Visit Europe This Summer, Euro-Free; With the Dollar Gaining on the Euro, Travelocity Offers Eastern European Alternatives
June 13 2005 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
Once shrouded behind the elusive Iron Curtain, Eastern Europe is
now emerging as a popular and cost-effective alternative to the
Western European mainstays, such as the United Kingdom, France,
Italy and Germany. The weakening Euro likely means more savings for
Americans on travel extras, dining and hotel accommodations, but
Travelocity's expert cautions that consumers will still need to
shop smart in order to truly keep costs down. With the European
Travel Commission predicting an estimated 12.7 million American
tourists this year, approaching pre-Sept. 11 levels, travel pro Amy
Ziff has some helpful destination pointers to steer travelers in
the right direction for a bargain. From beautiful Mediterranean
beaches to urban architecture untouched by the Second World War,
Eastern Europe offers all the old-world charm of Western Europe
without the crowds and the high cost. Amy Ziff, editor-at-large for
Travelocity, says this is a great time to visit Eastern Europe.
"While countries such as Estonia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic
have joined the European Union, their currencies have not fully
converted to the Euro," said Ziff. "Armed with a stronger American
dollar, U.S. travelers can truly take advantage of everything these
countries have to offer, whether buying in the Euro or not." Using
ATMs, eating at cafes over fancy restaurants, and paying for hotels
in US dollars in advance also are good ways to save while abroad.
So be it a side trip while visiting Western Europe or a Euro-free
getaway, Ziff recommends the following countries as a way of
experiencing the best of post-communism Eastern Europe: Estonia
This pint-size nation is perhaps better known for its endearing
quirks than its stunning beauty, but that's all about to change.
Now on savvy travelers' radars, the former Soviet country of
Estonia is becoming a more popular alternative. Estonia has always
stood out as a Nordic-influenced gem with tiled rooftops, painted
fishing boats, and coastal cliffs. Latvia Latvia is one of those
beguiling places that seem to have been forgotten by time. This
newly independent nation is keen on reinvigoration, so now's the
time to explore its Brothers Grimm-like castles, river valleys, and
"old-Europe" ways. Riga, Latvia's picturesque capital, is quickly
regaining the nickname it was affectionately given at the end of
the 19th century: the Paris of the Baltics. Slovenia While many of
its neighbors were embroiled in warfare, Slovenia managed a
somewhat more peacefully adopted independence, allowing it to
become one of the most prosperous nations in Eastern Europe in the
last 10 years. Its cities bear the mark of the Venetian Republic,
its mountains evoke the Bavarian Alps, and almost half of this tiny
country is covered in dense forests. Regarded as one of Europe's
best-kept secrets, the capital city of Ljubljana (pronounced
"lyoob-lyah-na") remains an untapped wonderland. Croatia Though
savvy travelers have been flocking to Croatia as an affordable
alternative to pricier Mediterranean countries for the past few
years, this coastal nation is far from overrun with discotheques
and sunning beachgoers. Still a considerable savings when compared
with Greece or Italy, Croatia offers infinite yachting
possibilities along its Adriatic coast, where some of Europe's most
complete Roman ruins and fairytale medieval cities are located. The
capital city of Zagreb is visually stunning, and Dubrovnik offers
visitors a medieval storybook experience in its old town of Stari
Grad. Czech Republic Like many of its neighbors, the Czech Republic
offers curious travelers a gamut of experiences--from Gothic,
Renaissance, and Baroque architecture, to timeless villages,
winding rivers, and a famous local beverage (in this case,
Pilsner). Though not the bargain it was a few years ago (and
certainly not when compared with other Eastern European capitals),
the capital of Prague can still be an affordable place to travel
this summer. Prague's labyrinth of medieval buildings, cobblestone
streets, romantic passages, and ancient churches were left largely
untouched by WWII and make for mesmerizing walks (free!). Hungary
Despite its recent popularity and increase in visitors, Hungary
remains ones of the best bargains in Europe. Its fast-paced
adoption of Western food, trends, and luxuries in the capital city
of Budapest is reason enough to get there soon--though the melding
of these concepts with the traditions and beauty of this country
serve as an interesting study in post-Communist Europe. Hot Hotel
Deals in Eastern Europe(a) -- Riga, Latvia: The Victoria Hotel from
$70 per night -- Zagreb, Croatia: The Westin Zagreb from $153 per
night -- Prague, Czech Republic: Corinthia Panorama Hotel from $119
per night -- Budapest, Hungary: Gold Hotel Panzio from $77 per
night (a) Please note that these sample prices were gathered on
06/09/05 for travel from 07/21/05 to 07/24/05. Travelocity's
booking engine constantly updates prices and availability. Please
check pricing and availability for your travel dates and
destination at www.travelocity.com/hotels. About Travelocity
Travelocity's industry-leading technology and straight-talking,
honest information help travelers take more rewarding and
affordable trips. With millions of registered users and booking
$4.9 billion of travel in 2004, Travelocity(R) negotiates thousands
of low-priced deals with the world's most reputable travel
providers - top airlines, hotels, car rental companies, cruise
lines, and other destination attractions and services.
Additionally, Travelocity offers deeply-discounted rates for
weekend getaways and dynamic packages through its Last Minute Deals
and TotalTrip(SM) shopping engines, and provides customer service
support over the phone 24 hours a day. Based in Southlake, Texas,
Travelocity also operates Travelocity Business(SM) for corporate
customers, powers international travel Web sites in eight
languages, and has been recognized for its consumer advocacy and
global leadership in online travel. More information about
Travelocity is available at www.travelocity.com. Travelocity is
owned by Sabre Holdings Corporation (NYSE:TSG), a world leader in
travel commerce. More information about Sabre Holdings is available
at www.sabre-holdings.com.
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