We’re rubbing the sleep from our eyes a little later than usual today, dear Cheapos. Thanks to all who attended our “Farewell Winter” party at the home office in New York City last night. The place was packed and the night roused on until late. Folks chattered of finding cheap airline tickets, what cool budget locales they’d recently visited, and we all praised Tom’s succulent sangria (Hint: He uses lemons, limes, oranges, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries!).

Spotted–A few Budget Travel divas, Worldhum’s Canadian correspondent extraordinaire, lots of dedicated Sosauce staffers (we co-hosted the party with them), a host of EuroCheapo correspondents, freelance journalists, bloggers, some Travel Blog Exchange peeps, our favorite New York Times’ columnist, and more.

Stay tuned if you missed this one. We’ll be hosting another party once the weather turns warm.

Warming factors-

And, speaking of feelin’ the heat, it’s the last day of February. No leap year. Just one more cold ‘un before we turn into the Ides of March. So we thought we’d take this opportunity to point out a few recent travel stories that are making us warm and fuzzy all over:

-BootsnAll posted about the 12 most amazing pools in the world. Care for a dip?

-Eva Holland’s reached her boiling point over the Slumdog hype.

-Michelle Higgins anchored in a bunch of cruise discounts in a Times’ piece a few weeks ago. Cheapo overboard!

-Our own Alex Robertson Textor offers up a few great posts on his recent trip to San Fran. We especially love the mention of “Sunset” mag.

-Finally, a dear friend of EuroCheapo is living and working on a farm in Italy. You can follow his narration here. (Catch the classic mention of “cheapo” standards. I mean, working on a farm in order to live abroad? Very Good Cheapo!)

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Glass blowing is hot stuff; photo by dreadpiratejeff

In Venice, land of gondolas and Guggenheims (Peggy, that is), glass artisans have always thrived. In fact, the island directly north of the city center, Murano, is known as “Glass Island.” Since the 1200s, Venice’s major talents in the glass industry have set up shop here, first making one-of-a-kind pieces for royalty and today, offering their services to the masses.

Glass pass

A trip to Murano is easy, but here’s a quick primer: First, we recommend wandering the streets of Venice proper. Get lost (it’s easy to do!) and browse the windows of the trendy glass shops. Chances are you’ll fall in love with a delicate lamp, or maybe a colorful ashtray, or just a pretty set of wine glasses.

Then, instead of paying retail, hop on a vaporetto and head to Murano. Take in a free glass blowing demonstration. If you’re not visiting one of the bigger factories, there’s no need to make an appointment. Simply stop in and start watching. Most artisans will let you walk right into their warehouses while they’re working. If you’re really lucky, you’ll meet and talk to one of the traditionally trained glass blowers or artists.

Next, ask for a sample (this really only applies to those smaller shops, not factories). Sometimes, they’ll hand you a remnant of colored glass free of charge. Most often, you can buy their unique glass art at a discounted cost.

Or, if you’ve got €5.50 (€3 reduced) to spare, take a tour of the Museo Vetrario (The Glass House). For information including restoration projects and opening and closing times, go here (click on the subheads on the left).

Fun fact: The most well known glass blowers in town are Pauly & C (Compagnia Veneto). Visit their web site (in Italian only) for information about the artists that work there.

Mura-no-no

Ok, so it’s true that people in glass houses (or factories) shouldn’t throw stones. But, just a quick and diplomatic tourist trap note: We’ve heard tales that the Vecchia Murano Glass Factory can be pricey once you’re through the front door. As usual, we suggest sticking with the Ma and Pop glass shops and those single artisan stores.

For more on visiting Murano, go here.

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We enjoy spending time researching Europe’s newest discount airlines and perpetuating our love / hate relationship with Ryanair.

However, we often hear from fellow Cheapos “Hey, how do I find cheap flights from the U.S. to Europe?” and thought we’d put together a list of a few of our favorite ways to nab a cheap international ticket. Admittedly, some require more flexibility and planning than others, but we bet that if you test a few of these out you’ll be able to uncover several good deals that meet your budget.

1. First Stop: Meta-search engines

Tired of opening multiple browsers and tabs to search the same route on individual airline sites? Then try out some of the new breed of travel search engines that consolidate prices from many suppliers all within a single search. Some have more filtering functionality and personal preferences than others, but a few of our favorites that we recommend trying out include Kayak.com, Mobissimo.com, Farecast.com, and FareChase.com.

UPDATE - We were contacted by a representative from cFares.com, inviting us to test their meta-search engine against the others we mentioned. While we aren’t as familiar with cFares, the initial flight results we’ve seen for international roundtrips are competitive and are another worthwhile option to consider.

2. Don’t forget about points!

While we love the technical sophistication of the meta-search engines, sometimes the best place to look for decent international airfares is right in your back pocket. Most major credit card companies offer point-based loyalty programs that can be redeemed for discounted airfare, upgrades, and other travel perks. Granted, these programs are notoriously complex and can try the patience of even the calmest Cheapo, but hang in there - it’s worth it! And while you’re at it, do some investigation on the best airfare reward programs out there by using FlyerTalk’s “Miles & Points” forum or listening to the Upgrd frequent flyer podcast.

