'I spent a day in Europe's least-visited country and still had change out of a tenner'
The lesser-known country of Moldova, tucked between Romania and Ukraine, still holds much of its Soviet heritage. The landlocked nation was a part of the vast Soviet Union for nearly 70 years, and even today, 33 years after declaring independence, its economy remains basic.
However, YouTube explorer Drew Binsky ventured to Moldova to see how far $10 (roughly £7) could stretch on the clean, uncrowded streets of its capital. According to Drew, it's Europe's least-visited country, but it "offers some of the best-kept secrets" on the continent.
He suggested that Moldova’s capital city, Chișinău, might not offer "a whole lot of excitement, compared to other cities in Europe but I like it that way, I like that it’s not so flashy". In Chișinău, Drew found his $10 budget went a long way.
READ MORE: 'I tried UK's cheapest pub with £4 meals and £3.25 pints – one thing was absolute madness'
READ MORE: Man books onto 'one star' cruise ship – and finds something very worrying in his cabin
He was first drawn to one of the city’s many street vendors, who sold him a plastic passport cover that made his US-issued passport resemble an old USSR document, setting him back only about £1.50. A similar item would cost well over double that price here in the UK.
Drew and his wife Deanna enjoyed a cappuccino at a street café, costing just over a pound each, and, according to Drew, the coffees were excellent. "The quality of the coffee here is so good," he commented.
He then lamented how in the US, coffee shops operate more like fast-food outlets, and don’t encourage people to sit and sip as they watch the world go by.
READ MORE: Man books TUI all-inclusive holiday for £965 to see if it's actually worth it
Despite its close proximity to the conflict-ridden Ukraine, Moldova offers a tranquil escape. "I love it here," Drew shared.
However, as the second poorest country in Europe after Ukraine, there was "nothing to buy" for Drew apart from street vendors selling fresh fruit due to the lack of commercialisation. After purchasing his $2.87 passport and two coffees at the same price, Drew managed to buy a traditional local pastry ($1.25) and a large bag of mixed fruit within his $10 budget.
He praised the quality of the fruit, a testament to Moldova's rich black soil, known to be some of the most fertile in Europe. Despite the lack of a tourist industry, he concluded: "if you want to chill for a bit, this is a great place to do it".
