However, snow hounds on a budget, shouldn’t despair. Europe still has many great destinations where you can speed down snow-covered mountains at lower prices. We’ve gathered our top five spots for budget skiing in Europe, located in five different countries. We’re here to help you plan your next European ski trip, the cheapo way!

Top 5 destinations for budget skiing in Europe

1. Bansko, Bulgaria

Located about 100 miles from Sofia’s airport, Bansko has the longest ski season in Bulgaria, with snow-covered slopes from mid-December to mid-May. The town is nestled at the foot of the scenic Pirin Mountains and features a quaint old town square with stone buildings mixed in with modern lodges and restaurants that have popped up in recent years.

The ski runs are located in two main areas: Chalin Valog (3,600 – 5,250 feet) and Shilgarnika (5,577 – 8,202 feet). Although it does offer one black ski run, this ski resort is more suitable for beginner or intermediate skiers. Snowboarders can try out new tricks at the Balkans’ first snow park, complete with a half-pipe for ripping up the flakes.

Hotels: Rates start as low as $30 for a double room in Bansko. Search for accommodations in Bansko.

2. Kranjska Gora, Slovenia

Slovenia’s best-known ski resort is located a mere four miles from the border of both Italy and Austria, but you can blaze down the slopes here for far less cash. Kranjska Gora, a narrow valley situated between the Julian Alps and the Karavanke, offers nearly 20 miles of ski slopes serviced by 16 ski lifts, as well as breathtaking alpine views.

This family-friendly ski resort has several slopes ranging from around 2,600 to 5,325 feet. Although most of the trails are geared towards the beginner or intermediate skier, the Podkoren trail is more demanding. In fact, some of the world’s best skiers compete on this run every year for the acclaimed Vitranc Cup in men’s slalom and giant slalom races.

Hotels in Kranjska Gora: Rates for four-star hotels start under $70 per night. Search over 250 hotels in Kranjska Gora.

Riding the lift up the trails of Livigno, Italy with the village in the background. Photo: Peter

3. Livigno, Italy

Because of its remote location high up in the mountains of northern Italy, Livigno ski resort is known to locals as “Piccollo Tibet” (Little Tibet). Located near the Swiss border, Livigno makes an excellent alternative for skiers on a budget. Not only are the prices far less than their Swiss neighbors, this area, known as the Spol Valley, also enjoys a duty-free status. This means you can hit the slopes, then shop ‘til you drop, before partaking in a little lively après ski party time. Most suited to intermediate skiers, Livigno does have a handful of black runs as well as a snow park.

Hotels: The village of Livigno is comprised of three original villages that have merged to create a resort town that runs about 2.5 miles long. When choosing accommodation, make sure you have easy access to the ski lift and amenities. Although the village does offer a free ski bus service, the service doesn’t run regularly and stops fairly early in the evening. Search over 500 hotels in Livigno.

Skiing down into the valley at Brauneck Bergbahn. Photo: Sebastian W.

4. Brauneck Bergbahn, Germany

Located just over an hour south of Munich, the ski area on Brauneck Mountain has a lot to offer skiers of all ages and abilities. A family-friendly ski resort, Brauneck has everything from children’s areas with ski schools to cross-country ski trails and World Cup ski runs.

The town of Lenggries has a storybook charm. You’ll find plenty of guesthouses off country roads that serve up local Bavarian cuisine and beer at a nice price. If you want to add some sightseeing to your ski vacation, great sights and cities such as Munich, Salzburg, Oberammergau, Germany’s Romantic Road, and Neuschwanstein are all an easy drive an hour or less away.

Hotels: Find rooms for $100 and up in Lenggries.

Skiers getting ready to hit the slopes of Zakopane. Photo: MoFA

5. Zakopane, Poland

Zakopane is a ski resort nestled in the Tatra mountains, about two hours south of Krakow. An airport transfer bus from both Krakow and Katowice is possible, with prices ranging from $90 for 1 to 3 people. Most lifts in the area offer a pay-as-you-go rate. For beginners, this means lower prices than the more common day pass at other resorts, and more advanced skiers hankering to hit the slopes hard will still pay less than they would at pricier resorts in Western Europe.

