Just looking for some travel ideas... completely open to destination, just want somewhere new and interesting. I go somewhere "big" every year (last year I did Africa) but this year is a bit more financially strained. I still have that itch to go SOMEWHERE (ideally in September)..so wondering if anyone has any travel spot ideas for roughly $2000 budget (all in..flights, everything) Duration is totally flexible but would prefer at least two weeks. Also particularly interested in Central or South America. (not that interested in Mexico or anything all-inclusive, though.) Would Colombia be doable on this budget? I'd be traveling alone....Thanks!

doable easily for colombia or peru.

Oh that's great news! Peru, you think? Thought the trek itself was near $500+?

There are cheaper options for trek, and if you're on the more adventurous side, some are doable on your own.

Fantastic, thanks!

colombia would totally be do able for 1/2 of that budget. Really depends. Hostels are not so bad either. I would do 2-3days in bogota, then medellin, cartagena, santa marta (tayrona). Heard los andes suppose to be very nice. Peru is great too. honestly, if you are budgeting properly. $40/day. You can do both countries.

Ernie P Amazing news, thought all hope was lost for traveling this year. Is Sept. a good time to go there?

Peru, you're getting into shoulder season so expect some more rain...

I have to admit I'm a bit more interested in Colombia..have heard such amazing things. So now the question constantly asked..... is it safe as a woman to go there alone? I have traveled a lot (alone) so definitely have my wits about me.,,but just want to be sure.

I did 5 weeks in South America last fall for under 3k. Peru, Bolivia, Chile and 5 days in el salvador and 3 days in nyc on the way home. There are much cheaper ways to do the machu pichu trek thats just as good. I did 4 day trek with loki travel for under 300 everything included. Feel free to PM me if u want I love helping people plan trips

If you really want an adventure go to Colombia. Hit Bogeta and Medellin. than Cocora valley in Salento and bungee jump off Viaducto El Tigre

Sounds good Kabir, thank you! (this would have to include flight from here in Toronto as well in that $2000 budget)

Been to Colombia three times. Really depends where you go. In Bogota as a well-dressed white male I did not really feel safe, especially without locals with me that speak Spanish. Less than 2% of the country speaks English so keep that in mind. Other areas like Medellin and Cartagena are considerably safer but still will be quite the culture shock if you've never been to South America before.

Thanks Jake! Feeling pretty convinced now!

the two that I added are the Colombian adventures.... best experance to go local

Yup I flew from Pearson and I flew back into the island airport. I saved a lot of money by playing around with the flights

Iceland!

Kabir Had no idea flights went to/from island airport, good to know!

Stacey well I flew from San salvador to Newark on my last leg of the trip then found a 65$ flight from NYC back to Toronto

Kabir Ahh that makes sense...I will play around, thank you!

I would not wish a stopover at Newark airport on my worst enemy lol

Went to Colombia last year, and going again this summer. I will be staying 3 weeks in Medellin, and visiting towns around it, I recommend you do the same. Medellin is arguably the safest out of the biggest cities and also the most fun. Stay around parque lleras in El Poblado area, there will be a lot of tourists and backpackers there as well.

Nice, thank you Carlos, Colombia has been on my mind for a long time so I'm glad to see such high recommendations (and see that it's budget friendly)

I'd highly recommend Bolivia it's often overlooked but it has been the coolest place I've ever been to La Paz was breathtaking and it's also one of the cheapest places in the world to travel to. If you like outdoor/adventure type actives Bolivia is the place to be

Kabir Have looked into Bolivia a bit, but got turned off of the poor bus system...??

Stacey I found that all the buses I took in South America were very comfortable clean and professional (I stuck with the bigger more expensive ones) the only issue I had with the buses was I got stuck at some road blocks due to local farmers protestesting it was a pain in the ass but there was nothing you could do about it it was a good time to meet other travellers. The worst one was 5 hours near the border of peru and Bolivia

Also any tours or activities that I booked were well run and had zero issues with anything

Costa rica is beautiful! ..

I wish the flight to Europe wasn't so expensive once there you can live off nothing and have the best experiences

Bryant Portugal maybe not too bad?

No Europe for me this year, last year was England,Netherlands,Spain and France. Next year Greece and Italy....You been?

I have! Greece was phenomenal and I'll be back...Italy so great I HAVE been back...three times!

La Tomatina 2015 in Spain, it happens on the last Wednesday in August. I did it in 2013, EPIC was an understatement.

