By Regina W Bryan in Barcelona— There is a feeling among some backpackers and DIY-type travelers that tours are for, well, tourists. Granted, I don’t want to be one of 75 people following a guide’s orange flag through the city streets of Rome or London. Not only do those sorts of tours make me feel » Read more

By Audrey Sykes in Amsterdam— Even during the off season Amsterdam is a busy place. Lines for museums are common, stuffy buses are all too familiar, and traveling in and out of the city can take some time. Here are 10 ways to keep you from playing the waiting game and make the most out » Read more

Cast back to just 18 months ago, and the departure boards at Thessaloniki railway station were rather interesting. The city boasted direct train services to ten different European countries. In those days, one could hop aboard a train in Thessaloniki and travel, without once having to change trains, to distant Prague and even-further-distant Moscow. No » Read more

By Nina Derham in London— Saving your pennies can feel like an impossible task in a city like London when just using public transport can burn a massive hole in your pocket. Thankfully, all the main museums are free, meaning that large chunks of your day can be spent admiring everything from the wonders of » Read more

By Theadora Brack in Paris— Trekking to Paris? Interested in the arts? Don’t forget the smaller museums, galleries and institutions. While running the streets in the city, I’ve spied a few recent trends. A great deal of the town halls (“mairies”) in the various arrondissements are sponsoring many of the coolest shows. And they’re usually » Read more

By Jessica Colley— Only have €10 in your pocket? There are still many ways to spend a day in Dublin. Whether you’re craving some fresh air, want to indulge in culinary pleasures, or even do a little shopping, here are 10 activities in Dublin that will set you back less than €10. 1. Kilmainham Gaol » Read more

New York business owners and workers consider foreign tourists notoriously bad tippers. To be fair, many tourists are visiting from countries that don’t expect substantial tipping. And face it, eating, drinking, traveling and getting beautiful in New York is already pretty expensive, even without the gratuity thrown in at the end. Although tipping can stretch » Read more

Back in fall 2010, we highlighted some of the key missing links in Europe’s rail network. These are those frustrating gaps, where even the most dedicated rail traveller must switch to a bus: Poprad (Slovakia) to Zakopane (Poland), or the hop south from Narvik in Norway to reach the rail route south to Trondheim at » Read more

By Bryan Pirolli in Paris— It’s the weekend (or a Tuesday, no difference) and Paris’ Marais neighborhood is a cheapo haven for a gay night out on the town.  From long happy hours to cover-free dancing, there’s no reason to empty your pockets. Happy hours galore The Marais, French for “swamp,” is one of the » Read more