Zakopane also boasts plenty of cheap eats and bargain drinks, so be sure and chow down on some pierogi washed down with a Polish Zywiec beer after your day of snowy fun. Check out our guide to Zakopane, Poland’s premier mountain resort.

Hotels in Zakopane: Rooms can be found for $50 and under per night. Search over 1,000 hotels in Zakopane.

Do you have a favorite ski slope that won’t break the bank? Let us know in the comments!

The post 5 Affordable Ski Villages in Europe: The best budget-friendly slopes appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Food, drink and hotels are all cheap, English is widely spoken, and locals are friendly and eager to help. What’s not to love?! Plan your stay with the help of our Ljubljana budget travel guide.

More tips for budget travel in Europe:

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Ljubljana Budget Travel Guide

Ljubljana deserves to be one of the highlights on your Slovenia itinerary. If you’re the type of traveler that prefers to have a home base to return to every night, Slovenia’s capital is perfect. It happens to be right in the middle of the country, and it’s a hub for air and ground travel. Besides, even if accommodations here are slightly more expensive than elsewhere in Slovenia, they’re still very cheap as compared to elsewhere in Europe.

Are you ready to go to Slovenia? Read on for our best advice for making the most of your time in Ljubljana while keeping your costs under control.

When to go

For the best possible prices for airfare and accommodation, time your visit in the off-season so that it doesn’t coincide with the flood of European vacationers that tend to invade the city every summer.

Also, note prices can be higher during the Ljubljana Festival (mid-June through August), but it’s a fun time when the streets are full of live performances by actors, dancers and musicians.

The cheapest time to visit

Your best bet for reasonably good weather, competitive prices and fewer crowds? Early spring or fall. Just remember to bring an umbrella or a rain poncho, as some wet weather is pretty much a given.

Getting there

Ljubljana is home to Slovenia’s most important air hub, Jože Pucnik Airport, also known by its previous name Brnik Airport (code: LJU). It’s located about 25 minutes from the city center.

From the airport, you’ll want to hop the local bus service, Avtobusna Ljubljana number 28 into the city center. It costs about €4 and can be bought directly from the bus driver.

At the time of writing, there are no direct transatlantic flights into Ljubljana from the US, although connecting flights from elsewhere in Europe make the city a great add-on for your European itinerary, especially for folks planning to spend time in the neighboring countries of Italy, Croatia, Switzerland, Austria, or Hungary.

Finding cheap flights to Ljubljana

We found round-trip flights to Ljubljana from NYC on Norwegian via London starting at $550 and with Turkish Air via Istanbul starting at €650 for a trip in the fall.

For extra savings on last-minute fares in the busy summer months of July and August, it may be best to fly round-trip from the US into Venice. In Venice, you can then rent a car or hop a budget flight from Venice or Verona airport. You can also take the train to Ljubljana from Venice.

Another great way to save on airfare to this destination? Book your tickets way in advance — we found round-trip tickets with one connection on flights with Air France and Delta starting at €528 for dates next year.

Getting around Ljubljana

Ljubljana’s center is very walkable and pedestrian friendly, but should you want to venture further afield, the city is connected via the LPP public bus service and fares start at €1.20 per trip but must be swiped on an Urbana Value Card (find it at kiosks, green stand-alone machines, bus stops and stations, and tourist information centers for €2).

Traveling in a group and plan to make a lot of day trips while you’re in the area? Consider renting a car. Roads in Slovenia are good, tolls and fuel are reasonable for Europe, and parking in the Ljubljana area is included with many accommodations. Check car rental rates in Europe with CheapoSearch.

Cheap and free things to do

Ljubljana is a beautiful place to spend some time outside. Stroll the old town, window-shop and take snapshots of the gorgeous Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical buildings.

