October, where would you choose and why?
I’m looking for a relatively budget friendly country to visit on a shorter timeline: I’m an active person who likes hikes, nature, history, photography, seeing culture/ hanging with locals and hostel life.
I’m not interested in all inclusive or laying on the beach for days at a time BUT having a tough time narrowing down where I want to see next. Not interested in Canada or USA

Lisa Alexander Ciamorrini
Nicaragua is amazing and very affordable. We stayed and a vrbo in Grenada and loved every minute

I love Nicaragua. But I think it’s rainy season

I’m interested in the same things and am curious to see recommendations. Are you travelling alone? That might change things. I went hiking in Morocco last winter and loved it. I went on my own and met up with a group. Amazing experience

Yeah I think it’s a solo trip. Honestly, I do quite a bit of travel solo and feel safe in ‘most’ places (Africa, Asia, Central and Sourh American countries. I’ve never felt unsafe travelling Just as long as you’re careful of surroundings and mindful of cultural differences

Ljubljana, the food the people, scenery is 2nd to none so many things to do like castles,caves and so many sites to see. The cafe scene is amazing and so laid back. It is truly worth the trip . Oh and the picture is from yesterday as I am currently here and loving it

I SOOO want to see Slovenia!! It has been in my top 3 places to consider for this trip

Tara Urban-Engel do it it is unbelievable I’m am at a cafe as I write this and it’s amazing . Specialty shops , cafes, scenery is unbelievable

I think Taiwan would be really good. The weather will be more mild than the summer and it will be the start of the dry season. Lots of mountains and parks to explore. Street food is readily available and cheap. Some of the friendliest locals I have met as well.

Thank you! It’s high on my list right now!

Philippines and Cambodia are both great financial wins. You can do either with flight and hotel/resort for less than $1600

Is it rainy season in Philippines in the fall? I’d love to visit but it’s looking like possibly questionable weather

Tara Urban-Engel the rains come but doesn't last long. Usually it allows a break from the heat and some personal reflection time

I’m going to Spain during that time frame! Flights and hostels have been relatively cheap to book thur far and I’ve heard it’s an overall budget friendly country. I’m also super active and plan to have a solid mix of hiking and city experiences

Spain is gorgeous! I’ve for sure been considering it

Come stay at my place on the North coast in the Dominican Republic. Kite surfing, wind surfing etc. Lots to do here. You can travel local pretty inexpensive and the flights are good price then.

I was looking at the Dominican! When is the rainy season?

Tara Urban-Engel Hurricane is September but I only seen it once in 6 years and the rainy month is November. But its still beautiful throughout the day

Belize and Guatemala! Or anywhere in Central America, really.

I’ve been to Guatemala and Nica but I think it’s rainy season in the fall
or is go back

it is but it wouldn’t be too bad. I went to Belize and Guatemala at the end of October/beginning of November for 2.5 weeks a few years ago and it was fine! Bit of rain, but mostly heat and sun!

Ecuador. So much to see and do. Hike Pichincha at 15,696'. Goto the rain forest and see hundreds of birds, waterfalls, monkeys. Goto the coast and see Bluefooted Boobies and Penguins. Or hoo over to Galapagos Islands.

Ecuador is SO on my list!! I’m going back to South America in Jan and hope to visit Ecuador as well

Tara Urban-Engel it's my top spot. I want to go back and spend a few months in Ecuador. I've been there a few times but it's never enough!

We went to Colombia in February, Medellin and Cartagena. Cheap air bnb, lots to see, flights were under $700

I love Colombia!! I was there in May and am going back Jan!!

Iceland!! I loved it! I would go back in a heartbeat with my full camera kit. It's like no where I've ever been! Big draw back....pretty pricey

I’ve been to Iceland! It’s goegeous but expensive and I feel it helps to have a vehicle!

Go to Cambodia and go see ankor wat, AMAZING

I love Cambodia, it’s an option but I have been

Costa Rica is a beautiful country with lots to do for an active person. It’s not too hard to get around, reasonably safe, and lots of areas are not overly touristy.

Peru

Peru I’m heavily considering!! But I’d love to include the Inca trail or hikes (which I don’t have permit for)

Honestly the country has so many other things to see too but if not this trip still keep it at the top of the list.

