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Flip-through: Brussels, Ferries, Notre Dame, and Ryanair madness
2008-06-06 18:28:00
Some of the stories that grabbed our attention this week: Brussels and Bruges Back from his trip to Belgrade for the Eurovision song contest, Alex of Spendthrift Shoestring jaunted off to Brussels on the Eurostar to see how the city has changed since his last visit in 2002. We enjoyed his musings on the city’s neighborhood and vibe, having just visited Brussels in March. And yes, Alex, we also have a fondness for the Use-It fold-out maps to Brussels (and five other Belgian cities). These map-guides are, according to their creators, ”no-nonsense, non commercial, made by locals,” and thus offer some candid (and amusing!) advice. When we visited Bruges, we “Used-It” nightly to find the city’s cool restaurants, bars, and cafes. You can print your own guide off from their website. European Ferries BudgetTravel.com reminded us yesterday to consider taking ferries between European cities. Ferries offer a fun and cheap transportation option around muc...
More About: Notre Dame , Ryanair , Notre-Dame

Brussels: Four chocolate shops to splurge for
2008-06-05 17:37:00
According to the experts, Belgians eat approximately 20 pounds of chocolate per year. (That’s the size of our family cat!)There’s no arguing then that we’re far behind on our cocoa intake and must catch up. We’re happy to know that while we’re getting our fix, too, we can also tour many of the chocolatiers (called chocolateries in Brussels )—where exhibits, tours of the facilities, and workshops in candy-making abound. So, make sure your sweet tooth doesn’t go sour and check out four of Brussel’s best bet chocolate shops. 1) Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate 9, Rue de la Tete d’Or Only a short distance from the Grand Place, the Brussel’s museum of chocolate will not only show you how chocolate is made, but teach you how to make some of your own. We’d opt for the demonstration titled, “How To Make a Praline” (everyday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)  It’s €5 to enter; €4 for students. 2) Planete Chocol...
More About: Shops

Q & A: Scott Huler’s epic journey on a budget
2008-06-04 17:46:00
Author, reporter, and NPR correspondent Scott Huler recently returned from an epic journey tracing the tale of Homer’s “Odyssey.” After reading “No-Man’s Lands,” his insightful recounting of the trip, we asked him for advice on planning a similar journey—on a budget. Scott had some great advice: When Odysseus set off on an epic voyage, he had some non-cheapo advantages: his ships were filled with treasure from the Trojan War, and if supplies ran low it was perfectly reasonable to come ashore and make a brief pirate raid on a coastal town. That wasn’t going to work for me. When I set out to retrace his journey from Troy to Ithaca, I had little more than a backpack, a tight budget, and a pregnant wife at home. Just the same, I found the cheaper-than-cheap backpack route from Troy to Ithaca perfect for me. I had more than a dozen stops to make. Add to that Athens and the tiny Turkish town of Kesan, and my journey covered around 20 cities i...
More About: Journey , Budget , Epic

London: Five free walking tours
2008-06-03 17:12:00
Do you smell that, Cheapos? It’s the scent of summer, of rubber-soled walking shoes, and of crisp, new, glossy maps. It’s time to set foot in the land of tea and crumpets. Royal weeeeee! Here are five fabulous walking tours in London that won’t cost you a pound. Get moving! 1) For Charles Dickens fans: London is a virtual playground for book nerds. Using this wonderful free tour from the London Tourism Board—that comes in a convenient PDF format and can be downloaded to your computer—you’ll visit the homes of John Keats, Charles Dickens, the essayist Thomas Carlyle, and Sigmund Freud. And, since for some of the jaunt you’re in the heart of literary Bloomsbury, you can also beckon your inner Virginia Woolf. 2) For thick skins: Jack the Ripper was one of London’s most notorious serial killers. Today, there are countless (and expensive) tourist trap tours of the life and times of “Jack-attack.” Enter Richard Jones—author,...
More About: Tours , Free , Walking

