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Friday flip-through: Amsterdam books, wine dating in Paris, Eurovision
2008-04-25 17:58:00
  Sebastien Tellier is representing France in Eurovision this year. It’s sunny again today! Here are some of the things we’ve taken a shine to this week: On Wednesday, Amsterdam became the World Book Capital for one whole year! Thanks to Trippist for reading up on this, and getting us excited about the city-wide book fair scheduled for May 18th! Meanwhile in Paris , Heather Stimmler-Hall recounts in her “Secrets of Paris” blog her tale of wine dating on the 56th floor of the Tour Montparnasse. What is “wine dating,” you ask? It involves tasting three types of wine, mingling with available Frenchmen, cold cuts, and a towering view. Sign us up. And then there’s the flight news! Less Than a Shoestring got us all knotted up about UK and Irish airports charging surprise, unavoidable airport taxes. And from a vending machine, no less! Meanwhile, BudgetTravel alerts us to Cheapo-friendly fares in May from NYC to Rome, Naples, and other Italian cit...
More About: Books , Wine , Dating

Budapest Night Out: Wine, goulash, dance floor
2008-04-24 17:39:00
Get more bang for your forint with our Cheapo-tested tips for a night out in Budapest . Kari Hoerchler, who recently prowled the city’s streets hunting down hotels for us, also found out how to have fun… Start the night with a free drink. A cheapo could get a jump start on the evening with a free drink at the Matyas’ wine fountain in the Labyrinth of Castle Hill. However, we found it more efficient and enjoyable to fork out the HUF 8000 (roughly €31) to sample over 50 wines at the House of Hungarian Wine s above ground. Get your restaurant row on. Ramble on over to the Liszt ter, the veritable restaurant row of Budapest. People watching is free of charge, not to mention fun. And, frugal dining spots abound. A fresh variety of cocktails, sandwiches and salads are available at Café Vian. ‘Pest favorites, including goulash and fruit soup, are served at Menza (which also serves international fare, like pasta and salads). Both restaurants run a tab of abo...
More About: Dance , Night , Floor

Krakow tip: Five free things to do!
2008-04-23 17:22:00
A view of the old Barbican gate Although Krakow isn’t among the priciest European cities, we always love to save when we can. Here are our picks for stuff that won’t cost you a zÅ‚oty! Take a trip to St. Mary’s Basilica Mariacki Square, 5 Arguably the most famous of Poland’s churches, St. Mary’s Basilica is home to the illustrious Gothic altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss, a German sculptor. Admission to the main basilica is free, although you’ll only be able to waltz about halfway down the main aisle. For a closer look at the altar, visitors can pay 6 PLN (about €1.75). Consider climbing up one of St. Mary’s two towers (a cost of 5 PLN or about €1.50) for a panoramic view of the city. The towers are open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from May 1 to August 31. Tour the main market square (”Rynek Glowny”) in the Old Quarter Take a stroll around Krakow’s biggest medieval city square, a place surrounded by historic bui...
More About: Free , Things

CheapoNews Flash: Come join us for a live blog panel!
2008-04-22 17:07:00
This Wednesday at 2 pm EST (8 pm British Summer Time) Tom will be a panelist on a live blog event panel with our friends over at Europe à la Carte. Tom will be joining other travel bloggers to discuss the travel blog industry and respond to reader feedback about what they look for in a travel blog. Fellow participants from the South Pacific Travel Blog , Vagablond.com, Soultravelers3.com and Colliding Continents will be on deck, and Karen from Europe à la Carte will moderate. Any Cheapos who are interested in posting questions, commenting on the travel blog industry or reading feedback from the panelists should swing on over and say hello!
More About: Flash , Join , Live , Panel

