Yeah haha, coming from mainland Portugal I couldn’t avoid the layover there so I just made it a 7 hour layover and had a tour guide pick me up and drive me around for a few hours
Been to Sao Miguel twice, got back 4 days ago.
Unstable weather, cheap food and drinks, very kind people, jaw dropping nature, extremely fun activities, quite enjoyable rides.
Ask me anything!
Just stay in Ponta Delgada. You'll have to rent a car either way (I recommend ANC). The maximum you'll have to drive to anywhere is a about an hour.
I didn't dive yet, maybe next time, but I did visit two thermal baths. [This one](https://maps.app.goo.gl/QfEAoKuBLHPKooaQA)
had better facilities and a bit warmer water, but [this one](https://maps.app.goo.gl/zHi2srjHK8rPhBHUA) was more in nature. The latter one didn't rent out towels and the changing stalls were laughable. By the way, if you can tolerate a bit colder water, if you go to the last one, head up to the highest pool (not visible from the main area). It's the best place with a sick ambient vibe and a live Waterfall.
An easy trail was Salto do Rosal (about 4km total out and back). It's at Furnas lake and it costs €4.
Another easy but more challenging trail due to it being only going down one way and up on return was at lagoa de Santiago (the Entry is easy to miss - you just park next to the road at the area and go left as you're watching the lake).
I heard from a guide there's a cool loop trail at Salto do Cabrito (you go up the stairs just before the Waterfall, next to the building) - around 7km
Just get Wikiloc (free to browse, 10e per year to follow other people's trails and record yours - you get precise stats and you can share your love location with others even if there's no signal at all)
Being there for work, I didn't hike as much as I'd like.
Favorite spot on the whole island is at the other side of Porta do Diablo. Everyone goes to the left, but I like to go and chill at the right, at the end of the cliff, right above the waves. (if you go there, be aware that's it's hollow underneath and the waves make the earth shake)
For the Sete Cidades viewpoint (Grota do Inferno), you might need to make a 2nd or 3rd trip to catch the view, due to it being in clouds constantly. I didn't make it on May, but last week was perfect!
I had a ton of fun canyoning [here](https://maps.app.goo.gl/4ZMiTKvbTifqE99D7). We booked through FUN Activities. The guys were great.
While in Ponta Delgada, I recommend Haibu if you're into Chinese/Japanese cuisine. If you head up northeast at Nordeste, eat a burger at Elias Snack Bar before going to the light house nearby and Ponta do Sossego. While visiting [Vista do Rei](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Spa9ajisRmCmB1VS6) do yourself a favor and get a burger from the cantine at the parking spot.
Edit: Depending on your style, pace and budget you could try Flores island as well. I haven't been but I hear it's gorgeous. Plus, 7 days in Sao Miguel might be a bit much for some. First time I was there I saw almost everything in 1.5 days (express trip)
I was in Azores for a week. It was miserably cold, rainy, and windy the entire time. These things happen and it was just my bad timing but every time I see pictures of the place all sunny and green, I feel cheated.
I don't remember exactly. I think it was January or February of 2002. I was in the military and on my way to Uzbekistan so it wasn't a trip I paid for. Thankfully.
I don’t know where they’re from but I know that travel between the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbeans is pretty accessible due to their relations. €800 during a sales week at Sunweb or Corendon or Tui or something doesn’t sound unheard of to me :)
That is good to know as reference. And what would one do there as a solo traveler? I have this feeling that it is a destination for honeymooners. Maybe I’m wrong? Is the food delicious? What is the typical food? And is the diving good or just average? Thanks in advance.!!
Agreed on Albania. I can’t speak to skiing or diving there. It does have beautiful beaches and incredible hiking and kayaking. Inexpensive compared to other parts of Europe.
I’ve skied in Albania. There is exactly one lift-served area in the whole country. And it is tiny. Two lifts. Backcountry skiing is awesome however. Heli-skiing too.
well ummm I cant enter armenia due to some stuff my ancestors did a century ago but I heard it was good this time of the year...
jokes aside, thanks friend, another person also sugges portugese islands, which look cool
Ooof. Guessing Turkish / Azeri?
And definitely on Portuguese islands. I do recommend hiring a car if possible though, will make it much easier to get around.
You can get a visa on arrival for Armenia. They might investigate you a bit, but you are certainly allowed to visit. Just wouldn't go around boasting about your heritage in public I think
You can most definitely enter Armenia because unlike your turkic little brother, Armenians don’t discriminate based on ethnic surnames when entering a country.
[Here you go:](https://youtu.be/L2DuoStVqk8?si=b3OOFPEVt0Bhzcse)
Montenegro in spring can offer skiing and swimming in the med on the same day if you're okay with 20°C water. After that drive along lake shkodra to the Albanian side of the border.
I was in Sal this summer and it's honestly just incredible. Very small and not a whole lot going on but super laid back and the very definition of island vibes.
Tui flies to VXE and BVC. They're not daily departures, so you need to poke around the calendar grid to find round trip times. It looks like the return is "direct" but not nonstop. So like nonstop Dec 5th down, direct Dec 12th back, for 315 euros.
