SHARING IS CARING # 14

The last post on the Sharing is Caring week in my blog. However this would not be the last time I would be sharing an article, blog, journal etc.

I am thrilled to share this one as this is very special to me. This post talks about the Medieval Europe.  An alarming subject for me. I always want to visit the east of Europe than the west. But I had a chance to go to the west first and I did not stop. I love the west too. However I have some perception about the eastern Europe and I want to go there to see if it is true.

In this article from www.tripoto.com, the author is Rama Arya shares about the beautiful squares of some less travelled destinations in the eastern Europe. She goes to Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia. So much I read about this countries and how they united to become one and then broke down to smaller nations.

Her itinerary is as below and I hope would be mine one day :

Cesky Krumlov

The small town of Český Krumlov dating back to the 13th Century in Southern Bohemia, Czech Republic has to be my favorite. Its towering castle perched atop the hill, overlooking the painted Renaissance and Baroque architecture clustered around the Vltava River, is its crowning glory. The castle is the second largest in the country, comprising of forty buildings and palaces built around five castle courts and a castle park, spanning an area of seven hectares. Český Krumlov’s second gem is the Church of St. Vitus (15th Century) with frescoes from the same period. A climb up the castle’s round tower for just the right picture, a candle at the church, lazing in the old town square awash with golden sunshine, and a steak by the river – it was not just another day for me.

Telč

Whilst Český Krumlov is prettiness personified, Telč, also in southern Czech Republic, is Renaissance grace. Largely untouched since the 16th Century, pastel buildings with high gables and arcades line the long urban cobbled square with the Renaissance chateau and church towers at its two ends. Imagine candy pink, warm peach, dove grey, powder blue, lemon yellow and lime green edifices embellished with white stucco around a large sun kissed square :) That – is Telč.

Sopron

Eastern Europe’s medieval squares continue on to Sopron in Hungary, with its walls and foundations going back to the Roman empire. There is often something particular about a place that lingers on within us, long after we leave it. With Sopron, it was the Benedictine Church for me. Set up by the Franciscan friars in 1280, it has absorbed Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque influences over the centuries, and moved from its original Franciscan order to the current Benedictine one in 1802. It is neither grand nor artistically profound. Yet a sense of continuity hovers over it with serenity …

Eger

Eger in Hungary is, yet again, inimitable in itself. Well-known as a wine growing center, its thermal baths and Turkish Minaret reflect the 91 years of Ottoman rule (1596-1687). In around 1000 AD, St. Stephen, first king of Hungary, founded a bishopric in Eger. The town’s religious importance led to the construction of a castle for its protection in 1248, built around a Romanesque cathedral. The castle, famous for repelling the Turks’ attack during the Siege of Eger (1552), is in ruins today. The Romanesque church no longer exists. Instead, the classical 19th Century Eger Basilica in the town center stands grand and towering, surrounded by numerous later churches.

SHARING IS CARING # 13

Last day of the Sharing is Caring week. It was good practice for I read a lot, wrote a lot, got to know about many destinations etc. I realised I have so much to travel. Its a cliche for my blog but it is true that one life is not enough to travel this world.

I have so much more to share here in my blog and of course I will time and again. Now, this Sharing is Caring is about some of the beautiful villages of India. Yes Villages are always beautiful than the cities. Cities are polluted and always dirty. Villages are small, organised and clean.

The list from www.holidayiq.com is about 8 such villages as follows :

1. Kasol, Himachal Pradesh

source:travel.india.com

This pristine village is an ideal place to just be and let go. Walk through and chill around with sceneries and landscapes borrowed from paradise and a distinct culture from its frequent Israeli visitors. Its glittering markets and breathtaking views will leave you asking for more.

2. Mokokchung, Nagaland

source:holidify.com

HolidayIQ Traveller Kalpesh Morekar says, “Visit Mokokchung and you can see the different cultures of India. The place is ideal for nature lovers. Avoid travelling in the rainy season. Start your travel from Dimapur (chopper facilities are available). You could also drive to Mokokchung.”

3. Malvan, Tarkali

source:wikimedia.org

HolidayIQ Traveller Mandar Joshi says, “Malvan has good offerings of typical Konkani food and cashewnuts. The village is beautiful with good people. The marine sanctuary with variety of corals and other sea life is a must-visit,” says HolidayIQ Traveller Faiz.