Barcelona Q&A: Is it safe to stay in the Gothic Quarter?
2008-04-21 18:57:00
A reader asks: “In Barcelona , we’re thinking of staying in the Gothic Quarter to be close to everything, but we’re worried that it’s not safe. Is this area sketchy at night?” Regina WB responds: Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter has the Cathedral, Plaza del Rey and many other fabulous sites that most visitors want to ‘oohh and ahh’ over. And therein lies the problem, while St Juame’s Square is lovely, and the craved gargoyles frightfully fantastic, is it safe? Yes and no. Petty theft in Barcelona is rampant. For the most part it is safe to walk the streets of the city center at any time of night, because there are always people out in Barcelona. Violent crime is not a problem. But, you’ve got to watch your bag, your camera, your wallet, your cell phone and maybe even that gold chain around your neck (less someone rip it from your being on the subway!). Small theft is not punished (really) in Spain, and thieves are well aware of t...
More About: Safe , Stay

London: Five fab things to do for free
2008-04-18 17:43:00
  Westminster Abbey icons Yes, we hate adding on the extra pounds too. And, in London , it’s easy to do. Thankfully, there are a slew of free things to take advantage of in Her Majesty’s city—and you pretty much only need a good pair of walking shoes to enjoy them. Righty-ho! Water works We think the best fountains in London (and there are plenty to choose from!) are the two majestic bronze fountains that flow over Trafalgar Square. Start by admiring them from afar, standing at the northern edge of the square. Then, take the stairs down, pause to pet the giant lion statues (another Square fixture), and settle in on a perch nearby. We’ve spent whole afternoons here, where the views of Londontown are great and you’re never far from a duck or a wish. Sit for a portrait The National Portrait Gallery in Trafalgar Square is free and open to the public daily, closing only for a couple days at Christmas. The gallery displays portraits, photos, and sculptur...
More About: Free , Things

Are budget airlines a good deal?
2008-04-17 17:38:00
With budget airlines, you can fly between European cities for startlingly low prices. But, is there a hitch to that €20 flight from London to Venice? Maybe. Here’s our quick recap of budget airline advantages and disadvantages. Some pros 1) You can fly for cheap, especially with advance planning. How? There are many ways to fly for close to nothing. Lots of airlines offer promotional fares that are essentially free, requiring customers to pay for taxes and incremental charges only. 2) Transportation is quick. For example, traveling from Paris to Warsaw by train will take a minimum of 15 hours, with many connections taking 20 hours. An air journey takes just two and a quarter hours. 3) Multi-stop holidays in Europe can be effortlessly and inexpensively scheduled. The low-cost carrier business model is based on one-way fares, not roundtrips. Leisure travelers who don’t have to adhere to strict schedules can flexibly plan very affordable hops around Europe. 4) Approached...
More About: Airlines , Deal , Budget , Good

Tuesday flip-through: Budapest, Clooney, and locals
2008-04-15 19:17:00
What are the Cheapos reading over lunch today? Here’s a quick Tuesday flip-through: Flight Reading When we can’t hop on a plane and jet to Europe, we tend to pick up a good read to quell the urge. So, we were happy to be reminded by The Intelligent Traveler that “The Best American Travel Writing”, 2007 edition, which hit bookstores last fall, is chock full of essays that will take you there. Travel Gal Pals We’re excited for the launch of Budget Travel’s new magazine, Girlfriend Getaways. The first issue is out on newsstands now and includes a cheeky article by Ann Hood about how she and a few friends went searching for George Clooney while visiting Italy’s Lake District. We tried to find George too, while at ITB Berlin. But, only got as far as this wax figurine. Budapest Bets  Last week, Daily Candy emailed us about Budapest. Not only did they dish up ideas for where to get drinks, soak up the entertainment factor, and eatÂ...
More About: Flip

Brussels crush: Hotel la Madeleine
2008-04-10 18:46:00
Having read repeatedly that Brussels , as the center of the EU, was more ”political” and “corporate” than “quaint European,” we anticipated streets filled with bankers and void of much character (save for a small central square and a famous statue of a boy urinating). Boy, were we wrong! From the bright, grafitti-lined streets to the yummy, chocolately waffles, steamed mussels, and frothy beer, we were drawn in. The locals were friendly, the artistic vibe apparent everywhere, and the multitude of architectural icons loomed—most distinctly in the medieval Grand Place—and all across the metropolis. And, we got a few crushes along the way. First up, Hotel La Madeleine . Hotel la Madeleine rue de la Montagne, 22  Doubles: €60-100  Ah, ma Madeleine. Rooms at this 2-star gem are decorated with a modern, artistic sensibility. Purple and beige walls are accented by sleek furnishings (lamps, wardrobes and desks), and bedspreads are luxurious...
More About: Crush