Flights to Russia: Is KD Avia the new Icelandair?
2008-06-02 17:59:00
If you’re old enough to remember flower power and Woodstock, then you’ll probably recall the Keflavík stopover. Budget-conscious air travellers in the sixties used Loftleiðir (now part of Icelandair) to hop between the USA and Europe. Loftleiðir undercut the high fares of IATA airlines and pulled a young crowd of first time travellers. It also really put Iceland on the map. The Keflavík stopover gave a day or two of awesome geysers, cool waterfalls, and fiery brennivín. Nowadays, the Keflavík hub still gives Iceland an international visibility denied to most territories of similar size. This year has seen the launch of a similar hub-and-spoke operation at Kaliningrad, Russia ’s exclave on the Baltic. For years, Kaliningrad was a pain to reach. Now, thanks to KD Avia, it is suddenly one of Russia’s best connected cities and a great gateway to Russia from the west. No more tiresome changes of airports at Moscow. You can fly into Kaliningrad with KD Avia, quic...
More About: Flights

New York: Cheapo “Sex and the City” tour
2008-05-30 15:47:00
The scene at Magnolia Bakery, May 29th at 5 p.m. The “Sex and the City” movie opens nationwide this weekend. So, we got to thinking… “What would Cheapo Bradshaw* do?”  Sweet stop  Carrie would wait in line for 45 minutes to indulge her sweet tooth with a cupcake from Magnolia Bakery in the West Village. Cheapo Bradshaw would bypass the c-r-a-z-y line around the corner and go to Billy’s Bakery—started by a former Magnolia employee—where we swear the cakes taste the same, if not better. A cupcake here will cost you $2, which is 25 cents less than what Magnolia charges. Hey, you’ll have a quarter to call someone who cares. Us! A bit of shopping Carrie would drop upwards of $600 at the Jimmy Choo shoe salon. Cheapo Bradshaw would take the nearest subway train—probably wearing flats—downtown to Battery Park City, where the Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW) is almost never packed and the shoes are sold at deeply discounted price...
More About: New York , York , Tour , New-York

Florence: Americans save 10% on hotels, food throughout 2008
2008-05-29 18:31:00
  The Florence tourism office this month launched a Cheapo-friendly initiative to give Americans visiting Florence a 10% discount on hotels, restaurants, and museums in the city. The program, named the “Fiorino Effect” after the Florentine coin once used throughout Europe, is an attempt by the city to attract the attention — and business — of American tourists spooked by the weakened dollar abroad. Launched on May 15 and continuing through December 31, 2008, the initiative offers: 10% discounts on stays in participating hotels, B&Bs, and apartment rentals. Hundreds of properties throughout the city are participating in the promotion. The tourism office has posted this complete list of hotels on their website. 10% discount on meals in participating restaurants. Click here for a complete list of restaurants, including links to their websites.  Discounted or free admission to museums, including the Palazzo Strozzi (20% discount), Villa Bardini, P...
More About: Food , Hotels , Save

Paris: Fete de la Musique, June 21st
2008-05-28 17:54:00
Ok, it’s no secret. We love free music. And, the annual Fete de la Musique in Paris is one of the best ways to see tons of musical acts, bands, and performers without paying a euro cent. The fete, which got its start in 1982, is a “come one, come all” sort of affair. Anyone can perform throughout the 24-hour event, where you can expect to see professional and famous musicians rubbing shoulders with up-and-coming artists. Heck, if you’ve got a sousaphone gathering dust, get it out! The best part? The acts take stage all over the city. That means you can hear guitar riffs under cover of an old train station or get your groove on Seine-side. The Fete happens on June 21st—summer solstice—a Saturday. Public transport is always discounted to allow for all day location hopping, but we recommend grabbing a good map and just hoofing it. A few acts to follow - For club style beats and disco dancing, hit up Biz’Art at the Quai de Valmy or head to Le Bato...

