With some limitations remaining on travel to Cuba, a trip including flights and guided tours are typically in the $3,000-and-up range. If you're looking for a dose of equally captivating culture and tasty food that's more in the hundreds-of-dollars range, head instead to colorful Cartagena.
Bunk at spots such as the under-$100 GHL Relax Corales de Indias or the slightly more luxurious Armeria Real Luxury Hotel and Spa, then get your fill of delightful dishes (ceviche! arepas!), historic sites (the Walled City of Cartagena), and enchanting nightlife (you really can’t go wrong here, but popular places include Bar Tu Candela and Café Havana).