Southern Portugal... beautiful beaches, great people, amazing history and architecture...churches and castles, etc.

Ireland! The hostel life is the best, the food is amazing, hikes and sights are incredible, and you can rent a car and be anywhere in the country within 2.5 hrs. The big cities, smaller villages, the wilds of the Connemara, and the peat bogs that surround it, the cliffs, the castles, adventures (did I mention the food!?
) Message me if you want more details!

Just got back from Denmark and Tanzania ; we loved both of those countries!

Find a seat sale first. If going to visit cheaper countries, the flight will be your biggest expense. Find a deal, go there.
That said - echoing the consideration to explore Canada some more!

Mary agreed! Find a deal & go there.
That’s being said, I would suggest Belize or Costa Rica

Belize and Costa Rica are fairly pricy for Central America (I love that part of world). Sadly I think it’s hurricane season in the fall

we just returned from a 6-week holiday in Europe. we loved Porto, Budapest and Croatia (Zagreb, Plitvice Lakes NP, Split, Dubrovnik). they're all friendly, fun, lots of things to do and see, very walkable, safe... and relatively cheap

If you could get a good deal on a flight, Nepal would be nice at that time. Korea has also had some crazy seat sales lately (got one for 750 RT) and their fall is quite beautiful with lots of opportunities for hiking and cheap activities/accomodation.

Japan is gorgeous in the fall and there is a lot you can do in that time. Not sure if that's too early for the leaves to be changing color though.

Kaitlin my 1st trip was late sept and it was still very hot/humid. Mid october would be better

Derrick I've done April and June in Japan but never that time. But anytime is a good time to go to Japan imo.

Ive been begging of both march and april and both were great. Agreed on the 2nd point though, i will go at any time

Stay at home! I know you say you aren't interested in Canada, but unless you have seen every sq. inch of it, you have no idea how stunning our country is.
If you have to leave, your first consideration should be the exchange rate. Nothing in Europe is cheap. The Euro is about double the Canadian dollar. Iceland will provide you will all you are requesting, but again it isn't cheap. So like I said just stay home. Enjoy

Nothing in Canada is cheap either. Europe is expensive but can be cheap in the east (I’m from there): just looking for outside the box ideas thanks for your opinion

Too bad. PEI is beautiful at that time of year, with many trails, and especially the confederation trail.

Just watch iceland air deals and pick. We got to Paris for $450 round trip one year.

Cuba, because politically, culturally different. Poverty bit communism makes sure they all have free education, health and dental care. Food is not plentuful except for the tourist food. It is very safe to wander even for women. The climate, architecture and history all amazing. Some of the best bea hes in the world.

I went to Cuba 10 years ago and loved it! I do and don’t want to go back now that the US is in

New York/New England. Beautiful, a nice mix of city and rural-(ish), weather is crisp, leaves have changed, people are friendly, it's not too expensive, and they pull the lobster right out of the ocean.

Denmark....lots of rich hostory, beautiful country in which you can take the train to Sweden and Germany.

Japan
Portugal - specifically southern Portugal in the algarve
Belgium is so gorgeous that time of year too - we did a Benelux trip one year in the fall in the time frame (Belgium/Netherlands/luxembourg)

If you want budget friendly it's best to remain in Canada. PEI or Cabot trail in Nova Scotia has awesome hiking trails and beautiful scenery that time of the year and would be cheaper than over seas. There are quaint bed & breakfasts all over the place. You haven't witnessed autumn until you've seen it in the Maritimes.

Lynn A Torchia, flights to the east coast are as much or more than going to Europe though!

That's true @Ashley, although once you get there it is cheaper than you might think. I just read though, that @Tara Urban-Engel is not interested in Canada or the States so, my next choice for her would be New Zealand or Scotland. They are both great for hikers, they have hostels and airb&bs and those who like history, especially Scotland. They both have really inclusive atmospheres.

You can pick up a cheap flight from Edmonton to Amsterdam as well, then use easy jet from Amsterdam to Italy or somewhere else for cheap

Kiefer just curious what do u consider a cheap flight to Amsterdam. I seem to only find ones 1200ish from edmonton,although it is direct.

