Dubrovnik among Top Ten Affordable European Cities

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SmarterTravel.com, a comprehensive online travel resource, released a report that offers insight into the next generation of “must-visit” cities across the pond.

For the past several years, Europe, particularly London, Paris and Rome, has become less and less affordable for travelers, while the “undiscovered” cities, like Prague and Budapest, are becoming cluttered with tourists.

This report, by SmarterTravel reporter RaeJean Stokes, reveals the new European hot spots and cheap destinations across the continent.

“Over the past ten years, traveling to Europe became more and more popular and, at the same time, more and more expensive,” said RaeJean Stokes, reporter, SmarterTravel.com. “This list offers a variety of different cities across the continent that are new and exciting to American travelers and are still an affordable vacation.”

SmarterTravel’s report, “Ten Under-priced and On-the-rise European Cities” consists of cities the site has designated as a “must-visit,” including:

1. Tallinn, Estonia. One of the few remaining fully walled and intact cities in Europe, Tallin is not quite a dirt-cheap destination, but is more affordable than other European cities.
2. Krakow, Poland. Sharing many similarities with Prague, including lavish churches, outdoor cafes and hearty food, Krakow is inexpensive and relatively undiscovered by tourists.
3. Dubrovnik, Croatia. A former hotspot for vacationing Europeans in the ’80s, Dubrovnik is beginning to shine again after the wars that tore apart the Balkans in the ’90s and still remains, as George Bernard Shaw put it, ‘heaven on earth.’
4. Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is one of the most dynamic cities in the Mediterranean, a mix of Eastern and Western civilizations. Getting to the city is easy, as many flights depart from New York and other major American cities each day.
5. Ljubljana, Slovenia. Legend says the city was founded by Jason and the Argonauts. Although Slovenia is a new member of the European Union, prices in the city are not yet out of reach for tourists.
6. Kyiv, Ukraine. The gold-domed city of Kyiv (Kiev in Russian) is still reeling from the 2004 Orange Revolution, but Kyivans have a can-do attitude, and it’s starting to show in the local tourist industry.
7. Bruges, Belgium. As ancient as it is beautiful, Bruges is a heaven for foodies. And, the town center teems with monuments, churches, gardens and statues, and the air is scented with waffles, chocolates and beer.
8. Kosice, Slovakia. Almost completely undiscovered by Americans, Kosice is an unassuming town in an unassuming country, with affordable accommodations and very inexpensive quality three-course meals.
9. Sarajevo, Bosnia. Sarajevo is a city to be approached with care and respect; however, it has much to offer for open-minded tourists that love an adventure.
10. Gdansk, Poland. Situated on the Baltic Sea, Gdansk is known for its clean and well-maintained beaches. Accommodations are easy to find, and there is a varied dining scene with options for all budgets.

“Even with all the usual, popular spots, Europe still offers hidden gems that are reasonably priced, without lots of tourists,” said Anne Banas, executive editor, SmarterTravel.com. “These cities offer history and culture, as well as a vacation that fits into a traveler’s budget.”

SmarterTravel’s full report is available at http://www.smartertravel.com/advice/advfeatures/advice.php?id=332877

About SmarterTravel.com : SmarterTravel.com is the most comprehensive travel resource site available offering consumers up-to-date expert advice and information for their every travel need. Created by an unbiased team of dedicated journalists, the site’s goal is to help travelers better manage every aspect of their travel experience by making researched, informed decisions. Unlike other online travel resources, SmarterTravel.com brings together all the best content in one place, giving consumers the tools they need to ensure a great travel experience.