May 22 Is it even possible to write a fresh word on Paris? “La ville lumière” is Europe’s most celebrated destination for tourists and it has attracted a galaxy of fine travel writers. The dust had hardly settled after the Napoleonic Wars before a flood of English-language guidebook writers descended on the city. Edward Planta’s 1814 guide » Read more
May 21 There are more opportunities to get cultured on the cheap in London than you’d expect, and classical music is no exception. Whether you’re up for bagging a last-minute standing ticket or booking in at a special concert, London’s classical music scene has something for all pockets. Our “Cheapo Culture” series is exploring ways for budget » Read more
May 20 As my regular readers will have caught on to by now, I’m a huge fan of budget hotels, and specifically those in Paris. I visit them, stay in them and follow their changes (and sadly for some, their transformation into boutique hotels). I see them as a force of good in travel, a way for » Read more
May 16 Even in a city as vibrant as Barcelona, staying in a ho-hum hotel can make a grand vacation bland. Your stay will be much more enjoyable if you can find accommodation that feels as alive as the city itself. Truth be told, though, most of the hotels and hostals featured on EuroCheapo’s Barcelona page have » Read more
Congratulations to Valerie, the winner of our “Summer in Berlin” giveaway! She’ll be flying with a guest on airberlin from the US, plus receiving five nights of accommodation at A&O Hostel and Hotel, and free sightseeing passes from visitBerlin! Valerie’s submission, a fabulously illustrated series of vignettes, tells of her trip to Berlin in the » Read more
May 15 Mention that you have just snapped up a cheap fare with an Irish airline, and folks will generally assume that you have been tackling Ryanair. But the Republic of Ireland has a trinity of other air carriers offering scheduled passenger services. Each deserves a look. Flying the flag with Aer Lingus Aer Lingus is by far » Read more
May 14 It may be just starting to warm up, but that doesn’t stop Berliners from regularly indulging in a few scoops of German gelato. Italian ice creams followed Germany’s first guest workers from their homes in Italy and today “gelaterias” exist in even the smallest towns across the country. While they may never meet the selection » Read more
May 13 Strictly speaking, the suburbs of Paris (“la banlieue”) are those communes that lie beyond Paris “intramuros,” in other words, outside the Peripheral Boulevard, the highway that runs around the city. While the word “banlieue” is meant to be a socially neutral term, the media often use it in a derogatory sense that is inexact and » Read more
May 10 London’s South Kensington neighborhood is a funny place. There’s no denying the excellence of attractions such as the museums, Hyde Park and the Royal Albert Hall. There are sweet mews streets and some gorgeous bits of architecture. Unfortunately, the area is fully aware of its own charms and has pushed the prices up accordingly. With members of the » Read more
May 09 If you just have a week in Barcelona, then it’s best to stay put and just see the city, which is large and packed with entertainment, distractions and foodie bliss. However, if you have a bit more time in Catalonia, or just have a yearning to get out of Dodge, then consider these easy day » Read more