Architecture and history

Be sure to have a look around Preseren Square and a peek inside the 17th-century Franciscan Church of the Annunciation, with frescoes painted by the Slovene impressionist painter Matej Sternen. Or walk along the city’s namesake river on its iconic bridges. Take a stroll over Triple Bridge, and our favorite, the Dragon Bridge, with its four green sheet-copper dragons.

Street art and culture

Fans of street art should definitely make a stop in Metelkova City, a former army barracks turned squat, turned local center for alternative culture and art.

Ljubljana Castle

If you’d rather get away from the hustle and bustle of the city streets, head for the hills. Take a sunrise or sunset hike up to the city’s castle. Surrounded by a picturesque forest park, the castle grounds, as well as its dungeons and shops are free to visit. Castle admission to the tower, puppet museum and exhibition of Slovenian History costs €10. For €13, you can also hop the funicular back down to the bottom.

Picnic in the park

Another low-cost option? Shop for some nice picnic fare at Plecnik’s Central Market and then find a bench in Tivoli Park, the city’s largest green space.

Need more ideas for Ljubljana? Check out the official tourism website, I Feel Slovenia.

Eating and drinking on a budget

Ljubljana is becoming famous throughout Slovenia and around the world for its foodie culture. With local dishes that combine some of the best elements from Italian, Swiss and Eastern European cuisine, the food here is hard to resist.

Eat out at lunch to save

Like elsewhere in Slovenia, if you want to feast for less, eat out at lunch, between the hours of 11 am and 1 pm so you can take advantage of fixed price menus and specials for students and working folks. The prices are cheap, but just expect them to be 10-15% more expensive than in smaller Slovenian cities.

Try ethnic restaurants for cheap dinners

When the evening rolls around, head to ethnic restaurants — think Turkish, Bosnian, Slovakian or Indian — for an excellent meal that’s easy on the budget. We really like the generous portions and friendly service at Sarajevo 84 (Nazorjeva ulica 12, Ljubljana 1000). Pizzas are very reasonable here too, starting at €5 for a large individual to-go pie.

Authentic Slovenian cuisine

For more traditional fare head to Klobasarna (Stari trg 21, Ljubljana 1000) for Slovenian sausage on bread and soup for a quick bite or sit down to more elaborate fare at Druga Violina (Stari trg 21, Ljubljana 1000).

Cheap hotels in Ljubljana

Hotels in Ljubljana tend to be slightly more expensive than in other Slovenian cities. To save on accommodations follow a couple of rules — stay away from the riverfront and don’t stay overnight during the city’s major festivals (check here a list of Slovenian festivals) when prices can skyrocket with the demand for rooms.

Budget hotel rooms and private rooms in hostels start at around €30 with most hovering around the price of about €40 per night and beds in shared dorms are available from €15 per person nightly. Private rooms in shared apartments here start at €25 and studio apartment rentals go for just around €50 per night.

Sleep in the charming Old Town with a room at Adora Hotel.

Hotel picks for Ljubljana

Here are a couple of our favorite cheapo-friendly places to stay:

• We love the location of Adora Hotel, a family-run charmer with free breakfast in Old Town.
• For a more modern stay right in the city center, Hotel Emonec is a good choice with a free buffet breakfast and just steps from Preseren Square.

Take a look at over 1,000 hotels in Ljubljana. You’ll find prices as low as $30 per night — even in summer!

If you’re traveling beyond Ljubljana, you can book more than 4,000 hotels and apartments across Slovenia.

Your tips for exploring Ljubljana

Have you been to Ljubljana? Share your best tips for visiting Slovenia’s capital city on a budget in the comments section below.

The post Slovenia: A budget travel guide to Ljubljana appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here’s one strategy for lowering costs: eschew particularly expensive locations for cheaper alternatives. As always, think broadly about alternatives. In some cases, a neighboring city will be less expensive than a popular tourism draw in spitting distance. In other situations, you might consider swapping one region for another half-way across the continent.

