Posts by author Tom Meyers
Looking down on Sóller from the train from Palma. Photos by T. Meyers
Early one morning last week I got up and headed straight for Palma de Mallorca’s train station. Well, not the city’s main commuting station, but rather the station serving the Ferrocarril de Soller, a vintage, 100 year-old train. The picturesque old train, comprised of half a dozen wooden cars dating back to the railway’s opening » Read more
The Hotel Chopin is located at the end of a 19th century shopping arcade. Photo: T. Meyers
The search for affordable hotels in Paris often leaves travelers fearing that they’ll have to settle for something with a lousy location, perhaps along the outskirts of town or in the suburbs. Not true, dear Cheapos. Last week I wrote a column for the Huffington Post about budget hotels in Paris with fabulous locations, all » Read more
Where's the beef? It's all about elk in Stockholm. Photos by Tom Meyers
Last week I spent several days in Stockholm visiting museums and palaces, walking on rooftops and boating about the photogenic harbor. But more than any of these activities, eating just might have been the most memorable experience. We’ve written before about yummy cheap eats in Stockholm, including delicious “dagens lunches”, lunch specials offered around the » Read more
Save on entry to Drottningholm Palace by purchasing a Stockholm Card. Photos by Tom Meyers
Stockholm is not exactly famous for attracting budget travelers. Packed with top-class hotels, four-star restaurants and high-end shopping, the Swedish capital offers a luxurious retreat, often at prices that would make a Cheapo cry (for help). However, as discussed is our Stockholm budget tips article, it is possible to visit Stockholm without blowing your budget. » Read more
A chance to visit Tegel for the last time. The airport will close in spring 2013. Photo: NervousEnergy
Finally, after surviving blazing hot days in February and freezing days in May, summer has arrived. To celebrate the arrival of June, I’m clearing out of New York and heading to Berlin on Sunday. Three days later I’ll continue on to additional hot, top-secret destinations in Europe. My bags are packed (sort of), papers organized(ish), » Read more
Frankfurt is surprisingly welcoming to budget travelers. Photo: C H Kwak
We mean business, Cheapos! Today EuroCheapo is proud to announce the launch of our guide to cheap hotels in Frankfurt, Germany. Although Frankfurt is Europe’s largest financial center and attracts business travelers with mighty expense accounts, the city can be surprisingly affordable to budget-conscious travelers. EuroCheapo’s new Frankfurt section includes recommendations for 31 affordable places » Read more
It's cheaper to drink your coffee at the counter in Paris. Photo: Tom Meyers
As we prepare for the summer travel season, we turn our attention to Paris, the world’s most visited city—and a city that remains quite Cheapo-friendly, if you follow some basic rules. Fortunately, EuroCheapo’s two fantastic Paris correspondents, Theadora Brack and Bryan Pirolli, remind us of those rules in their weekly dispatches from the city. We’ve » Read more
We've got a crush on the Hotel du Nord, just north of Republique.
Editor’s Note: The beloved Hotel du Nord unfortunately closed in May 2021. When in Paris last month, we happened upon the Hotel du Nord, a small one-star hotel tucked away on the tiny rue Albert Thomas, just north of Republique. With a style that charms and rates that will woo a Cheapo (€71-84 a night » Read more
Make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi before sharing those photos! Ola
Note: This article is part of a series on Using an American iPhone in Europe… without Going Broke. If you’re trying to decide between AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile as carriers for your iPhone or other unlocked smartphone, consider the differences in their rate plans for using these devices in Europe. Here’s a quick breakdown of » Read more
International plans can vary by carrier. Photo: Pexels
Note: This article is part of a series on Using an American iPhone in Europe… without Going Broke. Verizon customers heading to Europe with their smartphones have similar options to AT&T customers. Verizon offers two main international bundles, priced at $10 a day (per line) or $100 per month (per line). Verizon’s two bundles No plan » Read more
Talking in Toulouse. Photo: Dahan Remy on Unsplash
Note: This article is part of a series on Using an American iPhone in Europe… without Going Broke. If you’re an AT&T customer planning to use your smartphone abroad, you have some choices to make before you leave home. These will impact how you use your phone and how much you’ll be charged. These choices » Read more
Yes, Cheapos, even Zurich can be affordable! Photo: crash71100
EuroCheapo is pleased (and somewhat surprised) to announce the launch of guides to cheap hotels in Geneva and Zurich. For years we’ve steered clear of these pricey cities (and the country in general), assuming that Switzerland was simply inhospitable to budget travelers. With many hotels starting north of $250, how could any Cheapo afford to » Read more
Arriving in Berlin's new and very central Hauptbahnhof. Photo: Tom Meyers
A few months ago I had to make a key decision while planning a trip from Paris to Berlin. Plane or train? I could take a €50 budget flight on easyJet and be there in about two hours. Or I could take the TGV to Germany, and then board an ICE train to Berlin (with » Read more
Eau, the choices you'll have! Photo by T. Meyers
Here’s a quick tip for you: When traveling in Paris (or really in any city in our guide), buy your bottled water at a nearby supermarket and not at a newsstand, sidewalk vendor, or train station kiosk where they will have tacked on a steep mark-up. The supermarket is the obvious “local” way to go » Read more
What a looker! EuroCheapo launched on June 14, 2001 with this design.
