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Summer in Europe is just around the corner, and many of you have already started making plans and securing reservations before hotel prices and airline tickets start to increase.
If you haven’t booked your hotel in Paris yet, it may already be too late.
With the Olympic Games being held in France, more non-stop flights to Spain and Italy being launched, and a series of train routes debuting simultaneously, it will be a busy season in the sunny south of the continent, and you can expect consumer prices to rise in response.
However, not all sunny European destinations will be off-limits for the average budget traveler three in particular Ranked as one of the cheapest destinations, they’re just not what most people would associate with a summer holiday.
Goodbye Amalfi, hello Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria:
Albania
Albania, a once-forgotten country in the heart of the Balkans that was terrorized by a communist dictatorship for most of its recent history, was reborn in the 21st century as a liberal democracy with clear Western ambitions, and it is certainly making up for lost time in the tourism sector. front side.
Until the 1990s, tourists were not allowed to visit Albania unless for very specific reasons and under strict conditions. So we wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t know that it borders the Mediterranean Sea, or that it beautiful, Maldives-like white sandy beachesand an enormous cultural wealth.
From the ancient Greco-Roman ruins of Butrint, one of the most fascinating archaeological zones in the Mediterranean, to the sun-drenched coast of Vlore and the Old World charm of Gjirokaster and Berat, two UNESCO World Heritage cities. and have a preserved medieval heritage. it couldn’t be more inviting.
Luckily for budget travelers, this trendy spot in the Mediterranean is incredibly affordable to travel in, with nights in three-star hotels in Vlore, one of the leading leisure destinations, from just $28, while five-star resorts can cost extra. as cheap as $168.
You will spend money on eating out in Albania an average of $20 per day on foodand even if you treat yourself to a nicer three-course meal and a jug of wine at a mid-range restaurant, you’re unlikely to be charged more than $30, or the local currency equivalent.
In fact, a week-long trip to Albania costs just $546 per person, making it by far the cheapest Mediterranean destination.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Still on the Balkan Peninsula, Bosnia and Herzegovina is another hidden gem of Europe that has long been overlooked due to its association with a war in the 1990s and the now defunct socialist state of Yugoslavia, which it shared with countries like Serbia. , Croatia, Montenegro and others.
As an independent state, it is one of the most diverse on the continent, torn between a half-Muslim and a half-Christian (and in the latter, Catholic and Orthodox subdivisions) population, and boasts an unusually large number of historical monuments for an country that this… ‘secondary’.
For starters, it’s home base two of the most iconic bridges in Europe. One of them, Stari Most, dominates Mostar’s skyline and arches over a fast-flowing, crystal-clear Neretva River, while Sarajevo’s Latin Bridge is where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated.
THE Franz Ferdinand, and the event that actually caused World War I.
Bosnia is also littered with them ancient stone cities and beautiful natural spots, such as the Kravice Waterfalls, a refreshing swimming spot in the hot summer months, and the seaside resort of Neum, the only town on the coast.
Although Bosnia’s access to the Mediterranean is largely fenced off by Croatia, its neighbors have still left them a nine-kilometer stretch of coastline (i.e. Neum) so that they can flock to the coast when temperatures rise above 90 in July degrees increases.
Despite its proximity to Croatia and one of the most expensive Croatian cities (we’re looking at you, Dubrovnik), Neum is a quite affordable coastal townwith the luxurious Grand Hotel Neum Wellness & Spa costing $110 per night to book, and the even cheaper beachfront Hotel Adria just $65.
In Mostar, the most popular tourist destination in Bosnia and Herzegovina, you can find decent hotels with breakfast included only $54while in Sarajevo, the national capital, Hotel Saraj has rates starting from $32.
In terms of daily expenses, you’ll need to spend $28 daily on food, just $8 for local transportation, and if your accommodation isn’t already paid for, an average of $65 on hotels, in line with some of the hotel rates you see above.
Overall, a week’s stay in mostly balmy Bosnia is it will only set you back $520, all inclusive minus flights.
Bulgaria
Last but not least, Bulgaria is the only country on this list that is not located on the Mediterranean Sea.
That’s not to say it isn’t subtropical, at least in the hot summer months, when temperatures along the Black Sea coast soar above 90 degrees.
Now, here’s the thing: even so, it may be so called the Black Sea is anything but.
Bulgaria’s prized coastal waters are in fact bright blue in nature, and in places like Varna and Sunny Beach, two bustling holiday resorts, they even turn a beautiful crystal clear hue.
The Black Sea is the New Mediterranean, you know, with water temperatures just as high, and a similar list of ancient, historic towns along its coast, like Nessebar, sometimes called the Dubrovnik of Bulgaria because it’s on a fortified island is surrounded by walls, and the 2700 year old Sozopol.
Bulgaria lies off the coast of the Black Sea breathtakingly diverse country full of mountains – it’s home to the highest peak in southeastern Europe – winding rivers and cobbled towns, and even if history isn’t your forte, you can’t escape the occasional Greco-Roman ruin.
Plovdiv, in the scorching central region, where it is over 100 degrees in July, is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe. Not that you wouldn’t immediately notice that it has an ancient nature, with its preserved 1st century and prehistoric houses on a hilltop.
The national capital Sofia, on the other hand, is where Bulgaria’s classical era, the Middle Ages and more recent communist past collide, creating a impossibly eclectic cityscape of towering high-rises, Roman remains, Byzantine churches and Soviet-inspired monuments.
Sounds great, right? What if we told you that in July there are beachfront hotels in trendy Sunny Beach for as little as $74, or that you can book an all-inclusive stay at the local Helenda Sands for a reasonable $194?
Maybe you’re a budget traveler and don’t care much about beaches, in which case a four-night stay in a centrally located Sofia guest house will cost you just $283. Again, it’s four nights, not a single night.
In total, you need to budget $69 per day if you visit Bulgaria in high season, including food and accommodation costs, and if you’re really the money-spending type, you’re still looking at a fairly affordable $1,127 for a week.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