Contest winner: Overcoming a bad plane seat
2008-04-09 18:40:00
You read. You posted. You conquered, Cheapos. Recently, we regaled you with the story of our lackluster plane trip home from Paris. In short, we had a really crummy seat on an American Airlines flight and were forced to come up with ways to “overcome” the seats. We then asked you for your tips on overcoming such transatlantic trials. In witty emails, funny blog comments, and some in-person chats, we heard it all. (Including, to our relief, that we aren’t the only ones who’ve posed strategically for photos in order to snap documentation of intoxicated passengers… Thanks Henrietta!). We also learned some innovative ways to avoid seat discomfort and annoyance, including pretending to be pregnant, tuning out with an iPod, and playing trivia with other passengers.  One reader recommended the pharma-approach: pop a couple sleeping pills and say goodnight.  Others distract themselves with in-flight movies, no matter how inane (Mouse Hunt, anyon...
More About: Contest , Seat , Winner , Plane

Ryanair diary: One Night in Barcelona’s Girona Airport
2008-04-08 19:25:00
In the spring of 2006, I was able to score some super-cheap tickets on Ryanair for a last-minute getaway to Barcelona from London, where I was living. It had been a great weekend, made possible by my low-cost flight. I booked a 6 PM flight in order to extend my holiday as long as possible, pushing off the reality of the next morning’s workday. As long as I was in Barcelona, I was on vacation!  The tickets were basically free—I only had to pay the airport tax. The catch? I had to fly into and out of two less-than-central airports, London’s Stansted and Barcelona’s Girona airport. It was worth it, right? What follows is a diary of my flight experience en route from Barcelona to London. 4:30 PM: I arrive early at the airport for a 6 PM flight. We all know you have to get to the gate before the other passengers in order to snag the best seat. 5:00 PM: Shortly after check-in, an announcement is made. The flight has been delayed an hour. Ok, some extra time...
More About: Diary , Airport , Night

How can budget airline tickets be so cheap?
2008-04-07 16:45:00
As part of our Cheap oSearch flights launch celebration, we’re spending some time this week discussing common questions readers have about traveling on Europe’s low-cost carriers. A good place to start is with the most obvious question of all: How can budget airlines be so cheap? First of all, budget airlines manage to keep their own costs down, which translates into a cheaper ticket price. For example, many low-cost routes fly in and out of secondary airports with low landing fees. Many low-cost airlines have also eliminated conventional customer service departments, replacing them with toll-based telephone numbers that levy exorbitant per-minute charges (see: easyJet). Additionally, the operating costs of low-cost carriers are quite minimal. Though practices vary, for the most part you’ll find baggage handlers checking tickets, planes being unloaded minutes before they’re filled with new customers, and planes not being completely cleaned during general flyi...
More About: Tickets , Budget , Airline

Friday flip-through: RyanAir reports, Lisbon, Florence
2008-04-04 16:33:00
Let’s wind down and settle into our weekend, shall we? Even on a rainy Friday morning, we’ve found inspiration this morning flipping through some other sites. For example: The web has been busier than the Dublin airspace with stories about Ryanair . Our favorite budget travel rebel at “Less than a Shoestring” last week continued to explain ”Why I Love/Hate RyanAir.” (Let’s say that it has to do with taxes, fees, and working the system. “Dealing with low-cost carriers such as RyanAir is like playing a game. In order to play well, you need to know the rules.” Meanwhile, over on the other shoe, Spendthrift Shoestring is back from Carriacou and already monitoring the overall health of the low-cost carrier business. Alex points out that Air Berlin and Centralwings have experienced some turbulence, while RyanAir is reporting growth in March. At least some airlines are showing growth. BudgetTravel, reporting on the ATA airline bankr...
More About: Florence , Lisbon , Flip