3. Feeling flexible?

Another helpful way to monitor fire-sale deals from your local airport is to sign up for email alerts on travel sites that actively monitor recently released deals. There are a wide range of alerts that you can sign up for — Cheapo Tip: don’t sign up for too many or you’ll drive yourself nuts — and this is a fine option for the frequent traveler who is always on the hunt for a good bargain. A few of our recommended sites include Airfarewatchdog, which provides discount codes for reduced rates, TravelZoo, and SmarterTravel.

4. Why not connect?

Sure, having a connection on an international flight isn’t ideal. But it sure can save a lot of money! By showing just a little flexibility and allowing a single connection (and don’t get us started on two!), you can shave off big bucks from your price. And after all, what’s wrong with spending a little quality time at the Leif Ericson air terminal?

5. Name your price

Who doesn’t like to gamble a bit? On sites like Priceline.com, travelers can set their own bid price for airfare tickets and see if it is “accepted” by any of Priceline’s partners. The catch? You must first enter your credit card information and if your bid is accepted you automatically buy the ticket. Also, the airlines will choose your flight times, not you. Thus, there’s a chance your trip could start at 5am or go as late as 2am the next day. But then again, just like gambling, sometimes the big bets pay off.

Other tips?

What other tips do you use to find cheap flights to Europe? Tell us (and your fellow Cheapos) by adding your suggestions in the comments below - the more the merrier!

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The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is one of the most famous sights in St. Petersburg, Russia. Although the Cathedral touts an old romantic style, it is, in fact quite young, constructed between 1883-1907.

Officially named the “Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ,” the church was built as a memorial to the slain Tsar Alexander II of Russia, who was mortally wounded on the site in 1881. It was closed by the Bolsheviks in the 1930s, but reopened in 1997 after 30 years of restoration work.

When I visited St. Petersburg last month, I stopped by the church on my second night. I had heard that there were some masterful mosaics to behold inside. But I didn’t realize that the entire interior was covered in mosaics, from floor to ceiling–including the walls, arches, ceiling, and altar!

Indeed, the church contains over 7,500 square meters of mosaics, more than any other church in the world. Here are some of my photos from the interior. Remember, these mosaics are pieced together from tiny, tiny tiles…

Read more about the church on its website, including its history, near demolition, and use during the 20th Century as a warehouse for opera sets.

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It sure feels like the travel blogging community has officially shaken off the winter doldrums and is back in the saddle. Our RSS readers are stacked full of interesting, quirky, and occassionally weird travel tales from around the globe.

So without any further ado, here are a few of our favorites to start off your weekend:

Looking for cheap but delicious souvenirs for your foodie friends back home? BudgetTravel.com’s post on food gifts from Paris had our mouths watering from the start. Mmmm… cheeeeeeeese…

Speaking of Paris, has anyone tried to rent a Velib bike but been declined because you’re using an American credit card? If so, don’t fret, for the NY Times Travel Q & A blog has the answer. Hint: keep trying.

Ever wish you didn’t drink that $7.50 bottle of Evian from your hotel mini-bar? HotelChatter’s “Hotel Room Confessions” series has a few suggestions for side-stepping the bill. (Yes, we know many Cheapos out there are scoffing at the very THOUGHT of a hotel room with a mini-bar!)

Perceptive Travel’s post on the ‘wichcraft sandwich kiosk in New York’s Bryant Park has us already dreaming about lunchtime. Too bad it’s so cold out, otherwise we’d walk on up to try it out!

For our fellow bloggers out there, we recommend this post from British pal Alex Bainbridge on “the case for and against gimmicks on travel websites.” Go Alex!

Over at USA Today’s Hotel Hotsheet blog, there’s a call for nominations for favorite hotel bathrooms as part of an annual competition. This brings to mind several shared restroom in hostels we’ve visited that will most certainly not make the list.

…and lastly, next Thursday, Feb 26th we’re hosting a “Farewell Winter” party at our office in New York. Send us an email if you’re interested in joining us, but hurry because space is limited!

Happy weekend, Cheapos!

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Ryanair, the wacky budget airline that offers intra-European flights at rock-bottom prices, today began offering inflight phone calls, text messaging, and Blackberry use. The service, dubbed “OnAir,” comes at a hefty price.

“OnAir” will first be offered on 20 of its airplanes, although Ryanair expects to roll it out to all 170 aircraft within the next 18 months. Interestingly, only six passengers will be able to call at once. (We haven’t been able to determine how many will be able to use their Blackberry’s.)

The cost?

Calls will run between €2.00 and €3.00 per minute, text messages €0.50, and email “sessions” are priced between €1.00 and €1.50. Hardly cheapo territory.

What do you think?

Do you think this truly is a step forward in aviation history? Is it really any different from the in-flight phone service that was largely ignored for years (remember those phones tucked above your tray?).

If this does catch on, are we headed toward a future of cellphone shouters, screaming ever louder to get through over the hum of the engines? Or does this really represented a step forward for business travelers, and those who just want to chat from 30,000 feet?

