Getting scooped at Giolitti in Rome. Photo: Andre Luis
In Rome there’s Gelato, and then there’s just gelato. Let me clarify: I am quite a snob when it comes to eating the heavenly dessert. Whenever friends ask me to meet them for a gelato, I have to ask, “Where?” After all, there is such a thing as a mediocre cone. Thus, take note. Here » Read more
How to survive Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. Photo: Mdpny
Macy’s is the second largest consumer of helium in the nation (behind the U.S. government). What’s a retail store doing with all that hot air? Supplying us with a Thanksgiving tradition, that’s what. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, with its characteristic enormous balloons, is nearly as ubiquitous in homes throughout the U.S. as are turkey » Read more
Save some serious francs with these simple tips. Photo: Max Stolbinsky
Let’s get one thing straight about Zurich: There is nothing you can do to avoid expensive costs. It’s the fifth priciest city in Europe, and even simple fares like tram tickets and Swiss chocolate can be a big pinch from any pocket. There’s not much you can do, but there is some hope. Try these » Read more
Picturesque Strasbourg. Photo: Randi Hausken
Strasbourg is one of those places that is so easily missed. Fast trains pause there, but Strasbourg deserves at least a day or two. And the Alsace city is at its best in the run-up to Christmas as the German fad for Christmas markets spills over the border and onto the streets of Strasbourg’s historic » Read more
Fancy treats at Bubó. Manel Zaera
When I moved to Barcelona five years ago, I thought yogurt was a breakfast food. Oh how wrong I was! It took some time, and I was not an easy convert, but I now eat yogurt (Greek yogurt if possible, with honey) for dessert. Other favored local desserts include Crema Catalana, panellets, mel i mató, coques, » Read more
Say "Cheese!" The author's favorite fromages. Photos by Theadora Brack
By Theadora Brack in Paris— Big wheels do keep on turning in Paris! Like skirts, cheese is seasonal, and in France the variety is never-ending. So this week I’m taking it to les rues, and asking my favorite local Big Cheeses for recommendations and helpful tips, too. Here’s a shopping list to use as a » Read more
Ice skating in NYC. Photo: James Manners
As the winter chill finds its way into New York there are few outdoor activities worth braving the frosty elements, and ice-skating is one of them. NYC is home to multiple skating rinks for appropriately ringing in the holiday season with an icy spin (or fall!) around the rink and a hot chocolate or two. » Read more
The Gothic Charles Bridge in Prague. Photo: Paula Funnell
Prague offers so many varying styles of architecture that after a visit you can practically go home with a PhD. Within the city center and its immediate surroundings, you’ll find every architectural style from Gothic to Baroque, Cubism to Functionalism, and Art Noveau to the boxy beasts of Communism. And that’s not all of them. » Read more
The view from the Castelo Sao Jorge. Photos by Guilhem Fauquier
By Guilhem Fauquier in Lisbon— The Portuguese often refer to Lisbon as the cidade das sete colinas, or “city of the seven hills.” They’re not kidding. Although walking the hilly terrain will be a workout, the seven hills do offer outstanding views that the locals enjoy every day. Most of these vistas offer dramatic, sweeping » Read more
A day trip to the Sierra mountain range. Photos by Nina Derham
By Nina Derham in Madrid— If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of Madrid, you’re in luck. Spain’s capital is flanked by mountain ranges including the Sierra de Guadarrama, Sierra del Norte and the Sierra de Gredos, all of which offer city dwellers some well-needed respite from the urban grind. Day tripping » Read more
Chez Victor Hugo. Photo: Fofo
The Marais, one of Paris’ most adorable neighborhoods, is home to chic boutiques, hip restaurants, and royal scenery. The trendy area also boasts rents that rival Manhattan’s Chelsea and West Village (with a gay culture to match!). However, there is plenty for Cheapos to enjoy as they walk through the city’s historical Jewish quarter and » Read more
A night out with the Fiorentina! Photo: Laura Mongillo
What’s the best way to rub shoulders with Florentines, far from the museums and tourist traps of central Florence? Head out to the stadium and watch the city’s soccer team Fiorentina play against some of the best teams in the world! Fiorentina’s fan base is still very proudly Florentine and is a constant topic of » Read more
Safe cycling in Amsterdam. Photo: Enlatado
Amsterdam by bike is the best way to see the city, hands down. The flat terrain guarantees a quick travel time, and there’s something special about the Holland breeze brushing your cheeks. Most importantly, as biking in this densely-populated city is the main form of transport, there are some important safety precautions you should take. » Read more
Making friends in Paris. Willy Verhulst
By Professor Stephen Solosky— My fondest memories of traveling to Paris are when I traveled solo. Paris is a city of discovery and when traveling alone, I felt free to look into every nook and cranny of the city to find new museums, galleries, boutiques and markets. Traveling solo gives me the freedom to walk » Read more
Inside New York's Tenement Museum. Photo: Pietroizzo
By Suzanne Russo in New York— The Guggenheim is an incredible building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The American Museum of Natural History has that huge dinosaur. And the Met is… well, the Met. All amazing and worth visiting. But with iconic museums come hefty prices. Plus, New York is home to many smaller museums » Read more
It's not a vacation without spending time with a book and a cup of coffee.