By Tom Meyers— Ten years ago this week, we launched EuroCheapo from my apartment in Berlin with a guide to 25 budget hotels in Paris. On June 14, 2001, with three friends huddled around my desk, I clicked “upload,” refreshed the browser, and watched www.eurocheapo.com come to life. True to “cheapo form,” we clinked glasses » Read more
The Hotel Esmeralda in Paris has location, private baths, no elevator and one star. (Doubles €95-110)
So, you’re staying at a three-star hotel in Paris. Does that mean it’s better than a two-star hotel? And would that be similar to your two-star hotel in Rome? What are these star ratings, anyhow? European hotel star ratings can be quite confusing. To help you out, we have six things to keep in mind » Read more
The train terminal at Charles de Gaulle airport. Photos by Tom Meyers
If you’re planning a trip to Europe this year and nervous about how to afford it, we have a few basic rules that, if followed, should help you save on the biggest items in your travel budget. Sure, everyday small charges like cafe cremes in Paris (€2-4) and vaporetto rides in Venice (€6.50) do add » Read more
How much is that rental car really going to cost? Photo: Michael
How much will it really cost you to rent a car in Europe? You know that the price you see on car rental websites isn’t the final cost—as it doesn’t include insurance, gas and other incidentals. But how much are those extra charges? On past trips, I’ve made the mistake of underestimating these other charges, imagining that » Read more
Heading in for free Wi-Fi? Photo by Tom Meyers
One afternoon in Paris this past February, I exited the Metro at the Place de la Republique. I had been visiting hotels all morning and needed a coffee break. The French café ritual is one of my favorite aspects of working in Paris. You stand at the bar next to locals, order “un cafe,” and » Read more
Outside the Circus Hostel. Photo by masck.
Last month we announced our “Cheapo 100” list of our favorite cheap hotels in Europe. These 100 hotels were chosen from 20 cities and selected for five categories, including “Best Location”, “Best Budget Theme”, “Best Budget Style”, “Best B&B or Pension” and “Best Super Cheapo”. But what exactly is a “Super Cheapo”? Is it simply » Read more
Roundtrip tickets from Paris to Amsterdam for July 2010 for €70.
Taking the train between Paris and Amsterdam, Brussels, or Cologne this summer? If you act quickly, you could book a seat on a high-speed train for as little as €25. The French National Railway, SNCF, announced today discounted train tickets on the Thalys line from Paris to a select number of cities for travel between July 5 and » Read more
May 27, 2010. Like a good Cheapo, you’re planning to avoid currency exchange counters and head for the ATM upon arrival in Europe. But if you’re American, we have a couple of questions for you. How much does your American bank charge to withdraw money from a foreign ATM? Do they take a percentage? What’s » Read more
Book those Eiffel Tower tickets in advance! Photo: Bob Doran
Europe’s recent financial troubles, propelled by the debt crisis in Greece and other countries, have given European markets the jitters in the past few weeks. As a result, many investors have turned away from the euro, causing its value to plummet against the US dollar. As of today, the US dollar is stronger against the » Read more
iPhone 6 Plus. Photo: Karlis
If you’re an American smartphone user getting ready to take a trip to Europe, you’ve likely been warned about using your phone abroad. After all, most American phone carriers’ rates for international calling and data use can be confusing, and misunderstanding your usage or phone setup could be a very costly mistake. I recently returned » Read more
The Hirschgarten is one of the world's largest biergartens. Photo: Giesing
Aside from the famous two-week Oktoberfest beer bender, brew culture in Munich flows year-round. When the weather is sunny and warm, the locals descend upon Biergartens, although residents often opt for less touristy options than, say, the English Gardens. Here are three beer gardens that are very popular with Munich’s locals, all of them ready to pour » Read more
