Posts by author Tom Meyers
Entering the SNCF train station at Charles de Gaulle. Photo by Tom Meyers.
Arriving in Paris can be a wonderful experience. Certain aspects, however, can be quite frustrating—especially for travelers who arrive armed only with an American credit card. Why? Because the RER (regional train) and Paris Metro ticket machines only accept “EC” credit cards that are security-chip enabled. American credit cards are not equipped with this technology and, » Read more
Velib program in the Marais
I just returned from 16 glorious days in France. The journey included six days in Paris and ten days on the road, driving through the rolling countryside to pebble beaches, sun-kissed villages, and major cities. Today I’m posting some “postcards” from the first week of the trip. 1. Vélib’ at work (above). The good news: Vélib’, the city’s » Read more
Try ride-sharing to save on transportation in Germany. Photo: David Mark
We were checking out the German tourism office’s new “budget travel” section on their website today and came across their article on saving money on transportation in Germany. Most of the tips were helpful, and included train discounts (for weekend travel), cheap inter-city bus travel, city transportation passes, and even bike programs. Share your ride! The » Read more
The Troitskiy Most, the bridge spanning the Neva river.
I’ve been back from St. Petersburg for nearly six weeks, but I’m still combing through my photographs, trying to make sense of it all. It was a wintry thrill to visit this northern city in the colder darker months. It also, however, provided some stunning views of the city during the long, winter night. Today I » Read more
Tough times have left empty seats in Riga's restaurants. Photo: Stephen Downes.
I awoke this morning to hear a story on National Public Radio about the financial crisis affecting certain Eastern European countries, especially Latvia, Hungary, and the Ukraine. Edward Lucas, of The Economist magazine, pointed out that Latvia’s situation is pretty dire: a bank recently collapsed, the nation’s debt is swelling, and the country’s economy shrank by » Read more
The ornate Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood features fascinating details inside and out. Photo: Abhinav Jha
The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is one of the most famous sights in St. Petersburg, Russia. Although the Cathedral touts an old romantic style, it is, in fact quite young, constructed between 1883-1907. Officially named the “Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ,” the church was built as a memorial to the slain Tsar Alexander II of Russia, » Read more
OK, Cheapos, does this modernist museum ring any bells? Have you been here? Be the first to guess its identity below! Make sure you give us the city and country, too. (Bonus points for the name of the church in the background.) Hint: While the museum is dedicated to a rather somber subject, you’ll ultimately leave the » Read more
If any Cheapos will be in Los Angeles this weekend (February 14-15, 2009), make sure you take advantage of the budget-conscious offerings at the Los Angeles Times Travel & Adventure Show, taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center. If you stop by at noon on Sunday, you can join me, as I represent EuroCheapo in a » Read more
The little green pirozhki hut in St. Petersburg, Russia. Photos: Tom Meyers
Afternoon delight About ten days ago, during my last day in St. Petersburg, Russia, I experienced an afternoon snack attack. I had spent the day visiting churches, climbing to the top of St. Isaac’s Cathedral, and doing last-minute shopping. I wanted to stop for a coffee and treat, but I needed to get home to pack » Read more
Riga, Latvia, as seen from the observation deck of St. Peter's church.
Note: EuroCheapo editor Tom Meyers is traveling in Europe, inspecting hotels in Paris and Riga, Latvia. He’s blogging about his travels along the way. February 2, 2009–Greetings from Riga, Latvia, where I’ve spent the last four days exploring the town, getting acquainted with its history, and, of course, checking out budget hotels. Riga has a » Read more
Follow EuroCheapo editor Tom Meyers on his journey through St. Petersburg. Photos: Tom Meyers
Note: EuroCheapo editor Tom Meyers is traveling in St. Petersburg, Russia and blogging about his journey. St. Petersburg, like most big cities, strikes me as a place of small surprises. For every grandiose palace visit, there’s an insightful trip to the grocery store. For every grand view, there’s a real-world view right behind you. Today I thought I’d post some » Read more
That's a lot of fish eggs!
