Book your TGV and iDTGV tickets as early as possible. Photo: Jo.sau
Planning to take the high-speed train in France anytime soon? Take a moment to understand which trains are available for your journey, and book those tickets as early as possible in order to snag the best deal. The importance of booking in advance was underscored to us yesterday when we received an email from the » Read more
Devon scenery on the edge of Dartmoor. Photo © hidden europe
If you are in any doubt about the capacity of rocks to shape relief, go to Devon. The county offers many good tutorials in geomorphology. South-west England is fabulous territory for rock jocks and Devon’s two national parks, Dartmoor and Exmoor, are good places to start. Dartmoor delights Dartmoor is England’s most extensive area of » Read more
"Travel Hacking" involves racking up loyalty points to score free travel. Is it for you? pnoeric
Booking affordable airfare to Europe from North America can be an exasperating (and seemingly impossible) experience, especially for budget travelers during peak travel seasons. Budget hotels, affordable restaurants, cheap train tickets, and low-cost airlines can help you keep it cheap once on the ground, but you have to get there first! Matthew Kepnes, author of » Read more
Dart Estuary at Dartmouth in south Devon is accessible by public transportation. Photo © hidden europe
There was a moment on the train journey to Barnstaple when the valley of the River Taw opened out to reveal a scene of rare beauty. Two fishermen waved at the train, as we slowed to stop at King’s Nympton station. A heron, evidently quite untroubled by the train, waited on the railway platform at » Read more
Get closer to Hamburg's maritime history by taking a boat tour. Photo: LuxTonnerre
Given its prime position on the Elbe, its status as a major port city, the various canals cutting through the city, and the centerpiece Alster lakes, you can be certain that Hamburg offers a multitude of opportunities to explore the city from the water. Cheapo tours The city has numerous ferries plying the Elbe in » Read more
Ham, part of the Spanish diet. Photos by Regina W Bryan
We’ve all heard about the health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet, but do people in Barcelona actually eat this way? The answer is yes, on average. Here are a few foods that make up the daily diet of most people in Mediterranean Catalonia, which should be on your list of edibles to sample: 1. Ham » Read more
The famous West Front of Exeter Cathedral. Photo © hidden europe
Exeter Cathedral comes as something of a surprise. While most cathedrals soar upwards to the heavens, Exeter squats — firmly anchored to the ground by its twin towers. The cathedral is curiously invisible from many parts of the city centre. And when you do eventually see the cathedral, its colour is something of a surprise. » Read more
Lounging in Russell Square, in the heart of Bloomsbury. Photo: Tom Meyers
It’s not surprising why Bloomsbury is so popular with visitors to London. It’s both charming – picture streets of Georgian townhouses with pretty garden squares and cozy pubs – and convenient, being situated in the centre of the city with attractions such as the British Museum just around the corner. There are still lots of » Read more
easyHotel has several central London hotels. Above, the South Kensington location, which we inspected in August 2013. Photo: Tom Meyers
EuroCheapo prides itself on sniffing out the best value accommodation options in a city, while more often than not, keeping the emphasis on family-run properties with character that add something to your stay. That said, the emergence of a different breed of cheap no-frills accommodation in Europe cannot be ignored, as these properties offer the » Read more
Norwegian already offers Wi-Fi on board... for free! Photo: Aero Icarus
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced at the end of October the loosening of regulations prohibiting the use of certain popular personal electronic devices during take-off and landing. So long as their batteries are charged, passengers can now look forward to reading on their Kindles or iPads, listening to their mp3 players, or watching » Read more
Enjoy local meals with fresh ingredients in Barcelona. Leon Brocard
Yogurt is not for breakfast. Omelets are for dinner. Espresso after meals. Napkins not in your lap… These, and many other customs, have been part of my Spain dining education over the past eight years. I’m still not an expert, but these are a few tips on how to eat like a local when in » Read more
The Evening Standard is handed out for free daily after 4 pm. Photo: Dereksky
If you’re on the hunt for information about what to do in London or looking to catch up on the latest news, travel, style or beauty ideas, then you’re in luck. There has been an explosion of quality free publications in London (and across the UK) over the last few years. In addition to the » Read more
Leipzig's city center offers several note-worthy music-related museums. Photo © hidden europe
In previous posts this month, Susanne Kries and Nicky Gardner looked at Leipzig’s Festival of Lights (October 9), the memorial in Leipzig to the 1813 Battle of the Nations (in their 16 October article) and last week at Leipzig’s rich classical music tradition. Here they conclude their Leipzig series with a review of some of » Read more
