Six European travel destinations to avoid the summer crowds

Canadians put Europe on their summer calendars every year, even though they know it’s expensive, full of tourists and often very hot. Unexpected demand since the pandemic is the main culprit, as well as renewed confidence in travel in general, are both expected to push sales this summer to better levels than in 2019.

“When you look at our top destinations for 2023, four out of 10 are European countries,” said Una O’Leary, general manager of Virtuoso Canada’s luxury travel group. These hot spots include the usual suspects: the United Kingdom, Italy, France and Portugal.

The Virtuoso 2022 travel trends study, conducted in partnership with YouGov, found that “Canadians are more likely to travel to Europe than they are to travel within their own country,” says O’Leary, adding that these research numbers are also predictive. Compared to 2019, travelers plan to spend 12 percent more in 2023.

“I find that Canadian customers in general – unlike American customers – are more price conscious, which may be due to the dollar-euro exchange rate,” said Ralph Crawford, Tully’s vice president of luxury travel. “Many Canadians are struggling with the prices some hotels are charging this winter — triple, if not double, what they were pre-Covid.

While all this talk of population and spending has died down, all has not gone away. There are quieter and lesser-known destinations worth exploring – alternatives to the favourites, equally compelling and authentic European experiences – and few tourists.

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Visit the Douro Valley, Portugal instead of the Rhone Valley, France

What’s the noise?

“With options to explore by train, river and road, the Douro Valley offers the tranquility of its vineyards and the warmth of summer and shoulder months,” said Tim Morgan, CEO of Jern, a Forbes Travel partner. Instruction. River cruises depart from Porto and head east, taking in the picturesque towns of Regua and Pinhão before heading to Vega de Terón on the Spanish border.

Although Douro is known for its port wine, it also produces unfortified wine, with several local grape varieties grown in 13 different regions. This part of Portugal is not only beautiful but also delicious, with village-square lunch tables lined with cod croquettes, grilled sardines and incredible local produce. HamCured ham similar to Italian prosciutto.

Visitors will find this northern part of the country steeped in history, with centuries-old monasteries, medieval castles and churches. Parque Arqueologico do Vale do Coa is an archaeological site that displays Upper Paleolithic and Neolithic rock art dating back thousands of years.

If you go: Good accommodation can be found in Durro for around $200 in July, including Lamego Hotel and Life in Lamego. “Take the train or take a cruise on the Douro River to avoid the busy airports and roads,” says Morgan. “Book your visit to the cultural hubbub of Porto or Madrid. Europe this summer all memories are small moments in big centers – this is the key to the mix.

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Visit Sicily, Italy, Maremma, Italy instead

What’s the noise?

“Tucked away at the southern tip of Tuscany, where the sand is framed by pine groves, the Maremma is the corner of Italy that locals know,” says O’Leary. “Therefore, following the increase in demand, it is an alternative to Sicily. White Lotus result”

Peace and quiet? You’ll find it among the dozens of wineries and parks in this coastal area bordering the Tyrrhenian Sea. Archaeological museums such as the Museo Archeologico e d’Arte della Maremma and the Citta del Tufo are big draws here, with the region’s pre-Roman Etruscan heritage attested by ruins, tombs and caves.

Orbetello is a good starting point. Two lagoons formed by three dams offer several beautiful beaches leading to the picturesque Monte Argendaria peninsula.

The country towns of Sovana, Sorano and Pitigliano form a small triangle inland, offering fascinating village life, medieval and renaissance architecture and plenty of Etruscan artefacts. Deke down to Il Giardino dei Tarocchi, a sculpture garden filled with nutty mosaic-stuck statues of tarot-card characters.

If you go: Fly into Rome and take a 90 minute train to Grosseto for $30 return. Bike tours are popular (and challenging) in this neck of the woods. Holiday farms in the Maremma are plentiful, and can be priced as low as $1,500 per week. Expect to pay around $300 for a hotel in or near Orbetello.

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From Santorini, Greece, visit Paros, Greece

What’s the noise?

“Paros, a little-known pearl of the Cyclades, has all the classic charm of Mykonos or Santorini, but with far fewer people,” says O’Leary. “Visitors will find classic whitewashed buildings, quiet bougainvillea-lined streets and pine-lined beaches.”

The sapphire waters and golden sands of the Aegean Sea make Paros an island paradise. The romantic Naoussa Bay on the north side of the island – with the beaches of Monastirii, Kolympetres and Piperi – has seen a lot of tourist development in the form of new villas built in Cycladic architecture, while Drios on the south coast is equally popular. Thanks to the port Golden Beach. Fair winds make the eastern part of the island popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers, especially the beaches of Santa Maria and Crisci Acti.