CheapoSearch takes flight!
2008-04-02 17:30:00
  (tap, tap) Is this thing on? Ladies and gents, we’re thrilled to announce the newest addition to EuroCheapo: CheapoSearch Flight s, our great, big search engine for researching budget airlines in Europe. We’re big fans of European budget airlines, in all their quirky, bargain-ticket glory. How else could you fly from London to Rome for £10? We felt, however, that there weren’t enough reliable resources on the web to find, compare, and research the carriers and routes. Thus, we built CheapoSearch Flights. Don’t know your Aer Arann  from your WizzAir? We’ve got you covered. What’s special about CheapoSearch Flights? Our flights guide includes 43 low-cost airlines in Europe, reviewed by EuroCheapo’s editors, and includes company profiles, pros and cons, luggage and boarding policy information, and direct links to their websites. While we include well known budget airlines, such as Ryanair and easyJet, we also features lesser known re...

Hotel Crush Paris: Villa des Princes
2008-04-01 18:00:00
2-star hotel 19, rue Monsieur le Prince Paris , St. Germain des Prés Doubles: €79-100  Ahh… Paris is the city of love. And, we’ve got lots of it for the charming two-star Villa des Princes. In fact, you may recall that we mentioned Villa, the tiny 12-room gem in the middle of the trendy St. Germain des Prés neighborhood, a few days ago. First, a little history. Back in the days of King Louis XIII, the 17th-century home was actually a dormitory for school teachers and was called the Hotel des Écoles. Today, many out-of-town teachers and professors choose the Villa as their headquarters, because of its close proximity to university life (the Sorbonne is just blocks away) and its reasonable rates. Each room is très petite, and outfitted with comfy beds and spotless bathrooms. The hotel has named each room after a different neighborhood of Paris. We stayed in the “Marais” during our last trip. For those steamy summer nights, the Villa des Prince off...
More About: Crush

Tips for great travel despite the weak dollar
2008-03-31 17:11:00
Like us, many of our readers are American. And regardless of nationality, probably all of our readers are aware of the unfortunate exchange rate currently greeting US travelers abroad. Today, for instance, the euro costs US $1.58. Yet we’re still traveling to Europe. Newspapers and magazines have been abuzz lately with articles about stretching the dollar abroad. Some of our favorites include The Seattle Times, Budget Travel Magazine, Philadelphia Inquirer, The Daily News, and the Austin American-Statesman. As pro-cheapo travelers, we’re happy to see so much interest in budget travel, although saddened to think that many potential travelers might feel discouraged and choose not to travel to Europe at all. “Maybe next year I’ll get to Spain,” one of my friends told me last week. “I can’t afford it now.” Alas! Pete, Meredith and I just returned from two weeks in Europe, traveling from Berlin to Brussels, and then Bruges. Yes, I was qui...
More About: Tips , Dollar , Great

Berlin Tip: Frei things to do!
2008-03-26 20:59:00
Berlin is one city where your euros can still pack a punch. And, perhaps even more importantly, it’s also full of art, history, sausage, and free stuff to do. Here are six of our favorite freebies in the German capital: The Reichstag The official seat of the German Parliament, the Reichstag affords you (at no cost!) one of the best views of the city from its famous dome and roof terrace. Wait times can be hefty, so we’ve found it’s best to visit at night (the building stays open until midnight, although the last entry is at 10 PM). Take a quick elevator ride to the top and snap a bunch of photos. A free brochure, available as you enter the building, offers a pictorial guide to the Berlin skyline. (So, that’s the new train station!) Brandenburg Gate This majestic gate, called “the trademark of Berlin” by the local authorities, was built by King Wilhelm II in 1788. The Gate has seen a lot. It has survived conquests, bombings, and oppressive...
More About: Berlin , Things

