6 pocket-friendly foreign destinations to head to

The six destinations have a lot to offer in terms of adventure, culture and entertainment, says Priyadarshini Maji

The year-end festive season is just round the corner and there is a rush for tickets to exotic locations.

According to recent data from TripAdvisor, bookings for cultural tours are up 45 per cent globally over last year.

Nikhil Ganju, country manager, TripAdvisor India, says, "Like food experiences, which have seen massive growth globally, cultural tours are becoming an integral part of traveller itineraries in 2018. Cultural experiences such as architectural, historical, literary, and art tours are becoming very popular."

Despite the sharp depreciation of the rupee, international destinations such as Dubai, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, and Pattaya remain relatively less and are great options for short vacations.

Says Balu Ramachandran, head of air & distribution, Cleartrip: "For the price-conscious traveller, there are always cheaper options in Asia like Sri Lanka, Bangkok, and Dubai, where the depreciation of the rupee will not be as impactful as it is in Europe, the US and the Middle East."

Given the short timeline during these festive seasons, explore these budget international destinations that will fit into your tight holiday schedule.

A four-hour flight to Thailand makes it one of the most popular international destinations among Indians.

The two most popular tourist spots in Thailand are Bangkok and Pattaya.

Apart from shopping, the country has much to offer in temples such as the Reclining Buddha and the numerous historical monuments.

In Pattaya, the top attractions are Alcazar Cabaret, Underwater World and the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden.

Other than the temples and the beaches, the golden triangle, where the borders of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand meet, is a must-visit during this time of the year.

Or for leisure, you can just brush up your Thai cooking skills by joining a local class.

Dubai is known to be an extremely tourist-friendly destination that is also light on the pocket.

Here, you can get a 360-degree view of the city from the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa or visit the Dubai aquarium, go on a desert safari, do some indoor skydiving, or take a seaplane flight.

You can even mall crawl -- choose from the Dubai Mall and the Mall of the Emirates among many more.

Diwali is celebrated in a big way in this little red dot country.

Its key attractions are the Marina Bay Sands, the Singapore Night Safari, Sentosa Island, Universal Studios, and the Singapore Flyer, which is one of the largest working wheels that offers an excellent view of Singapore.

Other attractions include Gardens of the Bay, a nature park noted for its innovative architecture, and the Veeramakaliamman Temple.

Bali is a pocket-friendly location for beach lovers and those looking for a quiet vacation.

The November season is the best time to explore Bali.

Apart from surfing the beaches, you can also visit the famous Uluwatu temple and catch a performance at the Bali theatre.

Though it isn't really a short-haul destination, the holiday is nevertheless very refreshing.

Key attractions include Lantau Island, the Tian Tan Buddha and the Temple Street Night Market, Also check out Hong Kong from Victoria Peak.

Hong Kong is not only an ideal destination for adults, but a great place for the kids too.

If travelling with kids, head to Disneyland, take a ride on the Peak Tram or visit Ocean Park.

Even for normal tours, Macau is an offbeat, albeit popular, destination.

On a quick trip, include a visit to the Casion Lisboa, Macau towers, St Paul's Church (a Unesco world heritage site) and the Nyong Ping Piazza.

Though the weather on the east coast is best during between May to September, the best time to visit Sri Lanka is during December and January.

Key attractions in Sri Lanka include Colombo, Kandy, Galle and Bentota.