9.Athens, Greece
Where simplicity is the ultimate extravagance
Why it's so cheap: Greece is a financial hot mess at the moment, teetering on the brink of Grexit and stumbling over debt repayments. For you, that means a heck of a deal on a badass summer holiday. In Athens, you'll find all the typical tourist-gouging around the Acropolis and surrounding area, but put some distance between yourself and the Parthenon and you'll be treated with some very reasonable prices. You'll find that you can eat very well in the Greek capital on a budget, save for splurging on a seafood dinner or two. Some of the cuisine's best are cheap, simple pleasures made on the fly -- there's souvlaki, pastries such as spanakopita and tiropita, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and everyone's favorite foamy coffee, frappé.
Why you should go: Athens' ancient history will lead you to believe it's old-fashioned, but it's actually gloriously dualistic, with modern industrial venues and hipstery vintage-cloaked cafes. It's actually home to Europe's most creative, happening bar scenes at the moment, with the kitschy haunts of neighborhoods Exarcheia and funky Psiri, which was a very rough area up until the '90s. Besides legendary bars such as The Clumsies and Brettos, one of Europe's oldest bars with its own distillery making liqueurs, there are underground jazz bars and, of course, traditional taverns. Along with all the shopping at the flea market Monastiraki and upscale Kifisia, you'll likely be boozed- and browsed-out before even hitting the islands.
10.Glasgow, Scotland
William Wallace died for your 15-pint sub crawl
Why it’s so cheap: From the East Coast you can fly to Glasgow for under $500 -- it’s also just a train ride away from London, Edinburgh, or pretty much any major UK city. (The Virgin rail from London leaves every 40 minutes, takes less than five hours and can be had for less than $40.) Hotels -- including major US standard bearers like Hilton -- can be snatched up for under $100 a night, and an all-day subway pass is about $3. You’re going to need to that, by the way.
Why you should go: The largest city in Scotland is often overlooked for its capital sister to the east. And while Edinburgh boasts gorgeous castles and hilly historical charm, Glasgow’s got grit, baby. Glasgow’s industrial core drips with authenticity; there’s no mistaking its independent ruggedness. But she’s a cosmopolitan place, too, with far more to offer than haggis and Scotch whisky (you should try both, though, and stick with multifarious options of the latter throughout your stay).
Glasgow has great museums, parks, churches, blah blah: If you’re hunting for a truly unique experience, do what droves of idiot collegiate American students abroad have done for years: The Glasgow Subway is a loop. Hop on and, then, hop off at each station, heading to the first pub you spy. Once there, have a drink, chat up the locals, and repeat. There are 15 stations (and, therefore, drinks) in the “sub crawl” and, from experience, a couple of them are in dodgy areas. So, be careful but, ya know, go nuts and see the city -- if through blurry lenses by the end of the affair.
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