Europe String

Have you ever wanted to cycle through France? How about hike in Austria? REI offers award winning tours through these areas, but at a steep cost—over $3000 pp for most 8-10 day trips. But do you really need a tour guide?
Here’s a cheaper alternative…
Use their trip itinerary to plan your trip, but travel independently. You can still see the same sites, but travel for much less. Below is an example– I went through the entire trip and priced it. Feel free to steal this trip and modify it to your need or check …read more

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Yesterday we looked into the budget skiing destinations of Slovenia and Slovakia. Today we’ll check out the conditions in Bulgaria and Austria.
Bulgaira’s government is putting some money into its ski resorts in the hopes of attracting more tourists. Right now, beginners and less advanced skiers will probably find the area more to their liking. There are three resorts: Borovets, Pamporovo and Bansko with Borovets being the largest. There are good ski schools and the lifts are modern, so this might be a good location if you are looking to try your feet at skiing, or have a large group …read more

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Looking to strap on the skis and hit the slopes for your winter holiday? Skiing the Alps is probably a pinnacle moment for most skiers, but there are ski-able mountains across the continent, and some of these destinations are more affordable and less crowded. Check them out – snow may or may not be included.
The Tatras in eastern Slovakia are an excellent example of undiscovered slopes with good amenities. Snow can usually be found as early as November, and the slopes cater to all skill levels. Beginners and intermediate skiers should hit the High Tatras, while those looking to …read more

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A paraglider in the Austrian Alps.
See more Photo Friday entries here.
Photo source: personal collection.

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Near Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, in the Bernese Oberland, Trummelbach Falls are a series of gorgeous waterfalls inside the Alps. The water comes from the melting glaciers above. Definitely worth a visit.

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Home of the famous Crap Bar and Crap Lift.

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I hear that the ski season is off to a great start in the Alps. After last year’s ridiculous lack of snow, this is fabulous news. I can’t wait to get back to Germany and dig my skis out of storage!
Oh, and if you happen to be closer to the British Isles than the Alps, you’re still in luck… a brand new indoor ski slope just opened in Manchester. Sounds interesting.

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You can get to most tourist destinations by foot. The city is flat and relatively small. Walking from one tourist site to another would be good for your health and your wallet. Plus, you’ll really see everything in detail.
There’s a wide range of budget hostels which would fit any Budget Traveler’s budget. As far as I can remember, the Flying Pig is the most famous of these budget hostels. For the cheapest option, look for a dorm room (obviously, you need to share your room with other travelers) in a youth hostel.
Several budget airlines …read more

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Visiting Dubrovnik (Croatia for the unaware) is not complete without taking an island cruise to one or more of the chain of the Elaphite Islands. Cruises to the three inhabited islands — Koločep, Šipan and Lopud — can be found all over. Most of the advertised cruises, though, are expensive.
Steps to tour the islands for less money:

Buy a Guide (or, download and print one before you leave your home)
Take the inexpensive Jadrolinija ferry. It runs four times a day (only 2x on Sundays). It leaves from Gruz, which is only a few minutes away by …read more

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What if you got lucky in Verona and would want to spend a romantic evening out… where can you take her without having to spend a lot?
Here’s one suggestion of where you can go, with different options on what you can do:
Take her to Arena di Verona, a Roman amphitheatre where they have opera performances.
If you’re both avid opera fans, I suggest that you buy tickets for unreserved seats on the stone steps. They’re a lot cheaper than the padded chairs below.
If the opera performance will just be part of the background to lend ambiance to your romantic evening, …read more

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