01
Albania
50–60% cheaper than Greek islands
- Best value
- May, June and September
- Prices climb
- July and August add roughly half on the coast
A sea-view family room in Sarandë costs about what a basic double does across the water in Corfu.
Free family guide · Six countries
These places look expensive. They're not.
Six destinations where a family of 4 spends roughly half what the obvious choice costs. Mid-tier 4-star hotels, not lavish, not roughing it.
Inside: six half-the-price destinations
- Albania vs Greek Islands
- · Georgia vs Switzerland
- · Morocco vs Mykonos
- · Vietnam vs Thailand
- · Bali vs Maldives
- · Colombia vs Tuscany
The trip
Same trip. Half the bill.
Every destination on this list passes one test. It costs roughly half what the obvious famous alternative costs, at the same mid-tier comfort level. Not five-star, not roughing it. A clean 4-star family room with breakfast, dinner at a decent restaurant, a rental car, one paid activity a day.
These are not places where your money buys less. They are places where it buys more. A family room with a sea view in Sarandë costs what a basic double room costs in Greece. A Bali villa with a pool in Ubud costs what a regular hotel room costs in Phuket. The math works because the local economy works in your favor, not because anyone is suffering.
The list below shows how big the saving is against the famous alternative, the months when it is largest, and when peak season eats into it. The free guide has the detail per country, the months to avoid, and the specific neighborhoods to base in.
The reel
Six destinations. Twenty seconds.
The six
Family of 4. How much cheaper, and when.
Each place is compared with its famous alternative at the same mid-tier 4-star comfort: hotel, food, local transport and one paid activity a day. Compiled from public listings and operator pricing.
02
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
40–50% cheaper than Thailand (Phuket)
- Best value
- March to May, September to November
- Prices climb
- June to August and the Tet holiday
The overnight cruise is the one big-ticket day of the trip. It is worth it.
03
Bali (Ubud or Amed)
About 70% cheaper than Maldives
- Best value
- February to June, September to November
- Prices climb
- July, August and Christmas week
Canggu and Seminyak run about 40% above Ubud for the same room.
04
Chefchaouen, Morocco
About 60% cheaper than Santorini / Mykonos
- Best value
- November to February (cool and quiet)
- Prices climb
- Easter and spring weekends
March to June and October to November give the best weather for the price.
05
Cocora Valley, Colombia
About 50% cheaper than Tuscany
- Best value
- February to May, August to November
- Prices climb
- December, January and Holy Week
A coffee-farm stay near Salento costs about half the rate of a Tuscan agriturismo.
06
Tbilisi, Georgia
About 70% cheaper than Swiss Alps
- Best value
- April to June, September and October
- Prices climb
- July and August in the mountains
An old-town apartment that sleeps four costs less than a single hotel room in the Swiss Alps.
Where the money goes
A typical family-of-4 day, on the ground.
The split is much the same in all six countries. The room is the biggest line, so that is where the famous destination costs you most, and where travelling off-season saves a third or more.
Hotel · 4-star family room or two connecting rooms about 40–45%
Food · three meals at mid-tier restaurants for four about a quarter
Local transport · rental car, fuel, parking about 15%
One paid activity · entry tickets, boat, guide about 15%
Not included: international flights (usually the largest single cost of the whole trip), travel insurance, visa fees and one-off excursions such as the Ha Long Bay overnight cruise.
Free guide
The six, in detail.
Where to base yourself, the months to avoid, and what to skip in each country. Read online or save as PDF.
Read the free guideThe full plan
The Half-the-Price Family Trip Planner.
Four realistic trip lengths (3 to 5, 7, 10 and 14 days) across Albania, Vietnam, Bali, Morocco, Colombia, and Georgia. Named hotels, restaurants, and family attractions per destination. Visa table, flight-booking checklist, and a family-of-4 budget worksheet you can drop your dates into.
Get the planner · FreeInstant PDF download from Gumroad.
FAMILY · 60 DAYS · 6 COUNTRIES
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What you'll actually need.
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Family rooms
4-star hotels with family suites and connecting rooms.
Browse stays →Flights
Multi-city and error-fare search for families.
Find flights →Rental car
Larger cars for family-of-4 luggage, cross-border friendly.
Compare cars →Family travel insurance
Covers kids under 18 on the same policy.
See coverage →Common questions
What families ask.
Is this a family-of-4 comparison, or per person? +
Every comparison here is for a family of 4 (two adults plus two kids) at the same comfort level in both places: a family room or two connecting rooms in a 4-star hotel, three meals out at mid-tier restaurants, local transport, and one paid activity a day.
What is included in the comparison? +
Accommodation, food, local transport and one activity per day. Not included: international flights, travel insurance, visa fees, or one-off big-ticket excursions like the Ha Long Bay overnight cruise. Flights are usually the largest single cost of the trip, and they are similar whichever of the two destinations you pick.
Can you really travel cheaply with kids? +
In the right countries, yes. The trick is choosing destinations where your money already goes further. A family room in Tbilisi at the price of a hostel bed in Zermatt is a nice room with breakfast, not a compromise. Your kids do not notice that the country is cheap.
Are these places safe for kids? +
All six are widely traveled by families. Albania, Georgia and Morocco have well-established family travel scenes, Vietnam is famously welcoming to children, and Bali and the Salento area of Colombia have full tourist infrastructure. The free guide flags specific neighborhoods to avoid and seasonal weather concerns.
How much do flights add? +
For a US family, flights are usually the biggest single line of the trip, and long-haul routes to Asia or South America cost noticeably more than transatlantic ones to Albania, Georgia or Morocco. Book the long-haul legs 8 to 12 weeks ahead and fly midweek for the lowest fares.
Comparisons compiled from public listings and operator pricing. Prices shift. Spotted something out of date? Email [email protected] and we'll update.