4. Kumaon, Uttarakhand

source:trekearth.com

HolidayIQ Traveller MD Faizi says, “Kumaon is a good place for a holiday with friends. You can trek in the jungles, feel nature in the most pure form and spot various wildlife. We took an elephant ride. Because there were not many options with food, we cooked our own meals, which was fun.”

5. Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh

source:holidify.com

A fish farm, hills with a view, pine trees and paddy fields all over. This place in Arunachal Pradesh comes with absolutely nothing on its list of ‘must -do’ things and makes up for an ideal place to chill.

6. Kandaghat, Shoghi

source:blogspot.com

A small little hill side town tucked away in the Himalayas, Kandaghat is cut away from the tourist circuit. It is located on the Chandigarh-Shimla Road and it nonchalantly springs up on you just before the capital town.

7. Chitkul, Sangla

source:bcmtouring.com

HolidayIQ Traveler Sudhir Kalra says, “Last village on Indian side of border, which is accessible by road. Nothing but pure nature in its glory! It is a very small village with hardly any people around, and their livelihood depends on tourism. There are also patches of lands for cultivation. There are good streams of water all around.”

8. Malana, Manali

source:nativeplanet.com

HolidayIQ Traveller A.S. says, “This is a lovely little village in middle of dense mountain forest. The approach is not scenic but after reaching it is worth every penny. The place is very refreshing with hospitable villagers. We played a cricket match with local boys and had a great time.”

SHARING IS CARING # 12

 It is always exciting to see little bit of India in another part of the world.
Why not, It is normal to see Indian restaurants, the incense sticks, the Indian cosmetics, or Indian motorbikes, the pashmina Shawls, the gems stones, the Indian jewellery etc. I saw myself around the world from flea market, to restaurants, to street shops, to supermarkets.

But sometimes the Indian thing is so much that there is no limit to the happiness. The heart beat raises, the ear releases hot air and the skin has goosebumps. It is the happiness to something of your country abroad. It is the little influence India has everywhere. A little bit of your country or a little bit of you.


This Sharing is Caring is probably very special as it is about India in Lisbon. It is about the changing Lisbon and the influence of Goa. This article is from www.cntraveller.in.

Finding Goa in Europe

Midsummer in Lisbon couldn’t be more picturesque: elegant locals and delighted tourists criss-crossing plazas and parks dappled with the city’s characteristic white light, young families sitting in the sun outside one of the innumerable Moorish-style kiosks that have gone from selling tobacco and newspapers to artisanal limonadas and homemade snacks. It seems like much of the best of what the world has to offer is available at a price that can’t be beaten anywhere else in Europe. The greenest big city on this continent is also statistically the safest, and is quietly transforming into one of its most liveable. Its diverse blend of people from all over the world are enjoying an impressive city-wide renaissance that spills right down to the formerly grimy Tagus riverfront. The latter is now a series of wonderfully conceived esplanades and cycle tracks, boatyards, museums, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. There are even brightly coloured tuk-tuks that do the rounds.

Just a couple of decades ago, Lisbon had felt uncomfortably stuffy and conservative to me. Even postcard-perfect Alfama (the labyrinthine oldest neighbourhood in the city) was unwelcoming and more than a little seedy. But this was a newly young, unmistakably hipster, entirely different city. So why did I feel so instantly at home, like I belonged here?

Back to Top

The thought nagged me until one particularly glorious afternoon spent adrift in the Brooklynesque neighbourhood of Príncipe Real. Here, I found boutiques selling bespoke shirts, custom-roasted coffee beans and exquisite porcelain all nestled together in a crumbling old theatre. A rooftop lounge, Park, was perched atop a parking lot. Everywhere, acute-angled city streets threw up panoramic views of the city. In another terrace café, called LOSTIn—Esplanada Bar, I found at least half the clientele sporting kurtas and desi cotton shawls, mostly bought from the in-house store that sources entirely from North India. A weathered Rajasthani door faced the back wall, which was painted with a huge mural of Bal Krishna. The menu welcomed me with “Namaste! Sit back, relax and enjoy! Shanti. Shanti.” And it came to me in a flash, that the pinching sense of recognition I had been feeling for days was because this gorgeous, charming city is undeniably the Goa of Europe.

