30 July 2014


In this period many people are planning summer holidays. 

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has estimated that in 2013 Europe has attracted the most number of tourists in the World (52%), followed by Asia (23), America (15), Africa (5) and Middle East (3). Regarding the Countries, France is the first world destination, then Usa, Spain, China and Italy.

Bucharest - the cheapest destination in Europe

During the crisis not everybody can plan a long holiday in one of the places mentioned above. But it doesn't mean that holidays must be cancelled. There is still a huge variety of choices that gives us the possibility to spend some days in nice places, without wasting too much money.

Which is the best way to have a low-cost holiday in Europe? 

I would like to analyze three elements: the destination, the form of transport and the accommodation. This post will be dedicated only to the choice of destination. The two others will be discussed in the next days.

The European Backpacker Index is a good instrument for an overview of the most economic cities in Europe. The 2014 index ranks Bucharest, Kiev and Sofia as the cheapest destinations, whilst Zurich, Stockholm and Oslo are the most expensive. In the top-10 there are also other beautiful cities of Eastern Europe, such as Belgrade, Sarajevo, Krakow and Budapest. 

In this part of Europe the cost of life is lower: if for a meal in Bucharest you have to pay 40 Ron (9 Eur), in a city as Lisbon the price is 16 Eur and in Venice 26. The price of a good hostel in Krakow can reach 30 zloty (7 Eur), in Zurich 41 CHF (33 Eur).

These elements can explain why the tourism in Central and Eastern Europe has increases by 7% last year.
Even with those good results, we still have to register some diffidence from a part of the international tourism, that associates East with grey communist buildings and problems of security. Even if cities like Budapest and Prague are part of the international touristic circuit, there are also other Countries that can offer beautiful places and low-cost holidays.








Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 by NotonlyEurope

5 comments

19 July 2014

One week ago, I was in Tel Aviv. I have decided to visit Israel for tourism. Even if I am not a religious person, I think that Middle East can offer extraordinary places, a thousand-year old culture and beautiful natural sites.

In the last days of my stay, I started to hear and to see the rockets from Gaza. 

Even when the sirens stroke in the streets or on the beach, it seemed the none was scared, except for few tourists. Life in Tel Aviv was going on normally. Of course, we know that in the Gaza Strip the situation was the opposite. People were diyng and a huge part of population was moving to the south of the Strip (or trying to do that) to avoid the missiles from the Israeli Army.

When you see a place with your eyes, it can happen that you become more involved in the problems of that place. Probably because it doesn't seem so far anymore, I am constantly following the news from Middle East. I am also reading many articles to understand better the situation and the history of the last century on negotiations and wars in the area.

Yitzhak Rabin (Israel Prime Minister), Bill Clinton, and Yasser Arafat (Leader of PLO)
during the 
Oslo Accords on 13 September 1993

But trying to understand is very hard, because it seems that to analyze the contrasts between Israel and Palestinians, first you have to become supporter of one of the two parts. If you don't want or you cannot take a sharp position, you can just issue many questions, without any answer.

How is it possible that people who suffered the Holocaust can kill so many persons, especially children? Can it be possible supporting people who launches rockets to civilians, cities and airports without any scope, except killing other people? How can 1.6 million of people living in the Gaza Strip with constant limitations to their freedom? Have a Country the right to defend its citizens from kamikaze attacks? Can be a permanent peace if Hamas doesn't recognize the right of Israel to exist? Can be a permanent peace if Israel continues to colonize the West Bank? Is the creation of two States or the maintenance of a permanent conflict the real aim of the political leaderships of both the parts?

I have just questions. No answer.





Posted on Saturday, July 19, 2014 by NotonlyEurope

No comments