Cheap Travel Destinations, Travel Destinations

Two Best-Kept Secrets: Cheap Travel Destinations Off The Radar

It’s always nice to be the first to discover cheap travel destinations that have the makings of a tourist hot spot. Here are some of Asia’s fastest-rising geographical treasures. Read on, and book a flight now before the rest of the touring world beat you it.

Cambodia
Cambodia has Angelina Jolie’s Tomb Raider movie to thank for its rise to tourism fame. Indeed, after the movie was shown, worldwide interest in the Angkor Wat and Cambodia’s host of ancient temples glared and flared, drawing visitors to an all-time high in 2008. Statistics say last year’s number of visitors totaled two million, or ten times more than its number of tourists ten years ago. Despite the global fanfare, Cambodia is still relatively a secret waiting to be discovered among Americans. Its more famous Indo-Chinese neighbor Vietnam is said to have drawn twice as much visitors than Cambodia last year. Cambodia though is more of a backpacker’s paradise than a haven for tourists looking for the finer things in life. When it comes to lodging, your best bet are the private guesthouses dotting the major towns (no major resort or hotel chain has ventured to build yet in this part of the world).
What to see or do when you’re there? For $2 per day, you can rent a bicycle to see Angkor Wat on. The Angkor complex is definitely not to be missed. It has splendid rows of Hindu and Buddhist temples built as far back as the 9th century that will use up a full two days. You can also hit the Artisans d’Angkor shop near Siem Reap for traditional handicraft souvenirs.

Panama
Panama is the star in terms of tourism in Central and South America. In 2007 and 2008 alone, the country has posted 20- and 30-percent increases, respectively, in the number of tourists. Last year, Panama welcomed its one-millionth visitor, which can only mean it is well on its way to becoming a mainstream travel destination just like its neighbor, Costa Rica.
The main attraction of Panama is its rich flora and fauna and their well-preserved, lush habitats. Should you decide to go, don’t miss a hike up the Cerro Jefe within the Chagres National Park. At 3,000 feet above sea level, the mountain offers a breathtaking view of the Panama Canal, the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean—a sight that you won’t get from the other cheap travel destinations.