Last Updated on February 25, 2025 by Christine Kaaloa

Who doesn’t love stretching their travel dollar? It’s tempting to label a trip, destination, service or item as “cheap” when talking about affordable travel options.  But this often oversimplified word can be harmful to the destinations we visit, locals we meet and it misses the larger picture.

In this post, I’ll share reasons why we need to stop glorifying the word “cheap” when discussing budget travel. I’ll share how we can reframe the concept of “affordability”  in a more respectful, responsible, and thoughtful way.

Why do Americans love to use the word “cheap”?

Despite what country you’re from, you likely you feel a similar adrenaline rush when you happen upon a terrific deal, discount or sale on a product or service.  I get it. As a thrifty traveler, I am always looking for affordable solutions to make my dollar stretch!

In the U.S., the allure of the word “cheap” comes from the idea that I’m getting more value for less money.  It’s easy for me to fall into an “us vs. them” mentality, where us refers to ordinary people like myself and them refers to larger businesses that “rip us off’ or whom shapes the affordability of our small, hum-drum lives. Getting something for “cheap” makes me feel like I’m sticking it to the big man on top!

…. What if cheap for you is really expensive for someone else?

… And what if that “big business” you’re sticking it to is not big, but an ordinary person who’s working hard to support their family, like you?

Reasons why “cheap travel” is unethical

As a travel content creator, I’ve tried to avoid using the word “cheap” in my travel content. Although most travel followers want to know the prices I pay and the word “cheap” in my titles may get higher clicks and boost engagement, I still don’t like using the term, due to the negativity it condones and creates.

1. Disrespects local cultures

Developing countries – lets say, Southeast Asian countries – are often labeled as “cheap” travel destinations, but calling a place “cheap” is both disrespectful and dismissive. Reducing a developing country to its low prices and weaker economy ignores the richness of its culture, traditions, and the hard work and unique craftsmanship of its people.

What I find especially douche-baggy is when tourists say this in front of locals. Phrases like, “This food/item/craft/country is so cheap!” reek of privilege and colonialist attitudes. It undresses their dignity, by openly suggesting that local lives and struggles are less valuable or insignificant compared to your own. Pretty darn insensitive.

Tip: Instead of focusing on how affordable a place is, appreciate the richness of its heritage and communities. Give them the dignity they deserve for being culturally unique… not cheap.

Read responsible tips for ethical travel

2. Inaccurate Expectations

If we only think about how much travel costs, we can forget what really makes it special… the experience.  When we focus too much on price, travel can feel like just buying things.  It becomes a flea market transaction, a good bargain or great deal, instead of a worthwhile experience.

3. Perpetuates exploitation

Choosing “cheap” options, like budget tours, can harm the people, animals, and environments we visit. To cut costs, some tour operators exploit workers, mistreat animals, and damage ecosystems.

I love Thailand and its budget-friendly tours and activities make it a fun and adventurous destination for young backpackers; however, many low-cost options involve unethical practices. For example, elephant rides often rely on cruel training methods, and visits to the Karen Longneck village turn an ethnic group into a human zoo, where people are displayed for profit. Worse, the communities and animals involved rarely benefit—most of the money goes straight to the tour operators, who must run more tours to make a substantial profit.

that attract travelers with the promise of snorkeling with turtles, shark cage diving, or swimming with dolphins. Without proper research, you might unknowingly support unethical practices like “chumming”—throwing fish scraps into the water to attract predators—which disrupts marine ecosystems. Many tours also allow harmful and secret interactions with endangered species, which can be illegal and damaging to wildlife.

Tip: If a tour is “cheap,” be skeptical. Research the tour operator, read reviews, and check their website for a full itinerary and an ethical code of conduct. Responsible travel ensures that our experiences don’t come at the expense of people, animals, or the planet.

4.  Exploits economic inequality

Haggling excessively for lower prices can harm local vendors, reducing valuable income needed to support their families. Some tourists try to drive local vendors down to their lowest price just to save a few cents or to get the “local price”.

