With a poor climate, the economic downturn and the rising cost of living, now may be the time to find a nice little European bolthole where you could ride out the storm. It’s true that in most other European countries your money goes further, the climate is better and the pace of living more relaxed. So whether it is for a holiday home, a retirement property or simply an investment – which European countries offer the most home for your money?

Avila, Spain by World Wide Gifts / License: Creative Commons

Most people, when thinking about moving abroad or investing in property think about France or Spain, but before you think about removals to France or removals to Spain, have you considered the other European countries which offer great value? For instance, Italy has seen prices fall by around 8 to 20% over the last few years and now it is possible to buy a lovely rural, stone built house set in a lovely village for around £150,000. Whilst a larger property, if you are looking to make a permanent move, will cost around £205,000 for a three bedroom hillside house with a barn and large garden in the lush hills of Lucca, Tuscany.

Turkey is also worth a look if you are looking for an affordable place to live or buy a holiday home. Istanbul has some great value apartments which could see you a healthy return for investment. Istanbul has a housing shortage estimated at around 250,000 units per year. This means that buying an apartment here would see no shortage of tenants if you are looking to invest in property as opposed to live there yourself. For instance, a one bedroom apartment in Bahcesehir, which is just 20 minutes from the city centre, will only set you back around £48,000 and makes a superb investment.

Girona, Spain by Europeana EU / License: Creative Commons

Spain has some great deals to be had too. No other European country has such a wide and varied landscape from beautiful beaches, to elegant cities and through to charming town and hidden villages. There are mountains, lush valleys and quiet hidden beaches which you could easily spend a lifetime exploring. With this in mind, it is no wonder that property sales are on the rise. The cost of living in Spain is generally cheaper than the UK and we all know the climate is much better too!

Some great value homes can now be had here such as a two bedroom home in Murcia, South East Spain could be yours for around £45,000. That’s not a lot of money for your home! Take a look on the internet at the range of properties available to buy, next decide on your budget and what you wish to gain from your property. You might be pleasantly surprised at just what you can afford in one of these bargain European destinations!

Written by Helen Mitchell, looking for the best way to move abroad.

The post Affordable Places To Live In Europe appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo by Matt Phillips

Poland

Poland is located in the eastern part of Europe. Because of this, the cost of everything is lower compared to the western European region. Which is why, in Poland you are likely to find the cheapest hostels in Europe. Krakow, which is one of the biggest cities in Poland, has hostels that you can rent at a dirt cheap 5 euros a night during the off-season winter months.

Germany

Germany’s capital Berlin has many hostels that offer accommodation for fewer than 5 euros a night. Bear in mind that these prices are for the off-peak season but are usually consistent throughout that period of the year. Other German cities have typically more expensive options. Hostels in Munich and Cologne usually do not lower their rentals less than 20 euros. That said, finding a hostel accommodation this cheap in the capital city of a major nation in the world itself is a big bonus for all and sundry.

Turkey

Istanbul, which gets the most tourist footfalls in the country, travelers can get hold of hostels that cost as low as 5-6 euros per night per person. There are also many hostels offering such attractive prices in Istanbul. Hostels closer to Ankara, which is the capital city, are pricier than those in Istanbul by around 2-3 euros on average.

Latvia

Yet another country that finds itself in this list because of its location in Europe’s eastern hemisphere, Latvia has numerous hostels that offer accommodation at highly competitive prices. The country’s capital Riga has numerous hostels charging as low as 6 euros per night for a person.

Hungary

Hungary has been attracting a great deal of tourists lately and it has a lot to do with the awesome combination of history, nature and modernity it offers. Budapest, which besides being the capital is also the most visited place on the Hungarian map, boasts of hostels that charge guests as low as 5-6 euros for a night’s accommodation. This price range is fairly consistent across the entire off-peak season in the country.

