If you want a cheap and cheerful trip abroad, Bosnia and Hungary are both easily accessible and kind on the pocket writes Karen Creed
BOSNIA
Bosnia does not instantly spring to mind as a typical holiday destination but it has all the essential ingredients for a cheap and cheerful break. You can ski in winter, sunbathe in summer, go white water rafting, eat very well for a small price, and shop until you drop. There is a significant number of Irish people who visit Bosnia every year, but mainly to the religious site of Medjugorge. Outside of this famous village there are other attractions. The only downside to a holiday in Bosnia is that it doesn’t have much coastline to rival that of its neighbours, Croatia and Montenegro. But it has plenty of stunning cities, beautiful mountains, and rivers and lakes where you can relax in the summer sun or practice outdoor adventure.
Where to stay: Accommodation is wide-ranging but my advice is book in advance if you want somewhere nice as so many conferences block book the high end hotels in Bosnia throughout the year. Four star hotels are priced from €40 for a room for a night. Five star boutique hotels are also available, some with Spas that give many Irish hotel Spas a run for their money. For the cash-conscious holidaymaker there are lots of motels also that are priced at around €10 or €20.
Eating out:The food is one of the great reasons to visit Bosnia. Balanced between eastern and western, they are very much of a “grow your own” culture so you will notice the freshness of everything. Meat dishes are a big focus on most restaurant menus with pork, lamb and chicken. Bosnian meat stew and vegetables stuffed with minced meat are another speciality. Mediterranean food is also a big influence and they make their pizzas as good as the Italians.
Nightlife: Most will be surprised to find a cosmopolitan nightlife in Bosnia. The main cities are crammed with cocktail bars and nightclubs while riverfront bars are also popular among tourists and locals. In Banja Luka there are many themed bars like the chocolate bar which serves notoriously good chocolate martinis. The perk of partying in Bosnia is the prices – on average it is a euro for a beer and two euro for a glass of wine.
Points of Interest: Banja Luka is known as the green city and is the perfect summer spot with its riverfront cafes and watersports. Sarajevo is the capital and has been rated as one of the most scenic cities in Europe. It is a living museum of history with mosques, churches, and small workshops mixed in with cafés, souvenir shops, and trendy bars. Bosnia is also home to the famous religious site of Medjugorje which attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Getting around: An ideal introduction to Bosnia for the first time visitor is a road trip from Croatia down south to Bosnia passing through Banja Luka, onwards to Sarajevo, and Mostar, before finishing your trip along the coastline to Neum, the only coastal town.
Tips: Bosnia’s greatest danger is mines. However, if you use common sense and avoid taped areas and remote countryside, you will be fine. The local currency is the mark and there are ATM’s in all the main cities.
Did you know? According to an estimation of the WTO Bosnia will have the third highest tourism growth rate in the world between 1995 and 2020. Bosnia has also become an increasingly popular skiing and ecotourism destination. It is one of the last undiscovered regions of the Southern Alps, with vast tracks of wild and untouched nature attracting adventurers and nature lovers. The central Dinaric Alps are favored by hikers and walkers, containing both Mediterreanean and Alpine climates. Whitewater rafting is a national pastime, with three rivers including the deepest river canyon in Europe, Tara River.
HUNGARY
Because of its eastern block reputation Hungary can be overlooked by holidaymakers but its lakeside resorts, the good food and wine make it a hotspot. Hungary is known for many things but probably most famous for its music, paprika and thermal spas. A long weekend is enough to take in the long list of attractions in the capital. However there is much more to Hungary than just Budapest. It may be landlocked but it has a particularly beautiful spot for a summer holiday - Lake Balaton. All around the lake there are towns that combine culture, parties and spectacular scenery. The best way to explore them and find your own favourite places is by doing a road trip or cycling.
Highlights in Budapest: Testing out the thermal public baths, strudel tasting in Pest, buying edible souvenirs in the Market Hall, people-watching from one of the city’s famous cafes and wandering through the UNESCO listed Castle District.
Where to visit outside the capital: For a summer holiday in Hungary, nowhere compares to Lake Bolaton. Europe’s largest fresh water lake is about a one hour drive from Budapest, depending what part of the lake you visit. Before the lake we went to Gyor, a beautiful city with cobblestone streets and Baroque buildings. It is known as the city of rivers, flowers and festivals – as proven by an abundance of all three. From Gyor we drove to Heviz which is the north western part of Lake Balaton with the world’s largest thermal lake. It is all about rest and relaxation here. Balatonfuhred is the oldest town along the lake, but is by no means dated. Instead its lakefront is flanked by boutique hotels, and high end cafes, perfect for the holidaymaker with luxury in mind. Tihany is another pretty town on the lake and although it is thronged with tourists in summer, it retains some amount of authenticity. The active holidaymaker can cycle the 200km of track around the lake.
Culture: Hungary has lots of churches, abbeys and eight UNESCO listed heritage sites but culture is also big in the form of wine-tasting. Whether your preference is red or white, you can be sure to drink well in Hungary as their homemade wines range from delicious Rieslings to full bodied reds. From abbeys to family run vineyards, there is wine tasting available all over the country.
Eating out: Hungarians take food seriously and like their big portions. Much of their food has the comfort factor with hearty paprika pork dishes, goose liver, and strudel (with whatever filling you like from apple to cottage cheese). The presentation of the food is as important as its taste, which makes every meal a spectacle. Near the lake you can dine on excellent fish like pike perch and sea bream which are often eaten pickled with onion. For a filling starter have goulash. The prices are impressive with most main courses less than €10. The csarda is the most distinctive type of Hungarian venue – an old style tavern offering traditional cuisine. The borozo is a cosy wine venue.
Where to stay: Prices vary dramatically from the capital to the outlying areas. In Budapest for a five star boutique hotel like Lanchid 19 a room can be booked for €140 a night. To stay in the Castle District you will usually pay more. The better option is to book a package deal. Tourist hostels normally are four person rooms with basic facilities. Near the lake there is a great choice of hotels and guesthouses with prices ranging from as little as €30 for a room per night. For families looking to stay a week or more, the best option is to book a villa on the lake. four bedroom house for €250 for a week.
Nightlife: In Budapest there is after dark entertainment to suit all ages in taste. Opera and musical performances are popular forms of entertainment while there are nightclubs, bars and traditional wine taverns for those who want to socialise into the early hours of the morning.
Tips: To save some money touring around Budapest buy a Budapest card for around €20 and you get free transport and entrance to many attractions.
