Going away for a week or two can be quite a stretch to your (already overstretched) budget and your priorities may change whilst trying to find something suitable. Whether you are looking for sun, sea and sand or tracking down an action adventure holiday overseas- everyone is out to find the very best when booking their summer break. Whilst budgeting isn’t usually fun, it has to be done, so here is a rough guide to the best ways to budget whilst you are on holiday.

Elche, Palm capital, Spain / Photo by admin

Determine how much you can afford to spend

Before you start to book anything, sit down and work out how much you can afford to spend. Try breaking this down into flights, accommodation and living costs whilst you are there. It may be cheaper to consider a self-catering apartment rather than a hotel if eating out is going to be expensive. However if you are going somewhere like Eastern Asia, dining out is cheap, cheap, cheap, so your budget will probably stretch a bit further than it would in the US or Europe.

Check out the free attractions

Most destinations will have a variety of free museums, galleries and other attractions to keep you amused during the day. Pick up a travel guide from your local book shop- these will usually tell you what is free and the ones that will blow your budget. Some European countries like Amsterdam or Berlin, have one day a week when all of their galleries etc are free, so be sure to check that out before you go. If you are lucky enough to be a student- remember to take your student cards as many museums and public transport are free to students and young people.

Check out last minute deals

If you don’t mind where you go, but just fancy a few days away from it all, there are plenty of cheap holidays available online, as part of last minute packages. Discounted rates are offered on hotels and flights to fill up spaces still left unsold. If you are willing to take a chance on a lesser-known city, or if you are lucky enough to have flexible working hours- leave it to the last minute and take a look online

Consider travelling at a different time of year

If you are looking to catch some rays whilst you are away, consider going a little later in the year when peak season has died down. Many places will still be relatively warm all the way through to October. Holidays in Turkey for example, will enjoy plenty of sunshine if you are willing to hold off for just a few more weeks. If you go during the summer, you will be faced with paying peak prices, for both your flights and your accommodation, so seriously think about where you want to go and if you can wait until later in the year.

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Lefkada, Greece / Fod Tzellos

Getting Away From It All

Going away to a villa has many benefits. Firstly, if you are taking a lot of people with you in your holiday party, you can generally get much better value for money. The cost of rooming a group of 8, consisting of 4 couples, into a hotel or apartments would be high in comparison to the cost of a villa, where you simply pay for the accommodation. There is also the added luxury of having your own space, no idiots larking around in the swimming pool and getting in the way while trying to relax, and importantly, no shortage of sunbeds because everyone put their towels on them when they got in from clubbing at 3am!

So where are the best destinations in Europe for luxury villas?

Lefkada, Greece

Sitting just off the Greek mainland on the western side, Lefkada has in recent years grown as a popular holiday destination, both the whole island and the town at the northern tip of the island. There are several idyllic locations all along the Lefkada coast, with some of the best views coming from the smaller island to the south east of Lefkada itself, where great destinations can be found in Meganisi and Vathy. Regular ferry services run from Lefkada itself to the smaller island, making it an ideal location to escape both your regular life and the tourists.

Kefalonia, Greece

Just to the south of Lefkada is the island of Kefalonia. For tourists looking to head towards Greece, this is another great destination with high quality, luxury villas situated all along this islands beautiful coastline.

Both Lefkada and Kefalonia have high quality golf courses, so should that be a hobby of yours it’s easy to fit in a few rounds in the warm sunshine, a far cry from the wind and rainswept courses in the UK! In addition to this, both of these idyllic islands can be discovered with two or three days of car hire, giving you the opportunity to spend some time away from your luxury villa and explore the historical surroundings.

Touristorama helps you plan your next vacation in Greece or the Greek Islands. Lefkada, Greece is said to be the ideal location to escape both your regular life and the tourists.

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Many of the small villages in the Liptov region date back to the 12th and 13th centuries. However, as a result of the construction of the important dam of Liptovská Mara which was needed in order to supply power to the growing demands of Slovakia, much of the region was flooded. In order to preserve as much of the history and culture of the region, many of the original buildings in the area were dismantled piece by piece and relocated to the Museum of Liptov Village.

Museum of Liptov Village from outside by liptovskemuzeum.sk

It was back in 1991 when the Museum of Liptov Village first opened its doors to the public. Anyone who chooses to visit the area will find a number of buildings which date back to the 12th, 13th and even 17th centuries. One of the biggest attractions within the museum is a Romanesque church that was originally built back in the 12th-century and expanded over the next four centuries. There is also an old village school complete with a teacher’s apartment which can be found within the museum complex.

One of the most interesting aspects about the Museum of Liptov Village is that it also offers a training centre in order to teach visitors more about the history of the arts and crafts that were common to the Liptov region. Here, a visitor can learn how to weave, bobbin lace, metal work as well as leather-working. Furthermore, the artesian’s from the Liptov region are also known for their wicker and basket work as well.

Museum of Liptov Village – inside the house by liptovskemuzeum.sk

There are also a number of regular events that occur within the Museum of Liptov Village throughout the whole year. Any visitor to the Museum of Liptov Village will also note that there is a zoo on the premises which is dedicated to the farm and poultry life, which was a crucial part of those living within the Liptov region. For those who like horses, and would like to go riding, there is also a horse breeding farm which is situated within the museum as well.

All in all, the Museum of Liptov Village is one of the most unique museums not just in Slovakia, but also in all Europe. As a result, every year thousands of people make their way to the Museum of Liptov Village from all over Slovakia, Europe as well as the world.

Museum is located in Pribylina village and is open all year round. The basic admission is €3. For more information visit official site of Museum of Liptov Village (in Slovak only).

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