As I’ve roamed all around the world in the past 30 years of my life, and as I approach turning 30 on Saturday, I got to thinking about all those amazing moments I’ve experienced over the years.  There are just some moments that stand out among the rest while traveling, some moments that you have to see with your own two eyes, to feel with your own heart.  So if you’re looking for an incredible list of moments to experience… here you go… the best 30 travel memories to make before 30.  Now go get exploring!

1. Autumn in Paris

2. Machu Picchu at Dawn

3. Getting lost in the souks of Marrakech

4. Riding an elephant through the streets of India

5. Hawaiian beaches at sunrise

6. The electric chaos of New York City

7.  Seeing Orcas in the Wild in the San Juan Islands of Washington State

8.  Exploring Antelope Canyon in Arizona

9.  Seeing the Midnight Sun in Iceland

10.  Wandering Hyde Park in the early morning hours in the Spring in London

11.  Wandering Trastevere in Rome eating gelato

12.  Driving windy Tuscan roads at sunset in Italy

13.  Sitting on the canals of Amsterdam eating Dutch waffle cookies

14.  Watching the water splash against the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland

15.  Snacking on churros con chocolate in Spain

16.  Devouring Weiner Schnitzel the size of your head in Vienna

17.  Boat ride on Lake Pichola through Udaipur, India

18.  Witnessing the Taj Mahal in the fog at sunrise

19.  Street food in Bangkok after dark

20.  Exploring rice terraces in Bali

21.  Driving the Great Ocean Road in Australia

22.  Wandering Sydney’s Opera House at Dawn

23.  Enjoying lamb stew in a Dublin pub

24.  Helicopter ride over the wilderness of Iceland

25.  Holding a baby alpaca in Cusco, Peru

26.  Seeing the Eiffel Tower light up at night

27.  Enjoying Sticky Toffee Pudding in a Scottish pub

28. Seeing the canals and bridges light up after dark in Amsterdam

29. Witnessing a glacier up close in Alaska

30. Playing with Icelandic horses on the side of the road in Iceland

I hear a lot “travel is so expensive!”  And while yes, if you are just booking the first thing you see or not scheduling your trip according to dates you can travel cheaper, it can be.  But here’s the thing, there are tons of locations and flights out there that you can get at relatively low prices.  When we first started traveling abroad after we got married, Nick and I would just search Orbitz not really knowing anything about airfare or how to get deals.  We always figured on planning about $1,000 per ticket to fly anywhere abroad from the US West Coast.  But in all actuality, we rarely pay that anymore and many times we’re getting both tickets for not much more than that.  There are lots of ways to save on travel, but good airfare is one of the biggest.  So here today, I’ve found you 3 affordable Fall trips abroad (from the US) and I’m telling you what they cost!  If you’re looking for a great Autumn getaway with a lower price tag, I’ve got you covered!

All 3 trips below are to cities I have personally been to or have heard amazing things about, as I wouldn’t recommend them if they weren’t great deals and great locations!

New York JFK to Barcelona (via London Gatwick) | $584/person roundtrip 

17 October – 26 October

Book directly through Norwegian Air’s website.  

Barcelona is a fantastic spot for a Fall getaway!  Indulge in late night tapas and sangria, while visiting all of Gaudi’s amazing architecture with less crowds and cooler temps!

Need a hotel recommendation?  Here is my fave spot to stay in Barcelona.

Seattle to Frankfurt (Direct) | $699/person roundtrip

20 October – 27 October

Book directly through Condor’s website.  

I haven’t yet had the pleasure of visiting Germany but we have a trip to Bavaria booked next March and I’ve heard amazing things about the whole country!  And let’s be honest, I think most of us would head to Germany just for the food alone!  With Condor servicing the West Coast of the US, there are so many great travel deals – so sign up for the airline’s email list and watch for amazing fares like this one.

Chicago to Paris (via Keflavik) | $548/person roundtrip

24 October – 4 November

Book directly through Iceland Air’s website.  

One of my all time favorite places to escape to in the Fall, Paris!  Wander the City of Light as the leaves fall around you and the crowds are gone… it’s the perfect time to explore the city and take in the beautiful Fall weather.

Need a hotel recommendation?  Here are my fave spots to stay in Paris.

*All of these flight deals were found 9/7/16.

There is no harm in saying that traveling can be expensive.  And the truth is, everyone is traveling on a different budget, so it’s important to note that some trips are best done on a higher budget, while other destinations you can do for really cheap.  So today, if you’re looking at traveling on a specific budget but you’re not sure where to go, here are my best options for trips for every budget and why!

Budget Traveler

Option 1: Thailand and Cambodia

For the perfect budget trip, Thailand and Cambodia are perfect!  These countries are incredibly cheap to eat and get around.  Your biggest expense will be getting there!

Option 2: Spain and Portugal

If you want to do a Europe trip but don’t want to spend a ton of money, Spain and Portugal are perfect!  Both are way cheaper to eat and explore than their European neighbors and even hotels are a lot less.

Mid Range

Option 1: Peru

If you want to have an adventure and want to spend a little more than a budget traveler but not go all out, Peru is a fantastic option.  You can get amazing hotels in cities like Cusco and Lima for as little as $150 a night and food and transportation is pretty decently priced throughout the country.

Option 2: Iceland

Iceland is a fantastic option if you want to land mid-range for your budget.  Hotels throughout the country are still relatively priced compared to mainland Europe and you can get good spots for around $150-$200 per night, especially in the shoulder seasons!  It’s also pretty economical to rent a car in Iceland and the most amazing part, all the exploring is free since the country is so gorgeous!

High End

Option 1: Paris and London

Want to head to Europe and not cut corners?  Paris and London are great cities to do that with.  With endless high end hotels, shopping and amazing restaurants, spend a few nights in each city for a special splurge trip!

Option 2:  India

While you might think, wait, India should be more up in the budget traveler category, India is also a fantastic spot to splurge on.  If you’re willing to pay a little more, your trip to India will be even more amazing.  Splurge on hotels like the Oberoi Udaivillas for your own piece of paradise and hire private drivers to get you around… you’ll be far more comfortable and still have an amazing experience!