Posts by author Meredith Franco Meyers
Photo of Cafe In de Waag by Peterhoneyman Editor’s Note: Pete and Meredith just spent a long weekend in Amsterdam. This is a post from their recent journey. A little bit of history In 1488, St. Anthony’s Port – today a weigh house that stands in the center of Nieuwmarkt Square in Amsterdam – opened its doors » Read more
Editor’s Note: Pete and Meredith just spent a long weekend in Amsterdam. This is the first of several posts from their recent journey. Homeward bound You know the scene, Cheapos. It was a bleary day in Amsterdam and we were a bit veklempt about bidding farewell to all the old school bicycles, chocolate with our » Read more
Christmas market at Maria Theresien Platz by 12 degrees C
Ah, Vienna – the city fills us with music. We can’t help it, but it also makes us think of The Sound of Music, even though that musical took place in another Christmas “markt” town, Salzburg. It also makes us think of the fancy Hapsburg family and some of the brightest Christmas lights in Europe. » Read more
A traditional Christmas market stall in Salzburg, Austria. Photo: Viator
Carriage rides, outdoor concerts, ice skating, and hand-painted egg ornaments are just some of the things that get the champagne flowing around here during the holiday season. Salzburg has all that and more when it comes to their Christmas fest. Take a look at photos we hunted down of recent festive happenings at the Salzburg » Read more
‘Tis the season to visit the European Christmas markets, Cheapos! The Christmas Market Tradition Europe’s holiday market tradition began in Germany and Austria. Today, many well-known markets, like those in Nuremberg and Munich, draw record crowds. Heck, there’s even a company that specializes in European Christmas market tours around the holidays. The most popular markets can still » Read more
Editor’s Note: In our “Checking In” series, we interview hotel and B&B proprietors about tips for visiting their city. Today we “check in” with Dr. Ryan James, who runs the BudaBaB, a bed and breakfast in Budapest, Hungary, with his partner Ron Schmitz. Dr. James is also the author of Frommer’s Budapest and the Best » Read more
Pensione Papa Germano Via Calatafimi, 14 Rome, Italy Doubles: shared bath: €50-85, private bath: €65-110 The Pensione Papa Germano in Rome, Italy, is a tried and true friend to Cheapos. It ain’t fancy, but rooms are attractive and clean… and affordable, with doubles starting at €50. The best part? The owner, Papa himself, is as » Read more
Hotel les Chansonniers 113, Boulevard de Menilmontant Paris, France Doubles €55-68 We love scouting out small, quirky hotels in Paris. Happily, the city is full of independent, charming hotels that offer rooms at very reasonable rates. One that we have an especially deep “crush” on is Hotel les Chansonniers (“The Singers”). Located a bit off-the-beaten path, this » Read more
Locanda Casa Querini Castello 4388 – Campo San Zaninovo Venice, Italy Doubles: €93-197 Venice can be an tricky place to find reasonable accommodations. You dream of a room facing a canal, or at least something with a nice view. And, that will cost you. Thankfully, there are several hotels in our hotel guide to Venice where rooms with a » Read more
Mozart memorial in Burggarten. Photo: Thomas M.
