Hidden Destinations Allow Travel On Budget

If you dream of traveling to Rome, Paris and Athens but can't justify spending the cash, consider Praiano, Megeve and Ios instead.

The U.S. dollar has lost 4.8 percent against the Euro this year, according to Bloomberg.com. That made European countries that use the unified currency pretty pricey for Americans.

Getting off the beaten path can save you hundreds of dollars in a single trip and make you the first on your block to brag about finding one of the world's best-kept secrets.

Bulgaria Combines Beaches, Mountains

I am married to a native Bulgarian, and last month I completed my fifth trip in 12 years to the former Communist-bloc nation. The progress Bulgaria has made out of Communism in just over a decade is staggering, and it is coming into its own as a destination for Western travelers. More and more service people speak English, and menus in Sofia and in beach cities are usually translated.

On those menus, travelers will find fresh, simply prepared food for cheap. Most restaurants, especially outside of Sofia, feature variations on Bulgaria's national cuisine. That includes the shopska salad of cucumbers, tomatoes and feta cheese; pork sausages called kufteta and kebapcheta; and fresh grilled fish, such as local mackerel, in beach towns. In Sozopol -- a gorgeous old-world resort on the Black Sea -- we ate at one of the nicest restaurants in town and paid less than $40 for appetizers, entrees, dessert, wine and the local liquor called rakia for two.

A hotel room in Sozopol is about $40 per night, and you can walk or take a $2 cab to the beach. The Black Sea is warm and clear with white-sand beaches.

Bulgaria is traversed by both the Balkan and Rhodope mountains -- great for hiking and skiing -- and the countryside is full of monasteries that made the country a religious-tourism destination even during Communism.

There are also Thracian ruins scattered throughout the country that may put you in mind of more expensive trips to Troy or the Acropolis in Greece. The Thracians were a third millennium B.C. culture that participated in the Trojan War and collected voluminous amounts of gold and silver, which are on display at Bulgaria's museums.

"Istanbul and Sofia are melting pots waiting to sizzle visitors with fairy-tale villages and deliciously inexpensive food," according to the August 2007 Airtreks newsletter.

Eastern Europe Offers Beauty, History

John Campbell, of Omaha, did a month-long study abroad program in Lithuania. From there, he also traveled to Poland and Estonia.

"Eastern Europe easily offers the same charm as the rest of Europe at a fraction of the cost," said Campbell, who spent part of his youth living in Germany.

Among Campbell's favorite Eastern European attractions are Lithuania's Hill of Crosses and the entire region's Baltic Coast.

"Spend time swimming or searching for amber, which can be found on the beach anytime the tides go down," Campbell said.

Ask travel agents to name off some of Europe's jewels and you'll hear Budapest, Hungary; Dubrovnik, Croatia; and Prague, Czech Republic.

"You're going to find countries that look more like they did 50 years ago," said AAA's Mike Pina. "You're going to get more of an authentic feel. Some say that some of these European nations are not as Americanized -- there's not a Starbucks on every corner."

Find Western Europe's Lower-Cost Gems

If you have to see Western Europe, keep a budget by considering lesser-known cities.

"Praiano, Italy, is on the famed Amalfi Coast, but has more in the way of budget lodging options," said Genevieve Brown, a senior editor for Travelocity.com.

Brown also likes Megeve, France, instead of Paris, and suggests a winter trip for U.S. skiers who dream of shushing in the Alps.

Kaylene Nienhueser, the general manager of Omaha's AurTravel, said Ios, Greece, delivers the beauty and fun of the Greek islands for those on a budget. It is a 3½-hour high-speed ferry ride from the Port of Pireaus to Ios.

There's also a way to be in Europe, but pay in dollars.

"We're seeing a lot more people taking cruises in the Mediterranean," Pina said. "You pay in dollars for a European cruise, then you get there and your food, air and lodging are covered and you really only need to be concerned about the land tours."

Skip Europe; Find Asian, Caribbean, South American Bargains

Thailand was hit hard by a tsunami, but has raced back to business to serve tourists. Brown said Phuket can be pricey, but Koh Samui, "boasts beautiful beaches, wonderful little Thai restaurants and an exchange rate that's very favorable to Americans."

Erin Krause, a travel expert with Expedia.com said Vietnam and Laos are other good choices in Asia. Airtreks likes Kuala Lumpur.

"These places will be a good deal, regardless of where we are with our currency," Krause said, adding, "They're hungry for tourists."

In the Caribbean, head for Dominica or Trinidad and Tobago.

"Dominica is a great option for ecotourists, with its rainforest, hot springs, whale-watching and diving," Brown said. "Airfare to Dominica was down over 12 percent from 2006, according to our fall data."

In South America, Americans who love Europe's architecture and France's wine will find an amazing combination of culture and cuisine in Argentina. Ever since the country's financial crisis in 2002, Argentina has been a cheap trip. Known for its grass-fed beef and as an emerging winemaking nation, tourists on a quest to eat their way around the world should start here, the travel experts said.

"Great wine and fantastic beef for $50 per couple in a beautiful, historic place," Krause said.

Chile's Patagonia area is also popular and allows ski fanatics the best powder in July, since it is in the Southern Hemisphere.

One of Nienhueser's favorite trips is Venezuela's Margarita Island, which boasts 320 days of sun per year, hostels as cheap as $13.50 a night and beers priced at less than $1.

"Daytime activities include scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, horseback riding and a lot of markets where you can get cheap local rum and souvenirs. In the evenings, there are plenty of bars and discos," Nienhueser said.