Where next? and where is less expensive

I am going to suggest Central Europe, Budapest in particular...............of course.
Some Resources

US News and World Reports Best Affordable Destinations in Europe: http://travel.usnews.com/Rankings/Best_Affordable_Europe_Vacations/
2013 US News and World Reports Worlds Best Places to Visit: http://travel.usnews.com/Rankings/Worlds_Best_Vacations/
2013 Conde Nast Traveler: The 10 Best Cities in the World (#1 tied): http://www.cntraveler.com/readers-choice-awards/europe/best-cities-europe_slideshow_1-Budapest_9
2014 Conde Nast Traveler Friendliest places in the world http://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2014-08-05/the-2014-friendliest-and-unfriendliest-cities-in-the-world/4
Conde Nast top 25 cities 2014 http://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2013-10-15/best-cities-world/23
2013 Lonely Planet Top 10 European Destinations:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/croatia/travel-tips-and-articles/77757
Travel Articles
NYT Article from 2011: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/travel/36-hours-in-budapest.html
NYT Article from 2013: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/02/travel/wintertime-bargains-in-budapest.html
Some good videos
http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7wvw/viking-river-cruises-see-things-differently-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI3QwxO_udw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vApAmydLjjo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHr6I4Q5O20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIMyLf7-Apc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lySnQRmQbiM&list=PLaZhKwNKtAw8SI7tIEYZaaeIox_TXv4IB

James has given you enough to look at, but I'd also vote for central Europe, like Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland. I haven't been to Bulgaria, Romania, or Greece but I understand they're inexpensive and very worthwhile. And you might look into Portugal. Maybe not Ukraine this year ....

@Dick is correct. I have been to the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania. All different and all wonderful; and almost all less expensive than Paris. My gut feeling in order of least to most expensive is something like:

Bulgaria
Romania
Slovakia / Hungary (pretty much tied I think)

Czech Republic (fairly decent size jump from Hungary to the Czech Republic)

Austria (pretty similar to Paris in costs)

For instance I just spent a week in Bulgaria (second trip). A car, a tour guide, a fishing guide (both full time), all the tolls, gas and hotel rooms ran about USD350 a day; and we drove the entire length of Bulgaria and on to Istanbul. Romania ran about the same cost but no fishing guide.

EDIT
Okay, the more remote the more dependent you might want to be on guides. This is sort of the theory that it wasn't less expensive but I go more for the money I invested. If you want to do it all on your own and really spend less money then Budapest and Hungary is hard to beat for bang for the buck. Good public transport and no need for a guide.

Have you researched Portugal? It certainly is in the less costly category but not sure about train transportation as we always rent a car. You didn't mention how many days you have to spend so it's hard to give advice. You could start in Lisbon and train from there to Sintra, Queluz, and other nearby towns. Lisbon is not a small town but if you stay in the Baixa neighborhood it will seem like a small town and you will be in walking distance to many sights and to all public transportation. You could either bus or train to Nazare, a seaside town with great access to many nearby sights but you might have to drive to see them as I don't think there are good public transportation connections between Nazare and the nearby sights. Since you like small towns, public transportation in Portugal will be a problem. But it might be worth your while to do some research to see if visiting Portugal appeals to you.

My first thought was Germany / Austria. I just happened to look at the 2015 Europe through the back door at the book store yesterday. It has a chart that shows the relative cost for each country i.e.; average price for a room, meal, transportation.

There are many less costly places. Switzerland, Scandinavia, Iceland are the most costly places. Much cheaper are Spain, Portugal and Greece and generally all former communist countries - the farther east the cheaper. For example Romania and Bulgaria are cheaper than Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and these three countries are cheaper than for example Austria and Germany. If you enjoy sightseeing and small cities I would suggest Czech Republic and Slovakia. Good train transportation, low train prices and short distances. Picturesque countryside, in Slovakia magnificent alpine mountains High Tatras (Vysoke Tatry). For Slovakia look under Slovakia for Best destinations in Slovakia. For Czech Republic look for Favorite destinations in the Czech Republic.

