For those of us who have lost our husbands, boyfriends and male mates to the F word, now is the time to indulge in a girlie getaway. The best way to escape the football fever is to head to the countries that failed to qualify, poor them but lucky you! Here’s a list from our good friends at Hostelbookers.com of a few especially frugal European escapes:
For: the FOOD Bruges, Belgium Picturesque Bruges makes for a perfect weekend getaway. It does, after all, have every woman’s favorite sweet treat, chocolate! Meandering through the quaint streets, it’s impossible to avoid the chocolate shops with their decadent window displays of giant chocolate sculptures. Hostels in Bruges from $16pppn |
For: the BEACH Dahab, Egypt Egypt is not often suggested as a women-only holiday destination, but the Bedouin coastal resort of Dahab is hassle-free. The appeal of the place lies in its name; in Arabic, ‘Dahab’ means ‘Gold’ and refers to the beautiful stretches of sand. Hostels in Dahab from $4pppn |
For: the SHOPPING Marrakesh, Morocco Any trip to Marrakesh requires a half empty suitcase. The souks make up Europe’s largest outdoor market where you can stock up on leather slippers, beautifully bound books, beanbags and silver lanterns. Hostels in Marrakesh from $9pppn |
For: the NIGHTLIFE
Prague, Czech Republic
Head to the area of Zizkov for up-and-coming clubs including Palac Akropolis. There are a number of great drinking holes such as Hapu which serves delicious fresh-fruit cocktails and there are many ethnic restaurants where you can catch a bite to eat before your big night out. Hostels in Prague from $7pppn
For: the CULTURE
Budapest, Hungary
In Budapest, travelers can visit the dazzling neo-Renaissance Opera House or immerse themselves in one of the many magnificent thermal bath houses such as the Gellért or Széchenyi. Hostels in Budapest from $5pppn.
For: the ARCHITECTURE
Tallinn, Estonia
The city offers a wonderful contrast of historic buildings housing modern bars and cafes. One of the few Russian buildings still standing, the onion domes of the Orthodox Alexander Nevsky cathedral dominates the city’s skyline. Hostels in Tallinn from $8 pppn