Photo by emiana

Okay, we admit it. We caved in and bought a copy after seeing it advertised on buses all over London. (Probably not the best reason to buy something.)

In any case, SoLondon, the city’s newest weekly mag, is not exactly a meaty chunk of glossy gossip. Rather, it seems a bit more like Fabric—chock full of estate agent advertisements with little else. This issue did provide a couple of features, including one on Tracey Emin, the notorious British artist (we think Kate Moss may be in the next one).

In our opinion, the best thing about SoLondon is the monthly calendar of upcoming events, mapped out over a drawing of London to help you with logistical planning. Personally, we prefer Time Out (their content’s even free online), but SoLondon is SoWorth a flip.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Photo by manna_from_the_heavens

Gucci, Fendi, and Prada … Three perfect excuses to plan a trip to Italy. You probably didn’t expect to hear those names on Eurocheapo, but we’re going to let you in on a little secret:

Twice a year, fashion retailers, from mass chains like Benetton to swanky designer boutiques, hold a sale that will blow your mind. Nearly all pricetags are slashed in half on January 15th and June 15th. Under Italian law, this is the only time such deep discounts can occur, to prevent fraud and unfair competition. The sales generally last around a month.

Those who brave the frenzied crowds on the first days will be rightfully rewarded. Italians know their fashion and the good stuff goes first!

Popularity: 13% [?]

Photo by rmcarrier1

When traveling abroad, or going anywhere for that matter, we strongly advise you not to partake in fountain jumping, security guard taunting, or popping wheelies on a motorcycle in the town square. And if, for whatever reason, you do break a rule or two, don’t videotape yourself doing it and post it on YouTube!

A 34-year-old Edinburgh man did just that, racing around town at an average speed of 112 mph on a Yamaha R1 motorcycle. He was also seen “doing wheelies and driving at 170mph in East Lothian at the end of last year,” according to the BBC. Seen, that is, by visitors to YouTube. (Sorry, the link has been taken down!)

Chief Inspector Kenny Buchanan of Lothian and Borders Police said, “Allowing footage of it to be posted on a public website is a sure-fire way of getting caught.” Thanks to YouTube, police were able to clearly identify the motorcyclist. Authorities also believe the man achieved one of the highest speeds ever recorded by Lothian and Borders Police.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Photo by Bruno

Turned off by the amount of American pop music in Paris? Don’t worry, it’s not everywhere. Introducing Favela Chic: a Brazilian club with a great mix of non-pop music that’ll get you dancin’.

Located in the trendy 11^th arrondissement near République, the club is a well-established Paris nightspot. (We’re not breaking any news here, folks, but it certainly merits a mention!) The DJs mix up samba, rock ‘n roll, and hip hop, creating an atmosphere that’s completely chill, if smoke-filled and hazy.

Come as you are—dress to dance, not to impress. Tuesday through Thursday is free entry and the club closes at 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday there’s a €10 cover, which includes a drink, and you can party till 4 a.m. Drinks cost between €7 and €10.

Favela Chic: 18, rue du Faubourg du Temple, 75011 Paris. Metro République (lines 3, 5, 8, 9, 11).

Popularity: 6% [?]

Why waste money on travel road maps when you can get them for free?

Free map tip #1: If you’re a member of AAA, you can pick up printed maps gratis from your local AAA office or download them from AAA’s online Map Gallery for just about any spot on Earth. The AAA website also has a cool tool called “TripTik” that lets you plot your own routes and add specific destinations to your custom-made maps.

Free map tip #2: You can also download free road maps from the websites of many national tourism boards. For example, if you’re headed for Greece, free downloadable maps await at the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO). There are maps for various parts of mainland Greece, many islands, and even hiking paths. Most of these maps are not as easy to read as the ones AAA offers, but come on! They’re free!

Popularity: 5% [?]

Photo by Eulinx

Shine a little sunlight on Berlin and the city’s attitude warms right up with it. And after sleepwalking through another winter of 4 PM sunsets, this city deserves to party!

Berlin kicks off the springtime outdoor festival season with Spring Fest, on now through April 15, 2007 at the Zentrale Festplatz on Kurt-Schumacher-Damm. Festivities include rides, performances, yummy treats, and of course, plenty of beer and sausages. On April 7, fireworks will top it all off starting at 9:45 p.m.