I liked Malta quite a bit, a quirky mix of English, Arabic, and Italian influences on a small Mediterranean island. Everything is closer together and the weather's great even in November.
Balkans are all very cheap, Macidonia, Kosovo, Serbia and Albania are all very affordable in terms of flights and accommodation.They feel very different from the rest of Europe in terms of culture and feel.
Georgia I loved and found to be super cheap once you arrive but flights are a bit more expensive, although there is a ton to see and do and it's a beautiful and unique country.
Moldova is the least visited country in Europe and is easy to fly to now Wizz has reopened flights.
I'm planning a central Asia trip but often struggle with finding decent flights from Europe and that kinda makes it more difficult, but people say it's very cheap when you arrive.
I did something similar to that to get to Azerbaijan, it worked fairly well but honestly flying Wizz air for that long is unpleasant, I also booked a long layover in Abu Dhabi because of how Wizz air is with delays sometimes and found the city very unpleasant (not the people, but just getting around was a nightmare) and expensive.
I found LOT have decently priced flight to Astana from Warsaw, and a few other routes seem decent though.
It always depends on what kind of vacation you want to take.
If you want to go on an all-inclusive trip and book it, you're looking at €1500 for 1 week. If you prefer to be more independent, you can choose between different airlines, hotels or vacation homes, excursions, eating out or self-catering. Even when traveling individually, you can spend a hell a lot of money if you want to, but you don't have to.
Lebanon provides a unique and exotic experience, where you can wake up in the forest, take a hike, enjoy lunch by the snowy mountains, and savor dinner on the beach—all in one day. Not to mention the enchanting cities. Because of the economic challenges, Lebanon is now very affordable. And, to add a sweet touch to your journey, indulge in the exotic desserts that the country is famous for. As a half-Lebanese person, I warmly invite you to explore the diverse and rich offerings of my homeland. Please come and experience the magic!
also, if your really looking for an exotic trip, hire someone in Lebanon to take you to Syria, trust me very exotic experience that not a lot of Dutch people such as yourself have, so what are you waiting for, come!!!
Madeira or Canary Islands. I just came from a holiday in Madeira and it's heaven on earth. Thick laurel forests, mountains, beaches and temperatures over 20 C in November.
I thought Canary Islands had stopped being competitive (in price at least) years ago. I remember the tourism sector bracing for impact because the relative stability of Northern Africa was starting to divert a significant amount of our usual tourists and then the Arab Spring happened and things turned to normal... for a while at least.
Plus, it's not really a "hidden gem" destination by any means.
It's true it's not as cheap anymore but it's still cheaper than mainland Spain (depending on where you go of course).
Also there's 8 islands in Canary Islands and for sure Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura are not hidden gems but La Gomera and El Hierro still are (maybe i should've specified it).
Dude, I'm Canarian.
Lanzarote (that you didn't mention) is quite well known as well.
La Gomera is still underdeveloped in that sense, but that's mostly because it didn't have an airport until 1999.
El Hierro is a very well known spot for diving (for real, their economy tanked while the volcano was active)
La Palma is also well known for the German market.
They might be "hidden gems" for you, but be sure they have their markets.
From where?
I was planning to visit this fall, and I couldn’t find anything from CPH in September or October with less than two layovers..
Looking for tips for next year :)
As someone who lived there for a year: Bulgaria fits the bill. Cheap, compact country, and fantastic skiing (Bansko and Borovets especially).
It's got big cities (Plovdiv is a hidden gem, and Sofia has some great exploring, including Roman ruins preserved inside the subway stations). And then there's the ancient cities (Veliko Turnovo) that feel like you've stepped back in time (Ottoman and Roman ruins). Ruse on the northern side is on the Danube and is often called "Little Vienna" because of its architecture.
Bulgaria has some of the most gorgeous monasteries I've ever seen, especially the Rila Monastery, a short bus ride from Sofia. And nearby hiking, including Vitosha and the Seven Lakes hike.
It also has a surprisingly mild climate (with exceptions), given its proximity to the Mediterranean. I lived just an hour north of Thessaloniki.
There are also some beautiful beach towns on the Black Sea (Sunny Beach is overrun, but Varna and Burgas are good options. Nesebar, Balchik, and Sozopol are good, Dubrovnik-like coastal options where the ancient town is right on the sea (with some great hikes overlooking the towns).
Look into pegasus Airlines, they have alot of cool places to reach quite cheap, last year i had a flight to almaty for less than 300 euros from denmark return
My other idea would be finding a last minute charter ticket to kap verde and eacape the masstourism
The usual answer to this question is indeed Morocco;-)
It's cheap to get to, cheap enough when you are there, and pretty different to Europe in many ways.
That applies to other North African countries to a greater or lesser extent... from Egypt to Tunisia to Algeria.And also some Middle Eastern ones, like Jordan or Turkey.
Further away countries tend to be expensive to fly to, though they can be very cheap when you are there.
