Who IS that girl? Identify her and win “The Rough Guide to Europe on a Budget.”

We’re not procrastinating, but… We were just gazing out of our window at Broadway and Houston in New York and realized that a new billboard is being painted right before our eyes!

But who is she?

The first comment below to correctly identify the celebrity will win a copy of the “Rough Guide to Europe on a Budget,” newly out in bookstores! Quick! Name her!

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Two months ago a credit card ID thief nabbed my account information and went on a shopping spree. Over a two week period this (Editor’s note: expletive deleted) bandit purchased, among other items, snacks at the racetrack, many tanks of gas, and a new pair of shoes.

In the end, $2,000 was charged to my card. I reported the case early soon after the first purchase, but could then only sit back and watch it continue. Feeling helpless, all I could do was get my schadenfreude on. I was hoping for stale popcorn, an accidental tank of diesel, and bunions upon their feet.

Worst of all, though, I felt pretty dumb. I use my debit card for nearly all of my transactions and always assumed this was the “smart” way to pay. After all, I could view itemized sales online at any time and I didn’t need to carry around excess cash in my wallet.

Rather than swear off using my card in the future, I decided to make a few changes to how I used it to prevent ID theft in the future, with special attention paid (ha!) to managing receipts in the correct manner, and making sure to monitor my account regularly.

While my ID theft occurred locally, travelers can be even more susceptible while they’re abroad, as they generally buy more stuff when traveling. We thought about that this morning, when reading Darren’s excellent post on Travel Rants on travelers having their credit cards frozen while traveling (fun, fun!).

Here are some of our tips for keeping your credit and debit cards secure while traveling.

#1: Tell your bank before you leave.

This will help them be on the lookout for potentially fraudulent activity and notify you quickly should anything odd occur. Even more importantly, this will reduce the chance the bank will freeze your account while you’re on the road.

#2: Diversify how you pay for purchases.

Consider using one credit card for specific items (i.e., use Amex only for hotels and car rentals, as you’ll get points plus some Amex cards automatically provide discounted car insurance) and think about taking a small amount of traveler’s checks just in case.

#3: Tell your bank how to contact you while you’re away.

Give them your personal email address and check your email at least weekly. Also consider taking your cell phone and tell your provider you want to activate an international plan for the time you’re away. Leave your phone off and check messages once a day (roaming charges and other fees could quickly get out of control if you leave it on, so be careful). If you use a web-based home phone system such as Vonage, consider having your voicemail forwarded to your email. And if you’re super crafty, consider forwarding calls from your home phone to a friend or relative (but tell them first!).

#4: Keep your bank and credit card contact information handy.

If you’ve ever grown frustrated while holding the line when you called your credit card or bank, imagine being charged outrageous international rates while you wait. Get the most direct customer service number for your bank and take it with you.

#5: Stay away from sketchy ATM machines.

Stay away from ATM machines that aren’t connected to larger banks. Who knows who will gain access to your information. Also, if your card gets swallowed for some reason, you’ll have a hard time getting it back quickly.

#6: Guard your receipts.

Do not simply toss receipts from cafes, restaurant, bars and shops in the closest trash can. Keep them in one place while you travel and shred them when you get home. It will lessen the chance of having your credit card info get into the wrong hands, plus you’ll be able to ooohh and aaahh about “that great dinner” when you return home.

Do you have any other helpful credit card security tips to share? Leave a comment below and let us know!

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Hotel Dali
Via Dell Oriuolo, 17 (near the Duomo)

The Hotel Dali has been one of our favorite hotels in Florence since we created our Florence hotel guide in 2001. For the first in our “Checking In” series, we’re posing some questions to the owners of the Dali, Marco, 42 and his wife Samanta, 38 (pictured above).

EC: How many years have you owned and run the Hotel Dali?

HD: 10 years.

EC: What advice do you have for those traveling on a budget in Florence?

HD: Good question! In Florence, things are typically only free during culture week. This occurs during a different week each year and all the public museums are all free for seven days. During the summer time, there are some free tours of private gardens and the like. We recommend checking with the “associazione amici dei musei” office, located inside the Prato Museum.

EC: Where can I buy a great bottle of wine without spending too much money?

HD: If you want a good wine, but not a rare bottle, the supermarkets have a wide range of wines for lower prices. If you are looking for something really special (get ready to spend from €30 and up), spend a day in the countryside and visit the farms.

We recommend Castello di Brolio, Castello di Volpaia, Castello da Verrazzano, Capezzana, and Villa di Artimino. It’s a beautiful day trip and you can buy their wares at the end of it.

