When you’ve had enough of the German capital and just need a day on the beach of the Baltic coast, a visit to neighboring Poland, or perhaps a visit to another historical city, we’ve got your back! Below you’ll find a list of the cheapest and easiest regularly available and publicly offered day trips and » Read more

There are a few “hot topics” sure to stir the pot at any dinner party in Madrid: language (Castilian vs Basque, Catalan, etc), football (Barça vs Real Madrid) and bullfighting. While many defend bullfighting as an art and tradition important to Spanish culture, others think of it as barbaric and archaic. Where do you stand? » Read more

Early one morning last week I got up and headed straight for Palma de Mallorca’s train station. Well, not the city’s main commuting station, but rather the station serving the Ferrocarril de Soller, a vintage, 100 year-old train. The picturesque old train, comprised of half a dozen wooden cars dating back to the railway’s opening » Read more

The search for affordable hotels in Paris often leaves travelers fearing that they’ll have to settle for something with a lousy location, perhaps along the outskirts of town or in the suburbs. Not true, dear Cheapos. Last week I wrote a column for the Huffington Post about budget hotels in Paris with fabulous locations, all » Read more

It’s that time of year when, with the onset of summer, Europe’s rail schedules are amended to reflect holiday travel patterns. The exact dates when new services kick in vary by country, but here’s a flavor of what’s on offer for 2012. Summer means vacation and many European rail operators run holiday specials to coasts » Read more

It’s always interesting to see who among my visitors is a “Museum Geek.” Some friends come and get a museum pass to see all of Madrid’s museums at a discount, while others could care less where Picasso’s Guernica is located, and skip museums opting for city strolling and shopping. If you are a “Museum Geek,” » Read more

Even though the summer has technically been in full swing for a while, cold weather and rainy days in Paris have suppressed the always anticipated picnic season. Fortunately, temperatures are creeping up high into the 70s F (wow!), teasing locals back out to the banks of the Seine and to parks with promises of wine » Read more

Last week I spent several days in Stockholm visiting museums and palaces, walking on rooftops and boating about the photogenic harbor. But more than any of these activities, eating just might have been the most memorable experience. We’ve written before about yummy cheap eats in Stockholm, including delicious “dagens lunches”, lunch specials offered around the » Read more

On my first trip to Europe I was young, full of energy and not yet “churched out” (if you’ve visited Europe a few times, I’m certain you understand this phenomena). I’d approach each house of worship with the same gusto, taking in the stained glass, altar and vaulted ceilings before promptly paying my nominal fee to climb the » Read more