Slovakia is on euro currency and no doubt is cheaper than Czech Republic, Poland or Hungary which are not on euro.

My girlfriend and I are starting our next adventure in 10 days-- Switzerland, Munich, Salzburg & Lakes, Vienna & Budapest.

From the research I did for the trip, it definitely seems to be less expensive the further East you go.

Have fun!

Hi,

If you leave Germany out of the picture, which not at all a given, then I would suggest Poland, Austria, and Budapest. Both Budapest and Poland have some of the very best and most popular hostels in Europe. What's your travel agenda in going to these places? I like going there since I have my own agenda and travel priorities to track down. Any travel priorities you have aside from reducing the necessary travel expenses? As to less costly places, they do absolutely exist.

If Switzerland is, as you say, "on the list" then it is worthy of consideration. We love the place and get there as often as we can.

But, as "less costly places" is also on your criteria it certainly is true that Switzerland doesn't do very well in that regard. There are ways to save money there, but cheap or less costly is not how I would generally describe it...

Consider Germany, which is much cheaper than Switzerland, UK or France. Especially Berlin, which is one of Europes cheapest capitals. Have a look at Trivago for example. In September you get 0 good 4* hotels for less than $150 in Paris, but 88 in Berlin. The cheapest good 4* hotel in Paris costs $152, the cheapest in Berlin $41. Even hotels in Budapest cost more. The rest of Germany, apart from Munich, is equally inexpensive, and you don't have to visit Bavaria anyway to see cozy, small towns. Two hours to the north, south and west of Berlin are regions with towns that are just as good as the ones along the Romantic Road. Here is a gallery of the Harz mountain for example, the region to the west of Berlin:
http://www.raymond-faure.com/indexharzenglish.htm
Have a look a Quedlinburg, Goslar, Wernigerode, Stolberg or Wolfenbüttel.

Hi,

If Germany is still being considered, Berlin is no doubt the most inexpensive as regards to accomodations. In Paris in the summer expect to pay 80-90 Euro for a single (that's not in the central area but at Gare du Nord) in a 2 star hotel. In Berlin-Charlottenburg for a single in a Pension expect the price to be 40-45 Euro. With 3 star hotels expect more of a difference between Paris and Berlin in terms what to expect for the price..

Poland is a travel bargain.

Greece, Croatia and Turkey can all be travel bargains too with careful planning.

There are plenty of suggestions above for less expensive places to visit.... If you want something different and very inexpensive I would suggest Romania. It is beautiful and I found it very easy to travel around. Rented a car in Bucharest and drove all over, then dropped the car near the border to Hungary (I think in Timosara) Took the train from there to Budapest... Favorite area of Romania was Transylvania. I had no reservations but always found nice hotels at very reasonable prices.... also great food and a very interesting country to visit. I would go back again.. Love Budapest as well.
If that doesn't appeal to you try Istanbul... Great city and good value...you can also fly easily from there to Greece for a few days. Lots of possibilities... Poland is great too.

Just returned from a 5 country trip and would highly recommend Czech Republic. Start in Prague and use the cheap (yes I mean cheap, clean, reliable great) student agency bus company to travel around to the smaller cities. The castles, churches, architecture, museums are fabulous. The food is delicious and very affordable. Have been there twice and would go again in a heartbeat.

Diane, a less costly region infrequently mentioned here is the Baltics--Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Your criteria of "sightseeing and small cities" will be met, but "travel by train" might be iffy. In that region you'd want to consider travel by bus--faster, comfortable, convenient. You can easily string together a tour of the capitals of these three countries and more if you are inclined. Have a great trip!

A less costly county and Switzerland are not a match. In my mind, a decent match is Germany, especially smaller cities with much to see and in a country with an extensive train system. If costs in Switzerland don't blow you away, then also consider Sweden and Norway.