Six recent stories that made us smile and chased away the rain:

1) 5 ways to get even cheaper in Europe

Christopher Cook, of noambit.com, posts this week in Vagabondish about “5 simple ways to beat your travel budget.” His tips are solid and speak to every Cheapo in Europe. In short: Eat cheaply, walk, be flexible with dates, consider more budget-friendly destinations, and think twice before paying for a museum. Nice tips, Chris!

2) 33-cent beers in Vietnam

We don’t normally cover destinations outside of Europe, but we’re following former EuroCheapo staffer TJ DiChristopher as he showcases his skills in Saigon, his new hometown. Today, TJ shares five ways he’s keeping it cheap in Saigon, from budget beer to iced green tea and pirated movies.

3) Italian tourists in Venice

Venice is really crowded right now. According to About.com’s James Martin who was in the canaled city last Saturday, Venice’s narrow streets are packed to overflowing. But with whom? Italians, who were celebrating the May Day weekend (a national holiday). Martin heard mostly the native language being spoken, and hardly any English. Just watch which boat you get on, James!

4) Hungry pigeons in St. Mark’s Square?

Speaking of Venice, Elisabetta Povoledo reported yesterday in the International Herald Tribune that the city has outlawed pigeon feeding in St. Mark’s Square. It turns out that the practice has been banned in the rest of the city for the past 11 years (who knew?), but had been allowed in St. Mark’s because of its iconic, photogenic role in the city’s history (and tourism trade). The result: Protesting birdseed sellers and a switch to feeding the birds potato chips. (We’ve heard that the switch hasn’t Ruffled any feathers…)

5) Daria Werbovy!

Thanks to Holly for correctly identifying the model in the new H&M ad across the street from our office. We couldn’t identify her when she was just a forehead… and, it now turns out, for good reason! Nice job, Holly. We’re sending out your copy today of the Rough Guide to Europe on a Budget.

6) American destinations from Smithsonian

Again, we don’t typically cover non-European locales, but we are loving this month’s (May 2008) issue of Smithsonian Magazine. The mag’s theme is “Destination America”. To croak—er name—a few stories: short takes on The Frog Festival in Rayne, Louisiana, the Chicago blues fest, and a fabulous feature on Acadia Country.  

Have a great weekend, Cheapos.

Venice may be known for its opera house and Vivaldi concerts, but it isn’t celebrated for its nightlife. This can present problems for travelers looking, well, to do something at night. This problem also dogs single travelers in Venice, who may not find any special romantic epiphany wandering the canals alone after dinner. (And we won’t even go into the nightlife issues faced by single hotel reviewers, staying in the town in the dead of winter…)

Alas, the canalled city does offer a range of nightlife options. Here’s our quick guide:

1. Have a drink with the locals

Head to Campo Santa Margherita in Dursoduro to hang out with the locals in the small cafes, bars, and lounges lining the square. Don’t be intimidated by the clusters of real Venetians. Grab a drink. Recommended:

Cafe Blue (Dursoduro 3778), serves drinks and live music until 2 AM. The hopping bar is a favorite with locals and tourists alike, and is located next to the equally enticing Cafe Noir.

Il Caffe, is known as “Caffe Rosso” because of its red interior.  The bar welcomes all ages, features live music, and is regarded as a Venice “classic.” Dursoduro 2963, on the Campo.

Orange, also on the Campo Santa Margherita, is a hip joint that pours cocktails to an eager, cosmo-crowd. Calling itself a restaurant and “champagne lounge,” the bar features décor done up entirely in — you guessed it, orange!

2. Sip a cocktail in a schmancy lounge

Centrale Restaurant Lounge, located steps from San Marco square, is a swanky restaurant and lounge. Make no mistake: This place isn’t cheap at all (dinner for two prix fixe, €150!), but you can lounge about and sip your cocktail slowly. Offering themed nights and a gay night. Open from 7 PM -2 AM. Piscina Frezzeria n°1659/b.

3. Hit the club?

Dance clubs are not numerous in Venice proper. In fact, we couldn’t find any that are open right now. Your best bet is to ask at your hotel if Casanova, the disco (and “internet point”) located near the train station is still in open!

Or you could act like a local and head to Maestre, Venice’s neighboring mainland city, where several clubs rage until dawn. Buses and trains run through the night from the Venice’s termini station. Here’s a partial list of clubs in Mestre.

During the summer months, clubbers head to Jesolo, the resort on Venice’s Lido island, to dance ’til dawn on the beach and in the discos. More Jesolo information.

Photo by seadipper

You’re strolling around Venice when suddenly it strikes: an insatiable craving for Mélange mit Schlagobers. Where did this hankering for the whipped, caffeinated Austrian delight come from? Who knows? In any case, you need to get yourself to Vienna pronto.

Taking the night train from Venice to Vienna is an old Cheapo trick. Why does it make sense?

For one, hotel rates in Venice are notoriously inflated, from €100 to €200 per night, with a few one-star pensions and hostels running cheaper. In comparison, a 2nd class overnight ticket between Venice and Vienna costs about €75. If you have a Eurail pass, traveling on the Allegro line can be even cheaper. Deals are also sometimes offered on the route—over one Easter weekend not long ago, we scored a €45 ticket.

Once you’re in Vienna, there are more affordable hotels to choose between. You’ll pay between €45 and €75 for a cheap room. A more upscale room can be had for between €75 and €149, leaving you enough money to go on a ravenous strüdel binge. What happens in Vienna, stays in Vienna, after all.

SkyEurope flies between Venice and Vienna for even less. This summer they’re offering €.01 fares, which swell to €19 once taxes are taken into consideration. Cheap, no question, but traveling by night train allows you to consolidate your lodging and transportation costs and eliminate time- and euro-sucking trips to the airport.

photograph courtesy of niachan

The islands surrounding Venice are a godsend for travelers wanting to veer off the well-beaten Venetian path. Pack a picnic basket lunch and head over to the nearly deserted lagoon island of Torcello to relive Katharine Hepburn’s romantic picnic in the 1955 movie Summertime.

You’ll get lost in Torcello’s tranquil haven of enchanting rose gardens and ancient vineyards. Hemingway fell in love with the place and is even rumored to have written one of his novels on the island.

No Torcello jaunt is complete without a visit to the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, a stunning Romanesque church. The Cattedrale’s colorful 12th-century Byzantine mosaics are particularly amazing.

To get to Torcello, take the 12 or T vaporetto.