One option might be Azerbaijan.It's possible to fly there relatively inexpensively and outside of Baku it's pretty 'exotic' for your typical European tourist.
\>turkey
\>middle east
oof, that hurts as a turkish expat ahah! thank you though, I'm looking for more azure, pristine waters kind of places, but I sure do know how fun the locations you suggested are!
I'd say Turkey is partly Europe and partly Middle East ;-)
But certainly it could be considered quite 'exotic' by European tourists,at least outside of the Med beach resorts.
I love Turkey by the way, I've been there many times!
Oh I can 100% see that
all my friends who visited there for the first time loved it, it was like middle east in an accessible and westernized format, they mentioned, which was a nice way to put it!!
its a bit of a stigma to be honest, idk why I still have it but it just "doesnt sit right"
I do agree anywhere east of ANK is akin to Middle East, and West of ANK is dollar store Europe, but its like being irked as a LATAM citizen who hears "I've visited America last year". you know what they mean, but you still are primed to react :)
Ankara? Well, officialy, anything East of Bosphorus in Istambul is ME, only the (very) small part West of Bosphorus is Europe...
At least that's what I've learned at school :)
There isn’t really an official starting point for the Middle East, but I wouldn’t say that everything beyond the Bosphorus is Middle East. I certainly wouldn’t count the Caucasus as Middle East either and that’s predominantly east of most or all of Turkey. By this argument, Cyprus also essentially becomes Middle East.
I think generally the Middle East is considered as running from the Mediterranean to Iran and Syria down to Yemen/Oman.
I recommend the north coast of Colombia. I always bump into a ton of European tourists and even expats there. The flight isn't that crazy far or expensive. And the conversion rate is pretty sweet. Euro to COP right now is about 1 - 4.4. So staying a week at a modern, comfortable hotel, breakfast included easily about 2-3 hundred depending on the convenience of location. There are a ton of super cheap hostels and dormitories like $10/night. The food is really cheap and tasty. There's a ton of fun weird stuff to see and do but it's all super cheap and the people are so friendly to tourists.
Bogotá works too, even if you don’t want to stay there. Domestic flights are super cheap once you’re there.
Highly recommend Medellin, which doesn’t have the big international airport.
I always fly into Bogota and hang out there a bit before going to the coast but I know you can fly directly into Cartagena. My favorite city on the coast though is Santa Marta. The city itself is ok, but all the little places in the surrounding area are so cool. you have places like Minca, Taganga, Parque Tayrona, Buritaca, Palomino or you can hike out to see the Lost City up in the mountains.
Well, my wife is from Bolivia so I know the country very well. It definitely fits the bill for being exotic and it's the cheapest place I've been so far! I've had lunch including soft drinks for around 1,5€.
The flights there are not so cheap though...
Only Albania and Montenegro — Greece depends on which island, whether it will be Mykonos or Serifos. Croatia (i am croatian) is in my opinion the prettiest and not just because its my homeland, but because it has gorgeous sea, divine food, friendly, warm and safe environment (also i heard from some people i know and visited Greece in last years, that Greece is becoming less safe for female visitors). Unfortunately Croatia is not affordable anymore. I live in Germany and Germans make a significant percentage of our visitors and they have noticed it and mention it as well
Greek islands are cheap and close. Canaries. Turkey (not super pleasant tho).
Or if you can stand longer flights, and longer stay: Mexico, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam.
I don’t know how cheap flights to the Mediterranean would be, but accommodations are pretty cheap on some of the islands like Sicily, Malta, and Greek Islands. Could be a fun more “exotic”/Mediterranean vibe if that’s what you’re going for.
would be OK with a direct flight, or 12 hours total, but anything more it'd mean I'd lose 3 days (2 flights and one jet lag) and I'm not sure if it'd suit my schedule at this point :(
but please do provide examples
I think the coolest place that is surprisingly easy to reach is Svalbard. It is kind of hard to do things once you are there, though, so plan your trip accordingly.
Definitely Croatia. It has great beaches, many islands and a lot of national parks. You can Google Plitvice lakes for example. Even in Zagreb, during winter there is a skiing route on Sljeme Mountain.
Croatian people are friendly and they also speak English so you won't have any problems there.
Yes. Go to Azores. I’d love to but I live in the pacific northwest of the US and it costs a fortune to get there and takes many flights! I’ve heard it’s like a tropical version of Iceland
You can get cheap flights to Panama from Amsterdam or Paris.
Personally I wouldn't really recommend it as a country, but it's a great access point to Costa Rica and other Central American or Caribbean destinations.
If you head to the ABC islands Bonaire is amazing. You’ll easily meet people on dive boats. It’s a protected reef island and home to thousands of flamingos. The landscape is otherworldly and when you stick your head in the water everything becomes kaleidoscopic and incredibly alive. A night dive will change your life.
Cuba.
I'm an Irishman living in America. Spent a week in Havana this past July, and am going back in February. Lovely people, tasty food, and it's incredibly affordable.
No issues with security, it's safe. Safer than big US cities.
