✨ Summer 2025 Euro-Asia Travel Blog: 7 Countries, 11 Cities, 10 Days ✈️ Tips, Reviews, and Real Talk

If the travel bug has bitten you like me, then you can relate to the joy and occasional chaos that comes from hopping through countries, collecting memories, and dodging tourist traps. For summer 2025, my sister and I took a Euro-Asia vacation. Since I’ve already been to Portugal, Gibraltar, Spain, Italy, France, and Belgium, we picked a fresh mix of destinations: Albania, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Turkey. 

I am thrilled to announce that I have now officially visited 35 countries. I can’t speak to entire nations, but here are some candid city-by-city reflections. First, we flew from Boston to Dubrovnik with an 8-hour layover in Amsterdam. 

We left the airport by train to see Amsterdam. 

We took a river cruise to explore the city. We grabbed something to eat and headed back to the airport. We boarded our flight, got a taxi to our hotel, and spent 3 days exploring Dubrovnik.

We did the infamous Game of Thrones tour, walked through Old Town, did ziplining, and enjoyed fine dining. Then, we flew from Dubrovnik to Istanbul and left our luggage at a locker to explore Istanbul via a private driver. We returned to the airport after taking the Bosphorus ferry cruise, visiting the Blue Mosque, and the Hagia Sophia museum. We took a late flight to Cappadocia and got a taxi to our hotel. We got up super early and went on a coveted hot air balloon ride over the fairy chimneys. We got back in early, had breakfast, napped, and then woke up for dinner and a tour of Cappadocia. Then we got back to the hotel to plan our next destination. We chose to go to Budapest, but needed to stop in Istanbul (Turkish Airlines hub).

Once we got to Budapest, we explored for a day, and the next day took a train to Vienna. 

We loved Vienna so we stayed there for a couple days doing a day trip to Bratislava. 

When we got back to Vienna, we rested, and the next day we flew to Tirana.

We spent two days in Albania exploring and participating in various water activities. Then we flew back to Croatia with a layover in Frankfurt. 

We explored Cavtat and took a Sunset river cruise, as it's a must-do experience. The next morning, we left to head back to Boston with a short layover in Paris. This airport features all the designer stores for shopping enthusiasts.

Summary

June 28: Hartford, CT, USA to Boston, MA, USA 
June 29: Amsterdam Netherlands 🇳🇱 
June 30: Dubrovnik and Old Town, Croatia 🇭🇷 
July 1: Istanbul, Turkey 🇹🇷 
July 2: Cappadocia, Turkey 🇹🇷 
July 3: Budapest, Hungary 🇭🇺 
July 5: Vienna, Austria 🇦🇹
July 6: Bratislava, Slovakia 🇸🇰 
July 7: Vienna, Austria 🇦🇹 
July 8: Tirana, Albania 🇦🇱 
July 9: Tirana, Durres, Ksamil, and Sarandë, Albania 🇦🇱 
July 10: Frankfurt, Germany to Cavtat, Croatia 🇭🇷 
July 11: Dubrovnik, Croatia to Paris, France to Boston, MA, USA to Hartford, CT, USA

🇳🇱 Netherlands

• Airport Code: AMS                                                                                                
• Capital: Amsterdam
  
• Currency: Euro (€)
  
• Population: ~17.8 million
  
• Prime Minister (2025): Dick Schoof
• Known for: Canals and Dutch tulips

Amsterdam Vibe: Charming canals, cobblestone chaos, and efficient (but not overly warm) locals. I asked an airport attendant where to find the trains, and he said, "Outside." So helpful!

🌊 Activity: Lovers Canal Cruise – ★★★★☆
Multilingual audio tour, ample seating, flexible booking but no food or drink provided and typical European style, you have to pay to use the restroom. You pay to pee!

🍽 Restaurant: Karpershoek Café – ★★★☆☆
We had been traveling since the previous day and needed real food. We had classic Dutch pancakes and coffee. It was good, but not memorable. The service was great, though.

