Rail travelers through Germany who have no great aptitude for languages usually manage to pick up the bare essentials after a few days. Among those essentials is the marvelously Germanic compound tongue-twister Schienenersatzverkehr (“SEV” for short). It’s not a word you’ll want to use a lot. And it’s not a word you’ll want to hear too » Read more

By Regina W. Bryan in Barcelona— Cheapos rejoice! There are plenty of ways to Tweet, Dig, Tumble and surf in Barcelona for free. While many hotels and hostels in Barcelona have free Internet access (or should, anyway), here are a few options for when you want to get out of your dimly lit hotel room. » Read more

By Jessica Colley— Tourist traps are the same everywhere: Prices are higher than they should be and they’re packed with tourists instead of locals. In some cities – like Dublin – certain tourist traps change by day and by night. It isn’t enough to avoid entire areas, you need to know when to avoid them. » Read more

By Spencer Spellman in San Francisco— As one of the most popular destinations in the U.S., it’s no surprise that San Francisco is full of popular tourist attractions, some of which are best avoided. Some are decidedly underwhelming and some are overpriced. There are, of course, some very famous attractions that you shouldn’t pass up, » Read more

Jessica Colley— Cheapos can rejoice when it comes to tipping in Dublin. While etiquette varies according to the situation, generally locals believe in keeping their money, and tips aren’t expected like they would be in other countries (especially the United States). For example, approach a bar in Dublin and order a drink. The total will » Read more

It’s that time of year when we are apt to meddle with time. Most European countries adopt daylight saving time (DST).  All those that do favor seasonal DST will thus set their clocks back by an hour early next Sunday morning, October 30. This means that overnight trains in Europe next Saturday night will pause » Read more

By Nicole Arriaga in Rome— Traveling about Rome can be an adventure at times. With over 100 bus lines, tram routes and two metro lines, it’s no wonder that maneuvering Rome’s public transit system can leave a visitor utterly confused. As many visitors are only stopping through Rome for a short while, there’s no real » Read more

Barely 20 miles separate England from France across the Strait of Dover. And though the Channel Tunnel now takes a lot of traffic that might hitherto have gone by sea, there are still plenty of ships anxious to berth in Dover – which remains Europe’s busiest ferry port. This week, we’ll take a look at ferries » Read more

By Bryan Pirolli in Paris— While many essentials in Paris, like hotels and macarons, or even plastic bags and shopping carts, come with a price, other items are surprisingly free. Knowing when to ask for basic Parisian rights can be tricky, so here’s a list of a few things for which you should never have » Read more