Still have not done Spain...I must.

Their Tapas, Sangria and Paella are the best. I think you just answered your own question.

Is it doable for $2000 though?? If so, I might have to rethink this. I have done Europe and trying to check off every continent...but ahhhh....Spain....

Top Deck has tour for La Tomatina around $450 when I went in 2013. Tour includes hotel, bus to the La Tomatina, day tour before La Tomatina. Flight is maybe $1000, and you can either go to Ibiza afterward or Madrid. I paid $107 for return flight from Valencia to Ibiza and back. If you are okay to stay in hostel, totally doable. I stayed at airbnb in Ibiza with a friend to split the cost. PM me if you have questions about Spain and La Tomatina.

Ahh and I have a "past traveler" discount with Top Deck....hmmmmm

DO IT!

Belize

Colombia is also on my list. Another really cheap and amazing option is Nicaragua - I can't wait to go back. Surfing, volcanos, colonial cities, nature - and it's incredibly cheap

Just visited portugal and cannot recommend it enough! It's truly a hidden gem! And Ssooooo cheap! Flight was $850 from toronto to porto!

Brazil

Thanks Amy Muhič! That is also on the short list! Has anyone done San Blas Islands between Panama and Colombia?

http://www.flighthub.com/flight/search?seg0_from=YTO...
FLIGHTHUB.COM
80% off cheap flights from Toronto to Osaka - FLIGHTHUB.COM

$943 flight to Osaka Japan for 2 week from flight hub.
air canada leaving sept 16

Nicaragua , Honduras , costa Rica , Panama

Catherin I would LOVE to do Japan but expensive once you're there...don't think $1000 left of my budget would go very far

I did Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador.... everyone skips el salvador but it's so awesome nicest people in the world, and amazing surfing, beaches, and eco-tourism

contact me if you are thinking to go to roatan honduras we go several times a year it is awesome for snorkel or if you are scuba certified or looking to be beautiful resort on west bay beach september is a great time to go not real hot and humid but nice days before rainy season starts,, 2000.00 for all in for 2 weeks wont cut it tho unless you stay very low budget and not on the nicest beach either so its a personal thing for choice of surroundings send me a pm if you have any questions

i had a $2000 budget and did europe--paris, barcelona, rome and brussels--this included flights to each destination and a roundtrip from toronto to rome--as well as hotel costs & food and some shopping as well

Elsie how did you pull that off?? please share

being a grad student with no money helps lol but basically i checked the fares daily until there was a roundtrip flight to rome for 680---i purchased that then I purchased one way tickets for no more than 100 CA--(mot were about $ 40 CA) from rome to barcelona, barcelona to paris, --then i did a $25 euro bus to brussels and then took a flight from brussels to rome (this one cost 100CA or a little less--then back from rome to Toronto---for accomodations I did some hotel, some hostels and stayed with a friend in brussels--but I booked everything on booking.com and orbitz and got discounts from that --so by the end of the trip I had enough savings from the discounts to get a hotel room for free for a night before I came back to toronto----I also walked a lot and used public transportation while there---and by doing this I had enough money left over to buy some nice bags lol and other things I wanted and go to some really nice restaurants----just research---and u will find good deals--but it takes some time
booking.com
BOOKING.COM: 659,426 hotels worldwide. Book your hotel now!

Amazing Elsie, thank you!

p.s.. i will be doing this again this summer hopefully and I am trying for a lower budget since the fares to europe are better somewhat and I know a few more tricks now

After finding a reasonable flight, use www.airbnb.com for accomodations... super

Costa Rica is nice for eco-tourism and beaches. However, travelling alone in Central and South America can be a bit dangerous

Can't start to imagine what "did Africa" means -- that's 54 countries. Costa Rica is major expensive nowadays; could try Nicaragua now being one of safer spots in the region. Colombia also on my short list for next destination so keeping informed and it's not as dangerous as it used to be relatively speaking but still might have a ways to go.

Mike Didn't feel the need to go into my entire itinerary of Africa..but if anyone cares..it was South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. Much like someone says "I did Europe" when they visit multiple countries.

I spent a couple weeks in Colombia a couple years ago and it is still one of my favourite destinations. I liked it so much I told my younger sister to go there on her own and it would be fine and she loved it too. Flights and everything in you probably won't be able to do for 2000, but it's still worth it. Though it's a way bigger country then I realized at first, and their buses are shockingly good, but it still takes ages to go places.