Serbia

Hostel accommodation prices in Serbia are quite similar to those in Hungary. The country’s capital Belgrade can fetch you hostels that charge around 5-6 euros per night per person. The only downside is that there are fewer cheap hostels in Belgrade. Also, the average price here hovers in the region of 12-13 euros a night, which means that the few cheap hostels do get filled up pretty soon. But hostels outside Belgrade also tend to fall short on normal hostelling facilities.

Estonia

Estonia’s capital city, Tallinn, has hostels that are consistently priced in the region of around 7-8 euros a night. However, if you intend to camp outside the capital city, you could then expect to be charged around 25 euros. The steep increase in price is mainly due to the fact that there are fewer hostels outside Tallinn, which directly translates to a less competitive market. Basing yourself in Tallinn is the best way to get hostels at the aforementioned prices.

Czech Republic

Any tour of Europe is incomplete without a visit to the CzechRepublic. The country is also located centrally and its popularity with tourists is only further enhanced with the cheap accommodation it offers. You can easily find hostels in Prague, the capital, at less than 8 euros a night. As in most other European nations, hostels in Czech cities are priced much lower than their out-of-city-area counterparts.

Russia

If you are willing to put up at a place other than Moscow, Russia has very low priced hostel accommodations on offer. For example, in St. Petersburg, you can find hostel accommodation for as low as 7 euros a night. Comparatively, the lowest in Moscow would not fall below 10 euros. Although the difference might be negligible to some, for a traveler on budget it could make a huge difference in terms of his overall savings.

So that was a list of countries where you can find some of the cheapest hostel accommodations across Europe.

Where to Find the Cheapest Hostels in Europe? - guest post by Steve Tasker, guest writer at Astoria City Hostels, Hostel in Budapest

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With the two countries Belgium and Spain, Spain is the most prominent country that features Flamenco dancing. In fact, there is a place in the country featuring different shows of it and it is Granada. This is a province in Spain with many clubs for flamenco dancing. If you would like to have idea about the places in the province that feature flamenco dancing, reading this up would be great.

Photo by Kathryn

Eshavira Club

The name of the club is just painted on plain white wall. It is actually an underground chamber with hazy vault. The place is the origin of some of the best flamenco dancers of the country itself. The pace is also a home for some great dancers and musicians. The shows in here are sometimes changeable.

Raiz y Duende at Sala Vimaambi

This is one of the best and lively flamenco dancing clubs. It actually offers great dancers and musicians uplifting the spirit of the crowd, making them fun to watch the dancers dancing their own dance. Aside from the great performers, this place also caters excellent food and cuisines.

Huerto Del Loro

This is not so much visited by tourist, since it is far from the city centre. The only thing is that, it is one of the most affordable Flamenco clubs in Granada. The domed theatre is grayish, but warmly lit yield having a simple lavender flamenco cover that serve as the backdrop. The place has regular artists who show flamenco dancing skills.

Peña Flamenca La Plateria

This is one of the oldest flamenco dancing clubs in the Spain. It was built in the year 1949. This is a place run and operated by flamenco enthusiasts having an objective of nurturing and supporting the craft instead of making money. The establishment is only open during Thursday nights. The performers for the show are thoroughly chosen from the best flamenco dancers of the city and other countries. The show in this place is serious and well rehearsed.

Upsetter

This is located in the city center that is why, there are some days that the place is too busy and gathered a number of tourists watching the show. The place has the best local performers of flamenco dancing. The best day to visit the country is during Monday nights, as it has local artists showing and performing.

These are only some of the places that offer flamenco dancing in Granada. There are still other places to visit in the place itself. If you like flamenco dancing, visiting Granada is a great way to be inspired more to continue the craft and perform it perfectly. Aside from flamenco dancing, Granada is also one of the places in Spain that offer great views, scenery and adventures.

The post Flamenco Dancing in Granada | Spain appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo by admin

Explore Alternative Accommodation Options

Hostels have become the go-to crash pad for millions of students and young travelers making their way through the streets of Europe, but there is no question many of these lodgings leave something to be desired. Instead of sleeping on a dirty pillow or sharing a room with a stranger, there are quite a few alternatives that remain less expensive than a hotel. Exploring these options could make the difference between the trip of a lifetime and a nightmare vacation.