💡 Tip: Trains go directly from Schiphol Airport to the city. Be ready to haul your luggage over uneven cobblestones. Wear comfy shoes! Hotels don't offer day passes, but the airport has luggage storage for a fee. 

🇭🇺 Hungary

• Airport Code: BUD                                                                                                  
• Capital: Budapest
  
• Currency: Hungarian Forint (HUF)
  
• Population: ~9.6 million
  
• President: Tamás Sulyok
  
• Prime Minister: Viktor Orbán
  
• Known for: The Parliament Building on the Danube

Budapest Vibe: When we arrived, we dropped our suitcases off at the hotel as rooms are ready by 3pm. We went out for breakfast and toured the city. It was so underrated, photogenic, and affordable. We saw beautiful architecture, the Ferris wheel, museums, restaurants, and shopping areas. We visited the main attractions listed below, but truthfully, parts of the city smelled like urine, and we saw significant homelessness and graffiti. We walked around at night, and it reminded us too much of NY, so we had to get out of there.

🎢 Activities:

• Self-guided walking tour  - smooth using Google maps

• St. Stephen's Basilica is a grand Catholic church known for its stunning architecture and historical importance

• Funicular ride – ★★★★☆

• Buda Castle and Changing of the Guards ★★★★☆ (cheap, great view, but under renovation)

• Ferris Wheel of Budapest- Tickets; Priority Ticket 6900 HUF Jump the queue; Standard Ticket 4900 HUF Age 12+; Little Child Ticket 2900 HUF for children between 2-11, with ID for proof. 

• Chain Bridge – ★★★★★ (great views and perfect for getting steps in)

• The Parliament - We saw it from Buda Castle, but skipped walking to the Parliament and the Shoes Memorial because we were too tired. 

🏨 Hotel: Kozma Suites & Spa – ★★★★☆
Great service and décor, fully stocked mini bar, large tub and shower with a separate room for toilet. Told us the gym was free but it was 20 euro per day to use the pool. Needless to say, we never checked out the pool. 

🍽 Eats:

• Custom House (English breakfast, waffles, matcha shots)

•  Kozmo Restaurant ★★★★☆ It is located within the hotel and offers a fine dining experience with a focus on Hungarian cuisine and a blend of modern and traditional flavors. We had butter chicken, rice, and naan. The rice was hard, the chicken lacked flavor.
• Chimney Cake Coffee and Gelataria

🚖 Transportation

• MiniBUD transfer: Smooth, affordable, and reliable from airport to hotel, a great way to meet other tourists
• Bus- fairly easy to navigate, purchase at a machine or from a customer service agent, get a copy of the map, and walk to the bus stop. Everyone speaks English to assist, and Google Maps tells you which bus to catch and where to catch it. 

🇦🇹 Austria

• Airport Code: VIE                                                                                                     
• Capital: Vienna
  
• Currency: Euro (€)  
• Population: ~9.1 million
  
• President: Alexander Van der Bellen
  
• Chancellor: Karl Nehammer
  
• Known for: Classical music and Viennese coffee culture. Several renowned composers have strong ties to Austria, such as Wolfgang Mozart, Franz Schubert, Gustav Mahler, Johann Strauss II, and Arnold Schoenberg. You will see Mozart's face all over on souvenirs.
• Fun Fact: As you know, I am a psychologist. One of the most renowned psychologists, Sigmund Freud, was also from Vienna. 

Vienna Vibe: Stylish, walkable, clean, and multicultural. We felt safe walking at night, and every meal hit the mark! This is the place to go shopping and check out the nightlife. 

We took the train from Budapest to Vienna. It was the last stop. We traveled in first class for space, privacy, the ability to sleep, to book a hotel, and excursions. We could have had our booth, but we shared it with an Australian newlywed couple who were so much fun and positive. Vienna is known for cultural experiences such as opera, art, literature, art, and coffee. It is also great for day trips to nearby attractions and countries (Melk Abbey, Salzbug, Bratislava).