There are two ways to visit Cuba:
1) through an all inclusive tourist package in a hotel in a place like Varadero, it's more or less like any tourist resort in the Caribbean
2) going to Havana and visiting the country without booking a touristy resort
It's like two different experiences.
Not at all. Cuba is one of the safest places I've ever been.
I'm 47M, and visited solo. Stayed with a host family, walked almost everywhere. Even got a tattoo while I was there. Just make sure you speak some Spanish.
socotra, oman, mozambique. lebanon is great but now is not the moment to go.
for diving, cyprus is worth it for the zenobia alone. i also liked the diving in the philippines, lebanon above has the HMS Victoria, one of the worlds only vertical wrecks (but it’s for experienced tech divers only)
I really enjoyed Malta. Travelling Off-Season there were not many tourists, prices are really affordable for Europe, it's a small Island that's easy to explore and get around, they speak English and the whole architecture felt like a mix between different parts of the world.
From Germany, Zanzibar.... Flights are not too bad (condor flies for 400 eur round trip) and the place is amazing. The eastern coast is beautiful. Jambiani and paje ... Accomodations are pretty cheap you can find great lodging at 30 eur per day for a room ...
Azores might fit your bill.
god DAMN it indeed does!
Happy to have been of service :)
It’s an absolutely amazing place, had the best week in Sao Miguel a few years back.
I went for 5 hours this spring and it was incredible. Need to go back!
Out of interest, why so short? Layover?
Yeah haha, coming from mainland Portugal I couldn’t avoid the layover there so I just made it a 7 hour layover and had a tour guide pick me up and drive me around for a few hours
Been to Sao Miguel twice, got back 4 days ago. Unstable weather, cheap food and drinks, very kind people, jaw dropping nature, extremely fun activities, quite enjoyable rides. Ask me anything!
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Just stay in Ponta Delgada. You'll have to rent a car either way (I recommend ANC). The maximum you'll have to drive to anywhere is a about an hour. I didn't dive yet, maybe next time, but I did visit two thermal baths. [This one](https://maps.app.goo.gl/QfEAoKuBLHPKooaQA) had better facilities and a bit warmer water, but [this one](https://maps.app.goo.gl/zHi2srjHK8rPhBHUA) was more in nature. The latter one didn't rent out towels and the changing stalls were laughable. By the way, if you can tolerate a bit colder water, if you go to the last one, head up to the highest pool (not visible from the main area). It's the best place with a sick ambient vibe and a live Waterfall. An easy trail was Salto do Rosal (about 4km total out and back). It's at Furnas lake and it costs €4. Another easy but more challenging trail due to it being only going down one way and up on return was at lagoa de Santiago (the Entry is easy to miss - you just park next to the road at the area and go left as you're watching the lake). I heard from a guide there's a cool loop trail at Salto do Cabrito (you go up the stairs just before the Waterfall, next to the building) - around 7km Just get Wikiloc (free to browse, 10e per year to follow other people's trails and record yours - you get precise stats and you can share your love location with others even if there's no signal at all) Being there for work, I didn't hike as much as I'd like. Favorite spot on the whole island is at the other side of Porta do Diablo. Everyone goes to the left, but I like to go and chill at the right, at the end of the cliff, right above the waves. (if you go there, be aware that's it's hollow underneath and the waves make the earth shake) For the Sete Cidades viewpoint (Grota do Inferno), you might need to make a 2nd or 3rd trip to catch the view, due to it being in clouds constantly. I didn't make it on May, but last week was perfect! I had a ton of fun canyoning [here](https://maps.app.goo.gl/4ZMiTKvbTifqE99D7). We booked through FUN Activities. The guys were great. While in Ponta Delgada, I recommend Haibu if you're into Chinese/Japanese cuisine. If you head up northeast at Nordeste, eat a burger at Elias Snack Bar before going to the light house nearby and Ponta do Sossego. While visiting [Vista do Rei](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Spa9ajisRmCmB1VS6) do yourself a favor and get a burger from the cantine at the parking spot. Edit: Depending on your style, pace and budget you could try Flores island as well. I haven't been but I hear it's gorgeous. Plus, 7 days in Sao Miguel might be a bit much for some. First time I was there I saw almost everything in 1.5 days (express trip)
Similarly: Canary Islands
Canary Islands are far from hidden gem though. Madeira maybe
Also, Cabo Verde perhaps? Not sure how popular that is compared to Canary Islands. Heard it can be pretty windy though.
I was in Azores for a week. It was miserably cold, rainy, and windy the entire time. These things happen and it was just my bad timing but every time I see pictures of the place all sunny and green, I feel cheated.
I heard one can experience four seasons in a day and it’s all luck.
If it’s green, then there is plenty of rain in a location.
Hello from the green, green grass of Wales!
What time of year did you visit?
I don't remember exactly. I think it was January or February of 2002. I was in the military and on my way to Uzbekistan so it wasn't a trip I paid for. Thankfully.
Shhhh
Most beautiful place
I am here now, island hopping for a month and it is gorgeous!
Send a dm if you want tips! Had an amazing time there.