The Cheapo-friendly festival costs €1.50 to get in (kids under 14 free), and Wednesdays are Family Day, with half-price discounts on rides. Hours are 3 pm – 11 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays; 3 pm – 12 am on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 pm – 11 pm on Wednesdays, Sundays and Easter Monday. The festival will be closed on Good Friday.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Q:  My wife and I are planning our daughter’s wedding in New York City this fall. We’ll have about fifty people traveling to the city for the occasion. Should I book 25 rooms myself or ask everyone to be in charge of their own reservation? – Steve K, Bellevue, Ohio

A: Good question, Steve! Planning a wedding in New York is already quite a project, and you probably aren’t in the mood to tackle reservations for 50. But there is a payoff to booking a group.

An “every man for himself” may initially seem easier, but could easily become a hassle, as plans change, people need different directions, and you need to arrange transportation. Most importantly, however, it rules out your bargaining power to get a group discount.

Hotels love groups, as they’re guaranteed blocks of filled rooms. Hotels will negotiate special rates with you, depending on availability and the number of rooms you need. These rates will almost always be cheaper than the rates you could book individually online, even on so-called “discounted” Websites.

Third-party reservation sites, like Expedia, Orbitz, and Hotels.com, offer “group booking” services to help you navigate the process. If you try to book more than nine rooms on any of these sites, you’ll be taken to a “group booking” page that asks for your contact information. A salesperson will then contact you, discuss your needs, and come back with quotes from hotels.

This is a helpful service, of course, but if you already know which hotel you’d like to stay in, we’d strongly suggest checking directly with their sales department, as well, as you’ll eliminate the middleman and most likely land a better deal. Good luck!

Have a question for us? Ask the Cheapos!

Popularity: 8% [?]

Photo by zhmort

With Sundance behind us and Cannes less than two months away, we’re all jazzed up with celeb-filled filmatic antipation! (Too bad our chances of scoring seats at Cannes are about as likely as Britney winning a Fulbright.)

Thankfully, the compassionate folks at Virgin Airlines are launching a film festival for the common man, or the common flyer, at least. The airline has teamed up with the National Film and Television School to launch a film festival in the sky.

Over the next four months, Virgin will screen 14 short films on its in-flight entertainment system and allow passengers to vote for their favorites. A panel of respected industry figures (including actress Brenda Blethyn) will assess the six highest scoring films, and the final winner will earn Virgin Atlantic tickets and the opportunity to show their next film onboard to an audience of nearly 5 million passengers.

So, if you’re flying Virgin, close your US Magazine and focus on the “V:Port” screen in front of you.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Photo by Conlawprof

The Paris left-bank neighborhood of Saint-Germain-des-Pres is worthy of its romantic, legendary reputation. For more than a century, writers and artists have packed its famous cafés and brasseries, and today, one of the city’s great pleasures is wandering its narrow, canvas-ready streets.

It’s a challenging place for cheapos, however. When the temptation to spend money in those exquisite boutiques becomes too much, we advise grabbing a sandwich or salad “à emporter” (the Monoprix at 50, Rue de Rennes has a good deli in the basement) and heading for the Ecole des Beaux Arts at 14, rue Bonaparte.

The “Beaux Arts,” or School of Fine Arts, is France’s most prestigious state school for painting and sculpture, and has been producing top artists for the past two centuries. Pass through the main courtyard and turn right, following the signs for the “Cour du Murier.” The school was formerly a convent, and the Cour was the cloisters, transformed during the 19th century to a Greek-style atrium. Nearby, between the “Palais des Etudes” and the “Hotel du Chimay” is the Lenoir Garden, with a large lawn, a Roman marble bath-tub, and two Corinthian columns.

It’s a welcome, artful contrast to the glitzy facades of Louis Vuitton and Giorgio Armani on the Boulevard Saint-Germain. The school also has regular exhibitions (entrance fee: €4) in its museum space, which is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Ecole des Beaux Arts, 14 rue Bonaparte. Metro: Saint-Germain des Pres.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Photograph by Conundrum37

The elegance and nostalgia of the steam train can warm even the most unromantic hearts. Recognising this, Hungarian State Railways is offering the chance to step back into the Belle Époque of rail travel with its “nosztalgia” train excursions.

There are a wide variety of excursions to choose from: a candle-lit romantic meal with live music; day trips to the Danube Bend or Esztergom, ancient coronation city of the Hungarian kings; “photo journeys” through the most beautiful Hungarian countryside, stopping at landmarks and views.

Prices are very reasonable, even for rail Cheapos like us. The day trip to the Danube Bend, for example, costs just HUF2800 (€11.20; $14.90) in first class, and your ticket includes coffee in your own compartment and entrance to the Visegrad castle.

The magnificent king of steam trains, the Royal Hungarian Express, undertakes longer trips to Bulgaria, Istanbul, Slovakia, Poland, Bosnia, and the Dalmatian coast—but prices for these luxury offers are considerably higher!

Visit the nostalgia train Web site for details.

Popularity: 6% [?]