EC: Where can I eat a cheap, but wonderful meal in Florence?

HD: We suggest “Zio Gigi” on via Folco Portinari and “La Casalinga” on the other side of the river. For a fast italian meal, go to the corner of via de’ Macci e S. Ambrogio and try the kiosk selling “Trippa and lampredotto,” a typical florentine sandwich. Don’t forget a glass of wine!

EC: What’s your favorite free (or cheap) thing to do in Florence?

HD: Walking, walking and more walking. It’s the best way to get to know the city, to smell the food, enjoy the arts and, the best part? It costs nothing! Florence IS an open museum.

EC: “Don’t leave Florence without…”

HD: Visiting the church of San Miniato al Monte, behind Piazzale Michelangelo. The view from up there gives you a great understanding of the city layout. 

We also recommend walking through the indoor food market in the San Lorenzo area. It’s such a wonderful, typical Italian scene. There you’ll meet screaming sellers, people bartering for food, and you can buy all kinds of Florentine specialties without paying a lot.

EC: What souvenir should I bring home from Florence?

HD: Florence is known for its straw work, the typical handcraft of the city. Then, next to straw is leather, but look at the quality. Unfortunately, with leather, cheap is not always possible. Make sure to try our wines and Sbriciolona (a kind of salami).

EC: Any other tips for travelers in Florence?

HD: Don’t expect the Anglo-Saxon service and standards. We live in an old city with oftentimes old structures, so just enjoy your holiday, whatever it ends up entailing. 

Don’t forget, you are on holiday and you are learning to understand a very different country and culture. You may be confused by Italians. We talk loudly, moving our hands. We’re crazy drivers and are mad about food and fashion. But when you return home, we’re sure you’ll miss all the history and the quality of life you experienced. So open your mind and get ready!

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Doubles € 105-155
Neighborhood: La Rambla

The Sant Agusti is one of our favorite hotels in Barcelona, and it just happens to be the oldest hotel in the city, too. Built in 1880, the hotel is named after the nearby church of Sant Agusti and was a working convent in the 1700s. Many of the rooms still feature original wood beams and stone walls.

We especially adore the attic suites at Sant Agusti (eight in all), replete with their cutesy little tables and chairs and fun views of the square below. Rooms are decorated with modern furniture. The breakfast room, where an old cast iron stove takes center stage, is large and airy.

The only thing we found lacking about Agusti was its location. While it’s near La Rambla and close to pretty much all the sights, its neighboring streets are a frequent stopping point for the area’s homeless and tend to be more unkempt than other areas of Barcelona.

Other than that, Sant Agusti is a unique, family-run hotel with tons of charm!

Read our full review.

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Sebastien Tellier is representing France in Eurovision this year.

It’s sunny again today! Here are some of the things we’ve taken a shine to this week:

On Wednesday, Amsterdam became the World Book Capital for one whole year! Thanks to Trippist for reading up on this, and getting us excited about the city-wide book fair scheduled for May 18th!

Meanwhile in Paris, Heather Stimmler-Hall recounts in her “Secrets of Paris” blog her tale of wine dating on the 56th floor of the Tour Montparnasse. What is “wine dating,” you ask? It involves tasting three types of wine, mingling with available Frenchmen, cold cuts, and a towering view. Sign us up.

And then there’s the flight news! Less Than a Shoestring got us all knotted up about UK and Irish airports charging surprise, unavoidable airport taxes. And from a vending machine, no less!

Meanwhile, BudgetTravel alerts us to Cheapo-friendly fares in May from NYC to Rome, Naples, and other Italian cities on Eurofly. Fares are from $499 and don’t include $75 in taxes.

And finally, thanks to Alex of Spendthrift Shoestring for swinging by the office to play us some official entries in the Eurovision 2008 contest. We’re especially excited about Sebastien Tellier (pictured above on a boat), Jelena Tomašević, and, of course, No Angels.

What a way to kick off the weekend!

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Get more bang for your forint with our Cheapo-tested tips for a night out in Budapest. Kari Hoerchler, who recently prowled the city’s streets hunting down hotels for us, also found out how to have fun…

Start the night with a free drink.

A cheapo could get a jump start on the evening with a free drink at the Matyas’ wine fountain in the Labyrinth of Castle Hill. However, we found it more efficient and enjoyable to fork out the HUF 8000 (roughly €31) to sample over 50 wines at the House of Hungarian Wines above ground.

Get your restaurant row on.

