that rules out my number one on the list (Thailand) because I can't afford the plane ticket
Not sure how much is too much, but have you really researched your flight options? Go to an aggregator like Kayak and just do a ton of different searches, different dates, cities, etc. Try to do the +- 3 days search. Don't just search from the nearest airport to you, search from international hubs (Las Vegas, JFK, etc), then check the cheapest way to get to the hub. Same thing with the destination. Flying into Munich may be way cheaper than where ever you'd fly into Austria (just an example, never been to Austria). A lot of Americans don't realize how easy it can be to pop from country to country once you get to Europe. A couple of hours on a high-speed train can do wonders when countries are smaller than our states. Also, once you're abroad, there are usually dirt cheap short-range airlines.
You should also consider, since you're buying the ticket and they're buying the hotel, you might be better off picking the most expensive spot spot to stay. Take your own trip to Thailand, and stay in a hut on the beach for a few dollars per night. Let the company foot the bill for the pricy hotel in Austria, or where ever.
Also, don't go to Sao Paulo. It's not really a tourist city, and its nowhere near the beach.