By C H Kwak in Berlin— ‘Tis the time–to take a seat outside and enjoy a beer (or two) with friends. Going to a beer garden (biergarten in German) is a quintessential Berlin summer activity and should be on the list for any visitor during the warmer months. Among the many beer garden options the » Read more

By Marc Justin in Florence— Last week I visited the Uffizi Gallery for the very first time. I know, I know, it’s in my backyard but walking past never-ending queues of people does something to a man’s motivation. Finally, one of my recent guests harassed me into surrender. So how did this crowd-hater survive Florence’s » Read more

By Nicole Arriaga in Rome— When most travelers think of romantic cities, their thoughts head straight for Paris. Stealing a kiss at the top of the Eiffel Tower or ducking into an intimate café to gaze into each other eyes is indeed priceless. But not so fast, Paris! There’s also an endless supply of romantic » Read more

Few experiences in Paris are as rewarding as sitting at a café for hours with a single beverage, watching the world pass by. During the summer, the sidewalk terraces open and the street theater plays out in front of you. As long as you stay away from the most famous streets and tourist-laden cafés in » Read more

The new high-speed rail service linking Helsinki with St. Petersburg, just launched last December, has been an immediate success, with passenger numbers in the first four months of 2011 up over a third on the same period in 2010. With the journey time slashed to 3 hours 36 minutes, it is no surprise that cross-border » Read more

By Joann Plockova— When in Prague, if you seek some respite from the hustle and bustle of the city, several cemeteries offer just that, along with history and art lessons to boot. Perhaps not the first place you think of for a quiet break, Prague’s cemeteries truly offer a silent oasis in the city. Full » Read more

By Jessica Colley— When the sun shines in Dublin, there are two places locals go: pubs and parks. Choosing parks allows Cheapos to explore new areas of the city while holding on to those euros for a rainy day, when you might be more inclined to order an extra pint of Guinness or two. For » Read more

By Suzanne Russso in New York— We’ve heard the odd rumor that the cupcake is on its way out, but it doesn’t seem like New York is edging out those bites of happiness-with-sprinkles-on-top any time soon. In fact, new cupcake shops just keep popping up, which introduces the sweet freak’s dilemma: Where to get your » Read more

By Rebecca Winke in Assisi, Umbria— Not too long ago, Umbria–with its rolling hills covered in vineyards and olive groves and topped by tiny medieval stone villages–was touted as the cheaper alternative to Tuscany (her neighbor to the north). This is not so true anymore, as this region in central Italy has begun to show » Read more