Irony abounds here, because even Goans born long after Nehru’s conquest of the Portuguese Estado da India, in 1961, have often heard the saying “Quem viu Goa excusa de ver Lisboa” (He who has seen Goa need not see Lisbon). It is a boast borne out of the longest colonial episodes in history: Vasco da Gama arrived in India before the Mughals and soon, what is now India’s smallest state became the glittering centrepiece of a maritime empire stretching from Mozambique to Malacca to Manaus. From 1510 on, Portugal’s self-image was inextricably linked with Goa’s grand architecture (including the largest church and convent in Asia) and pioneering institutions (the first public library, medical college and printing press in Asia).

Panjim native chef Jesus of the Jesus é Goês restaurant. Photo: Michel Figuet

Fast-forward to 2014, and it seems the opposite scenario is unfolding. Long-standing ties between Lisbon and Goa have profoundly redoubled and unexpectedly deepened in the post-colonial era. A new, self-confident generation of Goans in Portugal is steadily blazing a historic, unique track record for Indians abroad. The three-term mayor of Lisbon (and quite likely Portugal’s next prime minister) is António Luís dos Santos da Costa, son of ferociously anti-colonial Goan writer Orlando da Costa. The popular secretary of state for culture is Margao-born Jorge Barreto Xavier.

The country’s universally acclaimed contemporary architectural masterpiece is the moody, spectacular part-medical research facility, part-clinic, part-auditorium Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, located on the Tagus waterfront. It was designed by ace Indian architect, Goa’s very own Charles Correa.

Reading the headlines from afar, the overwhelming impression you get of Portugal is of an economic collapse. But very little of that is visible in Lisbon, which has led Portugal out of a recession, and where the streets are buoyantly crowded with young people enjoying themselves. “A lot of the credit for this city’s success is due to António Costa”, I was told by Rosa Maria Perez, one of Portugal’s foremost scholars on India (and a visiting professor at IIT Gandhinagar). She is an old friend and strong supporter of the charismatic politician who was first elected mayor in 2007. “Nobody can deny that Costa has changed Lisbon in many good ways,” she said.

Sitting in his very grand office in the ornate, neo-classical Sitio de Camara (City Hall), with portraits of his predecessors dating back to the 17th century grandly looking down their noses at us, the mayor charmed me by first asking the appropriate Goan question about which village my family comes from. Then, gesturing emphatically with his hands, he explained his roadmap for Lisbon to weather the ongoing economic storm. “Precisely because we are in a severe crisis, we focused on increasing the visibility of the city,” said Costa, “so we invested in public spaces and culture.” Lisbon has become a major hub for travellers from Brazil and South America, and the regional base for budget airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair. Simultaneously, the city government dramatically expanded its higher-education programmes to draw thousands of new students from around the world, and is now working to improving the quality of life here to get graduates to stay.

Costa is particularly keen on fostering what he hails as “a new generation of entrepreneurs behind a new generation of tourist products”. So Lisbon actively supports low-risk business ventures, such as those kiosk-turned-cafés and zippy tuk-tuks, as well as flexible, innovative public-private partnerships that continue to renovate old buildings across the city into new cultural spaces. This is an unusually open-minded mayor who even encourages graffiti. I was impressed to see him tour an exhibition by New York-based ‘tagger’, André Saraiva, at the Museu do Design e da Moda (MUDE), without raising an eyebrow at an installation of Mickey Mouse showing off a huge erection.

Like almost everywhere in Lisbon, the new industrial-chic MUDE features a web of connections to Goa and India’s long-shared history with Portugal. Its light-filled galleries occupy the former headquarters of the Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU), once the sole official bank for all Portuguese overseas territories. Generations of my—and every other Goan—family deposited their savings and valuables with BNU. That original hoard is the source of one of Portugal’s most-visited museum’s highlights of 2014. ‘Esplendores do Oriente’ (‘Splendours of the Orient’) at the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga is a magnificent display of gold- and gem-encrusted precious jewellery, all shipped to Lisbon from the bank’s vaults in Goa, a few days before Indian troops stormed the Estado da India. While half a ton of these treasures were returned to its rightful owners as per a bilateral treaty signed in 1991, the items that remain unclaimed are showcased in Lisbon.

