Where can i go thats cheap in europe?

Question

I'v justed come back from greece so not there and been to usa so no long haul flights till next year now.

Answer 1

Personally, and I may be a bit biased since I've just returned home from living here, but I would go to Prague, Czech Republic.  It's hands down the most beautiful city I've ever been, and a cinch to get around - you can walk almost from one end of the city to the other but if you're feeling lazy the public transit system is one of the best and most reliable in the world.  CZ is on the Czech Crown and won't make the switch to the Euro for a while still and the exchange rate is pretty good.  The Czech equivalent of about 6 or 7 USD will get you an amazing meal at most restaurants and here is the kicker... the Czechs brew the world's best beer and a pint at almost any pub is usually around 30-40 crowns or 2 USD.

Answer 2

come in italy! for visit rome, milan, or florence...you can go to a little hotel, or bedrooms where you can't spend a lot...enjoy!

Answer 3

Bulgaria

Bulgaria, the E.U.'s newest member (along with Romania) is now a post-communist country that's working hard to catch up with Western Europe. For tourists, this transitional period means that while things don't always work as they should (some service industry workers don't practice the best customer service and infrastructure is poor in rural areas), you can enjoy things like great food (sort of a blend of Greek and Middle Eastern), stunning scenery, and seaside resorts for far less than you'd pay in other countries.

You could easily spend several weeks exploring Bulgaria. Kristine Dimitrova, a Boston lawyer who was born in Bulgaria and visits every few years, recommends starting in the capital of Sofia, then visiting one of the mountain regions like the Rhodope and the ancient city of Plovdiv, and finishing up with a few days at the Black Sea resort of Varna.

"Sofia is like a combination of New York, London, and Italy—it has ultra modern stores, phenomenal food, and lively entertainment," says Dimitrova. Aside from its many elaborate churches, Sofia is a fairly modern city, so you'll have to go out into the countryside to discover traditional Bulgaria. In Rhodope, a few hours' drive from Sofia, you can wander between mountain villages where you'll witness locals still using traditional farming and craft-making methods, and be warmly welcomed in country guesthouses.

Next, head to Plovdiv, a 6,000-year-old (or older) city known as the cultural capital of Bulgaria and the jumping-off point for visiting the Valley of the Thracian Kings, a site of about 1,500 burial mounds. "Plovdiv is a really place to get a sense of ancient Bulgaria," says Dimitrova. "In the Old Town, you'll see lots of Greek and Roman ruins, including a large Greek amphitheater, as well as a good sample of period Bulgarian villas."

Finally, go east to the Black Sea for some relaxation time in Varna. "Varna is essentially a major destination beach resort for all of Western Europe," says Dimitrova. "It has natural hot mineral springs and modern spas with all the amenities and treatments you'd find in other places, but for a lot less." It also has an excellent Archaeological Museum (about $3) which displays artifacts like intricately made Thracian gold jewelry from the 4th century B.C. and 100,000-year-old stone tools.

Trip planning:

The bigger cities in Bulgaria have many western hotel brands, but you can usually save by staying at an apartment hotel. Try the centrally located Niky Hotel in Sofia and Antonio's Apartments in Varna, both of which start at 40 euros per night. In the mountains, you can stay in a guest house such as Kapsazov's Guest House (from 30 euros per night) in the village of Kovachevitsa, which is known for its owner's spectacular home-cooked meals. You'll easily be able to afford the nicest hotel in Plovdiv, the Hotel Hebros, a grand 19th century Renaissance house where rates start at 89 euros per night.

To learn more about the country, visit the Bulgaria State Tourism Agency website.

Berlin, Germany

Berlin is Europe's butterfly—albeit a funky one—having metamorphosed from the epicenter of Hitler's Third Reich to the symbol of the Iron Curtain to finally, in the last 20 years, a mecca for artists, hipsters, and cultural alchemists. It's sort like Greenwich Village 20 years ago mixed with some of Tokyo's modernism, and punctuated by reminders of the past, both the darker days and the more splendid imperial era.

"The city is dynamic—it's always changing and there is always something new to discover," says Heather Ellis, a Pennsylvania native who now lives in Berlin. "Berlin is literally alive with history in a way that no other city in Europe is. It's young because of its students, full of culture because of its artists, and a bit unpolished because of its past, which makes it seem like the visitor has stumbled onto something truly special. It is also much cheaper than any other major Western European city."

With literally hundreds of museums and galleries and thousands of restaurants, shops, and nightclubs, there's no shortage of things to see and do in the city. Be sure to pick up a Berlin WelcomeCard, (16.50 euros for 48 hours, 21.50 euros for 72 hours) which offers free public transportation and half-price admission to more than 130 attractions. Some must-see museums include the Gemaldegalerie (8 euros), which houses some of Europe's top collections of 13th to 18th century art and the Pergamonmuseum (8 euros), which displays Greek and Roman antiquities and Islamic art. Sarah Steinberg, an engineer from Boston who studied in Berlin, highly recommends the Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie (Berlin Wall Museum; 9.50 euros) and the Judisches Museum (5 euros), a sobering and powerful museum focusing on Jewish history in Germany. "It is seriously amazing and one of my favorite museums in all Europe," says Steinberg.

