Live Your Best Lives
Hello everyone! I'm Tito, the manager of China-TravelNote in Europe, America and Australia.
I've been receiving a steady stream of inquiries from tourists lately, and it seems everyone's gearing up for National Day travel!
Many have mentioned their desire to visit Europe, but they don't want to go on a "special forces check-in/rush tour" itinerary, seeing attractions that lack specific destination characteristics. Furthermore, with the euro's recent exchange rate soaring to 8.4, they're worried they'll spend a fortune and not get enough out of the experience! So, are there any lesser-known European countries with hidden gems, beautiful scenery, and a rich history that's still affordable?
Actually, there are some common misconceptions about Europe! As long as you choose the right destination, it's not that expensive!
Fortunately, my colleagues in the office traveled to various European countries and cities this year. Combined with my own experience living and traveling in Europe, I've found three excellent value-for-money itineraries. Seize the opportunity during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays to avoid the crowds in China and have a truly enjoyable trip!
📸On the left is our product manager Roderick~
Relaxed, good-looking, and full of stories, let's take a look at [A Different Europe] through the eyes of product managers~
[The mountain scenery rivals Switzerland, and the coastline rivals southern France.]
Roderick, China-TravelNote's outbound product manager with the broadest coverage, traveled to Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro during the Qingming Festival holiday. He immediately shared his experience with everyone after returning: "It was so much fun, and the deals were incredible!"
Roderick took the classic self-driving route of "Serbia + Bosnia and Herzegovina + Montenegro", passing through Belgrade, Sarajevo, Mostar and Budva. Along the way, not only was the scenery beautiful, there were few people and the pace was relaxed, but the cost of food and accommodation was less than half of that in Western Europe.
📍Belgrade
📍Yugoslav Embassy Memorial Site
Spend an afternoon sunning yourself and sipping coffee by Mostar's Old Bridge for just €1; a hearty, authentic meal in Serbia costs just ¥100. Compared to popular European destinations, Serbia is a true "low-cost, cultural gem."
Roderick's favorite spot along the way wasn't any popular Instagram spot, but Montenegro. Heading south from the Serbian border, the car chugs along the Adriatic Sea, with mountains to the left and the azure sea to the right, passing quiet towns and lazy harbors along the way.
Budva is like a miniature version of Nice, with pebble beaches, seaside castles, and locals who love playing cards and chatting in the sun;
Budva
Kotor lies quietly deep in the fjord, the ancient city hidden in the embrace of the mountains, the red roofs are scattered around, and the city walls spiral from the cliffs all the way to the clouds.
📍Kotor
Here, you can live the ideal slow life—basking in the sun on your B&B balcony in the morning, enjoying seafood by the harbor in the afternoon, and listening to the town church bells ringing in the evening. There are no crowded attractions or noisy tourists, just the quiet and peaceful days and beautiful scenery forgotten by time.
💬If you choose this Serbia-Bosnia-Herzegovina route🌟,
you'll be the one to "experience a rare European experience."
👉 Visa-free access to all three countries, no long visa waiting period, just go!
🎈 Immersive gameplay: three sections of light hiking, jeep off-roading, and visiting mountain families.
🚶🏻♀️ The route goes from forest hiking to the Alps to the Adriatic Sea, connecting the mountains and the sea.
🏠 Accommodation: Forest cabins, alpine towns, and beachfront stays, each with a different style.
🔻 Recommended itinerary:
Depart from Belgrade | 10 days and 9 nights
A lesser-known European country: Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (Visa-free) | Lonely Planet recommends
￥19800 from 20 people registered Register now[The Romance of Central Europe, the Ruggedness of Eastern Europe]
Like Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, countries located on the Balkan Peninsula have, due to their unique geographical location, become a battleground for East-West geopolitics, directly influencing the region's culture and landscape. During the May Day holiday, Qing Yungang, Director of the Middle East and Africa region for China-TravelNote, led a tour of the five Balkan countries. Upon returning, he exclaimed, "This is completely different from any Europe I've ever been to!"
Qingyun has been to many places in Europe, and he is very familiar with the classic golden routes such as France, Italy and Switzerland, but this trip to the Balkans refreshed his understanding of Europe: here there is both the historical depth of old Europe and the undeveloped primitive feeling. It can be summed up in two words - diversity!
Qingyun's favorite destination of the tour was Croatia. "This country has so many elements that make it so appealing!"
Split
Dubrovnik, with its medieval old city on one side and its azure coastline on the other, offers a wealth of cultural and natural scenery. You can also go on a star-chasing trip – the filming locations for “Game of Thrones” are scattered throughout the old city. Wherever they go, the group members look for “the steps Cersei walked on” and “the city wall that Tyrion Gale looks out at,” as if they were in Westeros.
Bird's-eye view of Ducheng
Ducheng Ancient City
seaside
But it was Mostar and Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina that particularly struck him as familiar.