The intricately worked necklaces, anklets, combs, brooches and pendants displayed at Arte Antiga are three-dimensional examples of the creative dialogue between Eastern and Western tastes and traditions that centred in Goa over 450 years, and continues today. In the exhibition catalogue, Nuno Vassallo e Silva, chief executive of Patrimonio Cultural, the government agency with broad overreach over all cultural institutions, proudly notes these beautiful pieces of jewellery “display unique characteristics in the history of civilisation”, which had “important repercussions” not just for India and Europe, but all of global cultural history.

Vassallo e Silva himself has indelible ties to India. His grandfather, Manuel António Vassalo e Silva (the last Governor-General of Portuguese India) defied orders from dictator Salazar to destroy Goa’s infrastructure and fight to the last man, rather than surrender to Indian troops.

While his grandfather left India in disgrace—only to be rehabilitated after Salazar’s death, when he returned to be honoured in Panjim—Vassalo e Silva is one of the leading scholars of the Estado da India’s art history and retains considerable affection for Goa. “Of course, I am not surprised you feel so comfortable and at home in Lisbon,” he told me, giving me a warm welcome at his office in the former royal residence, the neo-classical Palácio Nacional da Ajuda. “This city was completely shaped by overseas adventures, especially those in India.” He pointed out that every family in Portugal cooks Lusitanian versions of classic Goan curries, and that textiles, furniture and decorative objects from India can be found in almost every household. He helped me understand that Goa and India are not just another example of European multiculturalism; instead, they still lie at the heart of Lisbon and Portugal’s contemporary identity.

Luís Vaz de Camões is Portugal’s most celebrated writer. His writing is often compared to the works of Shakespeare, Dante and Virgil, and he wrote most of his epic masterpiece, Os Lusíadas, in 1572, while in Goa. As I ambled down the gorgeous Gothic carved-stone corridors of Mosteiro dos Jerónimos with Landeg White, who is responsible for translating Camões’s iconic works, White tells me:  “If India can embrace Kipling, Camões should pose no problems.” He continues that “it was the experience of being in India that changed him into one of the most original poets of the period.”

Even Jerónimos, where the Portugese royal family lies buried, has indications of how integral India was to the kingdom—starting with the fact that the building was funded by taxes on the pepper trade along the Malabar and Konkan coasts. The entranceway is dominated by massive marble sarcophagi of the twin Portuguese icons—Vasco da Gama and Camões—both of whom made their names in India. And the caskets of the royal family, arrayed behind the altar, are ceremoniously borne by stone elephants with real ivory tusks.

On another evening of impossibly pleasant weather, I met my friend Constantino Xavier—a bright, young Goan-Portuguese academic—and headed into the streets of the trendy Chiado district to have dinner with Barreto Xavier. Here, Hermès and Hugo Boss, as well as some of Portugal’s most beloved traditional shops, were selling delicate porcelain, hand-made gloves and butter cookies. Tucked around the corner are both the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos and the Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea do Chiado. 

This district also boasts outstanding restaurants and cafés, marked by five separate concepts from Portugal’s most celebrated chef, José Avillez. He serves Michelin-starred haute cuisine at Belcanto and rather spiffed-up versions of Portuguese home-cooking at the intimate Cantinho do Avillez, which is where we joined the youthful (he showed up in a leather jacket) minister of culture for a superb Asian-inflected meal—tuna wraps with a kimchi emulsion and meatballs in green curry.

Barreto Xavier told me Portugal is now home to the fourth-largest Indian community in Europe, and catalogued the affordable luxury that makes the country a tremendous opportunity for businessmen and travellers from the subcontinent. He seemed perplexed that the vast majority of Indian tourists to Europe bypass Portugal, despite our long and complex shared history, and Lisbon’s world-class offerings. I confess I hadn’t an answer for him. Why would you skip the Goa of Europe?

On one of my last evenings in Lisbon, I ascended to the very highest point in the city, Miradouro da Nossa Senhora do Monte, and spent half an hour contemplating its phenomenal vantage above the 11th-century fort, Castelo de São Jorge and the oldest parts of the city. Suddenly inspired, I did a very Goan thing and took a sunset cruise along the Tagus. On board the curvaceous skiff, Whatever, I headed upriver towards the city centre. High, cloudless skies tapered to amber, the city’s cascading tiled roofs glowed in the setting rays of the sun. The captain gestured towards new promenades built by António Costa, with fishermen lined up just like at the Mandovi riverfront near my home in Goa’s Miramar. He told me how (unlike in Goa) Lisbon’s clean-up has included the river, which has even caused dolphins to return.

