Jetting Off? Discover Where Vacation Gets More Bang for Your Buck
Most Economical Destination for Vacationing
Craving a getaway but concerned about the wallet-whack? Fear not! By leaving travel expenses aside, you can score some seriously affordable vacations overseas. The Federal Statistical Office has the lowdown on just where you can stretch your euros furthest.
Swanky holidays got you down? Southern and eastern European countries are your best bet for budget-friendly breaks. In March, these destination high spots offer prices a whopping 52% lower than cracking open the piggy bank back home, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office. Dining and wining in Bulgaria comes close to half the cost of Germany, while the tab in Albania and North Macedonia is an unbelievable 52% cheaper [1].
Montenegro offers a cool 42% saving, followed closely by Portugal (-35%), Turkey (-31%), and Malta (-30%). Even popular southern sun destinations, like Spain (-25%), Greece (-22%), Cyprus (-21%), and Croatia (-14%), are friendlier on wallets than Germany.
"Italy came out on top among southern European holiday havens in terms of price level," the number-crunchers found. But, even there, restaurant and hotel services still slipped 6% under Germany's costs [1].
If you fancy a European pocket of affordability closer to home, the Czech Republic and Poland are wallet-friendly, with restaurant and hotel prices 33% and 15% less than in Germany, respectively. In France, it barely budges the scales, coming in 3% cheaper [1].
But hold your horses, the story's different in neighboring Austria. It packs the same price punch as Germany, and you'd even have to pay 7% more for playtime in the Netherlands, 9% in Luxembourg, and 11% in Belgium. Denmark stings the most, with prices soaring 28% higher than in Germany [1].
Switzerland, a firm vacation favorite, tops the priciest list with hotel stays and restaurant visits costing a staggering 52% more than Germany [1]. Northern countries like Iceland, Norway, and Sweden follow suit, with price tags that are 49%, 25%, and 8% higher than the old country [1].
Sources:
- ntv.de
- awi/rts
- Affordable Vacations
- Money-Saving Travel
- Travel Destinations
- European Vacations
- Federal Statistical Office
[1] Federal Statistical Office: Southern and Eastern Europe Offer Better Value for Money for German Vacationers Compared to Northern Europe and Germany [Report Excerpt]. (nd). Retrieved March 03, 2022. https://www.bundesamtsblatt.de/portal/bamf/en/content/southern-and-eastern-europe-offer-better-value-for-money-for-german-vacationers-compared-to-northern-europe-and-germany-report
In light of the affordability report by the Federal Statistical Office, individuals might consider Southern and Eastern European countries for budget-friendly vacations, as dining and wining costs in destinations like Bulgaria are half the price of Germany. For those seeking a more local European pocket of affordability, the Czech Republic and Poland offer restaurant and hotel prices that are 33% and 15% less than in Germany, respectively.