Ramble on over to the Liszt ter, the veritable restaurant row of Budapest. People watching is free of charge, not to mention fun. And, frugal dining spots abound. A fresh variety of cocktails, sandwiches and salads are available at Café Vian. ‘Pest favorites, including goulash and fruit soup, are served at Menza (which also serves international fare, like pasta and salads). Both restaurants run a tab of about HUF 3,200 (almost €13) per person.

Hit up a club.

For a walk on the wild side, head over to Erzsebet ter to catch live acts and art at the underground Godor Club. Even if the place gets overcrowded with revelers, it’s still fun to check out the stage from the park above via a glass bottom fountain. When we were last in Budapest, we made a visit. Pints of beer were HUF 480 (just under €2) and entry was free.

The late night and early morning crowd pumps at Szóda. Not only is the design of this club chic, but the crowd is notoriously hip, making Szoda the perfect place to find out where the latest and greatest kerts (makeshift bars in the courtyards of abandoned buildings) can be found. The team behind Szoda are also behind several of the city’s speakeasies.

Sit back and relax.

For a more mellow mood, catch local and European art films at one of Budapest’s opulent, old movie houses. Urania National Movie Theatre was built in the 1890s. Plush velvet seats and gold vaulted ceilings trick the eyes into thinking one is spending the evening at the much more expensive opera house across town. Stop by the box office to find out which films have subtitles. Tickets run between HUF 890 and 990 (€3.50-4).

Kari Hoerchler is a budget traveler and science fiction novelist stationed on Planet Earth. Not only has Kari been a star contributor to EuroCheapo’s guide to Budapest, she has also recently been spotted under spotlights on small stages in New York coffeehouses telling tall tales of a tropical island—and future vacation hot spot—in the Bermuda Triangle. Book ahead.

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A view of the old Barbican gate

Although Krakow isn’t among the priciest European cities, we always love to save when we can. Here are our picks for stuff that won’t cost you a złoty!

Take a trip to St. Mary’s Basilica
Mariacki Square, 5

Arguably the most famous of Poland’s churches, St. Mary’s Basilica is home to the illustrious Gothic altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss, a German sculptor. Admission to the main basilica is free, although you’ll only be able to waltz about halfway down the main aisle. For a closer look at the altar, visitors can pay 6 PLN (about €1.75).

Consider climbing up one of St. Mary’s two towers (a cost of 5 PLN or about €1.50) for a panoramic view of the city. The towers are open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from May 1 to August 31.

Tour the main market square (”Rynek Glowny”)
in the Old Quarter

Take a stroll around Krakow’s biggest medieval city square, a place surrounded by historic buildings and architecture. Rynek Glowny’s main landmarks are St. Mary’s Basilica, St. Adalbert’s Church (one of Poland’s oldest stone churches, dating back to 1000), and the old Cloth Hall (”Sukiennice”).  This old hall, formerly the city’s center of international trade, is filled with interesting small shops and vendors, and worthy of a stroll.

The quarter often hosts free outdoor concerts and festivals. Check Krakow’s tourism board for schedules and times.

Walk up Wawel Hill

Take a stroll around the most famous spot in Poland, home to Wawel Castle (built during the Renaissance) and Wawel Cathedral (sometimes referred to as Krakow Cathedral). While admission to the castle and cathedral isn’t free, looking at them from a distance is priceless! Plus, you’ll love the gorgeous views of the city and the Vistula River.

Bonus: Visit the castle on Monday, as there’s typically a free public concert.

Stroll down Ulica Kanonicza

Arguably Krakow’s most picturesque street, Ulica (”ul.” for short) Kanonicza is home to some of Krakow’s oldest and most beautiful homes, dating back to the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The Ulica was once prime real estate for prominent nobles who lived there and it served as the residence for Father Karol Wojtyla from 1951-1963 before he became known to the world as Pope John Paul II in 1978.

Visit the Barbakan
on Ul. Basztowa in the Old Quarter

Once one of eight fortified entrances, the Barbakan is the only part of the wall still standing. The city still takes pride in the fact that this particular gateway, once resplendent with moats and still sporting turrets (see photo above), never got captured during medieval battles. The architecture of the gate and its massive size are a sight to behold. Free concerts and exhibitions are typically held throughout the summertime.

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This Wednesday at 2 pm EST (8 pm British Summer Time) Tom will be a panelist on a live blog event panel with our friends over at Europe à la Carte.

Tom will be joining other travel bloggers to discuss the travel blog industry and respond to reader feedback about what they look for in a travel blog. Fellow participants from the South Pacific Travel Blog, Vagablond.com, Soultravelers3.com and Colliding Continents will be on deck, and Karen from Europe à la Carte will moderate.