Then we turned back towards the unworldly, ethereal Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown. Viewed from the Tagus, as a steely dusk fell over the city, the centre throbbed and shone from within, almost like an extra-terrestrial installation. I realised with a start that Charles Correa’s design incorporates elements of an ancient architectural vocabulary—cut-out windows, stand-alone pillars—directly quoting Indian traditions that have evolved over millennia. Then I looked over to the Torre de Belém, one of the most potent symbols of the Age of Discovery, the time when Europe first came into prolonged contact with India. From that exact spot, caravelas and crusaders had once set off downriver, to sail around Africa, brave the Capes and cross the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean, only to cruise up the river that flows in sight of my balcony back home. The Tagus and the Mandovi, Lisbon and Goa, are twin points on the compass that remain inextricably, irresistibly linked. Perhaps it’s time to say, “Quem viu Lisboa, excusa de ver Goa!” (He who has seen Lisbon need not see Goa.)

GETTING THERE

Fly to Lisbon with Air France (stopover in Paris) or Lufthansa (stopover in Munich) from Mumbai or New Delhi. Indian passport-holders can apply for a Schengen visa through VFS Global. It takes up to 10 working days to process and costs €60 or Rs4,830.

SHARING IS CARING # 11

Visa on arrival is a blessing for Indian travellers. It is a blessing for any traveller but the amount of documentations and legal frame work we go through in India, Visa on arrival is really a blessing.

It could be stamping with prior online application or could be direct stamping. But it is all worth it. 

Not only the south east Asia, these days Indians get Visa on arrival in Africa, South America, Pacific etc. 

This Sharing is Caring is really caring as I am sharing some exotic destinations around the world to travel with VOA from www.skyscanner.co.in

Out of the list of 8 countries, I have travelled in Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and Jordan with VOA without any hassle.

Visa on arrival travel for Indians

A vacation does not have to be preceded by a long wait at the visa office. Indians can now travel without a visa to various countries and get one on arrival at nominal costs. Foreign holidays have become less daunting for us now that visa-less travel for Indians is an option in more than fifty countries.Skyscanner lists our top picks:  

1. Thailand

Hot favourite for a quick vacation! With its countless shopping and party options in bustling Bangkok, to the never-ending days on its sparkling beaches – Thailand leads the pack when it comes to visa-less travel for Indians. All you need are your passport and a wad of Thai baht and you’re ready for the country of warm smiles and massages. Visit Koh Samui and Phuket for a beach holiday, Chiang Mai for some golf at a hilly getaway and Pataya if all you have is the weekend.

Visa on arrival: Baht 1,000

Read more: Best beaches close to India

The land of smiles has something for the beach-lovers, culture-vultures, party-goers and shopaholics alike!

2. Indonesia

Bali is the perfect getaway for a mix of beach, nightlife and shopping, topped with a dose of culture. Wear batik inspired prints and stuff your bags with handmade art and crafts. Head to the ocean for exciting water sports and snorkelling – it’s all there for you without a visa! 

Visa on arrival: USD 35

Time to explore the scenic sights of Indonesia

3. Seychelles

Beautiful Seychelles is where you should head to when you want to get away from it all. Start your vacation without the headache of lining up at a visa office and continue in that spirit onto the cheapest flight to the idyllic island. Waiting for you are its peaceful beaches, bluest of blue waters and a dose of natural beauty that will make you wonder whether the maker has been fair to the rest of the world.

Visa on arrival is free of charge

Sink your toes into soft powdery sands while soaking in stunning seascapes

4. Jordan

Get a peek into Middle Eastern culture with a trip to Jordan. Jordan has it all – hot springs, the unique experience of floating in the Dead Sea, landscape gazing in Wadi Rum, adventure and hiking in Petra, history at Jerash and teahouses and hip shisha cafes in Amman.

Visa on arrival: USD 30

Expect to see some of the most amazing rock formations here too

5. Kenya

The most beautiful safaris in the world beckon in Kenya’s Masai Mara. Pack the kids up and book yourselves on the cheapest flight to Nairobi, the gateway to the most famous wildlife reserve in the world. It promises to be the trip of a lifetime, considering you will have no trouble with visa offices and the kids will have the best time ever!