"These places are very similar to the Middle Eastern culture I'm familiar with." The call to prayer in the old city, the coffee brewed slowly over a charcoal fire on the street, and the vibrant atmosphere of a multiethnic and multi-religious market all made him feel that this place wasn't the typical European experience, but it was also full of warmth.
📍Sarajevo
During this trip, Slovenia quietly became a pleasant surprise for Qingyun, especially the small town of Bled, surrounded by a turquoise lake. "It's quiet, small, and soothing,"
she said. Formed by meltwater from the Alps, this glacial lake has a mirror-smooth surface. A red and white wooden boat slowly paddles past, reflecting the distant Bled Island and its small church like a fairytale. It's the perfect place to pause during a European journey, to rest your mind.
📍Lake Bled
At the end of the trip, Qingyun arrived in Budapest. Here, we experienced both the grandeur and majesty of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the gentle romance of the Danube River at night, illuminated by the lights.
During the day, we ascended Buda Castle to overlook the city's red rooftops and riverbank; at night, we took a boat across the Chain Bridge, watching the Parliament Building cast a golden reflection on the water.
From the streets of Sarajevo, passing through the Adriatic coast, to the Royal Palace in Budapest, this journey is like stepping on the heartbeat of Europe and walking into its soul.
💬 If you follow Xiaoxia's lead
, 🙋🏻♂️ you'll be one of those people who "spend less, see more, and stay better" in Europe!
👉 Direct flights to Budapest + nationwide connections, play as soon as you land
🏠 4-star rating throughout the trip + consecutive stays in Dubrovnik + upgrade to a 5-star hotel in Budapest, with a full refund if your visa is rejected
✅ Classic + rare attraction combination: Figure 8 train, Lake Bled cruise, and Dubrovnik Walls are all included
🥣 Delicious and diverse cuisine: Chinese, Western, and Mediterranean, no two meals are the same
🔻 Recommended route:
Departing from Shanghai丨12 days and 10 nights
Tracing the Balkans: Dreaming of Croatia | From the Smoke of World War I to the Adriatic Sea
￥30800 from 45 people have registered Register now[Medieval scenery of mountains, rivers and lakes]
Qingyun's trip to the five Balkan countries came to an end in Budapest. He said: "From here, I can go to the Czech Republic and Austria. I also want to take tourists to those countries to have a good look..." Budapest is the end of Qingyun's journey and also a dash to the broader map of Central and Eastern Europe.
📍Budapest
Finally, it's Tito's turn as Product Manager for Europe, America, and Australia.
He's been traveling in Europe for four years, visiting over ten countries. During my studies, I frequently traveled across Europe. After reading about the adventures and surprises shared by the two product managers in the Balkans, I'm eager to share two Central European countries: the Czech Republic and Austria. Their stories offer a completely different take.
A European trip doesn't necessarily start in Paris or Rome. During my studies abroad, I visited the Czech Republic and Austria.
Entering Salzburg from the German border, the streets echoed with the melodies of Mozart. Climbing Hohensalzburg Castle, the view of fields and mountains is breathtaking!
Then we went to Hallstatt, a small town nestled between the Alps and a lake. It was a picture straight out of a postcard: the mountains reflected in the lake, swans swam by the shore, and the wooden houses shimmered golden in the sunlight. Sitting on the balcony in the early morning, listening to the chime of the bells, was a soothing experience.
Across the border, the Czech town of Český Krumlov offered another pleasant surprise. Climbing the castle and gazing out over the crimson rooftops, it felt like stepping onto a medieval chessboard. In the summer, with fewer tourists, we drifted along the town's river, where the gentle current gave the entire town a soothing, tranquil feel.
Prague was the highlight of the trip. Watching the sunset from Charles Bridge, listening to the bells ringing in Old Town Square, and walking through the quiet stone alleys of the Jewish Quarter—each scene was profound and captivating. It lacks the bustle of Paris, but possesses a tranquil beauty that is unique to Eastern Europe.
Compared to the internet-famous cities in Western Europe, these places are more relaxed, more authentic, and more culturally rich. While prices are slightly higher than Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, they're still much lower than mainstream European routes, especially during off-peak seasons. The experience is excellent!
💬If you've chosen this Czech-Austrian-Hungarian Central European route🤩
, then you're the type who'd "spend your vacation on the stone steps of a palace."
🏠 China-TravelNote's Central European hotspot: 2 nights in Prague and 2 nights in Vienna.
✅ Schönbrunn Palace, Fisherman's Bastion, Danube River Cruise, and Lake District Train, all included.
👉 Retro towns, cultural ancient capitals, and natural lakes, all in one place!
🔻Recommended route:
Departing from Shanghai丨12 days and 10 nights
Tracing the Heart of Europe: A Medieval Journey through the Czech, Austrian, and Hungarian Kingdoms
Starting from ￥29800 916 people have registered Register nowCopywriter @Tito
