EuroCheapo's hidden europe Articles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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