Paris: Cheapo Night Out!
2008-03-24 20:11:00
Paris can get, how do you say?, “très cher.” After dining out in Paris for two nights last week, we were ready to give our wallets a break and try a Paris night à la Cheapo. A stroll for free After doing a bit of research, we mapped out a fun, Seine-side stroll from St. Germain des Près (where we were staying at the lovely 2-star gem “Villa des Princes“) to the foot of the Eiffel Tower. The whole journey took about an hour as we wandered along the river, stopping at bridges, watching the tour boats, and posing for photos. A pancake dinner By the time we arrived, we had worked up an appetite. Sure, we were feasting on the sight of Paris by night, but that didn’t quite cut it. We got in line for fresh crèpes from a street vendor and salivated as he poured the batter, flipped the pancakes, and added our ingredients: Nutella and banana for Mere, and ham and emmental for Pete. Two crèpes set us back about €7 and we shared a Coke (€1.50). A free ligh...
More About: Night , Paris

Contest: Tips for overcoming a bad plane seat. Win a “Rough Guide�!
2008-03-21 16:40:00
  We’ve all been there: the nightmare seat on the plane. They know that the seat is terrible when they check you in, but they still assign it to you with a straight face. It’s a seat that nobody in their right mind would trade you for. That seat that will have to be endured. But how? Earlier this week when Pete and Mere (pictured above) were flying from Paris to New York, they landed a couple of doozies. Their seats, ominously located in aisle 13, were situated up against the bathroom wall, preventing them from reclining. Rather comically, the row was windowless, offering a view of a beige wall for eight hours. Across the aisle, a fellow traveler became intoxicated and fell asleep drooling on his chest and upon the large Casio keyboard he brought along. These Cheapos experienced a flash of panic as they contemplated how to deal with this unpleasant intercontinental scenario. Their solution: distraction. They whipped out one laptop and started going through ...
More About: Contest , Tips , Seat , Plane

“In Bruges� recap and the best pancakes in town
2008-03-20 16:04:00
  As previously mentioned, Pete, Mere, and I returned from Europe on Monday afternoon. After attending the ITB travel conference in Berlin, we drove to Brussels (ha! more about that later) and started the “hotel hunt” part of the trip. Pete and Meredith took on Brussels and I took the train to Bruges, where I spent five days checking out the hotel scene. First impressions of Bruges As I had never been to Bruges, my expectations were limited. I anticipated a picturesque, small town, heavily touristed, high hotel prices, and hotel owners who might not have time for me. (In some cities, after all, hotel proprietors give you the impression that they have better things to do than, say, show you all of their rooms.) I was only partially correct. Bruges is a gorgeous place, crisscrossed by canals, paved with cobblestones, and architecturally “preserved” to 16th-Century storybook perfection. It’s hard not to take photos — but also hard to figure out what...
More About: Recap , Town , Pancakes

What is Continental serving for breakfast?
2008-03-19 12:02:00
Alas, after two weeks of traveling to Berlin, Brussels, and Bruges, these three Cheapos at Work had to fly home on Monday. Pete and Mere flew from Paris, and I returned from Brussels.  Before I get into my “you won’t believe what Continental served us for breakfast” stomach-turner, I must apologize for not blogging during my six day hotel hunt in Bruges. The only excuse I can muster is that I was simply too tired to write. I hadn’t anticipated that Bruges would be so charming, friendly, and full of great hotels. But more about Bruges tomorrow. I’m still fired up about my breakfast… I returned to Brussels on Sunday night and woke up at 5:20 AM for my 8:20 Continental direct flight to New York. I was at the airport at 6:15, shuffled through check in, security, and along an extremely long terminal. Leaving so early in the morning is kind of strange. It’s too early to get breakfast at the hotel, so you have to grab a bite at the airport. I m...
More About: Breakfast

Paris Cheapo Bike Rentals Sont Partout!
2008-03-16 18:24:00
It’s been over a year since this Cheapo has been in Paris , and since I arrived on Thursday with my fellow Cheapo (and wife), Meredith, I’ve been surprised by two very noticeable changes: 1. Smokeless cafes and restaurants 2. Nifty bike rentals appearing on many, many street corners. I’ll save commentary about smokeless cafes for a later post. Coming from a relatively recently smoke-free New York City, it’s more or less a similar effect, although seeing the bustling cafes of Saint-Germain des Pres without piles of Gauloises Blondes stacked on tables seems a little, well, weird. That said, customers are allowed - perhaps even encouraged - to smoke at outdoor tables, so maybe the change isn’t really that big of a deal. As for Paris’ “Velib” bike rental program, though, there is no question it’s a city-wide success. Initially I thought the program would be more of a tourist draw and envisioned mobs of backpackers with Let’s...
More About: Bike , Rentals

