Cheapest Countries in Western Europe for Travel
The days of backpacking all over Western Europe at bargain rates are over. In fact, Western Europe is arguably the most expensive region on the world travel circuit. But some of the 22 countries in this survey are much cheaper than others. It turns out there are bargains to be had after all; you just have to get (way) off the beaten path.
This post follows up in the Cheapest Country series, which has so far included Cheapest Countries in Latin America and Cheapest Countries in Asia.
Here’s a wrap-up of the winners and why you should go:
Andorra: The Cheapest Country in Western Europe?
A tiny country wedged between France and Spain, Andorra offers great mountain panoramas and even better skiing. Better brush up on your Catalan.
#2. Portugal
Attractive beaches, beautiful country vistas, a rich architecture and history. Sound good? Relatively modest prices are the icing on the cake.
#3. Finland
Arguably more a part of Northern than Western Europe, Finland offers oodles of coastline, expansive and untouched wilderness areas for trekking, and a fine city brimming with culture: Helsinki.
Linda
Wow, I’m surprised Finland came out cheap, judging by the price of beer there! Malta will probably become a bit more expensive now after joining the euro.
A good way to work out a budget for travel in Europe is to work out how much it costs for one night’s accommodation, then double that price for your daily budget. If you’re travelling around a lot, triple it. There’s a podcast on this idea at http://www.indietravelpodcast.com/podcast/021-a-simple-budget-idea/.
Also, we’ve got a competition going at the moment too - you can win a book from Lonely Planet, which is pretty cool. Have a look at http://www.indietravelpodcast.com for the details.
Jul 31st, 2008 at 5:51 am