Archive for September, 2010

The city of Sibiu in Transylvania, Romania
The city of Sibiu in Transylvania. Photo by JohnConnell.

Romania: Transylvania comes to America

Romania

Let’s stick with the Romanian theme that we introduced here on EuroCheapo last week. In that last post, we extolled the beauty of fall colors and scents in the Iza Valley of northern Romania. Images of Transylvania What images does Transylvania evoke? Fiendish vampires and creepy castles, perhaps? Yes, we’ve all been seduced by a » Read more

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Posted in churches, Europe, Exhibitions, Germany, hidden europe, Romania, United States
Paris: A guide to supermarkets in Paris

Paris: A guide to supermarkets in Paris

When it comes to the age-old struggle between eating in and eating out, Paris is no exception. Restaurants are top notch, with prices to match. Cooking your own meals (if you’re lucky enough to have access to a kitchen) or even picnicking outside will save you loads of euros. However, tourists might find it difficult to » Read more

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Posted in Food, France, Paris, Practical Info, Shops
London: Outdoor swimming in London Fields

London: Outdoor swimming in London Fields

Here in the UK we’re not known for our sunny skies and golden tans. But we are fond of a good swim, and lots of us in London actually prefer to take a dip out in the open air than under a sports center roof. It may seem like madness, but you might just change » Read more

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Posted in fun, Health, London, Sports, United Kingdom
Car Rentals: How to calculate the “real cost” of renting a car in Europe

Car Rentals: How to calculate the “real cost” of renting a car in Europe

  How much will it really cost you to rent a car in Europe? You know that the price you see on car rental websites isn’t the final cost—as it doesn’t include insurance, gas and other incidentals. But how much are those extra charges?  On past trips, I’ve made the mistake of underestimating these other charges, imagining » Read more

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Posted in Budget Air Travel, cars, Money Matters, Practical Info, transportation, Trip Planning
Stockholm Cheap Eats: Dagens lunch

Stockholm Cheap Eats: Dagens lunch

Eating at restaurants in Stockholm can be hard to do on a budget. Erik did an excellent job of pointing out some great Swedish breakfast joints. After breakfast, it is time for lunch. Restaurants throughout Sweden offer a dagens lunch, the lunch of the day. The idea of a dagens lunch is simple: it’s an inexpensive » Read more

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Posted in Bars, Food, Local Customs, Stockholm, Sweden
Venice: 5 fun activities for kids in Venice

Venice: 5 fun activities for kids in Venice

Venice is sometimes called “the living museum” and even though I do not agree with the statement, I do realize that it can be a bit, well, “boring” for children. All those old buildings, monuments and crowds of tourists can be a bit daunting for younger visitors. Still, there are many things to do with » Read more

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Posted in Venice Sights
New York Day Trip: The wine country of North Fork, Long Island

New York Day Trip: The wine country of North Fork, Long Island

Your superfluous New York fact of the week, Cheapos: There are more than 130 wine bars in Manhattan. Add the restaurants on every corner, block and alley—each with its own wine list as long as the line at the Empire State Building—and it’s safe to say that, well, New Yorkers are fans of vino. But » Read more

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Posted in Day Trips, Food, New York, United States
Prague: Art museums with reduced or free admission

Prague: Art museums with reduced or free admission

Viewing great art often comes at a price, but in addition to offering an impressive number of museums and galleries, Prague offers plenty of opportunities for museum discounts on its already fair admission prices. These discounts include special reduced-price hours and even free hours. Here are a few museum discounts I’ve come across (or have » Read more

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Posted in Art, Czech Republic, Exhibitions, Free Stuff, Museums, Prague
Madrid: Which neighborhood is right for you?

Madrid: Which neighborhood is right for you?

  Heading to Madrid but don’t know where to put down your bags? We’ve been there, Cheapos. After all, how can you know where to book a room without having a feel for the different areas in town? After reading our rundown of Madrid’s most central and vibrant hoods, you should have more of an » Read more

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Posted in City Guides, Madrid, Neighborhood, Practical Info, Spain
Romania: Early fall in the Iza Valley

Romania: Early fall in the Iza Valley

September is our favorite time of year for visiting the Maramures area of Romania. Head for the Iza Valley, where ripe apples hang heavy in the orchards that cluster round every village and the fields are full of distinctive haystacks—little wonders of design in their own right. Fall colors already tint the oak and beech » Read more

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Posted in churches, hidden europe, Local Customs, monuments, Romania, Train, Ukraine