EuroCheapo's Trip Planning Articles

Sep 06 Yep, we had a hunch we might be making a mistake when we did it. One should never throw away old guidebooks. But our bookshelves were indeed getting too full, and the office manager somehow had a point when, having taken a long hard look at our workspace, she moved straight to the point: “I » Read more

Aug 29 The best guidebooks go through many editions, and canny publishers ensure that each edition just gets better and better. Our bookshelves are crammed with old guides, and it’s interesting to see how successive editions of classic 19th-century guides (like Baedeker’s Switzerland) both shaped and reflected evolving patterns of travel and tourism. We especially like the » Read more

Aug 24 Your tour of Europe is likely to take in at least a few iconic sights. There are, however, few guidebooks which tell you that next to the tower or castle you traveled half a world to see is a sight that’s equally (or more) worth your time and money to visit. Here a few suggestions » Read more

Aug 22 The summer ends all too abruptly, as folk rediscover their workaday routines. But for those able to stretch their travels on into September and beyond, late summer and fall offer some great bargains. Switzerland tops our list for post-season exploration. The crowds of high summer have gone, the vineyards of Lavaux are laden with grapes, » Read more

Aug 15 We have become great fans of less-planned journeys. Cast back a generation and travelers were much less worried about having every aspect of their itinerary planned out in advance. There was a happy spontaneity to travel. That’s changed. Nowadays, travelers view their vacations as investments that need to be properly planned and carefully managed. The » Read more

Aug 09 German Magazine Spiegel reports that Russia and Poland now allows visa-free travel for residents within 50 km of the Kaliningrad border. While this policy change only currently affects our Cheapos in Gdansk (Cze??, czytelnicy!), the hope is that moves such as this, which “Kremlin officials are viewing … as a first step toward a complete elimination » Read more

Jul 18 “I really had to cover a lot of miles to make sure I got good value from my Eurail pass.” We’ve heard comments like that often, and you surely have, too. It is a refrain uttered by folk as they return home from a manic dash around Europe, sometimes even covering seven capitals in as » Read more

Jul 13 Few cities have civic initiatives with the purpose of demonstrating the warmth of its citizens. In Dublin, hospitality is part of the national character, and one program is helping visitors to see it: the City of a Thousand Welcomes. The program connects first-time visitors to Dublin with hospitable locals: 1,000 of them to be exact. » Read more

Jul 05 Little San Marino, the independent republic in the Apennines, is a gem. And like most gems, you have to take time to appreciate it. Forget the overpriced day trips touted by bus operators, and instead plan to spend two or three days in San Marino. By day This diminutive polity, with its capital (also called » Read more