Imagine sitting down for a meal in New York and forking over $ 40 just for a dinner and a drink. Wild! Now imagine spending that same $40 to wake up right on the beach. Better, right? If you’re like us, then the idea of spending your money on travel experiences trumps all! So let’s dig in where, how, and when you can spend less then $40 USD on cheap beachfront hotels around the world!
Our Top Cheap Beachfront Hotel Spots:
So let’s dive into our top cheap beachfront hotel recommendations to find you a beachfront hotel that is actually affordable!
1.Paje, Zanzibar
Zanzibar doesn’t typically need much of an introduction, but if you aren’t already lured in by the bright blue Indian Ocean and powdery sand beaches then keep reading. While Zanzibar is a relatively tiny island off mainland Tanzania, there are still distinct beach experiences around the perimeter of Zanzibar depending on which part of the island you choose.
For us, we were looking for a more remote experience and we knew our budget would stretch further on the eastern side of the island which is how we ended up at the Mbuyani Beach Resort between Paje and Jambiani.
First off, this is my favorite cheap beachfront hotel to date! The staff is so incredibly friendly, we had a much larger then anticipated room, and the restaurant and the food was quite delicious and VERY affordable. For around $45 USD, breakfast is also included in your stay and you’ll be spoiled with ocean front views to enjoy it at. We ended up eating almost all of our meals right on the property over the course of the WEEK we stayed because the food was very reasonable ( around $3-6 for most dishes), it’s convenient, and the views are that nice!
On top of the great property and kind staff, you also have a beautiful pool that is surrounded by shaded beach loungers that is very well maintained. While the location is more remote ( read that as quieter) , the only real trade off is being a bit further from the closest town ( Paje). However, you can walk there in about 30-40 minutes, so if you aren’t against a long, quiet, beachside walk, then it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
2.Cartagena, Colombia
2)This is the winner for the CHEAPEST beachfront property. Just a short taxi drive or boat ride from Cartagena, you’ll be in a whole new world on Isla Baru. While technically an island, it is accessible by a land bridge ( hence the taxi option) which makes this a great recommendation if you want a budget friendly Colombian beach option that is close to Cartagena.
We ended up at the Wizard & Bar at Playa Blanca on Isla Baru and would definitely recommend it for a unique Colombian beach experience! For just $25 USD a night, you’ll have a basic ( colorful) beachfront wooden shack RIGHT on the sand.
-It’s a basic accommodation (each hut has a bed and fan) and you’ll share bathroom, but you have a fan AND WIFI on the property
-The restaurant/bar is right in front of the shacks so you can literally climb down your ladder from your bed, put your feet in the sand, and walk right up to the hammocks on the bar
-It’s small, which means it’s not crowded and actually peaceful
-There are tons of comfy places to sit/chill ( read that as lots of hammocks, including one attached to your room)
This spot is always going to hold a special spot in our hearts. It’s one of the best values for a private beachfront property we’ve experienced and one of the first experiences we had liked this. I spent 3 days here totally barefoot, only wearing a bathing suit, and bouncing from hammock to hammock. There’s something special and freeing about not wearing shoes for so many days! If you’re looking to add a cheap beach retreat to your Colombia itinerary and don’t mind a bit of a basic accommodation, then this is your spot.
3. Dahab, Egypt
Oh Dahab, how we love you! Our stay at the Lucky Palace in Dahab is one of my favorite Egypt memories and that says a lot because Egypt is just WOW ( but that conversation is for another day). Dahab beaches are just interested. From the hovering sandy mountains in the distance to the camels that casually bath in the Red Sea- you surely won’t be bored at Dahab beaches!
-Breakfast is included in your stay ( and it’s actually quite yummy). They even delivered it to our room so we had breakfast on our private patio overlook the Red Sea every morning. Magical.
-It’s on a really quiet part of the beach. While that means a 10-15 minute walk to where the main restaurants are, we think the trade off in distance is well worth the peace.
-You have access to a pool! Beachfront AND a pool? Luxuries.
4. Biograd Na Moru, Croatia
Never heard of Biograd na maru before? Us either! In true budget travel fashion, we planned this trip because of a great flight deal we found ( thanks, Ryan Air). We flew from the UK to Croatia for under $20 USD and it turns out that Biograd na maru has it’s own airport. Here’s what we love about this trip. We had no expectations, we didn’t really understand where we were going or what would be there, but we DID know the house we found is 10 meters from the beach. So while this Airbnb isn’t RIGHT on the beach, it is literally a 2 minute walk, so I think it’s worth some shine!
Our Airbnb was walking distance to anything you might want for a true beach holiday- the BEACH, groceries, cafes, bars- you name it. We didn’t have to take a car or bus once during our stay and we had an authentic Croatian experience in a place we never heard of-win, win!
