Many countries in Europe have grown their tourism industry a lot over the last few decades, so it should not be a surprise to see that the old continent tries and manages to attract millions of tourists every year. Nevertheless, among the multitude of resorts, be them at the sea, ocean or in the mountains, there are a few countries where the tourism has flourished indeed.

1. Spain is one of the countries that could teach anyone a few tourism lessons. Several islands, especially the Balearic Islands which belong to Spain, happen to be the preferred destination for the summer vacationers. The islands of Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, the Canary Islands (Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera) are just some of the places that have gained a worldwide fame during the last years.

spain islandsNot just the islands are important touristic attractions, though; the Northern part of Spain is also a adored tourist place. By going there you will experience a unique combination of sandy, less populated beaches and green, fresh hills or even high mountains. Also, this is the place where you are going to be charmed by the old medieval settlements.

2. France: Everyone agrees that France needs no promoting when it comes to its tourist attractions. The South of France has been a preferred destination for people looking for sunny warm days among lavender plantations, vineyards and old white stone houses, where the peasants leave a peaceful and abundant life. It is one of the few places where you will have the chance to leap back in time, in ages where every moment of the day had its own pace and nothing was performed in a hurry.

Not only the South of France is visited by the tourists, of course, as the entire country offers a multitude of locations that are perfect for a holiday, be it alone, with your partner or with the kids you might have. France is also the place where you can learn a lot about the past centuries by visiting the numerous castles along the Loire. In fact, some of these castles can even be rented for an entire summer. This means that one or more families that are friends and know each other well can rent an entire castle, or maybe a few rooms, and thus enjoy a royal summer vacation.

Disneyland Paris is another preferred holiday destination for families with younger kids. While being there, you could choose to get a room in one of the affiliated hotels, or simply stay at another hotel and come to the Park in the morning.

France is also a country with a worldwide known cuisine, so visiting France will also mean tasting the traditional, specific French dishes, which are prepared by French cooks whose talent doesn’t need any presentation.

3. Greece has concentrated all its efforts on developing tourism during the last few years, and the multitude of tourists that come to visit it on a yearly basis demonstrates that it has done a great thing in this industry. The mainland resorts, as well as the numerous islands represent an affordable and exotic way of spending a great summer vacation.

Greece will charm you with its five stars hotels for sure, but also with its taverns, white villas and the wonderful and colorful gardens around them. It is the perfect place for a family or couple vacation, as there are various entertainment options, which are destined to suit the preferences of all people, no matter their age, or occupation.

As Greece’s economy has been struggling lately, since the tourism continues to be a great income source, it would not be surprising at all to see that the prices will be cut down a lot, in an attempt to attract even more tourists that are willing to spend their money.

Irina Chirilov, the author of this article, is a guest blogger for Thrifty Rent a Car Bucuresti Romania, a car rental agency in Eastern Europe.