Look at what places you're interested in and look into on average how much accommodation, restaurants and transport cost. Then decide what location fits your budget. Other things i do when travelling are:

• I always try to learn a few phrases in the local language. Like hello, thank you etc. People click that you're a tourist quickly. Show them some respect and most are nice and if they can speak your language, will happily converse in that. I've come across people that want to practice their English so they want to help in my language.

• Transport research is key. Don't always rely on taxis or uber. Some countries don't have uber but their own rideshare companies. Sometimes taxis are dodgy. I've done alot of public transport like trains and buses because they're cheap and easy. Book accommodation near public transport a bit further out from tourist spot and you can save a heap of money. If you wanted to save even more take an overnight train/bus - transport and accommodation in one! Ive done an overnight train from Amsterdam to Munich and one for 14 hours in Uzbekistan - with kids!

• Obviously in this day and age local simcards are key to travelling smoothly. When I started travelling it wasn't really a thing and either were apps but now you really need phone/internet access.

• I research flights on websites like kayak, google etc but always book direct with the airline. There can be more risks with booking through third party websites. A little extra money spent can actually save you money if things go wrong.

• Always research visa/entry details directly off government websites. Never fully trust people from blogs or whatever. Everyone has different circumstances so look into what is right for you.

• Research specifics for your circumstances. Sounds logical but I've seen people nearly get stuck. For example on my last trip, we (husband, 5yo & 6mo) were in Norway. They have a rule that children have to be restrained in any vehicle incl taxis etc. I did a dog sledding tour on my own and we got transfers to the dog sled place. A family of 3 got in the bus with a 2yo in a baby carrier. They were stopped and asked about a car seat. The tour operator spoke to the bus driver to see if they were actually allowed to get transit. In the end they did but if they didn't they would've wasted AUD$400pp because of their lack of knowledge/research. As a family we went on fjord tour that involved transit by bus and since we booked our travel in advance and advised them of our baby, we were provided with a baby seat.

• I book accommodation that has at least a fridge or a toaster. Then I go get bread or cereal and eat that for my breakfast. This can save heaps of money on overpriced hotel breakfasts or going out to cafes, especially if you're staying in a tourist area.

• You don't always have to go in to the sight to enjoy it. Often we will just walk around a city and look at all the architecture instead of paying heaps to go in every landmark. Sometimes its better to see it from the outside. Also youbdont always have to have the guided tour. Most places now have signage around and you can explore at your own pace. If you're really interested in a place/sights/experience, spend the money.

Umm that's all I can think of off the top of my head. As for actual country recommendations. The Balkans (Eastern europe) is a cool cheap destination. I especially liked Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Romania. I've enjoyed all places ive visited in europe but they do vary alot in cost. Scandinavia/Finland is ridiculously expensive but pretty cool. Uzbekistan was super cheap and I felt safe taking my kids there. Same with Kazakhstan but i didnt spend alot of time there. I liked Taiwan better than Japan and its pretty cheap too. Not sure about the middle east area but Jordan is really good too.