Get a good bottle of wine at the grocery store for less than €5. Photo by Regina W Bryan
As a visitor to Barcelona, you’re counting out your euros, dollars, pesos, or whatever currency you earn in, and wondering: how far is this going to get me in Barcelona? Good question. For one thing, it depends if you buy your food, snacks, coffee, beer, etc. in a cafe, hotel mini-bar or supermarket. While I’ve mentioned » Read more
Please don't call that a "pint." Photo: Dee Dee
No one likes being labeled the dumb tourist, but a lot of times we slide right into it with just one word. After seeing too many nice visitors to Amsterdam blush with embarrassment on the streets and in the shops, here are my top 10 phrases of what you shouldn’t say in Amsterdam (and why). » Read more
In “Only in Paris,” Duncan Smith tracks down 98 curiosities that have helped shape the texture of Paris both past and present. Photo © hidden europe magazine
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
Head to St. Martin in the Fields for a free afternoon concert on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Photo: Thom Watson
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
The charming Hotel Chopin is located inside a 19th-century shopping arcade near the Opera Garnier. Photo by EuroCheapo.
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
In a city so vibrant, it would be a waste to stay somewhere bland! All photos by EuroCheapo
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
Fly the friendly Irish skies on Aer Lingus. Photo: Deanster1983
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
Berlin's ice-cream scene is cool year-round. Photo: Maria Eklind
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
Hotel Donjon Vincennes is just a few minutes from Bérault Metro Station. Photo: Booking.com
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
The Tube entrance at South Kensington station fits in with the neighborhood's upscale image. Photo: Ewan-M.
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
With Roman ruins just steps away from Mediterranean shores, Tarragona makes for an enchanting day trip.
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
EuroCheapo and airberlin are sending one of the lucky contestants below on a memorable trip to Berlin this summer! Now, we need your help. We posted our contest last month and more than 1,500 of you entered! Of the 25 finalists we randomly selected two weeks ago, the 14 contestants below responded. We asked them » Read more
Relax, dine and enjoy the street theater from a cafe table. Photo: Mike Fleming
Paris is a city for couples, and the countless number of lovers embracing in the streets is a constant reminder. But solo travelers needn’t shy away from the City of Light. Take it from an expert – there are plenty of ways to indulge in Paris on your own! Here are some tips I’ve developed » Read more
London's Celtic Hotel is one of the most popular hotels on EuroCheapo.
The Celtic Hotel in Bloomsbury is a long-standing EuroCheapo favorite and continually gets great visitor reviews, thanks in a huge part due to its welcoming staff. I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with one of its owners, Rosanna Marazzi, to find out more about some of the charms of the hotel. Tell me » Read more
The Hotel Beaumarchais, located near Republique, offers brightly-colored rooms at often affordable rates.
A few weeks ago I wrote about some favorite budget hotels in Paris’ less-touristic 19th and 20th arrondissements. These are great small hotels that I believe are too often dismissed by travelers as not central enough for their trips. However, as I pointed out, Paris’ northeast quarter is buzzing these days, and travelers seeking out » Read more
Drugstores in Berlin, such as "dm," stock their shelves with soy milk and other special dietary products. Photo: Iwan Gabovitch.
Toothpaste or body lotion confiscated at airport security? Blisters the size of quarters from hiking around town in new sandals? Forgot to pack sunscreen or feminine hygiene products? No worries—Germany’s discount drugstore chains have this and much more covered. Ask for the nearest “Rossmann” or “dm” (day-em) store. In Germany, there’s one in practically every » Read more
The Elbe: en route from Prague to Berlin. Photo © hidden europe
There are some journeys worth making for their own sake. And others which merely bridge an essential gap from A to B. Many rail journeys to Berlin from nearby European capitals are often seen by seasoned travelers as more in the latter category. There is little by way of dramatic scenery in the region. Travelers » Read more
The center of London is a simple bus ride away from the Crystal Palace Park campground.
Photo: Berit Watkin
Think accommodation in London and I bet camping doesn’t even enter your head. So it may come as a surprise to learn that there are several year-round camping options available within the London postcode. It’s probably less of a surprise that these are generally found on the outer fringes of the city. (And there’s even » Read more
With a Paris Museum Pass, you can skip the ticket line and head straight in. Photo: EuroCheapo
With its world class museums, Paris is a veritable feast for art lovers. If you’re planning on spending some of your time in the French capital soaking up all that glorious artwork on display, then it’s worth planning on how to get the most out of it. The majority of the city’s museums charge an » Read more
Still hesitating about whether or not to visit Barcelona? Read on! Above, a closeup of the Sagrada Familia's text-heavy facade. All Photos by Regina W Bryan
Do you still need to be sold on visiting Barcelona? From its fascinating history to mind-blowing Gaudi architecture, the city offers so much for those in search of a rich cultural experience. Meanwhile, its affordable restaurants, bars and tapas spots make it a top destination for culinary tourists. Even those into more active vacations will » Read more
The Hotel Crayon, with rooms from $160-$560, is the former one-star Louvre Forum. Photo by EuroCheapo
Legend has it that Oscar Wilde remarked shortly before his death: “My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or the other of us has to go.” The comment pertained to the hotel room where he was staying, which would become his final resting place. These days, the same building houses » Read more
Wealden cottages by Lingfield church. Photo © hidden europe
Some of the most beautiful English countryside lies within a stone’s throw of London. In particular, between London and the Sussex coast there are two striking chalk escarpments: the North Downs and South Downs. Between these two lines of chalk are the wooded hills and valleys of the Weald. You’ll catch some sense of the » Read more
Looking up from the orchestra seats in London's Old Vic Theatre. Photo: ChrisJohnBeckett
As part of EuroCheapo’s new series on “Budget Culture,” I’ve been scouring the streets of London to find out how wallet-conscious Cheapo’s can enjoy London’s lively theater scene on the cheap. You’ll be glad to hear that the options are plentiful, so there’s no excuse not to get cultured in London! Discounted West End tickets » Read more
Tour Paris like a local on a city bus. Photo: Les Chatfield
There is a certain, almost voyeuristic charm to taking the buses in Paris. While plenty of tourist buses pack visitors in and offer them headsets to learn about the history of the major monuments, why not opt for a more local soundtrack? If nothing else, at €1.80 a ticket, riding the public buses is definitely » Read more
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