🎶 Activities:

• St. Stephen's Cathedral – ★★★★☆ (iconic and gorgeous, gothic cathedral, and free to enter)

• Vitavien- ★★★★★ (amazing cakes and chocolate, located across Stephen's Cathedral, excellent customer service)

Tried the viral Dubai chocolate. It was worth the hype. Not too sweet, but has a smooth, milk chocolate and wafer texture.

• Porgy & Bess Jazz Club – ★★★★☆ (music = amazing, price= 20 euro, seating = meh)

• Shopping: Zara = chaos. Mango and local fruit stands = gold. Purchase a bouquet of flowers, chocolate, cake, and champagne for your hotel room to romanticize your life and bring added charm to the room. The occasion: YOU!

• Naschmarkt: experience Vienna's largest open-air market with a wide array of food stalls and restaurants
• Vienna State Opera
• Museums Quartier (Leopold Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Art History Museum, and Literature Museum)- as a publisher, I visited the Literature Museum only.
• Prater Park- ride the Giant Ferris wheel and explore the amusement park- didn't go as we didn't have our children with us
• Schonbrunn Palace
• Hofburg Palace
• Belvedere Palace
• Burggarten- English-style garden

🏨 Hotels:

• Hotel AM Konzerthaus – ★★★★☆ (beautiful lobby and lounge area, robes and slippers provided, minibar, great location, nice rooms, no pool)

• Hotel Schani UNO City – ★★★★☆ (cute lobby, basic room, no fridge) When we first arrived, we saw a self-check-in station and were flabbergasted. We saw that over on the right by the bar, there was also a check-in desk. We got our keys and found our rooms. No one helped us with our bags. The front desk staff were professional but not warm. What is up with that? We stayed in two different rooms because when we tried to extend our stay, they said the room was already booked. We had two very different experiences. One room had style and pizazz, and the other room was lackluster. The courtyard, although huge with plenty of seating and protection from the rain, was overgrown, and at night it was filled with slugs. The best part was the lounge and bar area, which was well-maintained, modern, and filled with greenery. 

Fairly impressive room:

We enjoyed music through this retro Bluetooth speaker.

Much less impressive room:

We had perfectly functioning AC in our first room, but only a skylight and windows in the second room. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is how different people experience the same hotel very differently. 

Overgrown courtyard

🍽 Restaurants:

• GmoaKeller ★★★★☆- We had our first meal here and the customer service was amazing from entry to exit. We had the classic Wiener Schnitzel (breaded veal cutlet) and Tafelspitz (boiled beef).

I enjoyed my meal, but my sister wasn't a fan of hers. 

• Plachuttas Gasthaus zur Oper ★★★★☆ (classic Viennese)- the main host was nice but our waiter wasn't very pleasant. I got the feeling he was uncomfortable serving Black people, but maybe he was just miserable. We also didn't enjoy the experience even more because we were seated between a family with a farting dog and a couple with a crying baby. Melanie had veal and mashed potatoes and I had sea bream again! I was enjoying the heck out of that fish!

• Chez Bernard ★★★★☆ -costly and small portions of food with fancy drinks, but beautiful atmosphere with rooftop bar. We had the sea bass and only got one side of the fish and a handful of potato bites.

• Saloon ★★★★☆ (burger and fries joint in the Westfield Mall)

• Seven Botanicals at Hotel Schani UNO City ★★★★☆ (well presented food but subpar service. We had Korean chicken, salad, corn fritters, holy pepperoni pinsa, passion fruit juice, & espresso martinis)

🚖 Transportation: Bolt = lifesaver. Much cheaper than metered taxis. Download app. 

Tip. Always have cash on hand. 

