8 Bucket List Trips That Cost Less Than a One Week Ski Vacation

Ready to turn that far-flung vacation you’ve been dreaming of into a reality? It’s easier and cheaper than you think!

Travel company Tourlane recently researched the average cost of a ski week vacation and found that in a popular spot like Deer Valley, Utah, it costs $3,936 per person. Fan favorite Beaver Creek in Colorado came in even higher at a whopping $4,185 per person for the week. By contrast, a week long vacation in South Africa was found to cost significantly less, coming in at just $1,618 per person. Now you have the perfect excuse to finally take the family on the vacation of your dreams. After all, it’s the money-savvy choice.

So before you wax your skis and book those expensive lift tickets, consider swapping the nearby slopes with one of these cheaper bucket list adventures instead.

1/8 South Africa

South Africa made our list of best family vacations to take in 2020 for good reason. Spot lions and giraffes at Kruger National Park, discover spectacular beaches on the Western Cape or get the big city experience in Johannesburg and Cape Town. South Africa offers it all.

Average price per person for one week vacation: $1,618

9 Reasons for Families to Love Cape Town

2/8 Argentina

Argentina offers families a vast range of amazing adventures to choose from. Wild, remote regions are balanced by historic cities, ancient towns and rich cultural experiences.

Average price per person for one week vacation: $2,141

Family Vacation Guide to Buenos Aires

3/8 Chile

For outdoor-loving families, Chile is paradise. From the snow-capped peaks and turquoise lakes of Patagonia to the dry plateau’s of the Atacama desert to remote islands, adventure and beauty is around every corner here.

Average price per person for one week vacation: $2,376

5 Must-Visit Destinations in Patagonia

4/8 New Zealand

The landscapes of New Zealand are straight out of a fairytale. At this seriously bucket list-worthy vacation spot, families can find everything from hobbit holes and glaciers to beaches and glowing caves.

Average price per person for one week vacation: $2,425

7 Stunning Places Kids Will Love in New Zealand

5/8 Ecuador

Small but mighty, Ecuador features stunning wildlife from its tropical jungles to the Galapagos Islands. Add to that a rich culture with shamans who still still practice traditions handed down for generations and local artisans who hand-weave colorful textiles, and you have an all-star destination for families.

Average price per person for one week vacation: $2,614

A Nature-Lover’s Cruise to Gorgeous Galapagos

6/8 Australia

Who doesn’t have Australia on their bucket list? Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, exploring Sydney or heading out into the Outback are all once-in-a-lifetime adventures families will love.

Average price per person for one week vacation: $2,779

Family Vacation Guide to Australia

7/8 Kenya

Kenya is the land of the Masai Mara, Tsavo and Taita Hills. In addition to being well-known for safaris, it’s also the country for the Great Rift Valley, stunning views of Kilimanjaro, Mombasa on the Indian Ocean and ancient living cultures of people like the Samburu, Maasai, Turkana, Swahili and Kikuyu. Need we say more?

Average price per person for one week vacation: $3,176

5 Reasons a Safari in Kenya Should Be Your Next Family Vacation

8/8 Tanzania

Tanzania is home to famed sights like the Great Migration, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Kilimanjaro, plus it boasts outstanding family hotels, lodges, camps and eco-resorts. Not to mention the dreamy island of Zanzibar just off its coast.

Average price per person for one week vacation: $4,185

8 Lion King-Inspired Family Safaris