5. Montanita, Ecuador
Ecuador was one of our first big international trips back in 2018 so it’ll always be special. While I think we keep to a pretty strict budget now in our 30s, WOW was I strict in our early 20s. But, even on a tight budget we scored a stay in a private room at Hostel Moai for $19 USD. If you want to trade privacy for budget, you can get a BEACHFRONT shared dorm room for $ 8USD.
Montanita is a backpacker spot known for surfers and partiers. While we aren’t surfers ( yet) or partiers ( no thanks), we still enjoyed our short stay in Montanita for its hippie vibes and access to the Ecuadorian coast for cheap! Plus, visiting Montanita puts you in close proximity to Puerto Lopez for access to the ” poor mans Galapagos”- Isla de La Plata.
Honorable Mentions for Cheap Beachfront Hotels
So we agree, literal beachfront is IDEAL, but sometimes just a ten minute walk to the beach isn’t bad too! If you’re willing to be just a few minutes further from the beach ( but still walkable), then check out our honorable mentions!
1.Mombasa, Kenya
Beachfront hotels in Mombasa are quite easy to come by and for a solid value, you can really indulge in some luxury. While it is possible to find many beachfront hotels in Mombasa , we like the opportunity that staying a few blocks inland provides.
We actually decided to stay in this Airbnb studio apartment for $35/ Night.
Pros of our Airbnb Property in Mombasa:
- We had access to a pool that no one else was using
- You’re just a 10 minute walk from a huge mall with air conditioning and a really good food court
- We had air conditioning ( Do you sense a theme here? It’s HOT in Mombasa…)
- The staff were very friendly and quick to help us problem solve whatever we needed
- There’s a pharmacy in front of the building. This isn’t necessarily a perk you’re probably actively searching for, but when you need medicine at night, it’s quite luxurious to just walk around the corner
Pros of NOT choosing beachfront hotels in Mombasa:
- You’re closer to other amenities. If you want to also access local markets, restaurants, or even the mall, then being a few blocks back from the beach is a better option.
- You’ll get a better rate. This is probably a no-brainer, but if you are willing to walk just 5-10 minutes, you often cut your nightly accommodation cost almost in half!
- You’ll have a better cultural experience. If your amongst all the tourists staying in beachfront hotels in Mombasa, then those are the only people you’ll meet. If you stay a few blocks from the beach, then you’ll have more natural opportunities for genuine interactions for people that actually live in Mombasa.
2. Lombok, Indonesia
Like Mombasa, we purposefully chose a property in Lombok town center. While it’s easy to find a beachfront hotel in Lombok, we opted to stay at Shu Villa Lombok. If you don’t know much about Lombok, Indonesia ( yet), you may know that is often referred to as ” Bali 20 years ago.” While we weren’t in Bali 20 years ago, we get the gist. Truthfully, we also think Lombok is already pretty over developed, BUT it is WAY less crowded then Bali, is cheaper, and still offers great beaches.
Pros of staying in Shu Villa Lombok
- There are only 5 rooms so you know it’ll never be crowded
- The AC works well
- There is a pool!
- Each ” villa” has a small private patio
- We had a BEAUTIFUL outdoor shower
- Breakfast is included!
While Lombok beach isn’t our favorite beach destination, we are glad we visited and appreciate the opportunity for a bit of luxury at a lower price point!
3. Langkawi, Malaysia
If you’re looking for beachfront Hotels in Langkawi, you’ll find plenty of options for cheap. We opted to stay about a 15 minute walk away from the beach at a hotel that is situated in a small village and we definitely recommend this move! We chose Tisha Langkawi Budget Resort which is a great cheap options for Langkawi. And while the use of ” resort” is a stretch ( I’m not sure what really warrants this name), the hotel has everything you would need for cheap!
There’s also an air conditioned communal lobby building with tables to enjoy a nice delivered meal in ( yay, Uber Eats!)
4. Caye Caulker, Belize
Beachfront Hotels in Caye Caulker, Belize are pretty much every hotel. Caye Caulker is a TINY island ( walkable in about 25 minutes at its longest point) which means that from essentially every point on the island you can see the ocean.
Since we were looking for a place with kitchen access in Belize to help keep our costs down, we ended up choosing Palmetto Cabanas for our stay in Caye Caulker. Though admittingly we paid an average of $ 50USD for this studio apartment, we still think it’s a great deal considering Belize isn’t always the most budget friendly destination. Bonus, this rental also included access to 2 ( albeit) rusty bikes to take around the island so considering that, it still felt like a good steal and worthy of a recommendation.
There we have our favorite cheap beachfront hotels and semi-beachfront hotels to share with you. We hope you are inspired to find a budget-friendly destination to enjoy a bit of luxury at from our suggestions!
Check out some of our best budget itineraries here:
- Guatemala
- Belize
- Mexico
- Singapore
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- UK
- Bulgaria
- Macedonia
- Chile
