The Florence tourism office this month launched a Cheapo-friendly initiative to give Americans visiting Florence a 10% discount on hotels, restaurants, and museums in the city. The program, named the “Fiorino Effect” after the Florentine coin once used throughout Europe, is an attempt by the city to attract the attention — and business — of American tourists spooked by the weakened » Read more

Ok, it’s no secret. We love free music. And, the annual Fete de la Musique in Paris is one of the best ways to see tons of musical acts, bands, and performers without paying a euro cent. The fete, which got its start in 1982, is a “come one, come all” sort of affair. Anyone » Read more

Albergo Guerrato, pension Calle drio la Scimia 240/a San Polo, Venice Doubles € 100-140 We first fell in love with Albergo Guerrato because of its location. Just a short walk from the Rialto Bridge, it holds a coveted place in the lovely San Polo area of Venice. But, then there was the ambiance. The Guerrato » Read more

It’s a gorgeous, gorgeous day and everyone seems to be skipping town for a long weekend. We’re still here, but we’re psyched. Here are five things that are making us really happy: Eurovision! 1) Alex, of Spendthrift Shoestring, has moved to London for the summer. But no sooner had he arrived in town before he jetted » Read more

During his time in Rome, Michelangelo charged the ancient city with works of incredible beauty. His sculptures, frescoes, and architecture still inspire a city-wide love affair. And, his priceless work is on view at no cost to modern admirers. Angela K. Nickerson, author of A Journey into Michelangelo’s Rome, takes us on a very cheapo-friendly » Read more

We use our iPod like it’s going out of style. And, that doesn’t stop once we get to Europe. In fact, before we head off, we load it up with free podcasts depending on what city we’re visiting. We’ve saved many a euro by taking our own free tours, headphones in. Here are five picks » Read more

You came, you saw, you captioned, dear Cheapos. But, alas, there can only be one winner. First, the office favorites deserve a call-out here. From happybrowngirl: “Jesus, take the wheel!” – We admit, we’re not sure we grasp the context implied here, but we like the concept. Something about a dog so desperate and at » Read more

On the heels of Tom’s last live blog appearance, he’ll be joining our friends over at Europe a la Carte this Tuesday, May 20th at 20:00 BST, to discuss, “How to get more from your Euro“. Fellow participants are: Christopher Cook of www.noambit.com, Lisa Marie Mercer of flyaway-weblog.com, Hilary of Less Than a Shoestring, and » Read more

and a fabulous list of interesting accommodations worldwide. In London, The Celtic Hotel is the latest property from the family that brought us the St. Margaret’s. One of ITN’s correspondents stayed there for a week last December and loved the location (in Russell Square), the great rates (£40 for a single), and the friendly service.  City-score!  This week » Read more