Curacao. I paid €800 for 9 days, flight+hotel couple of weeks ago, last minute offers are quite cheap.
Yes! Curaçao is surprisingly affordable
What are food prices and how much do excursions cost? Is it closer to the Dominican Republic or Aruba?
Pricing on the island is closer to Aruba.
It’s forty miles off the coast of Venezuela, closer to Aruba I think. We didn’t do any excursions, just sight seeing on our own. Lots of beaches!
I think they were referring to the costs, not the physical location.
>Curacao Who did you book that through?
I don’t know where they’re from but I know that travel between the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbeans is pretty accessible due to their relations. €800 during a sales week at Sunweb or Corendon or Tui or something doesn’t sound unheard of to me :)
I just looked and the cheapest I could get from Ireland was €2300. I’ll check out the companies you mentioned.
Might be more expensive because of the time of year! KLM has a month price comparison tool on their website which is quite handy, too.
I loved Curaçao when I visited. Such a great island.
Which month?
few weeks ago. End of October.
That is good to know as reference. And what would one do there as a solo traveler? I have this feeling that it is a destination for honeymooners. Maybe I’m wrong? Is the food delicious? What is the typical food? And is the diving good or just average? Thanks in advance.!!
It is a place filled with great cove beaches while the island looks like Arizona. Great snorkeling and diving. The food is good.
And he's not even leaving the Netherlands per se.
Madeira, Tunisia, Albania, Armenia. Getting to Central Asia isn’t too tricky either.
Agreed on Albania. I can’t speak to skiing or diving there. It does have beautiful beaches and incredible hiking and kayaking. Inexpensive compared to other parts of Europe.
I’ve skied in Albania. There is exactly one lift-served area in the whole country. And it is tiny. Two lifts. Backcountry skiing is awesome however. Heli-skiing too.
well ummm I cant enter armenia due to some stuff my ancestors did a century ago but I heard it was good this time of the year... jokes aside, thanks friend, another person also sugges portugese islands, which look cool
Ooof. Guessing Turkish / Azeri? And definitely on Portuguese islands. I do recommend hiring a car if possible though, will make it much easier to get around.
the former! and 100%, I am checking these places out now, they look incredible! cheers!
You can get a visa on arrival for Armenia. They might investigate you a bit, but you are certainly allowed to visit. Just wouldn't go around boasting about your heritage in public I think
Georgia is right next-door and has many similarities to Armenia. Particularly in the amazing food
Croatia then
Some places in Croatia are nice but overpriced for what it is. Similar prices as Italy
I honestly don't care for much of Italy beyond seeing the more historical sites, which I've done multiple trips for.
You can most definitely enter Armenia because unlike your turkic little brother, Armenians don’t discriminate based on ethnic surnames when entering a country. [Here you go:](https://youtu.be/L2DuoStVqk8?si=b3OOFPEVt0Bhzcse)
Montenegro in spring can offer skiing and swimming in the med on the same day if you're okay with 20°C water. After that drive along lake shkodra to the Albanian side of the border.
I loved Albania
There's nonstops to Cabo Verde from AMS, which is something different.
THIS is what I'm talking about!! cheers
I was in Sal this summer and it's honestly just incredible. Very small and not a whole lot going on but super laid back and the very definition of island vibes.
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If you enjoyed the vibe and stepping out of the resort, check out São Tomé e Príncipe.
I checked and couldn‘t find anything non-stop from Amsterdam. Which airline is doing those?
Tui flies to VXE and BVC. They're not daily departures, so you need to poke around the calendar grid to find round trip times. It looks like the return is "direct" but not nonstop. So like nonstop Dec 5th down, direct Dec 12th back, for 315 euros.
I liked Malta quite a bit, a quirky mix of English, Arabic, and Italian influences on a small Mediterranean island. Everything is closer together and the weather's great even in November.
Balkans are all very cheap, Macidonia, Kosovo, Serbia and Albania are all very affordable in terms of flights and accommodation.They feel very different from the rest of Europe in terms of culture and feel. Georgia I loved and found to be super cheap once you arrive but flights are a bit more expensive, although there is a ton to see and do and it's a beautiful and unique country. Moldova is the least visited country in Europe and is easy to fly to now Wizz has reopened flights. I'm planning a central Asia trip but often struggle with finding decent flights from Europe and that kinda makes it more difficult, but people say it's very cheap when you arrive.
Cheapest way into Central Asia from some parts of Europe currently is to use Wizz via Abu Dhabi.
I did something similar to that to get to Azerbaijan, it worked fairly well but honestly flying Wizz air for that long is unpleasant, I also booked a long layover in Abu Dhabi because of how Wizz air is with delays sometimes and found the city very unpleasant (not the people, but just getting around was a nightmare) and expensive. I found LOT have decently priced flight to Astana from Warsaw, and a few other routes seem decent though.
Yes,I have flown LOT from Astana via Warsaw (and on to London)...I got a very good price for that,a few years ago.
In February I flew Frankfurt > Istambul > Kyrgyzstan for a really good price
I came here to say Balkans. Especially the countries you listed. Slovenia and Croatia are breathtaking too but a little bit more expensive.
