Often underestimated: an expert named two countries in Europe for a successful vacation

The outgoing year once again set a record for tourism activity around the world. And travelers are already making their travel bucket lists for 2025.

In the first seven months of 2024, the number of international tourist arrivals to Europe was 11% higher than in the previous year and only 4% lower than in 2019, indicating an excellent recovery from the pandemic. But tourists rarely pay attention to any countries other than the usual Spain, France, Greece, and Italy. That's why the Daily Express turned to travel expert and journalist Simon Calder, who named the places in Europe that have a lot to offer travelers, but for some reason are overlooked.

According to him, the cost of vacationing in popular destinations is growing rapidly. Therefore, those who want to have an interesting and budget-friendly vacation should pay attention to the Balkans. "Bulgaria always offers very favorable deals for package vacations," said Calder.

Located in the eastern part of the Balkans, directly south of the Danube River and west of the Black Sea, Bulgaria borders Greece and Turkey. This means it offers a similar climate, ideal for beach vacations.

In 2023, a total of 8.6 million tourists visited Bulgaria - a peak for the country and a 13% increase over the previous year. However, this is nothing compared to the 33 million who traveled to Greece and more than 49 million to Turkey during the same period. Tourism continues to make a significant contribution to Bulgaria's economic growth, with Sofia, Plovdiv, the coastal resorts of Albena, Golden Sands and Sunny Beach, and the winter resorts of Bansko and Pamporovo among the most visited destinations.

History buffs will also find Bulgaria interesting, as it has been home to many civilizations in different eras, including the Thracians, Greeks, Romans, and Ottomans. All of them have left many historical artifacts and monuments on Bulgarian soil, including such UNESCO World Heritage sites as the Boyana Church and the Madar Horseman, as well as the Rila Monastery.

The Black Sea coastline here boasts sandy beaches and clear water. It's also definitely not as crowded and noisy as Greece and Turkey.

Calder also suggested that tourists pay attention to Albania as a promising destination. According to him, the country offers "fantastic beaches, friendly people, and 20th century prices."

Albania offers its guests magnificent mountain landscapes, ruins of ancient castles, a vibrant capital city life, and cozy beaches that can compete with any Mediterranean country. The expert even expressed surprise that only 10 million foreign tourists visited Albania in 2023.

Albania is one of the most affordable countries in Europe. A room in a luxury hotel can cost only 50 euros, and a full meal will cost about 10 euros. According to Booking.com, a similar room in a hotel on a popular Greek island located across the Corfu Strait is likely to cost about twice as much.

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