Apartment rentals have become increasingly popular in recent years, allowing travelers to take up residency in a typical apartment wherever they might be staying. Most apartment rentals are offered through an agency that works directly with the landlord, and rates are incredibly affordable. This option is likely best explored when traveling with friends, as the cost can be split between several different people. In addition to being more comfortable than a hostel, an apartment will likely have a kitchen that can be utilized to make inexpensive meals.

Take a Look at Transportation

Ground transport is often one of the most important aspects of a vacation, allowing travelers to get around in the city they visit. Unfortunately, many tourists end up spending way too much money on tickets that could otherwise be less expensive. It pays to thoroughly research transportation options before departing, getting information about how different tickets work. Some European cities offer tourist tickets that include discounts to local museums and destinations, but they do not always offer the best bang for the buck.

Photo by admin

Engage with the Locals

Regardless of whether travelers speak the local language, engaging in conversation with the locals is often one of the best ways to learn about restaurants, cafes, and other local attractions. Guidebooks often include tourist traps or expensive dining options. Locals will not only share knowledge about more affordable options, but they can help open tourists’ eyes to an entirely different side of the city being visited. When it comes to exploring Europe, it’s easy to be tempted to spend a small fortune. Armed with these helpful tactics, travelers should find themselves more than able to stay on a tight budget, yet nevertheless experience a truly unforgettable journey. With all of that money saved, another trip to Europe might even be a possibility in the near future!

Sarah writes for Reserve Apartments, the serviced accommodation specialists who have hundreds of apartments throughout London, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Reserve Apartments can help you find fully serviced Glasgow, London or Edinburgh Holiday Apartments quickly and easily.

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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.

The post How to Holiday on a Budget appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by gaudiramone

Now I assume that you have noticed that Paris is a desired tourist destination for millions of tourists all over the world. The reason for this is the fact that the city has a lot to offer to everybody. It is great during any time of the year.

Now a few words about Halloween in Paris… well, first of all you need to start with finding the proper accommodation. Of course there are literally hundreds of hotels in Paris but the question you need to ask yourself is whether is worthy to spend a small fortune on accommodation rather than spend the same amount of money for fun. This is why I can offer you to rent a Paris apartment. I know it may sound silly but believe this is the best decision. Anyway you should know that they can be a little bit more expensive than Apartment in Berlin or even apartment in Rome but the investment is worthy. After finding the best you can afford you should go and take a walk on the city.

You will see many interesting things. Even some of the buildings are decorated. It is great because the city transforms into one amazing place and even if you are currently living in Paris you will have troubles recognizing the places you walk through daily.

Anyway like every major festival in a big city there are some troubles. For example crowds. So my advice to you is, if you don’t like crowds, to avoid places like downtown because they are pretty crammed up. Plus you might become a victim of pickpockets and believe me festivals like those are the perfect time for crime. Not that the police is not doing its job but you can imagine what it is to protect thousands of people dressed in different costumes.

As a whole Halloween in Paris is one great experience and if you have a chance you should certainly go and spend a few days there. The atmosphere is really great and I’m pretty sure that you will have a great time there. Enjoy your stay!

The post Paris at Halloween – unusual experience | France appeared first on Europe Explored.

In many European countries, discounts are offered on flights and public transport cards for travellers under 25 or 26, sometimes as a matter of course, other times if you buy a specific “young person’s” travel card, which entitles you to the lower rate. This can be a big help getting around, so check out the information on the countries you’d like to visit to find out more.

Photo by the leap.

Staying in youth hostels is a popular option for gap year travellers, as it is far cheaper than a hotel and allows you to meet other gap year students easily. These can be found in most major European cities.

If you venture out of the Euro zone on your gap year, make sure your bank card works abroad so you can withdraw money and use your debit card to avoid having to change between currencies all the time. You will probably need to notify your bank that you will be using the card in different countries too, as they tend to stop cards due to suspected fraud if not informed.

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