Where: British Columbia, Canada
Why: Happy 150th birthday to Canada! It’s a festive time to visit one of Canada’s affordable summer destination. Summer in British Columbia has the perfect weather, not too hot, not too cold, with the average temperature around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, the Canadian dollar is down by 5% compared to the U.S dollar. As for flights, Kayak reports up to 12% decrease in flight price to Victoria and Vancouver from the U.S. The cheapest round trip flights from San Francisco to Vancouver cost about $250 and the cheapest time to go is in late August. For hotels, a high-end hotel can easily cost you up to $400 a night. But for cheap accommodation, you can find great hotels for about $80 a night. Canada has been promoting free admissions to its national parks and historic sites to celebrate the holiday. Grouse Mountain is a world-famous attraction that is easily accessible with the Skyride gondola. The breathtaking views of the city and great skyline are definitely worth every picture and long hikes through mountains forest trails. It is a great way to reconnect with and feel the love of mother nature.
Where: Panama
Why: Panama, one of our YL staff’s home country, is a hidden gem of Central America. You can swim between two different oceans, the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. It is one of the most attractive tourist destination in the world and it is 30% cheaper to spend a vacation in Panama than in Costa Rica. According to flight booking app Hopper, a round trip to Panama from San Francisco cost about $590 and the cheapest time to go is in late November, with the price as low as $370. A high-end hotel cost about $100 a day. Aside from the high-end hotels, you can find cheaper ones for $25- $40 per night. According to Airbnb, an entire apartment with three beds cost about $60 a day and according to Katerine's research on encuentra24.com, an entire house with three bedrooms, one bathroom, and one parking spot cost about $575 for a month, if you're into long-term traveling. Surveys show Panama City to be one of the ten least expensive capital cities in the world and plus if you don’t know already, Panama uses United State Dollars, so you don’t to have to worry about exchanges. Getting around Panama can be easy with buses that cost about 35 cents for a ride. Even better new? It’s the same price for everyone. Panama also has many attraction and activities outside of the city to keep you busy. You can take a trip to Casco Viejo to appreciate the rich history of the town; it was declared a World Heritage Site back in 1998. Or a trip to Bocas Del Toro for incredible diving. Or visit the beautiful mountain of Chiriqui or Volcan Baru National Park to watch the sunrise. For outdoor fun, you can go white water rafting, horse riding, rock climbing or zip lining. For the price, Panama is a must go.
Where: Prague
Why: Not so long ago, the “undiscovered” city of Central Europe was revealed from behind the Iron Curtain of Communism. A city of definite Bohemian style and fairy tales with a stunning skyline is filled with modern and medieval buildings and split in half by the Vltava river. Prague is the capital and the largest city in the Czech Republic. Nowadays, it’s one of the most popular destination to visit in Europe, thanks to its fairly affordable price. According to flight booking app Hopper, flights to Prague are down 7% over the past year. The average flight fare is below $920 and some found prices as low as $780. If you’re interested, the cheapest time to go is in mid-November. Hotel prices won’t make you go bankrupt either. With an average of $132 a night, it cost 17% less than the average price to stay in a European city. If you choose to use Airbnb, an entire house/ apartment with two bedrooms costs about $50 a day. Prague’s reputation for historic beauty is completely justified. While the rest of the city has been preserved for thousands of years, nothing is more worth the visit than Prazsky hrad (Prague Castle). And a must go is Prague’s iconic Charles Bridge, crowded with artists and accordion clad performers while Old Town offers entertainment on the hour as the Astronomical Clock chimes into life with animated figures in the beautiful Wenceslas Square. To end the night, you can have a hearty dinner at a classic Czech tavern or on the cruise with the view of Vltava River.