Here are five suggestions to get you thinking.

1. Consider Bratislava instead of Vienna

Vienna is glorious. It is impossible to forget that the city was once the seat of an empire. Though there are low-cost hotels, it can also be expensive and, during the summer months, overrun with tourists.

Enter Bratislava, the cute, relatively diminutive capital of Slovakia, just 40 miles to the east. It is a quieter and far less expensive alternative to Vienna. You can count on paying around €40 per day less in Bratislava between budget accommodations, meals and bar tab. Plus, hotels in Bratislava can go for as little as $40-50 per night when we did some searching for dates in the spring.

Furthermore, it’s easy and relatively cheap to travel between the two capital cities. A one-hour one-way train fare will set you back €15; the almost two-hour bus journey costs only €8. You can upgrade the trip with a 75-minute boat ride for as low as €20.

2. Switch out the Slovenian Alps for the Swiss Alps

Let’s compare two popular Alpine destinations, one in Switzerland and the other in Slovenia.

In the winter, a double at a cheap bed & breakfast in St. Moritz, Switzerland runs 110 CHF ($112) per night; in Bled, Slovenia: €29 ($35). In the summer, rate differentials aren’t quite so dramatic. A cheap studio in St. Moritz in mid-July is 63 CHF ($64); an equivalent property in Bled mid-July runs €36 ($44). Bled is less developed than St. Moritz, and (arguably) more interesting in terms of geology and landscape.

As an aside, Slovenia offers far more than Alpine vistas. Other places of note include Ljubljana, the country’s dynamic, pretty capital, and a tiny little arc of the Adriatic, centered on Koper.

Lisbon is one of Europe’s greatest and cheapest cities to visit. Photo: Francisco Antunes

3. Try Lisbon over Madrid and Barcelona

Lisbon is one of the most appealing cities in all of Europe — and an outstanding value to boot. It’s got everything one might want in a European capital: atmospheric neighborhoods, grand plazas and boulevards, good coffee, affordable public transportation, cheap taxis, great restaurants, and perfect egg tarts at more or less every bakery. It’s much cheaper than Madrid, Barcelona, and even Paris.

Hotels in Lisbon start around $30 for simple rooms, and you can score 3-star accommodations for as little as $60. In other words, Lisbon is still a cheapo paradise!

The French coastal region of Côte Bleue, west of Marseille, is a great alternative to the ritzy Cote d’Azur. Photo: Jeanne Menj

4. The Côte Bleue in place of the Cote d’Azur

The Côte d’Azur remains charming despite the glitz and celebrities that keep it humming. But goodness gracious is it pricey. For a less expensive holiday, look to the Côte Bleue, to the west of Marseille.

Carry-le-Rouet, a fishing village surrounded by a nature reserve, is one idyllic spot. In Carry-le-Rouet, the Villa Arena Hotel offers double rooms for €60. And in the nearby village of La Rove there is a simple, welcoming guesthouse called L’olivier, with double rooms for just €55 in July.

Jahorina in Bosnia offers a fun ski vacation for almost 75% less than the Alps! Photo: vladotesanovic

5. Go east for an affordable ski vacation

A quick glance at the top resorts in France, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria turns up exorbitant daily lift pass costing as high as €70 ($86) in Zermatt. Even relatively good value resorts in the region, like Courmayeur in Italy’s Aosta Valley, cost €44 ($54) per day for a lift pass.

A turn to the east reveals much less expensive territory: Jahorina, Bosnia (€20, or $24 for a lift pass); Popova Sapka, Macedonia (900 MKD, or $18); and Brezovica, an ethnic Serbian mountain enclave in the south of Kosovo, where a lift pass costs just €12 ($15) per day.

Related: 5 affordable ski vacations in Europe

The post 5 cheapo alternative destinations in Europe appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

It’s packed with equal parts natural treasures — think snow-capped mountains, alpine lakes, and unreal underground caverns — and cobblestone streets and castles in charming towns and villages like the capital city Ljubljana.

