Enchanting forests, snow-capped peaks and historical cities laced with intrigue: Eastern Europe has untold delights to offer this spring, and you'll get more bang for your buck, too.
Drink a crisp Czech beer, chat with a friendly local and wave any Communist-era preconceptions goodbye. This small landlocked country boasts treasures aplenty, from the medieval castles of Cesky Krumlov to Prague's handsome Old Town streets.
Romans, Ottomans and Habsburgs all wanted a piece of Hungary, and for very good reason. If the romance of the Danube River fails to seduce your (cold, cold) heart, then Budapest, with its grandiose architecture, will surely melt it.
With eclectic cities, scenery and oodles of architecture, Poland is hard to beat. The streets of Krakow and Warsaw echo with history and musical heritage, while the nation's hospitality is every bit as warming as its vodka.