Would you use this service? Tell us what you think below.

Read more about the phone service on Ryanair.com.

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A blue plaque celebrates Dickens in London. Photo by WallyG

Blue plate specials

Since 1867, London has placed blue plaques on many of its most historic homes and buildings.  Today, there are hundreds of little blue signs all over London. You can make full day trips just touring one neighborhood, like Bloomsbury, trying to locate all the plaques.

According to English Heritage, which sustains the signs and decides which buildings will get the plaque treatment, they serve to ”celebrate great figures and the buildings they inhabited.”

Who’s who in blue

Perhaps the city’s most famous (and photographed) plaques are those for the writers and scientists who made their mark on London. Virginia Woolf’s can be found in Bloomsbury while George Orwell’s blue ‘do resides near Hamstead Heath. J.M. Barrie is just off Kensington Gardens.

Other notables include William Pitt the Younger, Nancy Astor (the first woman to ever sit in Parliament), Evelyn Waugh, H.G. Wells, and Samuel Pepys, to name but a few. You can see the full list of plaques here.

May we suggest a blue plate walking tour? Here’s one option to get you hoofing.  Or, create your own.  Best of all, all field trips are free!

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OK, Cheapos, does this modernist museum ring any bells? Have you been here?

Be the first to guess its identity below! Make sure you give us the city and country, too. (Bonus points for the name of the church in the background.)

Hint: While the museum is dedicated to a rather somber subject, you’ll ultimately leave the building feeling moved and (hopefully) optimistic.

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Over the last several months, we’ve been quietly toiling away at redesigning the EuroCheapo homepage. After many revisions, tweaks, testing, more tweaks, bug testing and pulling solid patches of hair out of our collective heads, we finally took it live late last night. Hallelujah!

What’s with the redesign, you might ask?

Well, we loved the way the previous version looked, but we felt it didn’t feel particularly “alive.” Given we’re constantly updating hotel reviews, city guide articles, blog posts and other content, we wanted this constant activity to be reflected on our homepage as well.

Our new design allows us to showcase five featured hotels every day, highlight each day’s newest blog entry from our editors and writers, and promote a new featured article from our city guides. Every day you return back to EuroCheapo you’ll see a fresh batch of selected hotels, blog entries, articles and maybe - just maybe - a few more surprises we have up our sleaves here at EuroCheapo HQ.

Also, we’ve received lots of great feedback over the past year from fellow Cheapos who just discovered how helpful our search engine is in quickly finding budget hotels. Many of them, though, hadn’t previously completed a search on EuroCheapo out of concern that doing so would take them away from the site or not allow them to view our search results.

To address this, we also redesigned our search box and gave it a little more “front and center” prominence on the page, to help other Cheapos discover and experience its magical budget power!

Bug zapping

While we tried to catch each and every bug prior to launch, we’re sure we missed some. Heck, we just realized our blog entries aren’t formatted correctly (this will be taken care of shortly!) However, if you do come across anything that seems, well, weird, confusing or broken, please email us and let us know.

Special thanks

We’d like to say a special thank you to a few of the Cheapos who helped us with this big project. To our tech wizards, Mike and James, thanks so much and we’ll do our best to rid the world of Internet Explorer 6. And to the many EuroCheapo Insiders who provided so much feedback and comments throughout development, thanks for taking the time to help us out!

What do you think? We’d love to hear any additional comments and feedback about the new homepage design in the comments section below!

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Bad luck can dirty your shoes any day of the week in Paris.

Cause for celebration or screams?

Did you know that many airlines won’t book seat #13 on seemingly spooky days like Friday the 13th? The same goes for hotels, where the staff conveniently makes sure room #13 is vacant.

Sure, to us it sounds like the plot of a cheesy Stephen King film, maybe starring John Cusack, but according to a London Times survey, many people do opt out of travel when this famous prime number just happens to fall on a Friday.

No fear

Well, superstitions be gone! These inclings have never stopped the Cheapos (cue flashy music!), which brings us to the above photo. Let’s face it, you can accidentally step in dog poop any day of the week in Paris. Bad luck happens no matter what day it is.

What do we do on Friday the 13th? Later today, Tom, our fearless ed-in-chief, embarks for Los Angeles, where he’ll attend the LA Times Travel Show and be featured in a panel Sunday afternoon. Go Tom!

Another Cheapo is traveling through South Carolina, soaking up sun, and sampling the real culinary delights of easy, breezy beachside livin’.

If we needed inspiration, we’d take some from New Zealand, where a group of people jump out of planes on Friday the 13th. Take that superstition!

Just Jason

Finally, when it comes to trying to remove the stigma attached to 13, we’re not the first who have tried. Check out this brief history of Friday the 13th, put together by TIME magazine.

Today, too, a new Friday the 13th movie hits theaters. We can’t think of a better Valentine’s Day gift than offering your loved one a ticket to Jason’s rage. Here’s a spookily mixed review. Alas, we know one Cheapo who might just head out tonight and see it.

Have a great weekend, Cheapos, and Happy Valentine’s Day!

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