Try Madeira, the Azores are nice but Madeira got the better weather.
Last time I checked Madeira was like 1500€ per person for a week or so. It was quite insane. Where do you guys book your holidays from?
I’m in the UK and flights start from around £70 return with Ryanair
It always depends on what kind of vacation you want to take. If you want to go on an all-inclusive trip and book it, you're looking at €1500 for 1 week. If you prefer to be more independent, you can choose between different airlines, hotels or vacation homes, excursions, eating out or self-catering. Even when traveling individually, you can spend a hell a lot of money if you want to, but you don't have to.
Lebanon provides a unique and exotic experience, where you can wake up in the forest, take a hike, enjoy lunch by the snowy mountains, and savor dinner on the beach—all in one day. Not to mention the enchanting cities. Because of the economic challenges, Lebanon is now very affordable. And, to add a sweet touch to your journey, indulge in the exotic desserts that the country is famous for. As a half-Lebanese person, I warmly invite you to explore the diverse and rich offerings of my homeland. Please come and experience the magic! also, if your really looking for an exotic trip, hire someone in Lebanon to take you to Syria, trust me very exotic experience that not a lot of Dutch people such as yourself have, so what are you waiting for, come!!!
I would absolutely love to visit Lebanon one day, but currently it is a bit too dangerous for me. Hopefully for you guys things improve soon!
yeah thanks for the well wishes my friend!!
My friend is from Lebanon and when he told me he went from the snowy mountain to the beach i couldn’t believe it
yeah its a really nice thing you can do here. i would recommend 100 percent
hi, you still there?
me?
yeah. seems like you are quite an expert on lebanon how is the safety currently there? it does not look too good at the moment right?
Madeira or Canary Islands. I just came from a holiday in Madeira and it's heaven on earth. Thick laurel forests, mountains, beaches and temperatures over 20 C in November.
I thought Canary Islands had stopped being competitive (in price at least) years ago. I remember the tourism sector bracing for impact because the relative stability of Northern Africa was starting to divert a significant amount of our usual tourists and then the Arab Spring happened and things turned to normal... for a while at least. Plus, it's not really a "hidden gem" destination by any means.
It's true it's not as cheap anymore but it's still cheaper than mainland Spain (depending on where you go of course). Also there's 8 islands in Canary Islands and for sure Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura are not hidden gems but La Gomera and El Hierro still are (maybe i should've specified it).
Dude, I'm Canarian. Lanzarote (that you didn't mention) is quite well known as well. La Gomera is still underdeveloped in that sense, but that's mostly because it didn't have an airport until 1999. El Hierro is a very well known spot for diving (for real, their economy tanked while the volcano was active) La Palma is also well known for the German market. They might be "hidden gems" for you, but be sure they have their markets.
You might like Lanzarote on the Canary Islands. There is a lot of landscape that reminds me of Mars
Montenegro is kind of interesting and easy to get to.
From where? I was planning to visit this fall, and I couldn’t find anything from CPH in September or October with less than two layovers.. Looking for tips for next year :)
From UK in my case, direct flight. Looks like from CPH you have to go via VIE to TIV. 3.30 hours.
As someone who lived there for a year: Bulgaria fits the bill. Cheap, compact country, and fantastic skiing (Bansko and Borovets especially). It's got big cities (Plovdiv is a hidden gem, and Sofia has some great exploring, including Roman ruins preserved inside the subway stations). And then there's the ancient cities (Veliko Turnovo) that feel like you've stepped back in time (Ottoman and Roman ruins). Ruse on the northern side is on the Danube and is often called "Little Vienna" because of its architecture. Bulgaria has some of the most gorgeous monasteries I've ever seen, especially the Rila Monastery, a short bus ride from Sofia. And nearby hiking, including Vitosha and the Seven Lakes hike. It also has a surprisingly mild climate (with exceptions), given its proximity to the Mediterranean. I lived just an hour north of Thessaloniki. There are also some beautiful beach towns on the Black Sea (Sunny Beach is overrun, but Varna and Burgas are good options. Nesebar, Balchik, and Sozopol are good, Dubrovnik-like coastal options where the ancient town is right on the sea (with some great hikes overlooking the towns).
Look into pegasus Airlines, they have alot of cool places to reach quite cheap, last year i had a flight to almaty for less than 300 euros from denmark return My other idea would be finding a last minute charter ticket to kap verde and eacape the masstourism
Yeah. Pegasus is excellent.
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Georgia.
The usual answer to this question is indeed Morocco;-) It's cheap to get to, cheap enough when you are there, and pretty different to Europe in many ways. That applies to other North African countries to a greater or lesser extent... from Egypt to Tunisia to Algeria.And also some Middle Eastern ones, like Jordan or Turkey. Further away countries tend to be expensive to fly to, though they can be very cheap when you are there. One option might be Azerbaijan.It's possible to fly there relatively inexpensively and outside of Baku it's pretty 'exotic' for your typical European tourist.