When I was new to haggling,  I used to naively try to get vendors to sell me services at their local price, thinking that if I got a local price, that it was a badge of honor to my travel savvy.  If didn’t get a local price, then I felt like I was being taken advantage of or “ripped off”.  I didn’t look at the fact that as a tourist I was already privileged to be able to buy the item at a significantly lower cost than in my own country.

Local prices are set for residents who earn and spend within the same economy. It is their right to pay a lower cost. As tourists, we should expect to pay slightly more and respect the value of the work that makes our experience possible. Before haggling a vendor down to the lowest price, consider how that impacts the local worker trying to make a living. What may be just pennies to you could be a significant amount to them.

5. Undervalues local communities

“Cheap countries don’t exist, economic inequalities do. If your dollars or euros can be easily stretched to afford your stay in a place, it only means that the local currency is undervalued in terms of yours. ” – Passion Passport

In developing countries, artisans and workers invest long hours mastering artistic skills and providing labor. Often the human labor expended is greater than in a first world country that uses technology.  Thus, a female artisan in Pakistan, may spend days hand-looming a beautiful handwoven rug colored from plant die they had to make, or a guesthouse owner might prepare fresh, homegrown meals from their farm. Calling their work “cheap” disrespects their unique effort, skill and manual craftsmanship. It disrespects their human value!

It’s important to think about hidden costs that we don’t see

A street food vendor in India might sell a dish for just 20 rupees. But that “cheap” price doesn’t show all the hidden costs that go into making the food. Things like the cost of ingredients, the effort to boil or filter the water, napkins, bowls, and even the transportation of his food cart all add up. When you ask for extra napkins or a takeaway container, it’s taking away from the vendor’s profit. A

By recognizing the value of local vendors, we can help support fairer and more respectful tourism.

6. Assumes your personal financial standards are “universal”

Cheap is a subjective word, that puts unnecessary pressure upon others to conform to financial standards that aren’t universal. In other words, what I consider “cheap” might be seen as expensive by you or someone else. I’m being insensitive by assuming we value and want to afford the same things. We all had that “friend” whom we don’t hang out with, because we always feel pressured to splurge on things that we don’t find value in.

On my first trip to Varanasi, I shared a guesthouse room with a Chinese traveler. We were both on a budget and as solo female travelers, we wanted to upgrade to a nice room but at half the cost.  I asked her if she wanted to take a sunrise boat tour on the Ganges with me, cause it was “so cheap”. I used those exact words, blindly assuming we were on the same page with our budget. She avoided the idea, saying she’d enjoy sightseeing the city on foot instead. I couldn’t understand why she’d pass up a bucketlist opportunity. Eventually, she admitted that she was on a very tight budget and needed her money to last for several more days. That’s when it hit me—my American dollar was much stronger than her Chinese yuan! I had assumed our economies, budgets, and financial priorities were the same, and in that moment, I realized how insensitive that assumption was.

Travel is a privilege that not every country is able to do, so travelers have a right to spend it on what makes them happiest. Some travelers don’t value or can’t afford eating at nice restaurants, paying for sightseeing tours and taxis or staying at luxury hotels. Respect that while our goals as travelers may be similar, we are still very different.

Why should you care?

Instead of glorifying cheap travel, use respectful words

Calling destinations “cheap” can disrespect local cultures, create unrealistic expectations, and encourage exploitation. Instead, we should think about the true value of a place, its people, and the experience.

Let’s move away from using the word “cheap” and use terms like “affordable,” “sustainable,” “budget-friendly” or “value-driven” to better reflect responsible travel and respect for local communities. I realize “cheap” is also a short-cut to saying all of that, but it’s short-changing a country and human value.

By changing how we talk about travel, we can support a tourism industry that benefits everyone—travelers and locals alike. Let’s ditch the word “cheap”.

To Recap How Cheap Travel is Unethical

✈️🌍 Why we should ditch the word ‘cheap’ when talking about travel:

💭 Ever notice how the word cheap makes something feel… less? Travel isn’t about cutting corners—it’s about getting the best value for your experience. ✨

Swipe through to see why it’s time to ditch cheap and start traveling smarter!

👇 Drop a 🔥 if you’re ready to upgrade your mindset!