The capital of Parikia – the starting point for all the boats – has enough charm, small bars and cafes, and good food (chicken baked in a clay pot, delicious zucchini and artichoke broad beans).

Before tourism, Paros used the money to mine white marble, which he later used to build many famous works of art, including the Venus de Milo.

If you go: Previous – Paros hotel prices double in the summer, to the range of $350 to $500. Even the smallest two-star places are $200+. Paleomilos Spa Hotel is on the radar. On the bright side, there’s not much to spend here except your stomach. Visitors can take a one-hour discounted Volotea Airlines flight from Athens for $75 return.

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Visit Slovenia instead of Croatia

What’s the noise?

A little like Italy, a little like Croatia, Slovenia is Europe’s best-kept secret – but maybe not for long. “Well-known Slovenia is a rich cultural heritage, a mix of Slavic, Germanic and Mediterranean influences,” says Crawford. Although it is a small country, it has excellent transport links, making it easy to explore all the attractions in a short time.

One of Europe’s greenest countries – half of it is forest – Slovenia is a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts, including hiking, cycling, rafting, caving and canoeing. Sitting on the edge of Triglav National Park, it is famous for its natural beauty with alpine mountains and snow-capped lakes, including a beautiful lake.

The capital, Ljubljana, is a great culinary destination, with cuisine influenced by its neighbors – Italy, Austria and Hungary. Fill up on cheese or veal, carb-rich stews, and pork-rich dolto dumplings. Slovenia produces some excellent wines, especially in the Karst, Vipava Valley and Podravje regions.

If you go: You can easily fly into Venice and take a three-hour drive to Ljubljana. “It’s a great holiday in combination with Venice and Croatia,” says Crawford. The average price of a hotel, both rural and urban, is $250. Ljubljana is big on boutique hotels, including the ONE66 Hotel, and treat yourself to a forest treatment at the renovated Hotel Bohinj in Triglav National Park.

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Visit Montenegro instead of Venice, Italy

What’s the noise?

Under Venetian rule for nearly 400 years, this tiny country is a favorite in the Balkans for its postcard-perfect beaches. The Bay of Kotor is particularly “well-kept”, a great haven for surfers heading to the beaches, while visitors to the party town of Budva hang out on one of the region’s 35 beaches. When you tire of the sea and sand, take a panoramic hike in the Durmitor or Prokletje mountains, or take to the highlands with wildlife in Biogradska Gora National Park.

Montenegro’s turmoil of rulers over the centuries has filled its history books with drama. “Montenegro has an interesting past, with several well-preserved historical sites: the medieval walled city of Kotor, the ancient Roman city of Doklia and the Ostrog Monastery, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Balkans,” says Crawford.

If you go: Although there are international airports in Podgorica and the resort town of Tivat, Montenegro is easily accessible from Dubrovnik, Croatia (less than an hour’s drive), the airport offers more international flight options. Back-to-back four-star hotels on the Bay of Kotor cost around $250 in July, including Hotel Astoria Kotor and Palma Bay Hotel.

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Visit the Turkish Riviera instead of Spain’s Costa del Sol

What’s the noise?

Once a major Roman port, the gateway to the Turkish Riviera – known as the Turquoise Coast – is favored for its mix of ancient and modern, with a more laid-back east-meets-west vibe than Istanbul. “With some of the best air connections in the world, Turkey and its Mediterranean villages to the south are easily accessible for culinary and beach experiences. The small ports of Marmaris and Kas are party towns, while Belek is famous for its hot springs. The Blue Lagoon at Oludeniz is absolutely stunning,” says Morgan.

In addition to golden sands, jade seas and green hills, the region boasts world-class cuisine and dozens of Roman ruins along the coast. As the country recovers 850 kilometers from the recent earthquake, the area is open and welcoming tourists (according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, tourism is a growing sector and is predicted to represent 11 percent of Turkey’s economy within a decade). In particular, the International Sustainable Tourism Conference 2023 will be hosted in Antalya in May.

If you go: Accommodation in Antalya, the capital of the region, is very reasonable in the summer, even five-star places are available for less than $400. “Antalya is the perfect port of call for your traditional cruise in the warm waters of the Mediterranean. lay off schooner,” says Morgan, on what are known as blue cruises (nothing but blue skies and seas) — private charters with cabins and five to seven cabins that cost an average of $250 a day.