Need help with summer plans
 

I have a son in Moldova. We want to meet for some time in July. The rest of us are in the US. We are looking for something interesting and not too expensive to do next summer in July. We want to make sure there is some beach time but not all beach time. Western Europe is out. We are thinking Israel or Turkey or anything else suggested on this website. Tours for 2 20+ kids and 2 55 adults? We want to spend time together since it's been awhile. Any suggestions will be appreciated. We have no more than 2 weeks maybe only 10 days.

ttt

What about going to Ukraine? It is visa free now for American citizens. Odessa is great city on the sea or you can go to Black Sea resorts (Sochi, Yalta). It is less expensive then Western Europe.

Romania and Bulgaria might be another possibility. Both countries are known for their beaches. Look under Romania for trip reports on the interior.

thanks

Does your exclusion of Western Europe extend to Greece or Cyprus? Even Northern Cyprus? It's not clear where the time and Western Europe constraints come from, but if your son is on a Moldovan wage, but has the time, there are buses from Chisinau to Istanbul.

My Romanian colleagues tell me their beach resorts are expensive and poorly run (though Bulgarian associates tell me the opposite about theirs). But, while Romanian Moldavia is unexciting to visit (Barlad is a candidate for the most dismal city in Europe), the area to the west, from the painted monasteries round Suceava and then south down the Hungarian border, are astonishing. And might not hill-walking be as nice as beaches (remember the Black Sea isn't tidal).

You might try Jordan (beach at Aqaba, sightseeing everywhere), though access from Moldova might be a bit tortuous. And remember you can cross to Israel reasonably easily.

Then there's ex-Yugoslavia. Croatia is wonderful, and easy to drive to from Moldova (though public transport is a pain).