By Nicole Arriaga in Rome— If there’s something to be said about Italians, one thing’s for certain, they sure know how to churn out a good cup of coffee. Just about everywhere you turn in Rome, behind every nook, cranny and yes, monument, you will find a coffee bar. To say that Italians are obsessed » Read more
By Florencia & Rafa in Madrid— Until not long ago, if you happened to wake up late in Madrid on a Sunday with a bit of a headache after a long night out, your breakfast choices were mostly limited to the typical Spanish fare: pincho de tortilla (eggs and potatoes omelet with bread on the » Read more
London's Highgate Cemetery. Photo: Bixentro
However morbid it might sound, a stroll around one of London’s historic cemeteries can make a wonderfully atmospheric detour off the usual tourist track. In the early 19th century, several large, elegant cemeteries were commissioned to accommodate the demands of the burgeoning London populace; listed below are three of the best. Highgate Cemetery Highgate benefits » Read more
Cheapo-friendly chocolates at Leonidas in Brussels. Photo: Sebr
By C H Kwak— With plenty of Eurocrats flaunting their nontaxable income, Brussels can be a tricky place for Cheapos. But eating and shopping in Brussels don’t have to cost an arm and a leg (although they can, if that’s what you’re into). Let me give you a few splurge options–and their budget alternatives. Chocolate » Read more
Fruit sorbet at Svetozor. Photo: Paul and Jill
To experience one of Prague’s sweeter sides, head on in to one of the city’s myriad number of sweet shops. Called cukrárna in Czech, which stems from the word cukr, meaning sugar, these tasty little shops offer cakes, pastries, (what the Czechs call) “mini-desserts” and ice cream. The shops also serve a variety of warm » Read more
Learning at the Deutsches Currywurst Museum. Photo: E.I. Edutainment International.
Currywurst, grilled or fried sausage served with ketchup and curry powder, is a signature Berlin dish. Inspired by American soldiers eating steaks with ketchup, a certain Frau Herta Heuwer invented it in 1949 from her sausage stand at Kantstrasse 101 (where a memorial to her legacy shares the address with an Asian supermarket today). These » Read more
A show at Madrid's La Tabacalera. Photo: Brocco Lee
Madrid’s Golden Triangle of art museums is world renowned, but there is much more to the city’s art scene than the Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofia. So when you’re all Prado-ed out hit the streets of Lavapies to experience Madrid’s art and culture in its most eclectic, current and raw form. Lavapies is the city’s » Read more
Vintage shopping at Portobello Market. Photo: Julie 70
Every now and again I catch my breath going through a pile of crumbled clothes in a damp smelling sea of castoffs at one of London’s vintage or charity shops. Who knows where it’s been? Or what sort of person had worn it? How did it make them feel? And most importantly: Will it fit » Read more
Free Wi-Fi outside the Pompidou Museum. Photo: zoetnet
By Bryan Pirolli in Paris— If you’re visiting Paris and need a wireless network, the first place you’ll probably turn is your hotel. These days, even cheap hotels have begun offering free Wi-Fi. However, sometimes hotels charge a ridiculous amount and sometimes they don’t offer a wireless network at all. Luckily, there’s no need to » Read more
A crowd at Rome's Stadio Olimpico. Photo: KingPenguin1029
Ask almost any Italian and they’ll tell you there are only two things in life that they cannot do without: coffee and calcio (soccer). Right up there with coffee, calcio in Italy is definitely much more than a game. It’s a passion. Italians eat, breathe and live soccer. There are radio and TV shows dedicated » Read more
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