Venice Hotel Crush: Albergo Guerrato
2008-05-27 18:59:00
Albergo Guerrato, pension Calle drio la Scimia 240/a San Polo, Venice Doubles € 100-140  We first fell in love with Albergo Guerrato because of its location. Just a short walk from the Rialto Bridge, it holds a coveted place in the lovely San Polo area of Venice. But, then there was the ambiance. The Guerrato is an ex-convent, whose beginnings date to the 1200s.  Today, the owners seem to be decorating decidedly less ‘convent’ than ‘Dolce & Gabbana atelier’ —as our EC reviewer, Annie Shapero, said of her last visit. Rooms are fit for kings, queens, and anyone with a taste for antiques. Most rooms have oriental rugs, lavish furnishings, and beautifully carved windows. When you’ve tired of the indoor ambiance, step outside where the hipster nightlife surrounding Guerrato will keep you satiated. Read the complete review or see all budget hotel picks in Venice.
More About: Hotel , Crush

Flipping: Eurovision, BudgetTravel, Open Skies, and Sanifair toilets!
2008-05-23 18:31:00
It’s a gorgeous, gorgeous day and everyone seems to be skipping town for a long weekend. We’re still here, but we’re psyched. Here are five things that are making us really happy: Eurovision ! 1) Alex, of Spendthrift Shoestring, has moved to London for the summer. But no sooner had he arrived in town before he jetted off to Belgrade to cover Eurovision 2008 for the New York Post! Check out his posts — and follow this poppy, patriotic, irresistable contest. Budget Travel 2) Budget Travel magazine just turned 10 years old and the website this week announced a new “myBudgetTravel” community for its users. We’re there. You can upload photos, make friends, comment on pieces, and most importantly, share tips for traveling on a budget. Congratulations, BT! Open Skies to Paris  3) The Washington Post’s Travel Log directs our attention to British Airway’s new airline called “Open Skies,” which takes flight June 19th with on...
More About: Toilets , Flipping

Rome tip: Michelangelo for free!
2008-05-22 16:45:00
During his time in Rome , Michelangelo charged the ancient city with works of incredible beauty.  His sculptures, frescoes, and architecture still inspire a city-wide love affair.  And, his priceless work is on view at no cost to modern admirers.  Angela K. Nickerson, author of A Journey into Michelangelo’s Rome, takes us on a very cheapo-friendly tour of Michelangelo’s Rome. The Sistine Chapel: (Viale del Vaticano, at the Vatican Museums)   The Sistine Chapel, the ceiling of which is known as Michelangelo’s lifetime achievement, is free and open to the public on the last Sunday of each month.  As Goethe once wrote, “Until you have seen the Sistine Chapel, you have no adequate conception of what man is capable of accomplishing.” St. Peter’s Basilica: (Vatican City) Michelangelo’s Rome ‘Pieta’, the piece that cemented the 24-year-old’s reputation as a gifted sculptor, occupies a chapel just inside the church’s entra...
More About: Free

Paris: Five free podcasts we love
2008-05-21 19:15:00
We use our iPod like it’s going out of style. And, that doesn’t stop once we get to Europe. In fact, before we head off, we load it up with free podcasts depending on what city we’re visiting. We’ve saved many a euro by taking our own free tours—headphones in. Here are five picks for free Paris podcasts: For art buffs: We love Rick Steve’s audio walking tour of the Musée d’Orsay. You can download it for free via iTunes. Or, visit his site for more info on how to download his podcasts. Rick also has a free tour of the Louvre if you’re so inclined. For history fanatics: We like Zevisit’s guides to historical landmarks and monuments in European cities. You can download them via iTunes, or visit their site for more information. The Paris audio guide boasts tales of an elephant on the Eiffel Tower, mysteries of the Louvre, and includes a tour of Notre Dame. For bookish types: Ok, so there have been a lot of “Code”-inspire...
More About: Love , Podcasts , Free

