Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Eastern Europe
Balkans, Baltics, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Poland,
Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic
When most Americans go to Europe, they envision Paris and Rome and London. They tend to skip over
the east. While economic growth and integration with the European Union has made these countries more
expensive over the last decade, this bloc can still be a bargain.
Regardless of where I go when visiting Eastern Europe, I always spend a fraction of what I spend in
Western Europe. When I was in Romania, I spent $36 USD per day, in Hungary $30 USD, in Poland $40
USD, and in Estonia $40 USD. I always got old-world charm, but without the old-world prices.
Most of Central and Eastern Europe is overlooked by travelers; they hit Prague, Krakow, Warsaw, or
Budapest and call it a day. To me, the region (and a big region, I know) offers some of the best value travel
in Europe and should not be overlooked. Get out there, get off the beaten path, visit lesser-known destina-
tions! You'll save money, see fewer tourists, and get unique experiences.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Hostels
Hostels in Eastern Europe are a bit more basic than their counterparts in Western Europe. The farther east
you go, the less likely you are to get free breakfast. The majority of hostels in the east offer free Internet,
have common rooms, kitchens, and can help with tours.
For hostel dorm rooms, you'll pay between $5 USD and $15 USD per night, depending on the size of
the dorm room and the popularity of the hostel. The farther east you go, the cheaper it gets. In popular des-
tinations like Budapest or Prague, rooms are a bit more expensive, with dorm rooms going as high as $20
USD. However, if you go all the way east to Ukraine, dorms can cost around $6 USD per night.
A private room in a hostel will cost you $30-60 USD per night for a double bed with a shared bathroom.
When getting private rooms, the same cost rule applies—the farther east you go (or the more toward the
Balkans), the cheaper the room is. I don't often get private rooms when I travel in Western Europe, because
they are so expensive, but when I travel in the east I frequently do, especially if I am traveling with a friend
who can split the cost. I get all the benefits of a hostel—wi-fi, the occasional free breakfast, a kitchen, and
people to socialize with—with all the benefits of a hotel—a private, secure room.
Budget Hotels
Cheap hotel rooms start at $30 USD for a two-star hotel with breakfast, private bathroom, wi-fi, and double
bed. If you want something nicer, with a more comfortable bed, fancier breakfast, nicer décor, and more
amenities, expect nice three-plus-star hotels to start at $45 USD per night. In fact, hotel rooms are often so
cheap that unless I am looking to be really social, I stay in them over hostel private rooms due to the better
prices and additional privacy.
Apartment Rentals
Apartment rentals are gaining a larger and larger foothold each year. You tend to find the biggest selection
of apartment rentals in capital cities. Generally, prices for an apartment are comparable to those of a cheap
hotel. In larger and more popular destinations, like Prague, Budapest, Krakow, or Tallinn, prices are between
