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CNN Live Today

Europe's Hidden Travel Destination Treasures

Aired September 02, 2003 - 11:55   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: If you are thinking about a fall getaway to Europe, consider the less traveled path. After decades behind the Iron Curtain, Budapest is among Europe's best kept secrets. And there is more than goulash and Gabor sisters. The city is enjoying a renaissance, showing off its castles, museums and Baroque architecture. It sure does look good.
Europe has other hidden treasures as well. We are going to talk about them today with our guest in our "Getaways" segment.

Don George is a global editor for the travel publisher Lonely Planet. He joins us from San Francisco this morning.

Mr. George, hello to you. Thanks so much for being here.

DON GEORGE, LONELY PLANET: Good morning, Heidi. Great to be here.

COLLINS: We always like to take a few trips on this show. And, boy, these are some places that I wouldn't have expected.

Croatia, let's start there.

GEORGE: Well, Croatia is a wonderful destination because it offers all the attractions of the Mediterranean countries in terms of culture, cuisine, history, landscape, but about half the price.

So, this is, in recent years, really been increasing in popularity. People have been flocking to Croatia, with good reason, and especially the Adriatic islands of Hvar and Rab and other islands, which are relatively untouristed still, but have so many rich attractions. They are very, very popular. And if I had to choose one place in Croatia to be sure to go to, it would be Dubrovnik and especially the old walled city of Dubrovnik, which is just an extraordinarily beautiful city built out of honey-colored stone with terra-cotta roofs and tiled, cobbled streets.

It's a beautiful historic city, but it's also a poignant example of a city that has rebuilt itself since the bombings in 1991. And you can see, in juxtaposition, the old roof tiles that are being replaced that have been shattered right next to the new roof tiles. And that's such a poignant reminder of how a city can rebuild itself and also how tourism can be a part of that rebuilding process. So I definitely recommend a visit to Dubrovnik.

COLLINS: And you also say Croatia not very expensive to travel to. GEORGE: Not expensive at all. It's about half the cost of other similar Western European countries, so well worth the visit.

COLLINS: All right, we're going to go through this list pretty quickly, if we could.

Budapest, what's great about Budapest?

GEORGE: OK.

Budapest is being called the new Prague. It's attracting a young, vibrant, cosmopolitan group of people, who are there because it's inexpensive, but it offers rich history and culture. Especially in Budapest, you need to visit the communal baths there, which everyone considers a highlight. And there's also a neo-Renaissance opera house that has great operatic presentations there.

COLLINS: Well, yes, it definitely does sounds fantastic.

Barcelona, Spain, what about that? This is really a hot spot.

GEORGE: Well, Barcelona I think is the most sizzling city in Europe right now. It used to be Paris, London, Rome. But Barcelona is right up there.

It offers a marriage of traditional Catalan culture and cuisine, with a very sophisticated cosmopolitan atmosphere. You have got to visit -- our correspondents say a district called the Gracia district, which is packed with eye-catching shops and cafes. And, of course, not to be missed are Antonio Gaudi's awe-inspiring La Sagrada Familia Cathedral...

COLLINS: Wow.

GEORGE: The Park Guell, which is his testament to imagination, a beautiful park overlooking the city. And the Picasso Museum there, too, it's a fabulous place, not to be missed.

COLLINS: It does look fantastic.

Don George, we certainly appreciate your time and envy your job very much. Global editor for the travel publisher Lonely Planet, thanks so much, Mr. George. We appreciate it.

GEORGE: Thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired September 2, 2003 - 11:55   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: If you are thinking about a fall getaway to Europe, consider the less traveled path. After decades behind the Iron Curtain, Budapest is among Europe's best kept secrets. And there is more than goulash and Gabor sisters. The city is enjoying a renaissance, showing off its castles, museums and Baroque architecture. It sure does look good.
Europe has other hidden treasures as well. We are going to talk about them today with our guest in our "Getaways" segment.

Don George is a global editor for the travel publisher Lonely Planet. He joins us from San Francisco this morning.

Mr. George, hello to you. Thanks so much for being here.

DON GEORGE, LONELY PLANET: Good morning, Heidi. Great to be here.

COLLINS: We always like to take a few trips on this show. And, boy, these are some places that I wouldn't have expected.

Croatia, let's start there.

GEORGE: Well, Croatia is a wonderful destination because it offers all the attractions of the Mediterranean countries in terms of culture, cuisine, history, landscape, but about half the price.

So, this is, in recent years, really been increasing in popularity. People have been flocking to Croatia, with good reason, and especially the Adriatic islands of Hvar and Rab and other islands, which are relatively untouristed still, but have so many rich attractions. They are very, very popular. And if I had to choose one place in Croatia to be sure to go to, it would be Dubrovnik and especially the old walled city of Dubrovnik, which is just an extraordinarily beautiful city built out of honey-colored stone with terra-cotta roofs and tiled, cobbled streets.

It's a beautiful historic city, but it's also a poignant example of a city that has rebuilt itself since the bombings in 1991. And you can see, in juxtaposition, the old roof tiles that are being replaced that have been shattered right next to the new roof tiles. And that's such a poignant reminder of how a city can rebuild itself and also how tourism can be a part of that rebuilding process. So I definitely recommend a visit to Dubrovnik.

COLLINS: And you also say Croatia not very expensive to travel to. GEORGE: Not expensive at all. It's about half the cost of other similar Western European countries, so well worth the visit.

COLLINS: All right, we're going to go through this list pretty quickly, if we could.

Budapest, what's great about Budapest?

GEORGE: OK.

Budapest is being called the new Prague. It's attracting a young, vibrant, cosmopolitan group of people, who are there because it's inexpensive, but it offers rich history and culture. Especially in Budapest, you need to visit the communal baths there, which everyone considers a highlight. And there's also a neo-Renaissance opera house that has great operatic presentations there.

COLLINS: Well, yes, it definitely does sounds fantastic.

Barcelona, Spain, what about that? This is really a hot spot.

GEORGE: Well, Barcelona I think is the most sizzling city in Europe right now. It used to be Paris, London, Rome. But Barcelona is right up there.

It offers a marriage of traditional Catalan culture and cuisine, with a very sophisticated cosmopolitan atmosphere. You have got to visit -- our correspondents say a district called the Gracia district, which is packed with eye-catching shops and cafes. And, of course, not to be missed are Antonio Gaudi's awe-inspiring La Sagrada Familia Cathedral...

COLLINS: Wow.

GEORGE: The Park Guell, which is his testament to imagination, a beautiful park overlooking the city. And the Picasso Museum there, too, it's a fabulous place, not to be missed.

COLLINS: It does look fantastic.

Don George, we certainly appreciate your time and envy your job very much. Global editor for the travel publisher Lonely Planet, thanks so much, Mr. George. We appreciate it.

GEORGE: Thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com