Winner announced: Barcelona dog photo caption contest
2008-05-20 18:20:00
You came, you saw, you captioned, dear Cheapos. But, alas, there can only be one winner. First, the office favorites deserve a call-out here. From happybrowngirl: “Jesus, take the wheel!” - We admit, we’re not sure we grasp the context implied here, but we like the concept. Something about a dog so desperate and at wit’s end that he cries this out hits our funny bone where it counts. Momo sent us, “I coulda been a star!”, a quote that made one office Cheapo nearly snort his lunchtime soup. A couple of others that we enjoyed:  “My owner wanted a cat.” (sent by Elizadoodle), “I would do anything for a Rick Steves DVD. Anything.” (from Tanya2), and “Does this outfit make me look fat?”, (by Mama Llama). The winner—doggy drum roll please—is: “I can’t believe she wore stripes when I specifically told her I was wearing stripes! (sigh) People will do anything for attention.” This terrific take w...
More About: Contest , Photo , Barcelona , Winner , Caption

CheapoNewsFlash: Live blog event tomorrow (Tuesday, May 20th)
2008-05-19 18:11:00
On the heels of Tom’s last live blog appearance, he’ll be joining our friends over at Europe a la Carte this Tuesday , May 20th at 20:00 BST, to discuss, “How to get more from your Euro“. Fellow participants are: Christopher Cook of www.noambit.com, Lisa Marie Mercer of flyaway-weblog.com, Hilary of Less Than a Shoestring, and Sean O’Neill of This Just In. We’re really excited that Tom will be joining such an esteemed panel as he talks shop about budget travel and answers your questions. Please stop by the event and ask a question.
More About: Event , Blog , Live , Tomorrow

Flip-through: Cats, dogs, a Celtic hotel, and budget Broadway
2008-05-16 17:18:00
By now you know, dear cheapos, a “Friday flip-through” wouldn’t be the same without a reference to an animal. Last week we reminded you about the frog festival in Louisiana, today we celebrate cats (no, not the musical). Feline friend-  Our friends over at Trippist, when not telling stories about Amsterdam’s public transportation or spending the summer in Rotterdam, are practicing their best Dr. Dolittle. Apparently, there’s a neighborhood cat one Trippist writer sees often. A photo on their site today, titled “furry friend”, made us smile. We have our own office cat (Oliver aka Prince Olaf: Scroll down to the bottom of ‘about us’), so we’re big feline fans. Celtic care-  The May 2008 issue of “International Travel News” (ITN) is chock full of some juicy travel tips. Among them, one writer’s take on how renting an apartment in Paris can save you lots of euros—and a fabulous list of interesting accommo...
More About: Dogs , Cats , Broadway , Hotel , Budget

The Environment: “Offsetting” that cheap flight
2008-05-15 18:52:00
It’s undeniable that an increase in flying is contributing to the degradation of the environment. In Europe, news reports about the effects of low-cost airlines on the environment are a regular occurrence. We’d be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge that low-cost flights in Europe are undeniably contributing to global warming. But what can you do about it, aside from taking the train or bus? Carbon Offsetting: One Option Carbon offsetting involves calculating the amount of carbon dioxide pumped into the environment by pollution-heavy activities (like flying on airplanes) and then purchasing a corresponding credit to be used on projects that counteract, or offset, the damage. Carbon offsetting is not a perfect solution to the problem of global warming, but it does limit the damage done by budget-savvy air travelers. Airlines are getting into the spirit of things as well. EasyJet, for example, has incorporated a carbon emissions offsetting option into its booking page....
More About: Environment , Cheap , The Environment , Flight

Top tips for a budget-friendly European vacation
2008-05-14 17:15:00
Thinking about postponing that trip to Europe? Jane McIntosh, creator of Jane’s Smart Art Guides™, audio guides for independent travelers, says, “Go ahead and go.” While the exchange rate keeps getting worse and fuel surcharges increase the cost of flying, there’s still no guarantee that the dollar will power up to the euro’s mojo or that air fares will plummet anytime soon. Jane recently sent us this dispatch of her top tips for reducing the strain on your overseas budget. Know when to go.  If you don’t have to vacation during the summer, don’t. Airfare can cost hundreds less during the off-season. Seasonal pricing holds true for lodging too and off-peak travel ensures shorter lines at museums and other major attractions. Why not check out a traditional European  Christmas market? Click here for a list of some favorites. Remember, the days might be shorter, but Europe seems to be the only place on earth where you can still enjoy cultur...
More About: Tips , Vacation , Budget , Friendly