It Might Be Cold And Rainy In Brussels, BUT…
2008-03-11 20:03:00
There are some FAB budget hotels! After Day #2 of braving the elements (and more than a few tour groups in search of the adorably bizarre Manneken Pis), the Cheapo squad is armed with some great finds! We’ve found a 3 room chocolate-themed gem in the middle of town; a wild EU-inspired international themed hotel where each room is decorated in an individual country motif; a gorgeous 16 room charmer with a hoarse Jack Russel terrier named Mia who greets guests with a very low, raspy “woof”; heck, we even found the best Soupe de poisson for only 3.4 euros! (catch: you have to eat it while standing at a bar…and outside…and in the wind and rain…hmm, come to think of it, I have a slight sore throat…) We have many more hotels to inspect in Brussels before heading off to Bruges. Onward, Cheapos!
More About: Cold

Hallo, Berlin! Transit strike, Reichstag visit
2008-03-07 03:31:00
  Greetings from Berlin , which today (Thursday) has begun rather overcast and moody (see above — the view from my kitchen window in Prenzlauer Berg, overlooking Mauerpark). Yesterday, as I touched down in Tegel at 8:10 AM, I found the city blanketed in snow, a not-too-frequent occurrence this year. I also found myself arriving on the first day of a transit strike. Trams, buses, and the U-Bahn shut-down yesterday, leaving passengers with only the above-ground S-Bahn for mass transportation. The strike continues today. My taxi driver whisked through the snow and along the back streets in Prenzlauer Berg, avoiding the congested highway. Yesterday, in that “first day, no sleep” delirium that blesses you on your first day in Europe, Pete, Meredith and I had the good fortune to meet up with Hilary from Less Than a Shoestring, that great daily blog about serious budget (or “no budget”) travels. She’s based in Berlin and really knows how to see ...
More About: Visit , Strike , Transit

Cheapos at Work: Off to Berlin
2008-03-04 20:20:00
At long last, Tom, Pete, and Mere are heading off to Berlin today to attend the ITB conference through Saturday. It should be quite an event, throwing together national and city tourist boards, travel writers, travel agencies, and other industry types for three hectic days. The organizers of the event sent off a press release on Monday screaming that the event has sold out. We’ll see what the Berlin Messe looks like when it’s packed to its brutalist walls! And then, as Pete noted on Friday, we’ll head to Brussels to see what the city looks like from a budget traveler’s perspective. As Pete and Meredith tackle the hotel scene there, I’ll head off to Bruges for the week to see what budget hotel options exist in that medieval playground. Along the way, we’ll be blogging. We’ll cover the travel conference, the hotel hunt, and the state of bargain travel in Belgium. With the US dollar slipping daily against the euro (today it’s at $1.5...
More About: Work

The Cheapos Take ITB Berlin
2008-02-29 21:08:00
After a long, wintery stretch of being holed up at the office, the Cheapos are heading out for a road trip! Next Tuesday, Tom, Pete and Meredith are flying to Berlin to attend “The World’s Leading Travel Show” at ITB Berlin. Held in the massive Messe Berlin expo center, the Cheapos will be among the 150,000+ attendees swarming through acres of travel trade show bliss. EuroCheapo will be one of thousands of companies attending the conference, which spans all regions of the world and travel categories, including cultural tourism, eco-tourism and adventure travel (although this Cheapo is personally psyched about conducting a greater-Berlin Mensa cafeteria taste test.) ITB Berlin sponsors and partners include Eurosport, PhoCusWright, CNN, Yahoo! and many others. Following the conference, the Cheapos will be driving from Berlin to Brussels and Bruges, where they’ll be hunting down the best budget hotels to publish on EuroCheapo. Thanks to the Cheapo community ...

