In a country where even the most loyal of consumers still grumble about the cost of living, Pigsback.com has become a lifeline for Irish shoppers just looking for a good deal.

This interactive website allows shoppers to browse an array of categories – everything from beauty products to movie tickets to gym memberships – and not only sign up for great deals but earn extra PiggyPoints as they go. Special cell phone alerts and newsletters also help keep members up to date on what’s hot around Ireland - and how to get it at a bargain price.

With free membership and entry into a host of competitions, joining Pigsback couldn’t be simpler or cheaper. And who doesn’t appreciate that?

Popularity: 5% [?]

Photo by Gertud_K.

Heat. Sand. Volleyball.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, that’s in Vienna. On Friday, June 1, the lot of the Wiener Eislaufvereins in the Third District will transform into a trendy beach complete with sand, beach games, and parties mimicking the feeling of a vacation to the tropics. Because the Viennese love summer, the festivities will last until the end of September.

SandCity Vienna, occupying more than 6000 square meters (3.5 miles), consists of Sand Sculpture Park, Catering Zone, and Activity Zone. Visitors will revel in tons of fine brown sand, palm trees, and water areas, not to mentionbeach sports and (goody) 14 bars. But the real highlight is the sand sculptures exhibition created by several international carvers. The theme will be “Euro 2008: Europe as a guest in Austria,” in reference to the much anticipated European Football Championship 2008, which will be hosted by Austria and Switzerland.

Expect to see a mini-Pisa, an Acropolis, or even the Eiffel Tower made of sand. And just as important as European landmarks will be the sculptures of international football stars like Germany’s Michael Ballac.

The regular entrance fee is €7, and reduced price €4.50. The event will be located at Lothringerstraße 22 and opens from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Photo by dimsumranch

It’s a real shame to be on the southern coast of Spain and not make the short trip across the Strait to Tangier. After all, it’s right there, so close you can make out small patches of farms and houses on the African side. While we’re no fans of package deals, a nice way to get a first taste of Morocco if you’ve never been before is to sign up for any number of boat and hotel deals, available at travel offices across the Spanish coastline.

Travelclass in Marbella offer a €65 deal, which includes the cost of the ferry from Algeciras, two nights in an above average Tangier hotel, and they’ll even pick you up at the Moroccan port. As Tangier offers little to see, the hotel offers day trips to either the mountain village of Chefchaouan or the coastal village of Asilah.

A word of warning – crowds in July and August can make this little journey truly terrible so plan ahead.

Travelclass Tel: 952 868 679

Popularity: 4% [?]

Photo by Jun7000

You’ve heard of hotels for women only, now there are taxis which only serve the fairer sex. The Pink Taxi Company was launched in Moscow in August 2006, modeling the all-women drivers, women passengers-only format found on the streets of London and Tokyo.

The launch followed a spate of violence against women taxi passengers in Moscow, and has proved so popular that the original ‘fleet’ of two cars has now grown to 20. It has its own website at www.pinktaxi.ru and can be booked by telephone telephone at 940 76 76.

The company has also expanded its range of services. Now it will even pick the kids up from school and make your grocery run for you. Its main advantage for Cheapos, though, is as a godsend for women in London or Moscow on their own. After all, what price can you put on peace of mind?

Popularity: 7% [?]

Photo by xavier_s

The French Open tennis tournament, officially known as Roland Garros, kicked off Sunday in Paris. Hardly a cheapo event, but tennis fan Cheapos can get the “Evening Visitor” passes at 10 euros for play after 5 p.m. on certain courts. Availability is based on the number of seats vacated by people who have already left the stadium for good. On a clear day, you can often expect play up until 9 p.m. The offer is good for the first week of the tournament through Sunday June 3 inclusive. The “Evening Visitor” passes will be available at the ticket windows at the Porte des Mousquetaires for those outside the stadium. To get to Roland Garros, take the metro line 10 and get off at Porte D’Auteuil.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Photo by RichardsonA

Usually a late night in London means a long night out, a club with a cover charge, and kebabs as the sun comes up. Now, the more cultured among us can step out for something other than a sticky dance floor and over-priced mojitos. Okay, so the new Late Nights at London’s cultural venues don’t last until the sun comes up, but National Gallery, The Tate, and other London favorites now have extended weekday hours. Now we can have our culture after work during the week, freeing up coveted weeken hours, which could easily be spent country hopping on Ryanair.

Check out the Lates website for all information on what’s currently on and what’s upcoming.

Popularity: 11% [?]

Our Friday three.

1. We just got our hands on Time Out’s Fly Europe 2007/8 guide, an overview of 222 destinations across Europe—including five Moroccan cities. Top notch. We were pleased to see long lists of Spanish, French, and Italian cities, as well as these surprising inclusions: the Faroe Islands, Lithuania’s Kaunas, the Kosovar capital Pristina, and Norway’s Tønsberg.

2. Another SkyEurope fare sale, with €49 fares here, there, and everywhere. Through Sunday.

3. Gridskipper’s Madrid summer festivals overview. Because we’ve been thinking about Madrid. A lot.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Photo by | s g |

Ryanair announced yesterday that Bristol is set to become its 20th base airport. Currently, Ryanair flies between Bristol and just three destinations: Barcelona Girona, Dublin, and Shannon.

With Bristol’s upgrade to base airport status, 13 destinations have been added to the roster. In November, Ryanair will begin flying between Bristol and Bratislava, Bristol, Derry, Dinard, Katowice, Knock, Milan Bergamo, Porto, Poznan, Riga, Rzeszow, and Wroclaw; from December, a Bristol-Salzburg route will commence.

To promote its new base, Ryanair is hawking 100,000 one-way fares from Bristol for £10—and that tenner includes taxes and charges. Go to it, Cheapos.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Photo by Mike Kirwan

Recently, while staying in the beautiful Ardèche region of southeastern France, we were visited by a rather friendly and energetic canine named Plume (”Feather” in French.) Plume was nice enough to lead us on an exhausting hike through the swath of mountains she calls home.

Soft spoken and with a perma-smile, Plume lives by the mantra “bark softly, but carry a big stick.” Although her countryside French accent was a bit hard to understand, we sensed from the swift wagging of her tail that she appears to enjoy l’Ardèche as much as we do.

The Ardèche region is filled with mountains and streams. And while it’s become a favored summer hiking and camping destination for French as well as international visitors, it remains off the beaten path. The region provides a provincial respite from the pace of Paris and glitz of the Mediterranean coast.

Plus, the dogs roam without leashes and even lead hikes.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Photo by Naftalin9

The European Cities of Culture movement was launched in 1985 by Melina Mercouri, and has become more and more popular with every passing year. In 1999, Europe’s villages decided they wanted a piece of the action. Ever since, the EU has nominated European Cultural Villages every year—one for each member country—together with a “Cultural Village of Europe” titleholder for the year.

This year the title has been awarded to Palkonya, a settlement of 350 people in southern Hungary, famous for its protected buildings, beautiful natural scenery, and spicy red wine.

Each month, from May until October, the representatives of two different countries organise colourful programs: fairs, musical and dance performances, and children’s entertainment.

This year’s other European Cultural Villages are: Aldeburgh (UK), Bystré (Czech Republic), Kilinge Nōmme (Estonia), Kirchheim (Austria), Mellionec (France), Paxos (Greece), Pergine Valdarno (Italy), Porrúa (Spain), Schachdorf Ströbeck (Germany), Tommerup (Denmark), and Wijk aan Zee (Netherlands).

Popularity: 7% [?]