Note: EuroCheapo editor Tom Meyers is traveling this week in St. Petersburg, Russia. Greetings from St. Petersburg! The city is snowy, slushy, and slippery, and every step outside requires attention. I flew in from Paris on Saturday afternoon and my friend Carl, who lives in St. Petersburg, picked me up at the airport and whisked me » Read more
Note: EuroCheapo editor Tom Meyers is traveling this week in Paris, where he’s visiting and reviewing hotels. He’s checking in with the blog during his travels. January 21, 2009 — Greetings from Paris, where the mood is celebratory. Here are the front pages of yesterday’s left-leaning Liberation and right-leaning Le Figaro (which published a 20 » Read more
Hi everyone — just a quick note from EC HQ in New York where I’m about to dash out the door and head to Newark Airport. Over the next 19 days, I’ll be sending dispatches from Paris, St. Petersburg, and (drum roll!) Riga, Latvia! In Paris, I’ll be visiting as many hotels as I can fit into » Read more
On Tuesday, January 20th, 2009, Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. The formal program begins at 11:30 AM EST and will be shown live around the world. Americans abroad: Will you be watching the festivities? Whether you live abroad or will simply be traveling, we’d like to » Read more
Next Friday, January 16, I’ll be heading off to Paris for a week of hotel visits. Paris is always a joy, even in the midst of a cold January, and I’m looking forward to sleeping in three different (and yet unnamed!) hotels while spending my days visiting and reviewing about 40 others. Finding and booking » Read more
Moscow from a hotel room. Photo by sevenbrane.
Here’s the deal: I’m in the midst of planning a late January journey to Russia. It’s completely exciting and different and will take EuroCheapo into new (and frozen) territory. However, I’ve hit a minor accommodation stumbling block and could use a little help from you. I’ll be in St. Petersburg for eight days–exploring the city, camping out » Read more
Imagine our glee when, clicking about the Munich tourism office’s website, we stumbled upon their list of Munich-based webcams! Among the list of live feeds from Munich were several devoted entirely to the Christmas market at Marienplatz. Ready for a quick (virtual) visit? We grabbed the images below at about 5 PM Munich time today. Click » Read more
Seville's Cathedral is free on Sundays. Photo: Paul VanDerWerf
Although Seville is a fraction of the size of Madrid and Barcelona, the southern Spanish city is packed with attractions. Seville boasts world-class art museums, historic palaces, picturesque neighborhoods, and an awe-inspiring cathedral. Conveniently, most of these attractions are located in the city center, within walking distance of each other. And best of all, several » Read more
A reception set up in the ruins of St. Donatian's Church, now a Crowne Plaza. Photo by the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
For nearly one thousand years a massive stone church sat on Bruges’ Burg square. It was destroyed about 200 years ago, but parts of it remain today under a Crowne Plaza Hotel and can be visited for free. Bruges’ Underground Church Back around 900 AD, the city built a fort to protect itself from pesky Vikings who » Read more
Photo by jamieca
While a visit to Stockholm’s Royal Palace (Kungliga Slottet) requires a ticket, the palace’s guards put on a delightful daily floor show that won’t cost you a krona! The palace is located in the epicenter of Stockholm, perched above the charming island of Gamla Stan. The fact that the royal family no longer resides here shouldn’t » Read more
Photo: James Williams
No trip to Salzburg is complete without at least a passing nod to “The Sound of Music,” the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical set in the city. The movie version, shot six years later, starred Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer and included many scenes shot in Salzburg. Not surprisingly, the city’s tourism industry doesn’t » Read more
The Capuchin Crypt in Rome. Photo: JvL
No bones about it, Rome’s Capuchin Crypt is an incredible (and intense) way to spend an hour. Located underneath the Church of Santa Maria della Immacolata Concezione on Via Veneto, this burial chamber is unique in its decorative technique—rooms are adorned extensively with human bones. More than 4,000 monks are buried within the crypt’s six rooms, all of whom died between 1528 » Read more
When in Prague, why not spend a couple of hours walking the town with a local? And not just any local—a local who’s a history buff! “Free Prague Tours” offers just that. The organization, made up of English-speaking tour guides, offers twice-daily walking tours of the Old Town and Mala Strana. And yes, they’re free! » Read more
Photo: Werner Bayer
When in Nice, take a break from the Mediterranean waters and head to the posh, northern suburb of Cimiez. The town offers ancient ruins from its important past (it was the region’s capital city during Roman times, 1,700 years ago), along with museums, a famous cemetery, and the Monastere Notre-Dame de Cimiez. The area is also home » Read more