Don't forget to validate your ticket! Photo: Genista
Visitors to Berlin quickly realize that the city offers a wide range of efficient and reliable public transportation options. The system works well, and with just a bit of preparation, is quite easy to use. In this, the first of two articles covering Berlin’s public transportation, we’ll be looking at ticket options. Which ticket type? » Read more
Many spirits lurk in the spooky and beautiful Green-Wood Cemetery. Photo: Eden
I’m not one to run out and see the latest horror movie, and screaming my way through a haunted house isn’t really my thing. But I do consider myself something of an amateur ghost hunter. I’m not talking seances and paranormal equipment. It’s just that I dig ghost stories—their history, their lore, the cool places » Read more
The Gewandhaus is a superb piece of East German design, with an impressive ceiling fresco by Sighard Gille. Photo © hidden europe
Philanthropy is not merely an American virtue. The history of the city of Leipzig in eastern Germany shows how an enlightened mercantile class can support a strong musical tradition. Bach in Leipzig Subscription concerts were a feature of the Leipzig cultural scene as early as the 1740s. Even then, the city had great musical assets, » Read more
Aled Rees and his family have run the Ridgemount Hotel in Bloomsbury since the 1960s. Photo: Frances Ambler
The Ridgemount Hotel is a great budget option on hotel packed Gower Street in London’s Bloomsbury neighborhood. In contrast to many of the hotels, it’s definitely a family concern, with the owners around every day to help and pass on tips. I had the pleasure of meeting Aled Rees, the grandson of the original owners. » Read more
Inside the Monument to the Battle of Nations in Leipzig, where mourning knights stand in front of death masks. Photos © hidden europe magazine
Nicky Gardner and Susanne Kries, who last week wrote about Leipzig for EuroCheapo, return to the city in eastern Germany with the second of four reports. Leipzig was not the best place to be 200 years ago this week. From October 16-19, 1813, European history was shaped in the meadows just south of the city. » Read more
The Grand Large du ZAC is part of a long-term reorientation of Dunkerque towards the ocean. Photo: Alex Robertson Textor
Calais, the closest French port to England, is the principal crossing point between England and France. The Channel Tunnel links England to Coquelles, just a few miles from Calais; through it car and train passengers utilize Calais as a gateway to France and beyond. But in fact very few people take the Eurostar to Calais-Fréthun, » Read more
Plaque recalling Leipzig's peaceful revolution. Photos © hidden europe magazine
Make a date for this time next year. But, even this year, October 9 is surely the most memorable evening of the year in Leipzig. The East German city catapulted to international prominence in October 1989 as its citizens agitated for political and social renewal in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Horst Sindermann, one-time member » Read more
September always puts me in a bookish state of mind. It’s something about the back-to-school buzz and the first crisp edges of fall that make me want to cozy up with a good book. Or duck into a good bookstore. In the age of Amazon, a good bookstore is hard to find. Mom-and-pop and big-box » Read more
The Hotel Henri IV offers an incredible location, cheap rates, and cool history. It does not, however, offer Wi-Fi.
How would you react if you arrived in your hotel room, plopped down your bags, and tried to join the hotel Wi-Fi network, only to find… (spinning, spinning)…. nothing. We’re not talking about having to hang out with your laptop in the lounge downstairs because the Wi-Fi doesn’t reach your room. And it can’t be » Read more
How much will that bag cost? Check out our chart below. Photo: Pixabay
It can be hard to track down exact information about the luggage limitations on low-cost carriers. They do their absolute best to hide it deep in the bowels of their websites. But knowledge is power (and more often than not, serious money), fellow travelers! Here, for your edification, are the luggage rules and prices (as » Read more
Market day in Sineu, an event well frequented by tourists. Photo © hidden europe
Our travels have just brought us to Mallorca. With a population of almost 900,000, this large Mediterranean island struggles with its image. Tarnished by four decades of mass tourism, Mallorca has long been regarded as the vacation choice for those who simply cannot afford anything better. For 25 years, Brits went to Mallorca to party » Read more
Whichever tent (and beer) beckons, get there early! Photo by Audrey Sykes
One week down, one more to go at Bavaria’s Oktoberfest. My dispatch is here to help those still on the Munich mission find their place. No matter which tent you end up in, beer will be €10 a pop and people are bouncing off the walls in dirndls and lederhosen. But to get a grasp » Read more
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