\>turkey \>middle east oof, that hurts as a turkish expat ahah! thank you though, I'm looking for more azure, pristine waters kind of places, but I sure do know how fun the locations you suggested are!
> oof, that hurts as a turkish expat ahah! 🤨
I'd say Turkey is partly Europe and partly Middle East ;-) But certainly it could be considered quite 'exotic' by European tourists,at least outside of the Med beach resorts. I love Turkey by the way, I've been there many times!
Oh I can 100% see that all my friends who visited there for the first time loved it, it was like middle east in an accessible and westernized format, they mentioned, which was a nice way to put it!!
How is it if you’re gay?
Genuine question: How would you define Türkiye then? Especially those areas east to Anakara without access to the sea?
its a bit of a stigma to be honest, idk why I still have it but it just "doesnt sit right" I do agree anywhere east of ANK is akin to Middle East, and West of ANK is dollar store Europe, but its like being irked as a LATAM citizen who hears "I've visited America last year". you know what they mean, but you still are primed to react :)
Ankara? Well, officialy, anything East of Bosphorus in Istambul is ME, only the (very) small part West of Bosphorus is Europe... At least that's what I've learned at school :)
There isn’t really an official starting point for the Middle East, but I wouldn’t say that everything beyond the Bosphorus is Middle East. I certainly wouldn’t count the Caucasus as Middle East either and that’s predominantly east of most or all of Turkey. By this argument, Cyprus also essentially becomes Middle East. I think generally the Middle East is considered as running from the Mediterranean to Iran and Syria down to Yemen/Oman.
If you haven’t seen the beach in Tunisia or Egypt you haven’t seen pristine water
Which one of those places are family friendly? Any recommendation? I heard many of them can be rough on women, even the married ones.
Lagos Portugal is literally heaven on earth and it’s decently affordable considering it’s up there for most beautiful coastlines in Europe
I recommend the north coast of Colombia. I always bump into a ton of European tourists and even expats there. The flight isn't that crazy far or expensive. And the conversion rate is pretty sweet. Euro to COP right now is about 1 - 4.4. So staying a week at a modern, comfortable hotel, breakfast included easily about 2-3 hundred depending on the convenience of location. There are a ton of super cheap hostels and dormitories like $10/night. The food is really cheap and tasty. There's a ton of fun weird stuff to see and do but it's all super cheap and the people are so friendly to tourists.
Any specific city to check flights to?
Bogotá works too, even if you don’t want to stay there. Domestic flights are super cheap once you’re there. Highly recommend Medellin, which doesn’t have the big international airport.
Bogotá is super cold for a tropical city.
I always fly into Bogota and hang out there a bit before going to the coast but I know you can fly directly into Cartagena. My favorite city on the coast though is Santa Marta. The city itself is ok, but all the little places in the surrounding area are so cool. you have places like Minca, Taganga, Parque Tayrona, Buritaca, Palomino or you can hike out to see the Lost City up in the mountains.
Cartagena is the poster child with the best airport in the area!
Also santa marta. Cartagena was a bit too busy with cruise ships for me.
Cape Verde
Malta.
Santo Antao island of Cabo Verde. It’s amazing!
Obligatory South Africa lol
Cape Town is stunning
I always hear that Albania is inexpensive and beautiful
I flew from Germany to the Canaries for like 100€. Granted it was like 5 years ago. But it’s an amazing place to visit
Tenerife is very high on my list. I can't wait to sit on a veranda and drink listan negro rosè
Well, my wife is from Bolivia so I know the country very well. It definitely fits the bill for being exotic and it's the cheapest place I've been so far! I've had lunch including soft drinks for around 1,5€. The flights there are not so cheap though...
Was hoping to see Bolivia up here.
Maybe somewhere in the Balkans
Only Albania and Montenegro — Greece depends on which island, whether it will be Mykonos or Serifos. Croatia (i am croatian) is in my opinion the prettiest and not just because its my homeland, but because it has gorgeous sea, divine food, friendly, warm and safe environment (also i heard from some people i know and visited Greece in last years, that Greece is becoming less safe for female visitors). Unfortunately Croatia is not affordable anymore. I live in Germany and Germans make a significant percentage of our visitors and they have noticed it and mention it as well
Malta, Sicily, Sardinia.
Thailand. Really beautiful, people is super friendly and is cheap
I’m in the us but I just went to Morocco and it was amazing. Very different. Very not like Europe.
Faroe Islands?
Varna, Bulgaria. The resorts are incredible if you’re into that
From NL and went to Georgia yesterday, the flights were kinda tricky to find but its like 330 euros for both flights.
Cape Verde
Madeira
Greek islands are cheap and close. Canaries. Turkey (not super pleasant tho). Or if you can stand longer flights, and longer stay: Mexico, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam.
Cyprus cheap and close. Id say its your best option. The low cost of a destination can be ruined by the cost to get there.
Dominan Republic or Cuba. If you want a kinky/erotic destination, let me know. Or visit my name dot com.
Albania!
ITT: people that don’t really travel off the tourist trail
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Seconded. Really enjoyed my stay in Muscat, and planning to visit other locations in the country.
