The view from the top of Notre Dame. Photo: Levork
Sometimes in my tiny apartment in Paris, I find a few euros that I hid away for a rainy day, which are numerous in this city. Discovering a ten euro bill, however, can offer me the chance to do something fun, different, or exciting. To finish up the year, here’s a list of my top » Read more
Birmingham's modern architecture. Photos © hidden europe
The virtues of Britain’s second city, Birmingham, are often overlooked by the majority of Brits who see the city as a place to change trains rather than a spot to linger. Yet the Midlands city with a population nudging a million boasts some of Britain’s most striking modern architecture and cuts a dash in culture, » Read more
Celebrating the New Year in Rome. Photo: Giulio Menna
By Nicole Arriaga in Rome— For those of you with plans to ring in the New Year in Rome, the problem is not finding something to do. Rather, the real dilemma lies in narrowing down your celebratory options. Fortunately for Cheapos, Capodanno (New Year’s Eve) is one time when the city’s squares come alive with » Read more
Adding to the John Lennon Wall in Prague. Photo: CP Hoffman
This year, December 8 not only marked the 30th anniversary of John Lennon’s death, but also the 30th anniversary of one of Prague’s most unique landmarks: Prague’s John Lennon Wall. Behind the wall Created by Czechs as a kind of shrine to John Lennon in the days just following his death, the wall was marked » Read more
Light extravaganza at the Strata house. Photos by Suzanne Russo
By Suzanne Russo in New York— Full confession: While I do love the holiday windows I wrote about last week, the crowds that go along with them put me a little bit on edge (okay, maybe a lot on edge). That said, one can’t help but get swept up in the holiday spirit in New » Read more
New routes are coming for the Ave, Spain's high-speed train. Photo: Matthew Black
Last week we gave a rail service update for Britain, focusing on some of the new train services that started with the schedule changes that came into effect last Sunday, December 12. Now we’ll take a look at how the 2011 schedules look for continental Europe. Discontinued services First the bad news. A number of » Read more
St. Thomas Church in Leipzig. Photo: Ed Webster
Just over an hour away from Berlin by train, Leipzig makes for a great day trip. Whether you’re a classical music fan or a history buff, there’s plenty to keep you busy for a day (or, preferably, more). Here are some tips to help you have a good time on a budget in Leipzig: 1. » Read more
Christmas in Venice. Photo: Mdesisto
Christmas in the lagoon is, in my opinion, a privilege. During the holiday season, Venice is an enchanted and old-fashioned sight, minus the traffic jams and queues at shopping centers that plague most cities at this time of year. With so few tourists walking down the city’s quiet calli (small streets), this is the quietest » Read more
Meringue dreams on rue de Rennes. Photos by Theadora Brack
By Theadora Brack in Paris— Oh, the weather in Paris has been frightful, but the city is still delightful. So crank up Tino Rossi’s classic “Petit Papa Nöel” on the gramophone, or pull on your boots and bravely hot step it outside. For your wandering pleasure, I’ve created a personal list of my favorite holiday » Read more
The entrance to Macy's. Photo: Craig Nelson
There are few cities that do the holidays like New York does the holidays (and we’re not even biased). Whether it’s the trees on Park Avenue that become a parade of gleaming white or Radio City Music Hall all done up with its enormous tree of lights (and its long-legged ladies), Gotham doesn’t mess around when » Read more
Going green at the Santa Lucia Christmas Market in Barcelona. Photo: Anna Champel
By Regina Winkle-Bryan in Barcelona— Santa is secondary in Barcelona. The big day for the Spanish, and Catalans, is King’s Day, January 6. Still, there is plenty of festivity going down this month in Spain’s second-largest metropolis. Here are some of the best events to look for this holiday season: The Santa Lucia Christmas Market » Read more
All lit up at the Galeries Lafayette. Photo: charley1965
The holidays are a magical time in Paris. Due to a lack of a buffer holiday in the fall, the lights start going up just as Americans are digging in to their Thanksgiving turkey. Stores, public squares, and streets are all decorated with dazzling displays of holiday cheer brightening up the already aptly-named City of » Read more
Innsbruck, Austria can be budget-friendly. Photos by Audrey Sykes
Europe’s ski towns are scattered across the Alps and serve as ideal winter getaways for those living up north. Innsbruck, Austria is one of the favorites and one of the cheapest. It’s bigger than surrounding towns, with a larger population and thus a lot more to offer in terms of quality and prices. Here are » Read more
