For those who want to avoid the intense heat and crowds, spring is the perfect season to get away for a few days and within a reasonable budget. And this is despite recent price increases.

The World Tourism Organization estimates that more than 700 million tourists traveled internationally between January and September 2022. Estimates are even better for 2023, and some operators even expect the industry to return to 2019 levels.

However, it should be noted that prices have increased by 20-30% compared to previous years, as Yuliya Selegyan, tourism manager of the Eximtur agency, explained.

In this context, we wanted to know what are the options for a short vacation this spring that fits into the budget of no more than 500 euros, for transport and accommodation.

Some European destinations subject to the €500 limit (for several days)

To get you started, we’ve also done some flight simulations* and accommodation for European destinations where you can go to sunbathe:

Barcelona: From May 24 to 31, a direct WizzAir flight costs 496 lei, and a private room in a suite with a private bathroom and beach view costs 390 lei per night for two people.

In the city, the most popular and accessible beach is Barceloneta, where you will always find people, bars, restaurants and things to do, but if you feel the need for a quieter place, you can go for a walk along the sea, to the Poblenou area, where you will find a much quieter beach.

Palermo: from May 11 to 14, a direct WizzAir flight costs 379 lei, and an apartment with a terrace in the central part of the city costs 329 euros for two.

Sicily is known for its beauty as well as its beaches with blue waters that can only be seen in movies. From the city, you can take a train to specific destinations where they can be found, such as Cefalù (one hour away), Marinello (3 hours 47 minutes) or Mondello (one hour 20 minutes). All these places are extremely crowded during the high season, so now you can find them free to enjoy them freely.

Malta: from May 8 to 12, a direct WizzAir flight costs 445 lei, and an apartment in the country’s capital, Valletta, costs 514 euros for two.

The city dates back to the 16th century, and although it is small and can be walked around in a few days, it is a real architectural gem, decorated with many buildings from the time of the Knights of Malta, the ancient rulers of the city. .

Best of all, there is also no shortage of charming beaches near Valletta, such as the Blue Lagoon (Comino), which can be reached by boat taxi, or Julian Bay, where you will find Balluta Beach.

Cyprus, Larnaca: from May 4 to 9, a direct WizzAir flight costs 465 lei, and an apartment with breakfast located near the beach costs 600 euros for two.

Larnaca is considered to be one of the oldest cities in Europe, so you won’t be disappointed with the contrast between old and new you’ll see here, and for beaches you have two options at your fingertips: Finikoudes and Mackenzie.

The former is home to an impressive array of restaurants, bars and clubs, while the latter, accessed via a palm-lined promenade, offers crystal-clear, wave-free waters perfect for parents and children. Also here, as it is located just one kilometer from the Cyprus International Airport, you can watch planes land up close.

Palma de Mallorca: From 13 to 16 May, a direct Ryanair flight costs 468 lei, and a double room in a central hotel, including a free taxi from the airport, costs 411 euros for two people.

In addition to discovering a beautiful city full of history, you also have the opportunity to enjoy dream beaches just a short walk, bus or bike ride away. For example, S’Aramador has been recognized as one of the most beautiful sandy beaches in Europe, located in the Cala Mondrago nature reserve, while Es Trenc is the most popular beach in the city.

*prices are indicated at the time of our search

7 nights in Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia

Monastir, Tunisia. PHOTO: TravelZoom.ro

If you are interested in flying in the spring of 2023, find out that there are several charter packages from Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Sibiu, Oradea, Iași and Craiova to Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia.

Even if it slightly exceeds the amount of 500 euros, it is seven nights with flight, transfer and accommodation 4-5* half board and all inclusive. Among the proposals we mention Antalya (Turkey), Hurghada (Egypt) and Monastir (Tunisia).

“If you want options that also include sightseeing, we recommend a vacation in major European cities on a city break, which includes flights, accommodation services and, if desired, airport-hotel-airport transfers.

The duration of a city break is usually three to four nights, but it can be shorter or longer, depending on the available flights, budget and, of course, the desire of tourists to spend more or less time in this place”, – emphasizes travel. manager.

Romanian tourists have already booked holidays in major European capitals (Paris, Rome, Madrid, Lisbon, London, Berlin, Prague, Athens, Copenhagen), as well as in such cities as Barcelona, ​​Valencia, Malaga, Venice, Milan, Nice, Brussels. All these destinations have direct flights from Romania, both by airlines and low-cost flights.

Where we sunbathe in the spring

How can you swim on the beach in April-May in Egypt, where there are already charter tickets from several cities in Romania, says Yulia Selegyan.

Other destinations that fall within the €500 budget, she adds, with the possibility of a beach but with fairly cold water in the spring, are Turkey and Tunisia, as well as Spain (Barcelona, ​​Valencia, Malaga, Majorca), Italy (south/island – Sicily ), Malta and Cyprus.

Bonus: What exotic vacations are worn in 2023

Even if they exceed the budget of 500 euros, we also recommend them to Romanians who are interested in an exotic vacation. In this context, Yulia Selegyan mentions Oman, Mauritius, Maldives, Thailand, Indonesia, Cuba, Mexico or the Republic. Dominican”.

Entrepreneur and tourism consultant Razvan Pascu adds to the information and says that in the spring of 2023, many Romanians will decide to travel outside of Europe, to places such as Jordan, Israel, Dubai, the Caribbean or Japan, during the sakura (cherry blossom) period. .

Vacationing in remote places requires a vacation of at least two weeks, hence the high prices.

“When we talk about faraway destinations, we usually talk about dreams and desires accumulated throughout life, so more and more Romanians choose to plan such exotic vacations carefully and in advance.

Many people know that they will get there only once in their life, so they try to play it safe: they choose good hotels, well-known travel agencies, well-known routes in the market, etc.

There is an incredibly high hype for exotic destinations, and prices start from 3,000-4,000 euros per person for a two-week vacation in such a direction, and on the premium circuit in Australia and New Zealand, the price can reach 8,000 euros per person,” explains Rezvan Pasku.

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