🇭🇷 Croatia

• Airport Code: DBV                                                                                                     
• Capital: Zagreb
  
• Currency: Euro (€)
  
• Population: ~3.8 million
  
• President: Zoran Milanović
  
• Prime Minister: Andrej Plenković
  
• Known for: Old Towns and Game of Thrones filming sites

Dubrovnik & Cavtat Vibe: Exceptionally clean, no visible homelessness, and breathtaking coastal views. We stayed in both Cavtat and Dubrovnik. Cavtat was a peaceful and scenic destination, located within walking distance of the City Center. Where we stayed in Dubrovnik, there were plenty of restaurants nearby, but the Old Town was a 10-15 minute cab ride away. 

🎭 Activities:

• Game of Thrones Tour in Old Town Dubrovnik – ★★★★☆ (great tour guide, very knowledgeable, lots of walking, good coverage of TV series, audio set provided, and water supplied at water fountain)

• Zipline Panorama – ★★★★☆ (amazing views, great instructors, less adrenaline rush as not as high or as long as The Wire)

 

• Sunset Cruise in Cavtat – ★★★★☆ (water was rough, sunset was beautiful, captain was funny, music was great, we were given wine, water, and iced tea in plastic cups)

 

🏨 Hotels:

Hotel Komodor (Dubrovnik) – ★★★☆☆
Excellent location by Sunset Beach, but the complimentary breakfast and service were below mediocre. The shower was really small, no one helped us with our luggage, there are stairs to get to the elevator, the room did have a refrigerator and safe, the balcony was so small (held a small table and two plastic chairs) but the view was wonderful!

WHAT WE EXPECTED

It is not on the rooftop and the pool is quite small and was too crowded so we never used it. 

WHAT WE GOT

 

 

Villa Lukas-– ★★★★☆                                                                                                    Apartment with great host, clean facilities, parking, medium-sized bedroom, small bathroom, tiny kitchen and dining area for 2, small living area with air conditioning and small television, small porch, small pool and hot tub, 10 minutes walking from city center and 5 minutes from airport. Convenient and affordable. 

 

 

 

🍽 Restaurants:

• Posat – ★★★★★ Fine dining, seafood excellence. We asked our driver where would he take his girlfriend out if he wanted to impress her and he said Posat. So my sister and I went to celebrate her birthday here. They brought out the raw seafood for us to see before preparing. They brought it out after it was done before serving. They showcased dessert. There was a live piano performance to popular songs from the 80s. We are were treated like royalty. We got what we paid for!

• Dubravka Restaurant and Cafe – ★★★★★ casual and tasty, overlooks Old Town, watch people kayak as you eat. Watch out for pigeons. Outdoor fans for hot days provided. 

• Restaurant Dalmacija- good prices, great taste but not filling due to very small portions, excellent customer service. Loved the waiter! First we had a female take our order, then a manager check on us and then a waiter brought our deserts and check. They were all very nice, but he had me laughing! We were joking about not liking the food after cleaning our plates. He was like "Yeah, I could tell!" Then he joked about my card declining, and I was like it did not. He was shaking when he took me card. Just a great experience overall. We had salmon, Grilled fish platter with vegetables (sea bass filet, grouper, filet, squids, shrimps), tiramisu, and Apple strudel with vanilla ice cream
  

🚖 Tip: Reliable drivers: Ivo Stimac (=385 95 914 8875) for airport transfer, Stephen (+385 92 327 5375) for Dubrovnik tours, and Nikola (+385 99418 3847) for Cavtat transportation. I swear these three guys made Croatia so much more exciting. Ivo gave us knowledge, Stephen gave us great vibes and conversation, and Nickola was so reliable. He took us to and from the airport and to our river cruise. He was honest and helpful. 

🇹🇷 Turkey

Capital: Ankara
Currency: Turkish Lira (₺) 1 USD = 40.26 Turkish lira

Population: ~86 million
President: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Known for: Mosques, hot air balloons, and vibrant bazaars

Fun Fact: Turkey, also called Türkiye, occupies a unique geographic position, lying partly in Asia and partly in Europe. Throughout its history, it has acted as both a barrier and a bridge between the two continents. This is my first Asian landing! Another continent added!

