If you want the warm waters and searing hot sun of the Mediterranean without the crowds or the high prices you’ve been growing tired of over the years, the Black Sea might be the alternative you’ve been waiting for.

Black sea destinations offer reliable sunshine, hot temperatures, safe beaches, good bathing and healthy mix of both the vibrant and relaxed areas. What more could you want on holiday? We can’t think of anything either. So in that case – check out our top destinations for a holiday by the Black Sea…

Sozopol, Burgas, Bulgaria by Jeroen Kransen

Bulgaria

There are 354 kilometres of coastline on the Bulgarian coast, and lots of it is ideal for a summer holiday. The coastline of the modern country is all on the Black Sea. A country that was once shrouded in mystery behind the so-called ‘iron curtain’, it has fast become a holiday favourite in recent years.

For a little beachside action in Bulgaria, head to Saints Constantine and Helena – this resort town on the Black Sea coast has a number of luxury hotels to choose from as well as villa communities. While it’s close to downtown Varna – roughly only 10km away – in Saints Constantine and Helena the main attraction in sun and sand, so if you’re looking for a more varied holiday you might want to consider staying closer to the city.

Romania

Head to Romania for 72 km of uninterrupted golden sands along the Black Sea coast. With such idyllic conditions it’s no surprise destinations like Constana boast a nice range of resorts for both single travellers and families. By the beachside you can find watersports, modern hotels and a busy nightlife, while further inland, attractions like castles and vineyards offer something a little more out of the ordinary. Just remember to bring your sun cream; temperatures can soar during the peak summer months.

While you are in Romania make sure to try ‘țuică’ – this is drink is a local speciality and is very distinctive. The best way to describe it is as kind of plum brandy. It is the traditional accompaniment to Romanian food, and is sometimes warmed up in cold weather.

Costinesti beach, Romania by Brian Lowe

Russia

Beach holidays might not spring to mind when you think of Russia, but even the world’s largest country has its own beachside destination along the Black Sea. You might have even have heard of it – Sochi. It’s the destination of the 2014 Winter Olympics, and as a result, has been catching the attention of travellers around the world. Check yourself into a Sochi resort  and see for yourself what this destination has to offer; tucked away at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains against the lapping waves of the Black Sea. It’s a beach holiday with a view, so sit back and watch the town get ready for one of the world’s biggest sporting events.

Where would you spend your Black Sea holiday?

Kieran Orlov has not let becoming a parent of twins get in the way of his travel bug.

The post A Holiday By The Black Sea appeared first on Europe Explored.

Colosseum, Rome, Italy / Photo by Claire for Europe Explored

Travelling is always fun. Even if you are visiting Europe with respect to any job related purpose you can take your family members along with you to enjoy the rest of the evening. For a group travel to Europe you have to select the travelling agency wisely. Make sure that you understand all the packages that are on offer. Just go through them in detail. This article focuses on some tips on small group travel to Europe. Read along to understand more.

Eurail pass

For the purpose of travelling or sightseeing in Europe you can get the help of a guide or you can plan it by yourself. It is always better to purchase a eurail pass for travelling. A eurail pass would allow you to travel throughout the European countries. A eurial global pass is often used for travelling in more than three or four European countries. If you want to travel between two countries to and from unlimitedly, then you can apply for a eurail select pass. If your group consists of only three or four members, then you can take “rail and drive” passes. These passes enable you for some discounts while boarding a train or driving a car.

Walking and hiking tours

For enjoying to the highest level you can resort to walking or hiking tours. These tours are normally provided with the help of a guide. For example you can travel to the French Riviera to take a leisure walk from Nice to Monte Carlo. If you are travelling to Italy then hiking is always a good option. In Italy there are many challenging trails that would give you the pleasure of hiking. There are such trails throughout Italy. For instance, you can visit Montepulciano which is regarded as a worth hiking one.

A way to Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy by Toprural

Cycling and bike tours

If you are travelling in a small group you can explore Europe by cycling or biking. Before selecting such tours make it a point to learn about the bike trail signs or else you would find the trails challenging.  Such tours are largely available between the months May and October. Between these months you have a variety of guided tours to select from. If you travel to Germany then you can take a leisure bike or cycle tour through Munich which is a tour worth taking. You can get a guide for such travels, a guide can help you in selecting the perfect cycle or biking tour package.

If you travel to Europe then it is always better if you visit more than three countries. Select the affordable package and make the trip memorable.

Author: Carlita Morandi loves to travel in Europe. She is regular contributor at the trip blog. For Cheap tickets visit CheapOair.co.uk.

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Kuršių Nerija National Park, Lithuania by fintlandia

Kuršių Nerija National Park has now become a popular tourist site and holiday resort, which is also one of the largest deposits of amber in the world.

Kuršių Nerija National Park contains of a range of pine forests and sand dunes, through which is sometimes referred to as the Baltic Sahara. The unique character of the landscape brought Curonian Spit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The larger part of the Curonian Spit in Lithuania is a part of Kuršių Nerija National Park covering an area of 265 km2 (98km2 are covered by land, and 167km2 by water). The park has been established in 1991 but the first steps to protect this area were undertaken already in 1960, when Curonian Spit became a Nature Reserve.

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