EuroCheapo's hidden europe Articles

Lingfield: Take a day trip from London to a Wealden village

Lingfield cottage
Wealden cottages by Lingfield church. Photo © hidden europe

Apr 24 Some of the most beautiful English countryside lies within a stone’s throw of London. In particular, between London and the Sussex coast there are two striking chalk escarpments: the North Downs and South Downs. Between these two lines of chalk are the wooded hills and valleys of the Weald. You’ll catch some sense of the » Read more

Posted in Day Trips, hidden europe, London, United Kingdom

The Azores: Visit the very end of Europe

The Azores: Visit the very end of Europe

Apr 17 In early June, the Santorini will steam into Lajes, a ragged settlement on the eastern shore of the tiny island of Flores. Lajes wins no prizes for beauty. It is a rough-and-ready port. For many yachtsmen who cross the Atlantic from the New World, the island of Flores is their first port of call in » Read more

Posted in Boats, hidden europe, islands, Portugal

Terminal Retreats: Railway station lounges

Terminal Retreats: Railway station lounges

Apr 03 Eurostar may be utterly modern but in its lounge for premium clients at Brussels Midi station, Eurostar strikes a nicely retro note. This is a marvelous stylish space, the perfect spot to relax prior to boarding the train to London. Yes, railway stations have departure lounges too. The chance to relax in seclusion is not » Read more

Posted in hidden europe, Train

Terminal Heaven: The lounge phenomenon

Terminal Heaven: The lounge phenomenon

Mar 27 A lounge used to be that private space back home where you kicked off your shoes, cracked open a beer and settled down to watch the telly. In 2013 new-speak, trainers have eclipsed shoes, Prosecco has replaced beer and the television has been consigned to technological history. And the lounge has moved out of your » Read more

Posted in Airlines, Airports, Frankfurt, hidden europe, London

Want to .be .me? Favorite domain extensions available from small countries

Want to .be .me? Favorite domain extensions available from small countries

Mar 13 Yes, dear reader, we know that DotCom (or even .com) is big in your world, but canny European businesses — and individuals, too — know that small is beautiful. And you don’t have to go all the way to Tuvalu, the island territory in Polynesia, in order to pick up a head-turning e-mail address. Though » Read more

Posted in Europe, hidden europe, Local Objects, Media, Practical Info, technology

European Rail: Celebrating 140 years of Thomas Cook Timetables

European Rail: Celebrating 140 years of Thomas Cook Timetables

Mar 06 “Hey, come on,” said our neighbor as we sat in spring sunshine, exclaiming in mild delight at the timetable that had just been delivered by the Berlin postie. “Look,” he said, “it is just a train timetable.” One book: 140 years of travel history But the March 2013 issue of the “Thomas Cook European Rail » Read more

Posted in Ferries, hidden europe, Practical Info, Train, transportation, Trip Planning

Minoan Air Aims High: New links to Edinburgh, Dublin, Vienna and Rome

Minoan Air Aims High: New links to Edinburgh, Dublin, Vienna and Rome

Feb 27 While aviation watchers stateside mull over the implications of the US-AA mega-merger, in some parts of Europe it is small carriers which continue to make the news. Next week sees the start of Minoan Air’s first routes outside Greece. The fledgling airline took to the skies from a base in Crete last year, operating short » Read more

Posted in Airlines, Airports, hidden europe, plane

Zakopane: A visit to Poland’s premier mountain resort

Zakopane: A visit to Poland’s premier mountain resort

Feb 20 Is it not curious how some small communities have so powerfully shaped the European imagination? Sometimes it is merely one treaty or a single military encounter that propels a place to continent-wide recognition. Yalta, Solferino and Austerlitz are all good examples (though many of us might be hard-pushed to pinpoint these spots on a modern » Read more

Posted in Europe, hidden europe, Hikes, Krakow, Outdoors, Poland, Slovakia, Sports, Trip Planning

By Rail through the Balkans in 2013

By Rail through the Balkans in 2013

Feb 13 If you are planning travels through the Balkan region this summer, it is worth bearing in mind that the pattern of rail services has changed radically over recent months. And the changes are not generally for the good. Croatia is gearing up to join the European Union this summer and rather perversely celebrates its accession » Read more

Posted in Croatia, Greece, hidden europe, Macedonia, Train

Traveling by Ferry in Europe: Down to the seas again

Traveling by Ferry in Europe: Down to the seas again

Feb 06 There’s a wonderful poem by John Masefield — called “Cargoes” — which captures the appeal of travel by boat. It recalls quinqueremes from Nineveh, stately Spanish galleons and dirty British coasters. The chances are that your European itinerary does not involve travel by quinqueremes, galleons or coasters. But do make time for a boat journey » Read more

Posted in Budget Cruises, Ferries, hidden europe, transportation