With a weak pound and a paralysingly strong euro, the cost of a traditional summer holiday has shot up considerably. However, it’s perfectly possible to go away for a city break, country jaunt or beach holiday without breaking the bank. The secret is to pick European countries with currencies that have suffered just as badly – or worse – than the pound has. And we’ve found the ideal candidates…
Holidays outside the euro zone | Poland
City Break – Krakow
From the castle and cathedral on top of Wawel Hill, to Schindler’s List tours and the largest medieval town square in Europe, Krakow is absolutely jam-packed with things to see and do. The old town is lovely – particularly if you shell out a few zloty and travel through it in a horse-drawn carriage – while it’s also possible to go on a rather odd tour in the nearby Wieliczka Salt Mine.
Country Holiday – The Slowinski National Park
In the north-west of Poland, near Gdansk, the Slowinski National Park is a great spot in which to sample various worlds. It’s most famous for its shifting dunes – a desert landscape that moves steadily inland each year as more sand is blown in from the beaches of the Baltic Sea. There are also lakes full of birds, while the seaside resort town of Leba provides the beach buzz.
Holidays outside the euro zone | Hungary
City Break – Budapest
Budapest has long been one of Europe’s greatest city breaks, and with the Hungarian forint well and truly down the toilet, there’s never been a better time to go. It is famed for its architecture and cultural scene, although a stroll along the Danube or a dip in the city’s thermal baths are equally good options.
Of course, with the exchange rate favourable, a night or two out on the tiles is a distinct possibility as well…
Beach Holiday – Lake Balaton
OK, it’s not on the seaside, but the lakeside beaches do the job just as well. Some of Europe’s best value resort accommodation can be found surrounding Balaton, and there’s a good family vibe throughout. Expect lots of beachside playgrounds, boats to take out and plenty of pretty churches and palaces in the surrounding towns.
Holidays outside the euro zone | Turkey
City Break – Istanbul
Easily one of the world’s greatest cities, Istanbul spans two continents and has some of the most beautiful buildings on the planet – particularly the Hagia Sophia. But it’s also one of those cities that isn’t necessarily about sight-seeing – it’s a great place to soak up the atmosphere, stroll through markets and watch chaos unfold in front of you.
Beach Holiday – Dalaman
Dalaman is the major gateway to the Mediterranean beach resorts of south-west Turkey, including Marmaris. At the moment, there are bargains galore to be had in the region as tour operators desperately try to fill hotels. So for a cheap and cheerful sunshine break, this is probably the best stretch of coastline in Europe – especially with the Turkish lira not being exactly crash hot.
Holidays outside the euro zone | Iceland
City Break – Reykjavik
Once Europe’s most expensive city, Reykjavik is now a lot more palatable. It’s an action-packed place too, where you go on a whale or dolphin watching cruise, bathe in thermally-heated outdoor swimming pools or learn about Vikings in the Saga museum. The whole city turns into a giant pub crawl at weekends too – it’d be rude to miss out.
Country Holiday – Skaftafell National Park
Europe’s biggest National Park is truly awesome. It’s packed with massive, thundering waterfalls, and it’s possible to go on tours through huge craters filled with lava. It’s a major destination for walkers, and destinations include the Morsadalur lagoon as well as breathtaking glaciers. The best base is the small settlement of Skaftafell.
Holidays outside the euro zone | Ukraine
City Break – Kiev
Kiev would have to be Eastern Europe’s greatest secret. It’s a stunning city, full of golden domes, world heritage sites and parklands. And at the moment, it’s possible to go there without having to wade through herds of other tourists – even though the likes of Wizzair and BMI have recently started offering cheap flights.
Beach break – Odessa
Sat on the Black Sea, Odessa combines the best of both worlds. There’s a series of beaches along the coastline, which are all about the people-watching. Some can only be reached via unique chairlifts. But there’s also a pretty throbbing city to explore – Odessa is something of an east-meets-west cultural hotbed.
This article was originally written for AOL UK.
Copyright David Whitley