Visa on arrival: USD 50

Tell the kids this is real-life Lion King in action!

6. Cambodia

With political stability returning to Cambodia, it has become quite the destination for holiday makers. Cambodia is home to the World Heritage site of the Angkor Wat temple complex, which has been preserved almost intact, thanks to years of inaccessibility to tourists. Also hidden away in its dense hills is a lot of beautiful colonial architecture. These treasures can be reached by flying into the capital city of Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, the nearest airports.

Visa on arrival: USD 25

Explore and marvel at the grand temples of Cambodia

7. Mauritius

In need of a dose of the sun and some fun? Then get on a sandy beach in Mauritius with its sparkling waters and laid back atmosphere. The hospitable locals will ensure you have a cooler of choice in your hand. When the mood strikes, step into the water for some snorkelling or take the Undersea Walk for a relaxing and rejuvenating holiday like no other.

Visa on arrival is free of charge

Be bowled over by the sunsets at Mauritius

SHARING IS CARING # 10

It is almost december. It is the end of the year. It is time to think ahead. It is time to think of 2015.

Where to go in 2015. Like every year, all travel journals, magazines etc come up with a list of countries to visit. While some focus on the popular destinations, some are about budget travels. 

This Sharing is Caring is about Best Value destinations in 2015 from www.lonelyplanet.com. The best part is Portugal hits this list of Lonely planet every year. Why not it is one country I have been once and always want to go back every year. 

I have been to Portugal, Bali, Uruguay and South Africa out of the list of 9 countries. 

Best value destinations for 2015

1. Tunisia

Pin this imageDon your sunglasses and prepare to be dazzled by the multicoloured Al-Zaytuna mosque, one of Tunisia's architectural gems. Image by Yoshio Tomii / The Image Bank / Getty Images

When it comes to Tunisia, the conversation has moved on from safety to recovery for tourism, and a renewed appreciation of why the country is such a compelling destination. Most travel warnings have been dropped and travellers are once again tuning in to North Africa’s most compact package. This year prices will remain tempting to lure travellers back, and lower crowds will mean that those who do come will get a more rewarding experience whether they stay in cosmopolitan Tunis, head for Star Wars sets or explore the Roman remains that dot the north of the country.

Seasonal charters from European airports to Djerba can be an excellent-value gateway into Tunisia.

2. South Africa

Pin this imageCape Town under the dramatic outline of Table Mountain. Image by Mlenny Photography / E+ / Getty Images

Currency fluctuations mean that for certain travellers South Africa is more affordable than it has been for many years. Instead of just rejoicing in the undercooked rand, consider what South Africa offers value-seeking travellers at any time. How about fantastically accessible wildlife watching for all budgets, bargain public (and traveller-friendly) transport and free entry to many of the country’s museums? Most visitors will find something to please their budget, whether it’s a cheap-and cheerful Cape Town seaside cafe or an affordable safari campsite. Come in South Africa’s shoulder seasons (March to May, September and October) for the best combination of low crowds and comfortable weather.

3. Shanghai

Pin this imageThrow yourself into the throng of Shanghai's markets for a taste of local life. Image by DAJ / Getty Images

For all the upscale new openings in China’s most famous coastal city, Shanghai remains reassuringly affordable for budget travellers. No-nonsense dorms start at less than US$10, and the pleasing pricing continues through budget and midrange hotels until you hit the less-than-friendly international big names and trendy boutique accommodation. It’s a similar story when eating out: characterful street-treats for a dollar, and big portions in popular restaurants for little more. Best of all, walking the city’s safe and buzzing streets is the best way to take the pulse of this fast-changing metropolis. SmartShanghai (smartshanghai.com) is a great place to keep pace with new happenings in this ever-changing city.

4. Samoa

Pin this imageCrystal-clear waters, empty beaches, what more could a traveller ask for? Image by Michael Runkel / Robert Harding World Imagery / Getty Images

It feels like we’ve heard this one before: ‘Beautiful, undeveloped tropical paradise seeks underfunded travellers for discreet liaison. Applicants must enjoy no-nonsense budget buses and simple, idyllic beach hut accommodation (fales), owned by local families, who tend to throw in dinner.' So as with so many places before it, we’d say get to Samoa soon. Best visited by jumping off from New Zealand or Australia, these islands are one of the best travel deals in the Pacific.

