Title says it all really.

We are looking for honeymoon ideas. Originally we were thinking of Lake Garda, but then realised that Italy (and the Lakes) is possibly going to be quite expensive. We then cast our thoughts to Scotland - but we could do this anytime.

Now, we are thinking Eastern Europe. Neither me or Mrs R get that excited by beach / lazing around the pool type holidays. And prefer a bit of culture and interesting places to visit. Now this, coupled with looking for "cost effective" honeymoons, where would you suggest?

My thoughts are somewhere in Poland.

I am aware that some destinations in the East are wising up to the money that can be made from Westerners. I know that I wont be able to do it as cheaply as I did when going to Prague in 1998. But, are there any places left that we could get by for 7 nights for around £500 for the pair of us? Cost of living whilst out there would have to be "affordable" too,

13 years ago

even with inflation I doubt I will find a place that you can buy a pint (or the equivalent) for just .20p

http://www.thomson.co.uk/accom/page/sea ... sults.page

Have found this place. But a lot is going to depend on when "the mrs" can get some time off. As she works in a shcool. I would hope that it's deemed specual circumstances and she can take a week off work....

This first stuff is all about the groundwork to find somewhere "cost effective"

Do you want to travel or stay put?

For a week or so you could fly in an out of Vienna (cheaper flight options).

Bus to Bratislava (Slovakia) for a day or two.

Boat then up river to Budapest.

Trip to Eger and the Hungarian Wine district

Night train to Krakow in Poland (could stop off Brno in Czech Rep)

Back to Vienna

Quite a bit of travel but you get to see quite a bit.

Brati, Eger cheap

Budapest / Krakow - reasonable - but not as cheap as they were.

Vienna - pricey - but lots of choice.

Sort of circular - and different - done the trip myself - if it sounds interesting let me know!

Not sure anywhere in Eastern Europe would keep me happy in one place for a whole week. I would perhaps go a bit further East and stay in Istanbul - I think that would be a fantastic honeymoon destination - and good value too + increased chance of good weather. Could easily fill a week too.

Can vouch for both Budapest and Krakow being great cities. Been to Budapest 4 times, one of my favourite cities, you could go there and the Hungarian lake district which is meant to be really nice.

When are you going and what type of things are you looking to do?

Off the track Budapest was good - went to a market thing for some great food, and found a mad sort of fast food Fajita type place, both delicious.

A Tour would need some sort of hook, though. Maybe a tour of the great football sides of Socialism? Dukla (well a song), Steaua, Red Star, Budapest..

I have been to Budapest and loved it.

Am leaning towards Krakow at the moment.

Is a Tour out of the question?

Nothing is totally out of the question at the moment.

Much will depend on how much money we get from our wedding guests towards the honeymoon.

And how long (if any) time the Wife to be can get off of work.

(liking Knulpucks idea, will show it to the the lady this evening)

Open to all other ideas too......

With Sleazy Jet etc you do not have to fly back from the same place you fly to.

be exotic...

try somewhere like Kuala Lumpar

I would love that, but alas, budget is not likely to stretch that far

We went skiing earlier this year near Bled in Slovenia. Absolutely beautiful place and cheap too. Flew direct from Edinburgh for less than £100 each.

When's the wedding again rich? I've lost my invite.

If it's between spring and summer some cheap bargains can be found "off skiing season" at www.ownersdirect.co.uk

April

Are you taking the kids?

I have been posted out here in Eastern Europe for the last 4 years and toured around a bit. I can vouch for most of the suggestions on here - Budapest, Bratislava etc - all nice. I havent done Poland (but want to) so dont know about Krakow. I was working in Belgrade for a few months and it's alright there too.

Being based out of Bucharest my suggestions would probably be Romanian-centric, but you'll find it definitely ticks the 'cheap' box once you get out into the sticks. There's the Black Sea with some ok-ish resorts - Bulgarian ones are best and even cheaper - from which you could work your way up into the Danube Delta for a real 'getting away from it' experience. Fishing villages and towns only accessed by boat etc. I've just come back from a fishing trip there and it was great.

Failing that there's the Carpathians to north of here and all that Transylvania has to offer. Unspoilt mountain resorts and 'back-in-time' villages. You can even stay in one of Prince Charles' 2 places up there - Viscri and Zalanpatak. I've been to Zalanpatak and it's pretty remote, but really cool. You can taste the village life, go for tours of the countryside on an old horse and cart, and generally enjoy the real Eastern Europe experience.

PM me if you get to Bucharest, or even Sofia as I have a bit of work there too at the moment.

Good luck with your trip.

EDIT: Just read the Istanbul comment and I'd agree with that, too - great place. It's another hour by plane, or I have driven it from here in 14hrs. Just to get an idea on distance.

N0

Thank you for your thoughts. I will be intouch if that's whaat we decide to do

My folks are off on a Thompson cruise soon - Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro. Places are Kober,Lubijalana,Split, Dubrovnik and Venice in Northern Italy thrown in for good measure. Looks great.

I had a few days in Cracow quite recently. Very good place to stay for 3-4 days (nice atmosphere, good music venues, salt mines - and Auschwitz if you can stomach it) and not too expensive despite being probably the most expensive place in Poland. However, I wouldn't stay there the whole time - it is essentially a small city and you will probably feel the need to move on. Maybe try Romania the second half of the week for a big contrast?