Use this Slovenia budget travel guide, so you can visit without breaking the bank.

More budget tips for Europe:

• 5 Cheapo alternative destinations in Europe
• Airline baggage fees for US to Europe carriers
• Should you buy travel insurance before you go to Europe?

Slovenia Budget Travel Guide

Cheapos take note the next time you’re planning a trip to Europe. Slovenia may be just what you’re looking for. Here are our top tips for making the most of your time and money in Slovenia.

Tips for getting to Slovenia for less

While currently there are no direct transatlantic flights into Slovenia’s main airport in Ljubljana, there are deals to be had for folks willing to make a stop or two. We recently found deals on Turkish Airlines or Air Serbia with stopovers in Istanbul or Belgrade, for a Saturday-to-Saturday trip. For an even cheaper flight into Europe, consider flying into Venice via Madrid with American Airlines or Iberia. We found flights starting under €400. From Venice, you can hop a bus, train or rideshare into Slovenia, or even all the way to the Slovenian capital starting at €12, although we’d recommend renting a car.

If you’re already in Europe, direct flights into Ljubljana from major European airports can be pricey. To reduce costs, consider making a connection, or flying out of secondary airport such as London’s Luton Airport. Another cheap option is flying into Venice with a budget carrier. It’s only a few hours from Slovenia’s gorgeous Adriatic coast.

Getting around Slovenia on a budget

Public transport

Trains and buses are certainly reasonably priced and widely available around Slovenia, but they don’t always help you explore the beautiful countryside.

Renting a car

For maximum flexibility on where you go and stay in Slovenia, we’d recommend renting a car. Roads are in pretty good condition and toll-ways throughout the country are a breeze to navigate, you just buy a tag to stick in the window for however many days you’ll be driving, and parking is free of charge or cheap at most accommodations. Which brings us to our next point — a vehicle means having a lot more flexibility in where you sleep. Besides, renting a car is as reasonable or more so than taking transit, especially for folks who aren’t going solo. Weekly rates start at around €100. Search for car rentals in Slovenia.

Villa Istra is a 4-star stay in Slovenia with rooms around $100 if you book early.

Budget accommodations in Slovenia

Cheap hotels

Accommodations in Slovenia are a serious bargain, including in Ljubljana, the country’s biggest city. For the best possible prices on hotel rooms, try to time your visit for September through late fall. Slovenia is a popular destination for sports like skiing in the winter and hiking during the summer demand during these seasons can spike up prices a bit.

Search and book more than 4,000 hotels in Slovenia

Furnished apartment stays

Clean and fully-equipped vacation apartments start at around €40 per night, especially on the outskirts of cities and around the Slovenian countryside. They’re not luxury by any means, but they’re a cheap way to explore the country. The downside? Some only accept cash.

Search for vacation rentals in Ljubljana

Get out in nature! Slovenia has beautiful mountains to explore. Photo: Bernd T.

Cheap and free things to do in Slovenia

Packed with beautiful scenery, from rolling hills terraced and seeded with grape vines for its famous wines to an Adriatic coastline every bit as beautiful as the Croatian and Italian portions, much of what there is to be seen in Slovenia comes with no entry fee.

Here are our top picks for sightseeing in Slovenia that won’t cost you a bundle:

Piran

Walk along the beach and sunbathe in Piran for a warm escape to the Adriatic Sea. The city is also an excellent place to eat seafood on budget — we had a generous calamari platter for two with wine for around €10 per person in the Old Town. The scenery here is stunning!

Search for hotels and vacation rentals in Piran

Ljubljana

Hike through the forest park on the outskirts and walk around the castle for sweeping views of Slovenia’s capital and largest city. Parts of the Castle are free to enter such as the ramparts, the dungeons, and of course, the gift shop featuring locally made souvenirs. Skip the funicular unless you’re exhausted, it’s all downhill back to the city center. Read our budget guide to Ljubljana for more tips.

