Trieste, Italy at $383 RT

3 countries for (a fraction of) the price of one? Allow me to explain…

See, you could land yourself in Venice, wade your way through its wave of tourists, and maybe, just maybe you might make it as far as Padua - on a day trip. 

Or

You could fly into one of Italy's most underrated coastal cities: Trieste. 

Tucked in the far northeastern corner of Italy, it's heavy on charm but not crowds. It’s got a literary soul (James Joyce lived here), a complex history, and an aura that feels more Vienna-meets-the-adriatic than the classic Italian cliche. Not to mention a strong coffee culture (thank you, Illy HQ). 

But here’s the kicker: from Trieste, you’re less than an hour’s bus ride from Slovenia. Ljubljana, the capital, is under two hours away and one of my favorite cities in Europe. Lake Bled? Day trip.

Alternatively, hop a ferry, and you’re in Croatia! The seaside towns of Rovinj or Pula are just a couple of hours down the coast. All in a long weekend!

And at this price, you'll still have euros left over for a bottle of local Teran :-)