İzmir, Turkey in $830s-$850s RT

Istanbul? More like Constantino way am I visiting Istanbul! Not when İzmir is right down the coast.

Turkey's third-biggest city is surprisingly laid-back for a metro of 4.5 million people — must be something in that chill Aegean air. All your stresses feel so far away when you're relaxing on the shore or strolling down the seaside promenade, although you can always tack on some new ones while haggling in the bazaars.

You don't have to be a beach bum to enjoy İzmir. History buffs come from all over to get lost in the city's many, many sites, including the Hisar Mosque, the open-air Agora of Smyrna, and even a century-old elevator. 

And did we mention the ancient city of Ephesus is just an hour away? This spot has been drawing crowds for about 12,000 years, so it's probably worth a day trip.