Ah, Vienna – land of sacher torte, carriage rides, and Mozart! The ringed city, we think, is best viewed on foot. While traditional tram rides provide a respite from hoofing it, if you want to experience the true Vienna, consider a themed walking tour. While tours through travel agencies could cost you anywhere from €10-20 » Read more
Perfume equipment on display at Fragonard Museum. Photo: Dennis Jarvis
In the list of Paris museums, one sweet-smelling attraction is sometimes overlooked. The Musee du Parfum, run by the famous perfume manufacturer Fragonard, has been offering a “behind the scents” tour of the perfume business for 25 years. And happily for us, the visit is free! The museum is housed in a gorgeous 19th-century townhouse that drips with romantic ornamentation. » Read more
In London, it’s no big secret that many activities surrounding Trafalgar Square are free. You can view the paintings at the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery, or hang out in the square and check out its sculptures without paying a pence. Lunchtime concerts at St. Martin’s in the Fields However, an oft-overlooked freebie occurs several times a week » Read more
Visit this royal castle in Krakow — for free! Photo: Sergei Gussev
Wawel Royal Castle is an architectural marvel located in Krakow, Poland. The fortress stands prominently on Wawel Hill, an area that’s been inhabited for thousands of years. (Seriously, it’s believed that mammoth hunters lived on the hill 50,000 years ago.) During the Renaissance, King Sigismund I “The Old” commissioned the finest artists around to decorate Wawel Castle as his royal palace. » Read more
On the South bank of the Arno River, up a majestic hill and down a winding, cobblestone path known as the Viale Michelangelo, you will find the Piazza Michelangelo (sometimes referred to as Piazzale Michelangelo). The piazza was constructed in the 1890s, beautifully landscaped and lined with copies of Michelangelo’s sculptures. Today, look past the street vendors » Read more
Department of the Taoiseach. Photo: Tony Webster
A quick tour of Southeast Dublin will land you in the cobblestoned Merrion Square, home of many of Dublin’s government buildings. Here you’ll find at least two great structures well worth a visit. Leinster House, the former residence of the Duke of Leinster, today houses Parliament, and is surrounded by gardens and sculptures. Nearby, on Upper Merrion » Read more
Don't miss this national landmark. Photo: Kurayba
Bratislava, thankfully for us Cheapos, is a pretty reasonable city. Most museums here do charge an entrance fee, of which the average cost is SKK80 (just over $4). But, one of Bratislava’s national treasures is free and open to the public every day except for holidays and Mondays. Bratislava Castle sits high on a hill. » Read more
The view from the top: Peeking into Parliament
NOTE: This article was published in 2008 and is now out of date. For current information, including important new rules, see our new post about visiting the Reichstag. As the official seat of the German Parliament, the Reichstag building in Berlin affords you (at no cost!) one of the best views of the city from its » Read more
Evzone Guard in Athens’ Syntagma Square. Photo: Luc.T
We like fancy costumes. Bonus if that costume has pompoms and tassels. Major bonus points if said costume requires a snazzy red hat. So, it’s no secret then that we love to watch the changing of the Evzone Guard in Athens’ Syntagma Square. The elite Evzones make up an infantry unit stationed in Athens and meant to guard » Read more
Today we begin a 30-day “Grand Tour” on our blog that we’re calling “Free Europe: Cheapo by the Day!” During this time, the blog will travel throughout Europe, showcasing free things to do in each of our cities. Along the way, we’ll show you how to go mark-free in Budapest and visit London without the extra pounds. Did you know you can » Read more
Plaque in Gordon Square in Bloomsbury
Ah, Bloomsbury—aptly named for its blossoming trees and for the squares and side streets filled with pretty greenery. Once home to the famous Bloomsbury Group, a gaggle of literary types like Virginia Woolf and E. M. Forster, the area now hosts the famous British Museum and nearby Russell Square. When choosing the neighborhood for your London hotel or B&B, Bloomsbury is » Read more
Enjoy a stroll through the Gulbenkian Museum for free on Sundays. Photo: Francisco Anzola
If you’ll be in Lisbon anytime soon, plan to lay low during the week (or head to the beach) and hit the major sights and museums on Sunday. Why tour on the day of rest? Because many of Lisbon’s attractions are free, for at least a few hours, every Sunday of the year. Some museums—like the Museum of » Read more
Mr. Manneken Pis in Brussels, Belgium
Cheapo newsflash! We’ve just launched a brand spankin’ new city guide and budget hotel primer for Brussels, Belgium! Turns out, you can sleep cheap in the land of waffles, beer, and all those bandes dessinées. Our guide includes articles on transportation in and around Brussels, reviews of 27 centrally-located hotels, and more. Stay tuned as we’ll be adding more stuff soon. In » Read more
The coastal city of Valencia, the third largest locale in Spain, is an ideal destination for a long, relaxing weekend or an action-packed adventure. We asked Heather Cowper, travel blogger extraordinaire, how to make Valencia a cheapo-friendly spot. Here, her insight for an inexpensive getaway: Cheapo activities in Valencia- Head to the Mercado Central: The main fruit and » Read more
San Marco Piazza in Venice. Photo by Diogo Pereira on Unsplash
Venice, city of gondolas and canals, can get expensive. Thankfully, however, it need not break your budget. Here are five free things to do in Venice: Hang out in Piazza San Marco. While we don’t recommend Cheapos splurge for the touristy restaurants and cafés lining San Marco’s square, we do think that parking yourself just outside » Read more
What city are we in, Cheapos? Here’s a hint for today’s mystery photo: You might say these bunnies are enjoying their coffee right in the “middle” of things. We’ll reveal the answer tomorrow. Leave your best guess in the comment section below! The first Cheapo to answer correctly will win a copy of “The Rough Guide » Read more
