I’ll never forget the moment I found a $250 roundtrip flight to Rome. I stared at my screen for five minutes thinking it had to be a mistake. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. After nearly a decade of travel blogging and obsessively hunting flight deals, I’ve learned that these “pinch me” moments happen more often than you’d think.
Here’s what drives me crazy: I watch people endlessly scroll through Instagram, sighing over photos of Santorini sunsets or Icelandic waterfalls, convinced these places are financially out of reach. Meanwhile, airlines are quietly slashing prices to fill empty seats, and incredible deals slip by completely unnoticed.
That’s where Going has become my secret weapon. Instead of me refreshing dozens of airline websites at 2 AM (guilty as charged), it monitors thousands of routes and alerts me when something genuinely exciting pops up. And lately? The deals hitting my inbox have been absolutely wild.
Here are seven bucket list destinations you can visit on a budget – no trust fund required, just good timing and knowing where to look.
- ✈️ Pro tip: Want flight deals to bucket list destinations without spending hours searching? Going is a membership-based service that sends the best fares straight to your inbox – including mistake fares and major international discounts. The free tier covers domestic deals, but the Premium membership unlocks flights abroad (sometimes up to 90% off), so you can make that dream trip actually doable.
1. Cairo, Egypt
The Pyramids of Giza. King Tut’s golden treasures. Sailing a felucca on the Nile at sunset. Cairo has been on bucket lists for decades, but most people assume it’s financially out of reach. I found a pretty affordable flight to get there back in 2022, and honestly, it’s looking even better lately.
Egypt is incredibly budget-friendly once you’re there. Street food like ful medames costs under $2, and I always recommend haggling in Khan el-Khalili bazaar for handmade treasures that cost a fraction of what you’d pay elsewhere. Even the Egyptian Museum, where you’ll see King Tut’s actual golden mask, runs about $15 for a guided tour.
The real magic happens when you venture off the beaten path. A felucca ride on the Nile costs around $10 and feels absolutely surreal. You’re literally sailing where pharaohs once traveled! Most historic mosques in Islamic Cairo are free to enter, and the ancient architecture rivals anything in Europe.
The flight used to be the expensive part, but I recently spotted roundtrip deals on Going for $587 from Boston – nearly half the usual $1,000+ price! Honestly, I never thought I’d say this about visiting the pyramids, but your biggest expense might just be all the souvenirs you’ll want to take home.
👉 Pro Tip: Download the Careem app before you go. It’s way cheaper than tourist taxis and eliminates haggling. A ride from downtown Cairo to the pyramids costs about $3-4 versus the $20+ that taxi drivers quote tourists.
2. Venice, Italy
I’ll be honest: Venice was never a place I’d dream of flying directly from the U.S. In the past, I got there via intra-European flights. But recently, I found a roundtrip deal on Going for $387, which is totally a steal. I’ve been seeing more cheap flight options with layovers in London and Madrid, so those Instagram photos of gondolas and canal-side cafés are more accessible than ever.
Flying to Venice can be expensive if you’re chasing the luxury version. But for savvy travelers, it’s surprisingly doable. The Vaporetto (Venice’s public water bus) costs about $10 and takes you everywhere you need to go. I booked a charming guesthouse in Cannaregio for $85 a night – quieter, more local, and just a 10-minute stroll to Rialto. Skip the overpriced canal-front restaurants and opt for cicchetti (Venetian tapas) at bàcari bars – tiny bites and a glass of wine for under €5.
My favorite discovery was the Rialto Market at dawn. Watching fishermen unload their catch while sipping espresso for €1.20 felt more authentic than any guided tour. Those famous glass-blowing demonstrations on Murano island cost just €7.50 for the ferry, and you can watch artisans work for free once you get there.
👉 Pro Tip: I recommend signing up for Going’s Premium membership specifically for international deals like this Venice one. It’s the only way to get alerts for European routes, and honestly, those mistake fares alone have saved me hundreds.
3. Paris, France
Paris is the kind of place most people assume comes with a luxury price tag. But in reality, it doesn’t have to. I’ve tracked multiple sub-$450 deals from cities like New York, Boston, and even Miami using Going. These are not mistake fares, either. They show up more often than you’d think, especially if you’re watching the right routes and flexible on dates.
Once you land, the key to visiting Paris on a budget is staying outside the tourist core. I recommend looking at neighborhoods like Belleville or Canal Saint-Martin for boutique hotels and guesthouses that cost less but still have that quintessential Paris charm.
You can walk almost everywhere or grab a carnet of metro tickets for cheap. Most major museums offer discounted or free entry on the first Sunday of the month, and you can picnic on the Seine with a baguette and bottle of wine for less than $10.
There’s something grounding about doing Paris your own way. No whirlwind tours, no rushing to hit every landmark. Just long walks, good coffee, and a city that reveals itself slowly. With flights regularly dropping below $450 and plenty of ways to keep daily expenses reasonable, Paris feels less like a fantasy and more like a smart plan.