Christmas spirit at the Vatican. Photo: Sunshine City
By Nicole Arriaga in Rome— When it comes to holiday festivities, Rome doesn’t exactly turn into tinsel town. That’s partly because the holiday season in Italy is focused on the religious aspects of the celebration, rather than on leaving presents under the Christmas tree. Christmas traditions in Italy Italians wait to give gifts to children » Read more
Strolling Bryant Park's Christmas market. Photos by Nicole Puhl
The holidays are upon us and New York City is abuzz with hurried shoppers and jubilant tourists enjoying the winter decor. With the city’s holiday transformation also comes the temporary transformation of city squares and spaces into pop-up holiday marts. These little boutiques are great for last-minute shoppers and those looking for unique gifts and » Read more
Smart shopping at Lefties. Photo: FaceMePLS
By Cynthia Kane in Madrid— If shopping is on the agenda while you’re in Madrid, you’ll surely come across price tags that will make you scratch your head. The good news is that although most trendy stores will drain your funds, there are some spots that won’t. Clothing: Lefties Multiple locations, including: Calle Carretas, 10 » Read more
Bordeaux has much to offer that won't leave you "wining." Photos by CH Kwak
Type “Bordeaux” into Google and the all-knowing gods of auto-suggest will fill in “wine” for you. But I was inspired by my friend Emilie, a Bordelaise who doesn’t drink. She’d always told me there was plenty to do in Bordeaux that doesn’t involve red wine. I recently spent a week in Gironde, the French region » Read more
Sunset on the island of Rügen. Photo: martienbrander
Cast your eye over the map of the Baltic Sea and you’ll find a galaxy of islands that tempt the visitor. Of the nine countries that fringe the Baltic, only Lithuania and Latvia do not have populated offshore islands. In total over half a million Europeans live on islands in the Baltic region, with four » Read more
Afternoon tea at Bea's of Bloomsbury. Photo: Yukino Miyazawa
By Lara Kavanagh in London— A proper afternoon tea in London can be an expensive affair, with the classic set-up usually costing a hefty £40 or £50 per person. Delightful as it is to indulge at renowned institutions such as Fortnum and Mason or Claridges, you can save a bundle of cash by booking an » Read more
Crime in Stereo performing at the Webster Hall Studio. Photo: Bill Shouldis
By Alisha Miranda in New York— New York City is a hub for music lovers of all tastes. The city’s neighborhoods have streets lined with venues offering live music every night of the week. So whether you’re looking for a rock show or a jazz club, you won’t have trouble finding the right place. Manhattan » Read more
The author after a day of museum shopping. Photos by Theadora Brack
Theadora’s the name and shopping’s my game. For your high browsing pleasure, I’ve put together a list of my favorite museum shops in Paris. Not in France? Fret not. This week I’m leaving no Francophile or Shopaholic behind! In SELLabration of “Cyber Monday,” most of the shops listed below have online boutiques and offer international » Read more
The busy entrance to Barcelona's Santa Caterina Market. Photo: Ajay Suresh
What’s on your shopping list? Some chubby prawns? Sweet potatoes for fall dishes? Candied almonds and dried figs? All of this and much, much more can be found at the local outdoor market in Barcelona. The many markets of Barcelona Every barrio or neighborhood in Barcelona has its own market. Some are historic, others are » Read more
A Billa supermarket in Venice's Cannaregio neighborhood. Photo: Tom Meyers
Have you ever wandered around Venice after realizing that, say, you’ve run out of toothpaste, shampoo or body lotion? It can actually be a bit tricky to locate a supermarket amidst the winding alleys of the old city. Well, even if you haven’t run out of toothpaste, I’m pretty sure that it’s helpful to make » Read more
Jamming away at Moe in Madrid. Photo: Tnarik
By Nina Derham in Madrid— Madrid’s live music scene is alive and kicking with both local and international artists setting the bar high. One of the most wonderful things about live music in Madrid is that you can enjoy it without breaking the bank! The cheapest way to catch a concert is to frequent one » Read more
Ice skating at the Tower of London. Photo: Jaimelondonboy
Ice skating rinks pop up in London‘s parks, museums and nestled alongside stunning landmarks across the city during Christmas time, with residents donning skates and falling over themselves to have fun on the ice. Leave your dignity at the door, grab your mittens, a glass of mulled wine and a gaggle of festive friends and » Read more
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