Cheap European cities
Most and least expensive European cities
If an overseas vacation is on the horizon this year, there are several cheap European cities calling out to you. MSNBC pored over some data from travel websites and the federal government and found that cities in countries whose economies were pushed to the brink by the recent recession are the cheapest. Think Athens and Dublin, for example. And while prices are still strong in cities like Vienna and Berlin, the dollar is faring better against the euro these days, so you'll get some value for your money.
But if you haven't been invited to the royal wedding next month, you might want to forget about London. Hotel prices spiked last year over 2009 and there's no sign of easing. So try working your network, and maybe you can land a couch somewhere. Perhaps the royals and all their friends would welcome a few frugal guests.
"Want to travel to Europe without cashing in your 401(k)?Well, if your plan includes London, beware: in 2010, the average hotel rate was $209, up 11 percent from 2009. Compare that to Athens, where that rate was just $97, down 18 percent. Kind of makes the Parthenon look better than ever, no?..."