Photo caption contest: Barcelona dog!
2008-05-13 18:04:00
  While strolling down La Rambla in Barcelona , one of our editors walked past this jazzy dog. The little guy was sitting in a bicycle basket and was flanked by colorful flower stands and live bird cages. Our editor snapped the photo, but it still needs a caption. We know there are a lot of creative Cheapos out there, so add your two cents in the comments section below and show us what you’ve got! The best caption will receive a place in the Cheapo Caption Hall of Fame and a free DVD of Rick Steves Italy’s Countrysides (2000-2007 edition). Enter early and enter often, Cheapos!
More About: Contest , Photo

Florence: A visit with Michelangelo
2008-05-12 16:09:00
Michelangelo Buonarroti was born outside of Florence in 1475.  Though he spent much of his life working in Rome, he loved Florence and considered it his home.  Many of his greatest works still reside in Florence, and Florentines are exceedingly proud of their native son.  Although visiting the city can get pricey, many of Michelangelo’s treasures can be experienced cheaply, or for free! Angela K. Nickerson, author of A Journey into Michelangelo’s Rome, takes us on a budget-friendly tour of Michelangelo’s Florence. Michelangelo in the Museums The Bargello: Via del Proconsolo, 4   Perhaps the best bargain in Florence, the Bargello is a small museum with an amazing collection of sculpture, all for one of the lowest museum prices in Florence (€4).  Here Michelangelo’s Bacchus holds court alongside his Brutus.  Bacchus was Michelangelo’s first commission in Rome, and it failed to meet his patron’s approval because he depicted the god of ...
More About: Visit , Michelangelo

Flip-through: Cheapo tips, Italian tourists, Venice pigeons, & American
2008-05-09 16:50:00
Six recent stories that made us smile and chased away the rain: 1) 5 ways to get even cheaper in Europe Christopher Cook, of noambit.com, posts this week in Vagabondish about “5 simple ways to beat your travel budget.” His tips are solid and speak to every Cheapo in Europe. In short: Eat cheaply, walk, be flexible with dates, consider more budget-friendly destinations, and think twice before paying for a museum. Nice tips, Chris! 2) 33-cent beers in Vietnam We don’t normally cover destinations outside of Europe, but we’re following former EuroCheapo staffer TJ DiChristopher as he showcases his skills in Saigon, his new hometown. Today, TJ shares five ways he’s keeping it cheap in Saigon, from budget beer to iced green tea and pirated movies. 3) Italian tourists in Venice Venice is really crowded right now. According to About.com’s James Martin who was in the canaled city last Saturday, Venice’s narrow streets are packed to overflowin...
More About: Tips , American , Tourists

Krakow Museums: One freebie a day
2008-05-08 18:54:00
Photo courtesy of Jeremy Barnett  Poland is a country rich with history, and if you can experience it for free—all the better! Here’s a guide to a week of free museums. No need to spend a zloty to experience a wealth of Krakow ’s art and history.  Monday: Old Synagogue 24 Szeroka Street in Kazimierz One of Europe’s most historic Jewish places of worship, the Old Synagogue is located in Krakow’s Jewish district, Kazimierz. It is an extension of the City of Krakow’s Historical Museum, and is considered the quintessential Jewish monument of Krakow. As such, it’s filled with relics of Kazimerz’s past including religious items, historic photos, and documents. Tuesday: Museum of Municipal Engineering 15 Sw. Wawrzynca Street in Kazimierz If you’re into gizmos and gadgets, then this museum is for you. The space feels like a virtual time machine into innovations past. Take in the old vehicles and other means of public transportation t...
More About: Museums

