Here’s a veritable trifecta for the bargain-hunting traveler. Slovenia’s architectural treasures seem perfectly set amidst her natural wonders, including a Venetian-style coastline and Alpine peaks as far as the eye can see. Croatia’s chic towns along the Istrian Peninsula charm her visitors with period architecture set above winding cobblestone streets and a delectable food and wine scene. And then there’s Venice: The many waterways that link this archipelago of 118 islands once earned her the nickname “La Serenissima,” though a gondola float up the Grand Canal will quickly reveal that serenity has its livelier side.