Istanbul Vibe: Bustling, hot, chaotic—but full of iconic sights and flavors.
🕌 Activities:

• Bosphorus Cruise – ★★★☆☆ (great views, no descriptions or audio, no snacks included)

• Blue Mosque – ★★★★★ (wear head and shoulder covering)

• Hagia Sophia  ★★★★☆

• Grand Bazaar – didn't stop too much traffic and crowds

🍴 Street snack: Roasted corn

If you are anything like me, ask them not to add salt!

🏨 No overnight stay in Istanbul.

🎈 Cappadocia Vibe: Surreal and serene.

🕌 Activities:

• Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Tour Over Fairychimneys- we booked on Viator for $260 for 2 adults- totally worth it! Our driver picked us up from the hotel and took us to the attraction. They provided a snack and drink. He took all our photos and videos. We had sparkling apple juice after and got Flight certificates. We also purchased 360 videos (it wasn't really worth it) for 30 euros.

🏨 Hotel: Hera Caves – ★★★★★

One of the best hotels on our vacation. Great customer service, bag taken to room, refrigerator and safe provided, huge bathroom, robes and slippers included, walking distance from restaurants but away from crowds. Safe to walk, airport transportation provided at a reasonable cost (30 euros compared to metered taxi). 

🍴 Food:

• Ramiz+ Gorem: Great local breakfast

 

• Cappadocian Cuisine: Best meal on the entire trip. Warm, homemade dinner, served by husband, wife, and children. It was beyond mouthwatering, it was orgasmic! I wanted to buy every spice that was used in the restaurant, but instead I bought tea and jams as that's all I could find.  

 

• Dondurma- ice cream (delicious, cheap, cash only, friendly and funny vendor)

🚖 Contact

Kadir +90 530 349 41 97. He was our driver in Cappadocia. He knows where to eat, visit, and owns Flinstone Travel for tours. 

Meteen ±90 507 772 7579 or email easytouristanbul@gmail.com He was our driver in Istanbul. He drove a Mercedes van and had it stocked with beverages. 

Tip. Download WhatsApp for communicating

🇸🇰 Slovakia

Capital: Bratislava
Currency: Euro (€)
Population: ~5.4 million
President: Zuzana Čaputová
Prime Minister: Robert Fico
Known for: Bratislava Castle and medieval Old Town, Men at work statue 

Bratislava Vibe: Beautiful architecture, cool Old Town, young, fun, walkable, and good nightlife.

We took the Omio train from Vienna to Bratislava. We downloaded the Omio app and asked the front desk to print our booking confirmation. Be sure to arrive 30 minutes before departure to find your gate and print your tickets. 

🚋 Activity

• Golden Express Tram Tour – ★★★★☆
  Best landmarks in one comfy ride, but no hop-on, hop off, except at Bratslavia Castle and the Old Town. 

• Sen Nails manicure and pedicure-★★★★☆- Great service. Cash only

 

🍽 Restaurants

• Sweet Jungle: ★★★★☆Located at Michalská 6, 811 03 Staré Mesto, this establishment offers fresh juices, smoothies, coffee, lemonades, milkshakes, frappes, and bubble tea. It was tasty, but not cold. 
• Koliba Kamzik Bratislava- ★★★☆☆- great customer service, beautiful restaurant, great presentation, horribly salty. 

🏛 Highlights:

• Blue Church

• St. Martin’s Cathedral

• Bratislava Castle and Baroque Gardens – ★★★★★

• Most SNP (UFO Tower) – saw the observation deck, but we didn't venture there. Admission is $12 and there is a restaurant, as well. 

• Man at work

• Spa Pedicure at Seven Nail Spa – ★★★★☆ conveniently located across from the train station and open on Sunday. Cash only. 