Paris Cheap Eats: 8 best spots for a picnic
2008-05-07 17:35:00
When the weather turns warm, Paris ians picnic. Sure, some stray as far as the terrace of their corner café, but many flock to parks, gardens and river-side quais to enjoy their beloved city. For cheapos, picnics have the added advantage of being easy on the budget. Here are our steps for procuring and perfecting the Parisian picnic. When in Paris, stock up like the French do! Pick up your must-haves in this order. Hit up the corner boulangerie for bread, then visit the fromagerie for cheese. Next stop? A traiteur where quiches, terrines, salads and other prepared foods are the mainstay. And of course the marchand de vin for an inexpensive, but lovely bottle of wine—and, finally, the pâtisserie for some fabulous desserts. Even better, hit a weekly neighborhood outdoor food market, where you can actually barter with the sellers and snag everything in one trip. Check for days and hours. Pick a picnic spot, but not any spot. We have some favorites. In no particular order&helli...
More About: Spots , Cheap , Picnic

Contest follow-up: We’re still wondering who she is!
2008-05-06 00:16:00
Thanks to all the Cheapos who have contributed guesses in our “name that celebrity” mystery photo quiz posted last week. Gazing out our window at Broadway and Houston in New York, we wondered who was getting painted by billboard artists on the wall across the way. Five days later, we’re still wondering…and she’s almost done!  There was speculation a-plenty when she was only a forehead, including, notably: Janet Jackson, Beyonce, Tyra Banks, and Chelsea Clinton. But today, with her body fully painted (save a bit of forearm), we’re still shaking our heads. (The photo above was taken at 5 PM Monday.) Is it possible that (gasp!) H&M is using an unknown model for this billboard? Could she be a no-name? Just another pretty face with an interesting nose and a spray tan? In any case, we’ll be giving away a book to somebody. We just have to settle the matter first. Stay tuned. And keep guessing!
More About: Contest

Free Amsterdam: Gardens, art, ferries, conversation
2008-05-05 17:34:00
Looking for ways to save some euros while visiting Amsterdam ? Here are five suggestions: Try some flower power. Visiting the masterpieces at the Rijksmuseum will set you back €10, but the baroque and renaissance gardens behind it are free to stroll. Delight in the fountains, statues, and the carefully coiffed hedges and plants. The gardens are open daily from 9 am to 6 pm. Baroque gardens are closed on the weekends. (Note: The Rijksmuseum is undergoing extensive renovations that are scheduled to last until 2010. Until then, visitors may visit a scaled down “best of” collection entitled ”The Masterpieces.”) Pick up a passport to paintings.  Speaking of the Rijksmuseum, we’re flying high about the joint venture between the museum and Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport. The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schipol, an art space at the airport maintained by the museum, offers annual exhibits free of charge. This year, an impressive collection of Van ...
More About: Free , Ferries , Gardens , Conversation

Flip through: Roman lunch, London Cheapo tips, Athens in a hurry
2008-05-02 18:53:00
Some items of note that flashed across our screen this week… Cheap eats in Roma It turns out we’re not the only ones blogging this week about cheap eats in Rome (read our post). Budget Travel’s blog is talking up cheap lunches in the Eternal City. Erica Firpo writes from Rome that we should say “Basta! to pasta” and reach for something a little less filling for lunch. She recommends picking up some triangular tramezzino. We’ll take two. From Stansted for £4?  Checking in with “Less Than a Shoestring,” poetloverrebelspy has landed in London and is full of Cheapo-advice. First off, book that coach trip from Stansted into the city early, and use either easyBus or Terravision. On easyBus it’s possible to snag a seat (booked in advance) for as low as £4.25 each way! Furthermore, we’re reminded that the Tate Modern and Tate Britain are not only free, but they offer free guided tours. Join in! Dinner in London for £5  Mean...
More About: Lunch , Tips , Athens , Roman

