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Best cheap cities to visit

A $5 bill might not go far in big-ticket cities like Paris or Tokyo, but the best meal in Bali costs three bucks, one of the funkiest cool hotels in Berlin has rooms for 80 Euros, and a five-day yoga course in Guilin, China, costs the same as a couple hours of Soul Cycle in New York City.Coming back from a terrific vacation under budget is like finding a wad of cash in an old pair of jeans. Beds f
Visitors come to Guilin, China, to explore the city's otherworldly beauty, with the Li River winding through it, and karst rock formations peaking jaggedly among buildings.
Visitors come to Guilin, China, to explore the city's otherworldly beauty, with the Li River winding through it, and karst rock formations peaking jaggedly among buildings.Jon Arnold Images Ltd / Alamy / Today

A $5 bill might not go far in big-ticket cities like Paris or Tokyo, but the best meal in Bali costs three bucks, one of the funkiest cool hotels in Berlin has rooms for 80 Euros, and a five-day yoga course in Guilin, China, costs the same as a couple hours of Soul Cycle in New York City.

Coming back from a terrific vacation under budget is like finding a wad of cash in an old pair of jeans. Beds feel extra plush in a luxury hotel when the nightly room rate is under three digits, and a great meal improves when you can pay in singles.

Since traveling abroad does mean splurging on a ticket, several American cities are ideal for cheap weekend trips.

Slideshow: See the best cheap cities

Detroit is one such spot, with stellar restaurants, world-class museums and bustling weekend markets. “The people in Detroit have a lot of heart and soul, and those are the people I love to cook for. They are proud of their downtown, and I was excited to be a part of that,” says celebrity chef Michael Symon, who opened his sleek, meat-centric spot, Roast, in Detroit’s Book Cadillac hotel in 2008. “There is incredibly beautiful architecture downtown that you don’t see in other cities. Corktown is a fun area to be in, Eastern Market is fantastic, the art museum is epic, and there are other great restaurants there, not just ours.”

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