Ptuj

Stroll picturesque cobblestone streets and check out the free Carnival exhibit featuring traditional costumes and photos at the city castle in Ptuj (pronounced Ptooey), the oldest continuously inhabited city in Slovenia.

Lake Bled

This bright blue glacial lake with a castle perched behind it is worth a stop on your Slovenian itinerary. Take a few laps around the edge of Lake Bled in Bled to soak in the views of the picturesque church on the island in the middle. If you’re feeling spendy and the weather cooperates, you can always spring for a €12 ride in a traditional Pletna Boat out to the island in the middle to get a closer look at Assumption of Mary Church.

Search for accommodations in Bled

Lipizzaner

Get a glimpse of the famous Lipizzaner horses at the Lipizzaner stud farm for free (skip the guided tour unless you’re really crazy for horses). Note that you will have to pay €3 for parking if you don’t spring for the tour.

Exploring the famous Skocjan Caves is well worth the entry fee. Photo: TravelingOtter

Skocjan Caves

In addition to the above, there is one major attraction in Slovenia that shouldn’t be missed and is worth every last cent of the steep €16 entry fee: Skocjan Caves.

Complete with an underground river and chambers with up to 140-meter tall ceilings, the caverns are definitely one of the most memorable caves, scratch that, natural phenomena we’ve ever had the privilege to visit. If there was only time to see one thing in Slovenia, this would top our list — the inside of these caves feels like something out of a movie, a place that could only exist in a fantasy world. This despite the fact that the caves can only be explored on a guided tour with 50 to 100 other visitors.

That said, there are a couple of things to consider when visiting the caves:
1. There are lots of stairs and walking involved — the tour isn’t a good choice for anyone that’s not 100% independently mobile.
2. Don’t be fooled into booking the less expensive self-guided tour — while it’s very nice as an add-on, it can’t compare to the guided tour — trust us, we did both just to be sure.

Grilled trout is a local delicacy in Slovenia. Photo: Joel B

Cheap eats in Slovenia

For the best prices on food, put some distance between you and major attractions before searching out a restaurant. That said, even the eats at busy tourist sites seem cheap when compared to elsewhere in Europe. For example, at the restaurant at Skocjan Caves, a sandwich the size of an adult’s forearm is €5 and a cappuccino is €1.5.

Set menus for lunch

In Slovenian cities like Ljubljana and Maribor, restaurants offer fixed-price menus at lunch that are reasonably priced and generous with portions. Lunch menus start at around €8.

Try other cuisines

Budget-conscious folks can feast for even less at ethnic restaurants offering Bosnian, Serbian, and Turkish specialties.

Don’t shy away from pizza

Pizzas are also very, very cheap here, with Italian-style pies starting at €5. Also, if you’re working towards a degree or certification, bring your ID, in some cities, restaurants offer discounted meals specifically for students.

Your tips for Slovenia

Have you been to Slovenia? Share your favorite stories and tips in the comments below!

The post Slovenia Budget Travel Guide: A European gem at a lower price appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

A church in Jutland. Photo © hidden europe magazine

Beat those Winter Blues

Those few leisure travelers who are out-and-about are heading in the main for Europe’s winter sports regions. Buck that trend and you will have much of Europe to yourself.

We traveled last week along Denmark’s windy North Sea coast, enjoying empty roads and clear blue skies. This past weekend we rode by train through northern Germany: ten trains in all, and never more than a handful of people aboard. Spread out, and enjoy the space on trains which would be crowded in mid-summer.

Low season rates and heavy discounting by hoteliers still don’t woo the crowds. So travel is cheap. Bleak weather is still interesting. And there is a peculiar charm to many off-season coastal resorts. Expect dramatic skyscapes and wild seas. Go dressed for the worst.