Rome Q&A: The best neighborhood for “real” Roman cuisine?
2008-05-01 19:05:00
A reader asks: “Do you have any advice for inexpensive, authentic Roman restaurants in the center of town?” Annie Shapiro responds: Here’s the bad news: Rome is a gaping hell mouth of overpriced restaurants aimed at the hungry, innocent traveler. The good news is that real Roman cuisine is actually a cucina povera, or poor man’s fare—a savory waste-not want-not approach to Italian cooking that utilizes the plant and animal parts you weren’t expecting. It’s hearty and filling, and like Southern soul food in the US, it’s tastiest at its cheapest… even in the center of town. Near Piazza Navona, Da Francesco (Piazza del Fico, 29), Da Tonino (Via del Governo Vecchio,18 ), and just Alfredo e Ada (Via dei Banchi Nuovi, 14) offer no nonsense trattoria style dining that shouldn’t run you over €15 a person (including wine!) In Trastevere, Da Augusto (Piazza de’ Renzi, 15) is the bonafide classic. From Campo de’ Fiori, follow the scent of deep frying to Filet...
More About: Cuisine , Neighborhood

Mystery Photo: Name this celebrity and win a book!
2008-04-30 22:03:00
  Who IS that girl? Identify her and win “The Rough Guide to Europe on a Budget.” We’re not procrastinating, but… We were just gazing out of our window at Broadway and Houston in New York and realized that a new billboard is being painted right before our eyes! But who is she? The first comment below to correctly identify the celebrity will win a copy of the “Rough Guide to Europe on a Budget,” newly out in bookstores! Quick! Name her!
More About: Photo , Celebrity , Book , Mystery

Travel Tips: Keeping your credit cards secure
2008-04-30 19:33:00
Two months ago a credit card ID thief nabbed my account information and went on a shopping spree. Over a two week period this (Editor’s note: expletive deleted) bandit purchased, among other items, snacks at the racetrack, many tanks of gas, and a new pair of shoes. In the end, $2,000 was charged to my card. I reported the case early soon after the first purchase, but could then only sit back and watch it continue. Feeling helpless, all I could do was get my schadenfreude on. I was hoping for stale popcorn, an accidental tank of diesel, and bunions upon their feet. Worst of all, though, I felt pretty dumb. I use my debit card for nearly all of my transactions and always assumed this was the “smart” way to pay. After all, I could view itemized sales online at any time and I didn’t need to carry around excess cash in my wallet. Rather than swear off using my card in the future, I decided to make a few changes to how I used it to prevent ID theft in the fu...
More About: Credit Cards , Travel , Credit , Travel Tips , Tips

Checking in: Hotel Dali, Florence
2008-04-29 18:41:00
Hotel Dali Via Dell Oriuolo, 17 (near the Duomo) The Hotel Dali has been one of our favorite hotels in Florence since we created our Florence hotel guide in 2001. For the first in our “Checking In” series, we’re posing some questions to the owners of the Dali, Marco, 42 and his wife Samanta, 38 (pictured above). EC: How many years have you owned and run the Hotel Dali? HD: 10 years. EC: What advice do you have for those traveling on a budget in Florence? HD: Good question! In Florence, things are typically only free during culture week. This occurs during a different week each year and all the public museums are all free for seven days. During the summer time, there are some free tours of private gardens and the like. We recommend checking with the “associazione amici dei musei” office, located inside the Prato Museum. EC: Where can I buy a great bottle of wine without spending too much money? HD: If you want a good wine, but not a rare bottle, the s...
More About: Hotel

Barcelona Crush: Hotel Sant Agusti
2008-04-28 16:27:00
Doubles € 105-155 Neighborhood: La Rambla  The Sant Agusti is one of our favorite hotels in Barcelona , and it just happens to be the oldest hotel in the city, too. Built in 1880, the hotel is named after the nearby church of Sant Agusti and was a working convent in the 1700s. Many of the rooms still feature original wood beams and stone walls. We especially adore the attic suites at Sant Agusti (eight in all), replete with their cutesy little tables and chairs and fun views of the square below. Rooms are decorated with modern furniture. The breakfast room, where an old cast iron stove takes center stage, is large and airy.  The only thing we found lacking about Agusti was its location. While it’s near La Rambla and close to pretty much all the sights, its neighboring streets are a frequent stopping point for the area’s homeless and tend to be more unkempt than other areas of Barcelona.  Other than that, Sant Agusti is a unique, family-run hotel with tons of ...
More About: Hotel , Crush