Florence: Should you rent a scooter?
2008-02-27 18:17:00
Ah, Florence , Renaissance city of artistic treasures, architectural icons, and mouth-watering delicacies. And throngs of tourists. And locals zipping up and down tiny streets on scooters and motorcycles. If you’re an adventurous traveler, you might consider seeing the city like a local — on a cute little euro-scooter. But should you? Pros Rent ing a scooter in Florence makes sense if you want to take scenic drives through the countryside. If you rent a typical scooter (like a Honda SH 125 cc or the smaller Cagiva Cucciolo 50), you’ll be able to drive along country roads and scoot your way through Chianti country. Sounds romantic, no? The hilly countryside (and even immediate environs of Florence) are much less strenuously traversed on a scooter than trekked on a bicycle. Cons Renting a scooter is not practical if you simply want to speed up your city sightseeing. Sure, the locals zip about town, but they also are trained to avoid the busiest streets and pedestrian z...
More About: Scooter

Barcelona tip: Free (and fun) stuff to do
2008-02-26 19:53:00
Sightseeing in Barcelona can get pretty pricey. But never fear, there are plenty of things to do in Barcelona that won’t cost you one Euro-cent. Our recommendations: 1) Go, go, Gaudi!  Stroll through Park Geull, an incomplete masterpiece by Antoni Gaudi. Walk up the grand staircase, explore the cavernous shelters and sit on benches laden with mosaic tiles and glass—Gaudi’s trademarks. Geull is open year-round, but closes at dusk. Call (34) 93 413 24 00 for more information. 2) Take it to church A visit to the Barcelona Cathedral, in the center of the Gothic district, places you in the middle ages, and won’t cost you a shilling. Pieces of the original building dating back to the 10th-century are still intact. To find the cathedral, simply head to Plaça de la Seu and look up. How in-spire-ing! 3) Grab a bongo Got your own? Bring ‘em along and join the many bongo players who congregate in Parc Ciutadella on weekend afternoons. You’ll see ...
More About: Free , Stuff

“Lost�-Minute Lisbon Getaway for under $900?
2008-02-22 19:31:00
We’ll admit it: we’re fans of the TV show “Lost” (Aaron’s a member of the Oceanic Six?? Helloooo curveball!) We’ll also admit that today is an exceptionally wintry, snowy, icy Friday in New York City and we’re finding it hard not to daydream about Lost-y seaside escapes. Thus inspired, we’ve decided to plan a spontaneous (if imaginary) last-minute trip for next weekend somewhere warm and sunny. Where could we walk on a beach, eat great seafood , see interesting sights, and make our euros stretch to the max? Oh yeah, and stick to a budget of less than $1,000? Here’s our plan: Destination: Lisbon Why? It boasts more than 300 days of sunshine a year, is currently 65 degrees, has great nightlife, tasty food, and is budget-friendly. In short, we love Lisbon. Getting there An initial search on CheapTickets.com found a flight for $590 departing Friday at 6 pm (heck, we’d only have to leave work a couple hours early) and re...
More About: Getaway , Minute

Calling All Cheapos: Brussels and Bruges advice
2008-02-20 18:08:00
Dear readers, we’re packing our bags for Belgium, where we’ll be adding two new cities to the site! And we’re asking you for your advice! First, we’ll visit Brussels , the bulls-eye of the European Union. Known for its bankers, beer, and chocolate, Brussels is also known for rather expensive lodging, presenting us with both a challenge and an opportunity! Next we’ll head to the picturesque village of Bruges , always popular with tourists–and full of charming hotels. (Bruges has also been in lights recently with the debut of In Bruges, a film starring Ralph Fiennes and Colin Farrell. It’s even playing in the theater downstairs from our office. We smell popcorn!) Now, we’re asking you for your tips! Have you been to Brussels? Bursting with something to say about Bruges? We’re compiling our list of independently-run hotels, bed and breakfasts, guesthouses, and pensions to review for both cities. In addition, we’d love t...
More About: Advice , Calling