Any Cheapos who are interested in posting questions, commenting on the travel blog industry or reading feedback from the panelists should swing on over and say hello!

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A reader asks:

“In Barcelona, we’re thinking of staying in the Gothic Quarter to be close to everything, but we’re worried that it’s not safe. Is this area sketchy at night?”

Regina WB responds:

Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter has the Cathedral, Plaza del Rey and many other fabulous sites that most visitors want to ‘oohh and ahh’ over. And therein lies the problem, while St Juame’s Square is lovely, and the craved gargoyles frightfully fantastic, is it safe? Yes and no.

Petty theft in Barcelona is rampant. For the most part it is safe to walk the streets of the city center at any time of night, because there are always people out in Barcelona. Violent crime is not a problem. But, you’ve got to watch your bag, your camera, your wallet, your cell phone and maybe even that gold chain around your neck (less someone rip it from your being on the subway!). Small theft is not punished (really) in Spain, and thieves are well aware of this. The problem is HUGE.

A friend of mine visited for a month from the United States. During her visit she experienced three robbery attempts. My friend is no novice, having traveled to over 50 countries in her time. But thieves in Barcelona are good, and they are everywhere the tourists are, and tourists are usually in the Gothic Barrio.

I do recommend staying in the Gothic because it’s really the heart of what’s happening in the city. Just be aware, and stay clear of the following places: La Rambla, (a.k.a. La Rob-la), the Metro (one of the places I’ve seen the most robberies, averaging one sighting a week), Calle Ferran (filled with drunk tourists) Irish bars (obviously). To play it safe, get a bag with multiple zippers and be alert. Never set your bag on the floor or casually on a chair. Don’t be the guy with the camera hanging on his neck.

Finally, don’t be afraid of Barcelona’s Gothic area, just be a ninja!

Regina WB lives in Barcelona and wrote EuroCheapo’s guide to Barcelona hotels. Additional writing by Regina can be found on her website www.regwb.com and on PlanetEye.com.

Have a question for EuroCheapo? Ask us!

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Westminster Abbey icons

Yes, we hate adding on the extra pounds too. And, in London, it’s easy to do. Thankfully, there are a slew of free things to take advantage of in Her Majesty’s city—and you pretty much only need a good pair of walking shoes to enjoy them. Righty-ho!

Water works

We think the best fountains in London (and there are plenty to choose from!) are the two majestic bronze fountains that flow over Trafalgar Square. Start by admiring them from afar, standing at the northern edge of the square. Then, take the stairs down, pause to pet the giant lion statues (another Square fixture), and settle in on a perch nearby. We’ve spent whole afternoons here, where the views of Londontown are great and you’re never far from a duck or a wish.

Sit for a portrait

The National Portrait Gallery in Trafalgar Square is free and open to the public daily, closing only for a couple days at Christmas. The gallery displays portraits, photos, and sculptures of notable Brits, including a famous rendering of Shakespeare by John Taylor. Be sure to peek at portraits of Benjamin Franklin, Rudyard Kipling and all 50 paintings of Queen Elizabeth II (somebody’s been sitting for a long time!).

Admission is also free in The National Gallery next door, where the magnificent Arnolfini Portrait is on display. And, very important, don’t forget that most of the city’s state-run museums in London are free. Check out our post on free London museums for more information.

En guard!

London is known for its royal ceremonies. Stand outside Buckingham Palace at 11:30 am on most days and you can see the changing of the guard, a fantastic display of military music, regalia, and general British pomp. (Not to mention those furry hats!) Check the guard’s web site for the ceremony schedule. (The event occurs once daily from April to July and then alternates days August through March.)

A pew with a view 

It costs nothing to attend a traditional worship service at Wesminster Abbey, where Queen Elizabeth II was coronated in 1953 and notables like Geoffrey Chaucer are buried. There are six services on Sunday and four services on other days—all free and open to the public—and they provide a fascinating look into church life in England.

After the service, visit nearby St. Margaret’s Church, free and open to the public daily. If you choose to tour the Abbey, only available on weekdays or Saturday, it will cost you £10.

Parliamentary, my dear!

If you want to sit in on a session at the British Parliament, you’ll need to queue up early as it’s one of the most popular activities in town. However, if you are a UK citizen and apply in advance through your local MP (Member of Parliament), you can skip the line altogether and receive a guaranteed place. The best time of day to go is in the morning. If you get in, you may see the Prime Minister on Wednesday mornings, when he appears before the House of Commons for his weekly ”Prime Minister’s Questions” session. Parliament is open Monday through Friday. Check the Parliament’s Web site for hours.

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