Travel Destinations to Stretch Your Pennies
Rovinj, Croatia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Going on holiday is a great way to spend some time with friends, partners, and family. Saving up to spend at a time when you can enjoy your time off work is an absolute necessity. Depending on where you are coming from and how strong your currency is, there are some really good locations which are not only beautiful but also fantastic value for money. Here is my shortlist of destinations where you can make your holiday spends go the distance.
Rovinj, Croatia
I visited Rovinj in the September of 2013 and attended a festival called ‘Unknown’ which was making its debut in Croatia. Rovinj is glorious and I can imagine it is extremely busy in the peak season months of July and August with a diverse range of tourists, from families to couples and even young adults looking to have a good time.
It sits right on the coast of Croatia and the closest major airports are Pula which is about an hour south, and Trieste in Italy which is a little over a two hour drive by car. It has a very rustic feel to the town, lots of cobbled streets and restaurants and shops hidden in alleys. The weather was remarkably good for September minus one night of thunderstorms and in July and August you will experience temperatures of well over 30C and minimal chances of rain. Croatia could be moving into the Euro in the next couple of years, which will likely make it a more expensive place to visit.
At the time of my visit it was around 8.60 Kuna to the Pound. Eating out and drinking out was really cheap in this regard. You could get nice steaks, mixed grills, fresh seafood, pizzas and cheap beers and cocktails all for a fraction of the price you would play in England, the USA and other slightly expensive European destinations. There are also a number of really nice 4 and 5 star hotels near the town. I stayed in Lone Hotel and despite its extravagance it was excellent value. There are also nice self catering apartments that run up all the way into the hills if you are looking for that splendid morning/evening view.
Sunny Beach, Bulgaria
Bulgaria (Photo credit: Drumsara)
I loved Bulgaria and many others who I have spoke to expressed similar feelings of appreciation, perfect for a cheap skiing holiday or a spot of sunbathing in the sunshine. Bulgaria’s currency the Lev isn’t very strong in comparison to currencies such as the Euro, Sterling and even the Dollar.
If you’re looking for a holiday in the sunshine then Sunny Beach (no pun intended) has fast become one of the most popular destinations for a holiday in Bulgaria and it is often frequented by many people from Germany and Scandinavia. Many people like to take their families there but there is plenty of activities and nightlife for young adults to go and sink their teeth into.
There area wealth of bars, and even some super-clubs which have attracted some of the biggest DJ names known around. A pint of domestic beer will probably cost just under a £1 in your standard bar and even the more expensive establishments won’t push the price up much further than this.
The food on offer again follows the suit of being cheap and good value, especially if you are into your mixed grills and meats. Khan’s tent serves great food and offers wonderful views—it also presents live entertainment in the evening. If you want to watch the football and have some fun in a lively atmosphere with a range of cuisines available then you should visit the Fat Cat which resides opposite Hotel Glarus.
Dominican Republic
The main cost associated with going to the Dominican Republic will be flights and specifically where you are travelling from. Those visitors from America may find that they can get quite a good deal on flights, while people travelling from Europe may want to book in advance or keep their eye out on price comparison sites for the best value flight. The money saving really comes into play when you book an all-inclusive resort.
You have to accept eating and drinking in the hotel most day/nights though to get the true value, and perhaps pick a couple restaurants to eat at in the evening just to surround yourself with some unfamiliar surroundings. There is a wealth of options when it comes to hotels and sites such as Groupon, Travel Zoo and traditional travel agencies may have pre-arranged deals which are worth taking advantage.
It’s a great place to take a partner or small family away to as the hotels often have pools for the kids and you’re also surrounded by some of the most luscious beaches in the world. The terrain and environment is also very tropical so you can go exploring and see some exotic wildlife all while getting a great suntan and having a great time.
Adam Porteous is a social media executive for Stanton Fisher Ireland who has travelled, studied, lived and worked in the USA, UK and elsewhere. Stanton Fisher specialise in financial claims for consumers who have been mis-sold financial products such as PPI, Interest rate swaps and investments.
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Category: Travel