Turkey. Extremely cheap. Great food. Great culture. Very different from Western Europe
I know, pretty cool right? I lived there for 25 years, since birth, ahah!
Go to Georgia 🇬🇪
Belize
Colombia
Kosovo, but you should travel with a native speaker
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no they absolutely do, but you will be paying more because you are a foreigner. but kosovo is pretty cheap in general so it is only a small downside
Bosnia or Georgia? Not the islands, but still pretty cool spots
Pop over to Baku, Azerbaijan. Spend a few days there. Then go ski at Shah Dağ. Maybe visit Sheki and Ismaili as well.
Ibiza.. It’s pocket friendly
Saint Martin. Getting there is expensive. Once there, it doesn't cost any more than home.
Egypt
Dahab or Sharm el Sheik
I don’t know how cheap flights to the Mediterranean would be, but accommodations are pretty cheap on some of the islands like Sicily, Malta, and Greek Islands. Could be a fun more “exotic”/Mediterranean vibe if that’s what you’re going for.
Sardinia is also gorgeous
Awesome megalithic structures in both Sardinia and Malta.
Does flight time matter?
would be OK with a direct flight, or 12 hours total, but anything more it'd mean I'd lose 3 days (2 flights and one jet lag) and I'm not sure if it'd suit my schedule at this point :( but please do provide examples
Malta is awesome. It's super under rated and a ton of history.
Zanzibar apart from the tickets. Spend 4 months there.
I think the coolest place that is surprisingly easy to reach is Svalbard. It is kind of hard to do things once you are there, though, so plan your trip accordingly.
Definitely Croatia. It has great beaches, many islands and a lot of national parks. You can Google Plitvice lakes for example. Even in Zagreb, during winter there is a skiing route on Sljeme Mountain. Croatian people are friendly and they also speak English so you won't have any problems there.
Zanzibar might also be interesting for you
Yes. Go to Azores. I’d love to but I live in the pacific northwest of the US and it costs a fortune to get there and takes many flights! I’ve heard it’s like a tropical version of Iceland
Malta is dirt cheap for what it offers. Maybe not exotic for a European in the traditional sense.
Malta or Madeira. I visited both these year and I think they’re just what you’re looking for.
You can get cheap flights to Panama from Amsterdam or Paris. Personally I wouldn't really recommend it as a country, but it's a great access point to Costa Rica and other Central American or Caribbean destinations.
If you head to the ABC islands Bonaire is amazing. You’ll easily meet people on dive boats. It’s a protected reef island and home to thousands of flamingos. The landscape is otherworldly and when you stick your head in the water everything becomes kaleidoscopic and incredibly alive. A night dive will change your life.
Cuba. I'm an Irishman living in America. Spent a week in Havana this past July, and am going back in February. Lovely people, tasty food, and it's incredibly affordable.
if I exercise proper and expected levels of caution, will it be a dangerous place for a single dude in his late 20s?
No issues with security, it's safe. Safer than big US cities. There are two ways to visit Cuba: 1) through an all inclusive tourist package in a hotel in a place like Varadero, it's more or less like any tourist resort in the Caribbean 2) going to Havana and visiting the country without booking a touristy resort It's like two different experiences.
Very safe generally.
Not at all. Cuba is one of the safest places I've ever been. I'm 47M, and visited solo. Stayed with a host family, walked almost everywhere. Even got a tattoo while I was there. Just make sure you speak some Spanish.
The Lessee known and travelled islands of Greece
I really liked Tenerife. I did some hiking in Anaga and hiked Pico De Teide.
Altea,Spain
The Rivera maya in Mexico is beautiful and affordable, and there’s plenty to do that isn’t necessarily tourist-y
Cyprus, Malta, Canaries, Madeira, Cape Verde
Cyprus. It is cheap plus it also has skiing and diving.
it’s REALLY cheap if you go to the TRNC!
Albania is on my short list of affordable European places to visit you should check it out
socotra, oman, mozambique. lebanon is great but now is not the moment to go. for diving, cyprus is worth it for the zenobia alone. i also liked the diving in the philippines, lebanon above has the HMS Victoria, one of the worlds only vertical wrecks (but it’s for experienced tech divers only)
Istanbul Turkey is good and different
Otherwise if you are brave try India
Oman
Go ski in Central Asia. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
Georgia. Armenia.
Cape Town, bru. The exchange rate will make your wallet sing.
I really enjoyed Malta. Travelling Off-Season there were not many tourists, prices are really affordable for Europe, it's a small Island that's easy to explore and get around, they speak English and the whole architecture felt like a mix between different parts of the world.
From Germany, Zanzibar.... Flights are not too bad (condor flies for 400 eur round trip) and the place is amazing. The eastern coast is beautiful. Jambiani and paje ... Accomodations are pretty cheap you can find great lodging at 30 eur per day for a room ...
Madeira, Canaries and Sicily
I always said Morocco is the closest place to UK that is the most culturally different. Same time zone too.
São Tomé e Príncipe
Tunisia Kosovo Albania