Five of the Best

Here are a handful of our top coastal choices for January travel:

Gozo: Malta’s kid sister is at her best in the depths of winter. Catch it when the fierce grigal winds blow in and you’ll see a moody Gozo far removed from the sedate Mediterranean island featured in guidebooks.

Connemara and Galway: Western Ireland can be formidably crowded in summer, yet even popular spots like Clifden offer space to breathe in deepest winter. Watch and feel Atlantic waves and winds roll in off the ocean.

Istria: This little pocket of territory near the head of the Adriatic, where the Latin and Slavic worlds collide, is the perfect antidote to winter blues. Piran (Slovenia) is our favorite winter hideaway on the Istrian coast.

The North Frisian Islands: It just happens that’s where we are staying all this week. The chic set who celebrated New Year here has gone and everyday life has returned to this happy scatter of Danish and German islands in the eastern North Sea. Off-season in the region is hard to beat, whether you opt for the islands of Sylt, Amrun and Föhr (all on the German side of the border) or head further north to the Danish islands.

Galicia: The north-west corner of Spain teems with summer visitors, yet is deserted in January. The seafood is as good as ever and if you drive out to the headland at Cape Finisterre on a stormy day you really will have a sense of having reached the end of the earth.

The post Exploring Europe’s Coastal Regions in Winter appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

And so in Trieste, which always seems to us the most un-Italian part of Italy.

We were in Trieste for a few days prior to Easter and were so very struck by the city’s role as a microcosm of European life. The “Triestini” gaze from a distance at the Italian mainstream — no surprise perhaps, for the city is on a slender slither of Italian territory that juts into neighboring Slovenia.

A plurality of religions and cultures

The fact is that Trieste is a long way from Italy’s principal cities: over four hours from Milan and over eight hours from Rome on the very fastest trains. But it is worth the haul, for Trieste is truly something special. It is a city that lies at the crossroads of Europe, a place with a distinctly central European demeanor perched on the edge of the Adriatic. Trieste is cosmopolitan and challenging with its mix of Austro-Hungarian, Italian, Slovene and wider Slavic and Balkan influences.

Look for the soul of Trieste in the city’s eclectic range of churches and other places of worship. The synagogue was, when it was first opened, the largest anywhere in Europe. Throw in a Catholic cathedral or two, a Greek Orthodox and a Serbian Orthodox church, even an Evangelical Lutheran church, and you get a sense of the plurality of cultures that have influenced and still help shape Trieste.

A city full of history

This is a city with space, a place where visitors and locals can stretch out and relax, and one blessed with a fabulous hinterland. The old Venetian city of Pirano is just over the border in Slovenia – nowadays it is known as Piran. Miramare Castle on the outskirts of Trieste was once the stunning seaside home of Maxmillian of Habsburg, a place which Max was prevented from really enjoying by his premature death in central America while affecting to be Emperor of Mexico. Just north of the city is the superb Cividale valley, the very heart of Friulian culture (with some tasty Merlot wines, too).

Trieste travel tips

Go to Trieste and allow yourself to be surprised by the beguiling mix of accents and voices; Friulian blending into both Tergestino and Slovene. Allow a few days to strike out from the city, taking in Cividale, sedate Grado, edgy Gorizia, and beautiful Palmanova, as well as heading across the border into Istria.

The Friulia-Venezia-Guilia Card is a great value and covers entry into museums, galleries, and other attractions (including Miramare) on the Italian side of the border.

And pack a copy of Jan Morris’ Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere, which we rate as one of the very finest pieces of travel writing published in the last ten years.

Trieste accommodations

Trieste offers a number of affordable options for visitors. You’ll find many well-furnished rooms for under $100 per night. Search hotels for Trieste.

The post Trieste, Italy: A European microcosm appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

When I decided to head to Croatia, albeit during high season, I was surprised to find prices higher than I expected: A midrange hotel (as spare as spare can get) runs about €60 to €100, while an entrée at a restaurant will cost €10 to €25.

