Affordable vacation spots

Land of adventure and now a burgeoning culinary destination, Peru has been catching the eye of many travelers lately. In fact, OneTravel.com just dubbed capital city Lima as one of its top five international travel destinations for 2013. Recent deals have made it more affordable to reach than ever. (Photo credit CRIS BOURONCLE/Getty Images)

With stringent visa requirements and hard-to-find online planning resources, China is often considered "complicated" by many Western travelers. However, all that is starting to change. In January, the China National Tourist Offices launched a new website for North American travelers to highlight travel information, from suggestions on activities to planning assistance. And the country is finding other ways to encourage tourism. (Photo credit MARK RALSTON/GettyImages)

Moscow is an imposing and expensive city for many U.S. travelers. But it doesn't have to be. While hotel rooms in the Russian capital are often considered the most expensive in the world (at about $400 per night on average), flights seem to be getting more affordable. (Photo credit SERGEI SUPINSKY/Getty Images)

Over the past several years, faraway Hawaii has increasingly landed on SmarterTravel's affordable destinations lists. But thanks to an early 2013 sale from Hawaiian Airlines, the Aloha State just went from affordable to bargain-basement cheap, with fares from San Jose to Kahului starting at just $250 round-trip and from Oakland to Honolulu for as low as $335. (Photo creditROBYN BECK/Getty Images)

With average hotel prices close to $300 per night, you might quickly deem New York City way out of your budget. Don't cross it off your vacation list just yet, though. Change is in the air–or, should I say, in your hotel room. According to USA TODAY, Manhattan is experiencing a hotel boom with more affordable options. (Photo by Afton Almaraz/Getty Images)

Germany might be a land of fairytales, but visiting doesn't have to remain a fantasy. In 2013, the country celebrates the 200th Anniversary of the Brothers Grimm stories (along with other notable events such as Richard Wagner's 200th birthday), and transportation deals make getting there easier. (Photo credit should read BERTHOLD STADLER/AFP/Getty Images)

Unrest in Egypt continues to deter travelers, but if you've ever dreamed of visiting tombs in the Valley of the Kings or sailing down the Nile in luxury, now might be the best time to go. For one thing, getting there might be surprisingly affordable. Emirates recently posted fares to Cairo for under $1,000, and a flex search on Kayak yields fares from New York to Cairo for $788 round-trip on EgyptAir. (Photo credit should read PATRICK BAZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Recently highlighted in SmarterTravel's Top Five Off-Peak Destinations for Spring 2013, Istanbul is one to watch for rock-bottom deals, especially when it comes to flights. Over the past several years, Turkish Airlines–voted the Best Airline in Europe by Skytrax–has been adding new service to/from U.S. gateways, and it continues to expand (most recently adding Houston service for April 2013). (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Middle-earth (I mean, New Zealand) has been on many travelers' maps the past few years, with a renewed surge in interest since the release of The Hobbit in late 2012. Thankfully, several airlines are willing to get you to this distant locale for less. Starting March 13, Hawaiian Airlines will begin service to Auckland from 10 West Coast cities. (Photo credit should read CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images)