Oh that's expensive, I know sometimes they have deals like 550 from Edmonton round trip to Amsterdam, 1200 is expensive tho

Who do you fly with. I would love to find flights that cheap

We just looked at Egypt and Peru. Both were only $2500CAD for flight & hotel, breakfast included. For a 12 day trip.
You could probably even do it cheaper if you used a hostel or airB&B, but $2500 imo is cheap! I pay $750-900 just for a flight home to the states lol

Philippines is also super cheap to get around.

Croatia and Morocco, both fairly cheap and both very interesting with lots to ss and so.

Philippines!
Expensive to fly there, but pretty cheap once yiu get there.

Mid October in Eastern Canada, Nova Scotia, PEI, or New Brunswick

Not sure if the deal is still on but there were round tickets for 592 to Ireland from Calgary.. might be worth the drive down!

I would do Costa Rica! Easy to be done budget friendly. My flight before high season was about $650 return from Edmonton (which I would imagine it’d be close being September. Tons to do..beach, rainforest, volcanoes, hiking, zip lining etc. I did a lot of active stuff and of course a little touristy stuff as well.
Food is great and cheap - you can book tours for transportation and accommodations are fairly decently priced. I would highly recommend if you haven’t been!

With 2 weeks and an outdoors interest, I would hit South America, probably the Andes. Hablo espanol?

Thailand, once you get there everything is dirt cheap, $1.50 pad thai in the street markets, locals are super friendly and tons of hiking/nature etc and a plethora of different landscapes to photograph!

Cuba! Stay in Havana!

Havana is one of the most incredible cities i've had the privilege of seeing!

Kay . I agree! See it before it all changes. And it’s super safe!

+1 for Cuba! Its incredibly vibrant and lots of outdoorsy things to do....

The Philippines!

Do they get hit with rainy season in fall? Or it’s only certain parts of country

Tara Urban-Engel I went September last year and it was the tail end of rainy season - I had one or two days of rain but otherwise beautiful weather. Highly recommend El Nido for hostel and beach bum life. Lots of islands to explore and see and AMAZING food. Super cost effective

Cinque Terre Italy
stay in a airbnb

New Zealand

Can New Zealand be budget friendly? It looks stunning and on my list, but I feel like it need time and $$

Tara Urban-Engel it can be pricey to get there but if you stay in hostels (there are lots), it’s not too pricey once you’re there. The more time the better, but you could do a fair bit in 2-2.5 weeks. It’s great for outdoorsy stuff, there are no dangerous or poisonous animals on land.

Following. Am interested in the exact same question right now!

Georgia nr Russia ..Cheap, frien dliest people, beautiful nature.

Im Russian
I love Eastern Europe

Morocco

I’ve been four times. You can do a lot in 2 weeks there.

France. Nor sure about hiking but Paris is very walkable.

Brazil
Or
Thailand
Or
Eastern Europe

Thailand or Colombia

Portugal.

There are lots of beaches, art, castles, palaces, port wines and the best sandwich I've had in my life- the bifana

Portugal is fabulous and clean. Definitely try it.

Ashley also some of the best food and their coffee mmmm! The ppls are sooo friendly. The music is beautiful. Best trip so far!!

Thailand!

Iceland

Belize for sure.

Thailand!

portugal

Colombia
Medellin area in particular. Or northern Thailand, Chiangmai

Portugal
100% and if wanting an adventure hit up Madeira island while there. We went in November and climate still beautiful

Thailand or Vietnam

Portugal.

Ireland

Spain

Peru

Morocco

Thailand

Following... trying to decide too!!!

Iceland?

Vietnam

Oahu!

Oaxaca!

Bali!!!!! One of my fav places.

SO on my list!!!

Hawaii or a cruise

Oktoberfest in Munich

Peter Germany isn't cheap!

Try Poland

Ljubljana, the food the people, scenery is 2nd to none so many things to do like castles,caves and so many sites to see. The cafe scene is amazing and so laid back. It is truly worth the trip . Oh and the pictures are from yesterday as I am currently here and loving it. Very inexpensive an average meal for two is 20 euros with beer