The good news? There are definitely ways to save, as I’ve discovered this week on the road, and along the Dalmatian Coast.

Here are four tips for keeping your budget in check:

1. Rent a car in Slovenia

One of the first questions I had about Croatia was whether I needed a car. This seemed like an obvious place to save some cash, and if there were adequate buses and trains between the main cities on the coast and ferries to all of the islands, would I really need wheels? The answer is most resoundingly yes, if only for the ability to delve further into the countryside and get away from the tourist hot spots at the ferry docks.

Cars are insanely expensive to rent in Croatia, however. My boyfriend and I decided instead to fly into Ljubljana, Slovenia, and rent a car there—the difference was literally hundreds of dollars over the course of a week. And Ljubljana is a mere hour and a half drive from Istria in northwestern Croatia, giving us a reason to stop by the region famed for its truffles and risottos on the way to the beach.

Which leads me to my next point…

2. Fly into a neighboring country, too.

If you can’t find a decently priced flight to Split, Dubrovnik, or Zadar, Croatia on the Dalmatian coast, try pricing the flights to Ljubljana, Slovenia or Trieste, Italy, from London–the gateway to Europe and home to a number of low-cost airlines.

This worked for us because we are living in London (the roundtrip flight to Ljubljana on Easyjet was $200 each), but the savings can also be big from the U.S., provided you’re willing to do the work to get to an Easyjet, Ryanair or Wizzair hub outside London (at Stansted, Luton or Gatwick airports). Wizzair has the cheapest flights of the three to Split, the most central town on the coast.

Alas, I didn’t know about these flights (or the airline, if I’m honest) until I was already here! Hence the detour to Ljubljana….

3. Avoid hotels at all costs.

I’m simply amazed by how much hotels cost in Croatia during the high season—any halfway-decent hotel will easily cost more than €150, and if you’re heading to resort islands like Hvar, better prepare to pay €250-€300!

A far cheaper alternative—and not really that much more uncomfortable—is to camp or stay in a private accommodation (i.e. a local’s spare bedroom).

Campgrounds are found all along the coast and they are shockingly clean, quiet, and very kid-friendly. (In fact, based on how many kids I heard chattering away in German on the beach, this seems to be the cheap family vacation for Germans and Austrians during the recession this year). Expect to pay about €25 to €30 per person to use the grounds, which include facilities like hot showers, toilets, and sinks.

The other affordable option is a private accommodation. Head for the local tourist offices, as they’ll have lists of residents who are willing to put tourists up for a night at a fraction of the cost of a hotel.

I had my first experience in a pension last night. My boyfriend and I disembarked from the ferry in Zadar at nearly 11 PM and wandered into the Aquarius Travel Agency half-dead, looking for a room. Ten minutes later, we were following a map across a footbridge to an early 1900’s mansion on the water. Our host for the night, a woman named Natalia, showed us to our room.

The room had a very comfortable double bed and loads of character (at least half a dozen religious portraits and crucifixes adorning the walls, along with Natalia’s wedding photo–I gather it was at least 60 years ago). She spoke to us at length in Italian and we nodded, pretending to understand. The cost, dear Cheapos? A mere €20 a night per person.

4. Find a cheap meal.

Actually, I’m still looking for one! Street food (i.e. pizza) is about the best option, though most restaurants have decent plates of tagliatelle and risotto topped with fresh squid and shrimp for around €8-€10.

One of the best values is Mondo, a little spot we found in the Istrian hilltop town of Motovun, thanks to a raving New York Times review. If you ever find yourself in this part of the world, make the effort to get to Mondo. For about $40 per person, we had one of our best travel meals in ages: an unbelievably fragrant truffle and eggplant risotto for me, squid stuffed with Istrian prosciutto and local cheese for him, as well as starters of a plate of prosciutto drizzled with olive oil and beef carpaccio with more truffles, and a bottle of a very drinkable Istrian white wine.

The post Wandering Cheapo Croatia: Four tips for budget travelers appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.