👉 Pro Tip: Pick up a Navigo Easy card as soon as you land in Paris. It’s a reloadable metro pass that will save you a ton on rides and even works on the RER to and from the airport. You can buy it right at the airport station or at any metro kiosk.
4. Iceland
Standing under the Northern Lights feels like something reserved for other people’s honeymoon slideshows. So does walking behind a waterfall in the middle of nowhere or soaking in a geothermal pool surrounded by snow. Believe it or not, I’ve been to Iceland 12 times over the years (this includes a few 25-48 hour layovers). And it’s much cheaper now than it was 10 years ago.
Recently, I saw a nonstop roundtrip to Reykjavík for $347 on Going – down from the usual $700+. Just be aware…since Play Airlines went out of business in September, there are less budget options available now. But you can still find great deals with airlines like Icelandair and Delta.
What makes Iceland doable is that so many of its headline experiences are free. You can go on a road trip to see Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, hike between tectonic plates, or catch the Northern Lights without a guide or entry ticket. The terrain looks unworldly, but the logistics aren’t.
As long as you’re flexible with your dates and plan your meals smartly, it’s one of the few bucket list destinations in Europe where a trip doesn’t have to come with a luxury price tag.
👉 Pro Tip: I can’t recommend Going Premium enough if you’re serious about international travel. It gives you access to the best economy deals, including peak summer and holiday dates when deals are available, plus mistake fares that can be 90% off. More alerts means more chances to catch something like Iceland at the perfect price.
5. Buffalo (Niagara Falls)
Not every bucket list trip has to involve crossing an ocean. Niagara Falls is one of those places in the U.S. that lives up to the hype. It’s thunderous, surreal, and somehow even more impressive when you’re standing right next to it. I visited a few years ago and still remember the sound of the water more than anything else.
Buffalo is the easiest gateway, and I’ve been seeing fares pop up regularly on Going for under $170 roundtrip from the East Coast. The latest was $167 from Boston on JetBlue. That’s less than a train ticket to New York and gets you within a short drive of one of North America’s biggest natural wonders.
Deals like this show up even with Going’s free Limited membership, which covers economy fares to destinations in the continental US. If you’re just starting to play the flight deal game, it’s a smart entry point – low commitment, real savings, and a reminder that you don’t have to go far to see something unforgettable.
👉 Pro Tip: If you can, don’t stay in Niagara Falls. I based myself in Buffalo and just drove up for the day. You’ll find cheaper hotels, better food, and a much less touristy vibe. Trust me, it’s worth the extra 30 minutes.
6. Athens, Greece
Believe me when I say Athens hits differently when you finally see it in person. The Acropolis at sunset. Ruins layered into everyday life. Late-night dinners that start with grilled halloumi and end with pistachio gelato. It’s one of the bucket list destinations that feels bigger than a single trip, and seeing recent deals on Going for $409 roundtrip from Boston makes it feel a lot more reachable.
That price is nearly 60% off normal fares, with solid routing through Copenhagen. I’ve seen this route pop up a few times, and it’s a strong option if you’re hoping to combine city and sea. Athens itself is more affordable than you might think, especially if you eat like a local and stay in neighborhoods like Koukaki or Exarchia instead of near the Plaka.
You can get a lot done in Athens in just a few days before heading to the islands. Ferries run daily from Piraeus to places like Hydra, Paros, or Naxos, and they’re often cheaper than a domestic flight. If you time it right, you can see the Parthenon and be swimming in the Aegean by dinner.
👉 Pro Tip: Athens is one of the easiest jumping-off points for island hopping in Greece. I usually recommend starting with Paros or Naxos. Both are easy ferry rides, less chaotic than Santorini, and still packed with beaches, tavernas, and classic Greek scenery. You’ll spend less and avoid the cruise ship crowds.
7. Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok is not the bucket list destination. But if Thailand is on your list – and it should be – this is where you start. I spent nearly 3 weeks hopping around the country, and every single route started with a landing at BKK. It’s loud, hot, sprawling, and completely alive in a way that’s hard to describe. I still think about the iced coffee I had in Chatuchak Market and that first $4 foot massage after a red-eye.
From Bangkok, you can go almost anywhere. North to Chiang Mai for temples and night markets. South to Krabi or Koh Lipe for longtail boats and limestone cliffs. I’m also a huge fan of Koh Samui for its affordable luxury hotels. Domestic flights are cheap, buses run everywhere, and even if you’re winging it, you’ll probably end up somewhere amazing.
It’s also one of the rare places where budget and luxury can overlap. I’ve eaten better on $3 than I have in some cities on $30. And if you do feel like splurging a little – rooftop bars, riverfront hotels, or a few hours in a fancy spa – it’s all far more affordable than you’d expect.
Pro Tip: I recently spotted a $720 roundtrip fare to Bangkok on Going, and Elite members get access to even more. That includes premium economy and business class deals, plus mistake fares from any airport, not just your home one. If you’re planning a honeymoon or just want to upgrade a long-haul trip without paying full price, Going Elite can make it happen.
Looking to travel internationally in 2026? Use my discount code JON25 to save 25% on Going’s Premium Version.
