Vancouver, Canada: For a dream trip that won’t break the bank, visit Vancouver. The city has something for everyone. The city is hip yet classy, with great restaurants and tons of art. Outside the city, it gets even better. The Pacific Northwest is a beautiful natural region, and vancouverites have taken pains to preserve that. Kayak the bay or hike the lush forests surrounding the city.
San Jose, Costa Rica: August is the beginning of the rainy season, and you’re likely to see showers most afternoons. That said, mornings are usually clear, it’s well below the hurricane belt, and the lower prices (and smaller crowds) more than make up for the weather. Hotels rates are about 25% cheaper in August compared to the high season.
As for San Jose, the city contains many cheap hotels and hostels. It’s not as big as a tourist destination as a lot of other places in Costa Rica, but if you look you’ll find nature tours, historic architectures, and lots of museums.
Hong Kong: Like Costa Rica, August is the wet season in Hong Kong, meaning lower prices and smaller crowds. But if possible, hold off until the first week of October, to see the Mid Autumn Festival. In exchange for steeper hotel prices, you’ll catch an endless wave of free entertainment, from parades to dragon dancers to lantern displays.
Orlando, Florida: Traveling to Orlando in August is a gamble, but one that can pay off richly for bargain-seekers. August marks the start of hurricane season, and even without the storms, the weather can get pretty hot and muggy. That said, flights and hotels are record cheap, and the lines at Disney or Orlando Studios are way shorter than they would be during the high season. If high prices have been keeping you out of the “vacation capital of the world,” August is the time to make your move.
Berlin, Germany: Look up hotel or restaurant costs for Berlin, and you’ll be shocked at how cheap they can be. This vibrant city offers tons of museums and historical sites–many of which are free or at least very cheap–by day, and bustling nightclubs and bars by night. Plus, there’s great public transportation, flea markets, and hiking in the Grunewald. The weather in August is quite hot but not unpleasantly so, and the end of summer comes with lots of public festivals, including the International Berlin Beer Festival, Potsdam Palace Night, and the Spondau Citadel Music Festival.