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Experience Europe’s unspoiled wilderness and friendlier prices in Slovenia.

Despite having adopted the Euro in early 2007, Slovenia's prices are still comparably less than those of its neighbors. With Alps bordering Italy, this former Yugoslav territory provides a perfect base to explore emerald mountain lakes as well as the historical architecture and caves of the Adriatic coast.

Getting There: Direct flights to the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana can be as high as $1500 in the summer tourist months. A cheaper alternative is to fly to London and buy a separate flight through a budget carrier to Slovenia, such as EasyJet or Ryan Air, who offer web fares as low as 70 euros roundtrip. Another cost-concious option is to fly to Venice and sail to the Adriatic coast of Slovenia or to depart by train or bus from Austria.

Transportation: Within Slovenia, the train system is inexpensive though the bus system is more frequent. You can cross the Slovenian border by both bus and train from many different routes. The train from Vienna is six hours and costs around 60 euros while the hour-long bus ride from Trieste, Italy, is only 3 euros. To visit the mountainous areas and more rural zones of the country, it is more convenient to rent a car for around 50 euros a day.

Accommodations: Slovenia is quite compact and easy to navigate, so it is reasonable to make one city your base and take day trips to Slovenia's diverse regions; many hotels charge a sizeable fee for only staying a single night. Accommodations are more expensive in summer months, but you can find rooms in mid-range hotels for around 50 euros per night in Ljubljana if you book early.

Consider staying in the picturesque town of Bled to explore the Alps. Both camping and villas are available here for reasonable rates. Private guesthouse rooms are also abundant in Alpine towns and offer rates as low as 30 euros a night for a double room.

Activities: With over half of its land forested, Slovenia is a nature lover's paradise. Visit the country's highest peak, Mount Triglav, for affordable skiing in winter months and white water rafting during the summer. Explore the rugged mountainous scenery of Bled via kayak or paraglide for as low as 30 euros per trip. You can also explore Bled's scenery on foot by walking around the lake or to the nearby Vintgar Gorge. Further south, the limestone plateau of the Adriatic coast provides many deep caves for the subterranean explorer.

For a taste of Slovenian culture, Ljubljana's annual Summer Festival showcases plays, dancing and musical performances every July and August. For the traveler looking for some R&R, get pampered at one of Slovenia's many spa and wellness centers while the history lover can discover the Gothic architecture of the Venetian-style port city of Piran. Consider taking the catamaran from Piran to Venice for a day or weekend trip. Boats leave more frequently in summer months and cost approximately 60 euros round trip for the two-hour journey.

If you're willing to spend a little more dough, check out our luxury guide to Slovenia.