EuroCheapo's France Articles

Mar 16 When in Paris last month, we happened upon the Hotel du Nord, a small one-star hotel tucked away on the tiny rue Albert Thomas, just north of Republique. With a style that charms and rates that will woo a Cheapo (€71-84 a night for a double with private bath), this is one hotel worthy of » Read more

Mar 12 By Bryan Pirolli in Paris— The most visited museum in the world boasts more than a few masterpieces. With over 35,000 pieces of art on display and a crush of visitors six days a week, the Louvre is anything but quaint and calming. It can easily be one of the most exhausting experiences possible in » Read more

Mar 07 There comes the moment on the train journey from Paris to Cologne when Aix-la-Chapelle morphs into Aachen, just as when one makes the journey in the reverse direction Lüttich suddenly becomes Liège. Many European cities have multiple identities and it’s always good to know in advance the various possible renderings of your destination station (and » Read more

Mar 05 By Theadora Brack in Paris— Bookworms, ignite! This week, we’re headed to my new favorite bookshop in Paris. Located in historic Montmartre, the cozy, century-old Librairie Robert Jonard softly glows with vintage reading lamps, books, art and antiques. Truth unfold, the shop’s ambiance and eclectic collection stole my book-collecting heart immediately. For the love of » Read more

Feb 27 By Bryan Pirolli in Paris— Few beverages seem as intimidating as wine. Images of blind tastings, snobbish conversations about vintages, and hefty price tags immediately come to mind. Coming to Paris, wine drinkers are like kids in a candy store. Affordable and delicious wine flows freely, but travelers can easily be duped. Whether you’re looking » Read more

Feb 22 Because the French railway network extended its tentacles only slowly north from Paris to the ports, there was a spell in the mid-19th century when the Channel port of Boulogne remained conspicuously isolated from the rest of France. Brits could get there easily from London, using the new rail routes to the Kent coast and » Read more

Feb 20 By Theadora Brack— As a fashion fanatic, I’m always on the prowl for shopping nooks in Paris. For the love of precious time, I hate making the trek for just one boutique. I’m no diva, but I do like to shop-hop without a lot of hassle. This week, we’re in luck! I’ve recently discovered a » Read more

Feb 13 By Bryan Pirolli in Paris— Paris is known for its café culture – lounging on a terrace all day long with a good book, some writing, and fantastic people watching. But when it comes to the actual café, the consensus among coffee-enthusiasts is that Paris doesn’t really brew the best cup of joe in Europe. » Read more

Feb 08 The great majority of our many rail journeys across Europe work perfectly. Most trains really do arrive punctually. But from time to time Europe’s railways do have bad days, particularly when bad weather rolls in and plays havoc with schedules. When winter strikes In three of the last five winters, we have had at least » Read more