🇦🇱 Albania

• Capital: Tirana
  
• Currency: Albanian Lek (ALL): 1 USD = 84.19 Albanian Lek

Population: ~2.8 million
President: Bajram Begaj
Prime Minister: Edi Rama
Known for: Beaches, bunkers, and Balkan warmth                                                          Fact: Although Mother Teresa was born in the Ottoman Empire (now Skopje, North Macedonia), her family was of Albanian descent. She visited her mother's and sister's graves in the 1990s and is considered an honorary Albanian citizen. 

Albania Vibe: Warm and scenic, though underdeveloped in parts.

🏨 Hotel: MK Hotel, Tirana – ★★★★☆
Modern, comfortable, huge pool, breakfast 20 euro pp, close to the airport (5-10 minutes), far from everything else but restaurant on premises, souvenir shop and cafe on grounds. No one helped us with our luggage. Beach towels were provided at the front desk upon request. They also had airport transfer and called taxis for us when needed. Funny enough it was the only hotel that we stayed at that had an iron in the room, and they were the only ones who had body wash that didn't smell like furniture polish! Most hotels had a king bed or twin beds. I recommend staying here if you have an early morning flight, but stay in Durres for nightlife, walking, and things to do. 

Restaurants:

• Bones Steakhouse Tirana- serves prime beef, fresh seafood, and regional Albanian specialties, located at mk hotel Tirana

• Kamay Beach- tasty seafood cuisine but very small portions. I had fish again! We paid 40 euros for two meals. 

• Bus stopped for breakfast

🚌 Tour: Bus Day trip to Ksamil, Sarandë, and the Blue Eye

• Blue Eye: Beautiful, but a bit overrated. Freezing water and a small attraction. More impressive for those who enjoy hiking, biking, and walking.

• Hand of Ksamil: Much smaller than expected, but beautiful views on the ocean

• Beaches: Gorgeous blue waters, but mostly pebble shores (bring water shoes)

💭 Reflections

Each country brought something special to our journey.

• Croatia stood out for its cleanliness, beauty, wealth, and warmth of locals.

• Austria impressed with its class, walkability, ease of travel to other destinations, and great food.

• Hungary, while photogenic, surprised us with its strong odors, graffiti, and visible homelessness.

• Albania gave us honest beauty—Ksamil and Sarandë beaches were stunning, even without soft sand and pebbles.

• The Netherlands boasts beautiful canals, houses, and museums.                                       
• Turkey showed us cities and suburbs. We loved the beauty of the architecture in Istanbul, but didn't care for the crowds, traffic, or aggressive salespeople. We loved everything about Cappadocia, from hot air balloons to architecture, scenic view of mountains, and delicious Turkish cuisine.                                                                                
• Slovakia provided a historic feel, but it was worth a one-day trip.

✨Tips:

• Washcloth: Bring your own, few hotels provide them.

• Train: Travel by train between Budapest–Vienna–Bratislava to save money and time.

• Bolt: Reliable ride-share across many cities. Download the app. 

• WhatsApp: Use WhatsApp to communicate and share photos with family and friends. 
  
• Cruise- If you aren't as adventurous as we are and want a safer way to travel and see as many countries, book a flight to Barcelona and take a cruise from there. A couple of my friends just did that and had a great time. However, consider that you will only have 6-8 hours per country, and our experience may be more touristy than going there and walking around on your own time.        
  • Celebrity Cruise has an itinerary including Spain, Italy, Turkey, and Greece     
  • Norwegian has an itinerary including Spain, Italy, Malta, and France                  

• Splurge: Pick one fine-dining experience or hotel (your preference) per country—you’ll never regret it.

Do you have questions about the places I visited? Drop a comment.

And while you're here, grab a copy of Olivia Travels for your son or daughter to instill a love for travel through various modes of transportation. I took a bus to the plane to a train to another plane to a taxi and walked to a speedboat.  

Until next time,

Melissa 🌍✈️