I have heard that from quite a few people, Tyler..that it's their favourite destination. Wonder if I could manage 10 days for $2000? I'm not picky about where I stay! Just as long as a good area.

I'm looking into a fall South America trip *following* - maybe I missed it, but how is it like traveling alone?

South Korea

Honduras - if you are outdoorsy http://www.omegatours.info, diving with https://www.facebook.com/CaptainMorgansDiving and http://es.copanhonduras.org to visit ruins.
OMEGATOURS.INFO
OMEGA TOURS - join us in nature - Adventure Company & Eco Jungle Lodge

If you go to Colombia, you should hike Ciudad Perdida http://laciudadperdida.com. You can do it for about $2K for two weeks. It was fairly inexpensive and we went around new years. In Bogota, Masaya Hostel is a great place http://www.masaya-experience.com/en/residence/masaya-bogota. Private rooms available and popular with solo travellers. LP's cost page is a good way to check cost https://www.lonelyplanet.com/colombia/money-costs as well I use Numbeo http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp...
LACIUDADPERDIDA.COM
Ciudad Perdida, Colombia (The Lost City) Travel Guide

I would say fly to Peru, I am positive you can find $600-700 return flight. From Lima, take bus to Cuzco, Macchu Pichu, visit one of world wonders. Great place, I am sure you will love it. Bus form Lima to Cuzco shouldn't be more than $80. From there you have option either go to Bolivia, Chile or Brazil. If you take bus to Chile, you can also go to Argentine and then return to Peru to fly back. $2000 should give you great exposure to 4-5 countries and a great road trip. Mostly safe travel and people love/respect foreigners . Feel free to ask/Pm me if need more info/tips. Been traveling to these countries for over 15 years now

If you can get a cheap flight or use airmiles to Ft. Lauderdale, there are some awesome deals to Cartagena , Columbia for $198 U.S. Dollars! Pick dates on ita matrix!

You are all amazing, thank you so much! Thought my travel plans were not possible this year but looks like South America is my best bet. Now to choose between Peru or Colombia! Though I do like the idea of multiple countries if you really think that's doable on $2000!

Suzanna Bee I wouldn't travel any other way, to be honest. I absolutely love the flexibility that traveling alone gives me, and I have met so many more people while traveling solo than I do when I go with others...it's great!

2000$ will get you pretty far in South America but two week's isn't a lot of time. You sound experienced enough to know that places are a lot further apart than they look on the map. A realistic trip without spending to many "travel" days would be Peru and Bolivia if you really push it you could add northern Chile. When I did those three countries I really loved the fact that although they were so close together each country was VERY different with scenery, people,and culture. The backpacking scene was also very different from Europe or South East Asia, the age groups in the hostel were generally 25+ and more mature less partying and more about experiencing and immersing into the culture, I'd say almost 90% of the travellers I met were solo and lots of girls very safe

Just did Nicaragua, you can definitely do it on that budget and there is so much to see!

How about the best country to travel in the world.... Canada! Fly to Calgary, rent a car, drive to Banff stay a couple days. Next lake Louise, Moraine Lake, take Ice Fields Parlway to Jasper do a B&B for a few days. While there boat tour of Maligne Lake then drive to Athabaskan Falls. From there to Salmon Arm BC for a day (check out Adams River salmon run). From there to Kelowna and Okanagan Valley. Do a B&B in Kelowna and tour wineries down to Osoyoos and back in one day. (Don't drink and drive
). From there drive through the glorious Rocky Mountains to Banff or Canmore. The drive is spectacular. Next day back to Calgary, drop off your car and enjoy the flight and long lasting memories home.

Ill do Canada when I'm done everywhere else...I don't drive...

Ah, saving the best til last !
Safe travels wherever you go.

There's lots of hostels in Tamarindo in Costa Rica and the surfing is quite a great experience. I stayed in Liberia and drove in there. The prices were very reasonable and food was cheap (and good!). Do you collect points or anything that could help with flight?

I second Peru. I think $2000 would get you a lot there and Lima, Cuzco, Machu Picchu, all of it is breathtaking! The people are nice, country has great weather and you can climb Wyna Picchu...

Iceland ?

Asia. ..Malaysia. ..Indonesia and Thailand each or a combo of two can easily be done for 2k. .flight is the most expensive part ...local food and travel is cheap ...and hostels are safe and the way to go...

Parth Ruparel kal job pe yeh thread ki phd kar daalte hai