The markets of Apia, Samoa’s capital and largest town, offer a great introduction to everyday life. Maketi Fou, the biggest, is the place to come for souvenir hunting and Samoan street food.

5. Bali

Pin this imagePalm trees, misty rice paddies and looming volcanoes - all part of Bali's exotic (and budget-friendly) blend. Image by Michele Falzone / Digital Vision / Getty Images

While many budget-traveller favourites have grown up and got proper jobs running overpriced resorts, Bali never stopped delivering the goods. In fact, while backpacker-friendly beachside bungalows and other affordable digs still abound, with reasonable costs for food and transport thrown in. Bali is also pretty stonking value for mid-range adventurers who delight in air conditioning, distinctive Balinese style and a large range of quality places to stay. And of course, Balinese spa treatments are rightly famous, and cheaper than in many other places.

Bali’s international popularity is evidenced by the large number of winter flights from Russian cities, offering the unlikely combination of a snowy Trans-Siberian journey and a week on a Balinese beach.

6. Uruguay

Pin this imageA beacon blinking out to budget travellers... or a lighthouse in Cabo Polonio, Uruguay. Image by Grambo Photography / All Canada Photos / Getty Images

While Brazil’s travel scene burgeoned as the World Cup rolled into town, Uruguay looks a better-value choice for a short excursion into South America. This proud buffer state has much to enjoy: sizzling steaks, laid-back Montevideo and a hip beach scene that tempts travellers further round the sandy coast each year. While you should watch out for peak-time costs on the coast, this remains an underrated, affordable corner of South America.

The sleepy riverside town of Fray Bentos is home to a memorable museum: the former factory of the world-famous beef processor of the same name.

7. Portugal

Pin this imageThe Dom Luis I bridge crossing the Douro River in Porto, Portugal. Image by Ken Welsh / The Image Bank / Getty Images

That Portugal’s Algarve region trumps prices at other European resort areas isn’t a surprise to regular visitors. This surf and family-friendly region remains the destination of choice for a more-than-sun seaside holiday, and it’s not all that great-value Portugal has to offer. Lisbon, as happening as Barcelona with fewer crowds, and cheaper, is set to get a whole lot more accessible as low-cost airline Ryanair opens a base in the Portuguese capital. Head anywhere in the country off the tourist trail, and costs come down further.

For a great-value tour of Lisbon hop on tram 28, which rattles around taking in many of the city’s highlights, including the Alfama district and the views from the Miradouro de Santa Luzia for €2.85.

8. Taiwan

Pin this imageThe roof of Fushan Temple in Jiufen, one of Taiwan's colourful temples. Image by Gillian Tso / Moment Open / Getty Images

Taiwan delivers great all-round value. Taipei is significantly cheaper than Hong Kong, Seoul or Tokyo, and while hotels are a bit expense, dorm beds and homestays abound in Taiwan and camping is common in a lot of the island’s national parks and forests. Rail passes are standardised and cheap on fast and modern lines. Admission to many attractions and temples is cheap, and even major museums are affordable. Eating, perhaps the main attraction in Taiwan, is accessible to all whether tucking into dumplings at a street stall or enjoying high-end fare at lower prices than comparable cities.

A large bottle of Taiwanese beer will set you back around NT$120 (US$4), or much less if you get one from a grocery shop.

9. Romania

Pin this imageThe splendid skyline of Brasov in Transylvania - within grasp of lighter pockets. Image by Doug Pearson / AWL Images / Getty Images

Eastern European nations frequently appear in best-value lists, but in Romania’s case the entry is entirely warranted. Now vigorously connected to the rest of Europe by budget airlines, accommodation compares well in all price brackets to bigger-name destinations in the region. Bucharest is a case in point, where hotel beds largely welcome business travellers, so holiday season is, unusually, low season. Away from here there are budget-friendly homestays in medieval villages, spectacular castles and the unique Danube Delta, best explored by inexpensive, if slow, ferries.

Private vans known as ‘maxitaxis’, together with buses and minivans, form the cheapest way to get routes, times, fares and departure points.