You should take some time to walk around the city and explore its different neighborhoods. "If you're here on a Sunday, I would say do as the Berliners do: Have lazy brunch in Prenzlauerberg (a pretty neighborhood with lots of cafes and shops) and then spend the afternoon at the Mauerpark Flea Market (one of several weekend markets in Berlin where you pick up some real bargains)," says Ellis.

Many Berliners treat clubbing almost as a second job, so, for tourists, going to night clubs is a great way to experience the city's latest music, trends, and fashion on full display. Since clubs come and go almost overnight, it's hard to make specific recommendations, but if you pick up a copy of the English-language Ex-Berliner, you'll find listings for the latest hot spots.

Trip planning: While in other major European capitals you may struggle to find affordable accommodations that aren't either shabby or on the outskirts of town, Berlin has quality, good-value hotels across the price spectrum. For luxury, try the sleek Swissotel Berlin on the Kurfurstendamm (the 5th Avenue of Berlin), the number two best-value hotel in the world according to a Budget Travel-TripAdvisor study. Rates in August start around 124 euros per night. Nearby, the Hotel Otto, a boutique family-run property, offers modern, unpretentious rooms from 80 euros per night. For cheaper, homier lodging, there's the friendly B&B Hotel-Pension Bregenz, also near the Kurfurstendamm, where prices start at 40 euros. Berlin's top-rated budget accommodation on HostelWorld.com, The Circus Hostel, promises hip, spotless digs near Prenzlauerberg and rates as low as 18 euros per person per night.

Early September flights from New York to Berlin start at $604 round-trip, including taxes and fees, on Hotwire.com.

For more trip planning resources, go to the Berlin Tourism Marketing website.

Turquoise Coast, Turkey

You may be priced out of a vacation on the Italian Riviera or the Greek islands, and costs for stays along Croatia's Dalmatian Coast are rising rapidly. However, you can still find bargains along Turkey's Turquoise Coast, a stunning 1,000-mile shoreline that rivals its Mediterranean neighbors for beauty and ancient history, but not for costs.

"The Turkish Mediterranean is one of my favorite places in the world," says RaeJean Stokes, a Program Officer at American Councils for International Education in Washington, D.C, (and former SmarterTravel.com editor) who last visited the region in 2005. "It's laid-back and gorgeous—think azure blue waters and ancient ruins, plus great food, culture, and music. In terms of value for money, Turkey is a no-brainer. It's a steal compared to Western Europe, and even some cities in Eastern Europe." Stokes says the region also differs from other parts of the Mediterranean in terms of cuisine and culture. "Turkish food is like a gift from heaven, in my opinion—it's fresh, local, heavy on eggplant and lamb (two of my favorites) and resplendent with olive oil. And turkey in general offers up a more laid-back vacation due to the country's social and religious mores."

The most interesting part of the coast lies between the cities of Antalya and Dalaman, which both receive regular air and bus service from Istanbul during the summer months. Traveling either East to West or vice versa, you can drive, take buses, or, ideally, sail between the seaside resorts and ancient towns along the coast. Stokes and her husband opted for a four-day gullet sailing cruise between Fethiye (near Dalaman airport) and Olimpos (near Antalya) booked through Fez Travel. Starting at a mere $269 per person today, this all-inclusive trip is a real steal. "Each day we visited a different port, sailing briskly along the lush but rocky Turkish coast and summarily stopping for dips in the clear azure waters," says Stokes.

You can also drive (if you have good reflexes and nerves) or take buses. Start in Antalya, a busy resort town where you can get an overview of the area's history from the Stone Age to the Ottoman period at the local archeology museum (Antalya Museum, about $12). Then, head down to the ancient city of Olimpos, where you hike to the Chimera, a series of natural eternal flames which in ancient times inspired myths about a fire-breathing monster. Further west is Kas, a fishing village turned beach resort where you can base yourself for explorations of nearby ruins like Demre, where St. Nicholas (Santa!) lived, and Ucagiz, an old village where you can see 2,000-year-old Lycian tombs. Before ending your tour in Dalaman, be sure to visit Oludeniz, home to what many think is Turkey's most beautiful beach, and Fethiye, where you can see remnants of the ancient Telmessos.

Trip planning: To book a sailing  

Answer 4

All countries of the Eastern Europe are cheap, and some have beautiful beaches, not only sightseeing tours to offer.

Try Croatia if you want a seaside holiday, or Slovenia, which although small, has a variety of different activities for tourists. Also have a look at the Danube cruises and other holiday possibilities in Serbia, like spas, mountaineering etc.