Posts by author Chris Ciolli
The Douro River in Porto, Portugal. Photo: Ana Matias
In this historic city flanked by the sea and the Douro River, striking modern art and architecture, like the diamond-shaped Casa da Música, mingles with the region’s traditional granite buildings cheered by colorful ceramic tiles. Welcome to Porto. The second-largest city in Portugal after Lisbon, Porto is a budget traveler’s paradise. Eating and drinking, even » Read more
Salud! Photo: massimo
Compared to most destinations around Europe, wine in Spain has an exceptional price-to-quality ratio. In Spain, there’s literally a wine for every wallet, whether you’re a high roller or on a budget. This is a country where wine starts at under €1 for a bottle (that’s not a misprint!). And there’s something to be said » Read more
Save while you stroll with this budget guide to Barcelona. Photo Sandor
When it comes to Barcelona, Gaudi is just the beginning. The Catalan capital has much more to offer than Modernista masterpieces (not that there’s any shortage of them here) — including plenty of possibilities for budget travelers. Beyond its amazing architecture, most of the things to do in Barcelona cost much lower than elsewhere in » Read more
The famous Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence. Photo: Ray
As the capital of Tuscany, Florence is known for Renaissance art and architecture, a vibrant cultural scene, delicious food and wine, and… crowded streets packed with tourists. In fact, during the high season, there are more visitors in Florence than locals! It’s no surprise that Florence’s popularity also keeps prices a lot higher than we » Read more
Beautiful Lisbon, Portugal. Photo: Steffen Zimmermann
With its mild climate, beautiful beaches and inexpensive cuisine (including the wine!), Portugal is a paradise for budget travelers, especially when compared to other destinations in Western Europe. That said, the savviest Cheapos are always looking for new ways to save a few extra euros. If that’s you, you’ve come to the right place! Related » Read more
Looking out over Segovia, Spain. Photo: slp
Making plans for a trip to Spain? We’re not surprised. The country is a favorite with travelers, and it makes good sense — what’s not to like about a place packed with adventures for every kind of visitor: tasty cuisine, iconic sights, famous museums and traditional markets and shops, not to mention the serious savings » Read more
Photo: Silvie Lindemann from Pexels
Felicidades! (That’s Spanish for “congrats”). It’s time to say hola to your dream vacation in Spain. But before you go, it’s important to consider how SIM Cards in Spain can save you money while you share your experiences with family and friends. You’ve booked your flights, reserved your accommodations, and built yourself an itinerary for your adventure » Read more
Musée d'art Moderne de la ville de Paris Photo: Grégory Lejeune
Some of the world’s most renowned collections of art and artifacts call Europe home. But when you’re traveling on a budget, museum entry fees can add up in a hurry. So how can an art-loving Cheapo avoid paying the entry price? Our advice is to visit your top picks on the free or reduced price days, or » Read more
A storybook view overlooking Ljubljana. Photo: Lorenzo
A college town at heart, Ljubljana in Slovenia is a small capital packed with all of the amenities and little of the expense of similar cities around Europe. It boasts a particularly charming old town, not to mention a castle with its own vineyards in a forested park just a short walk from the center. » Read more
Photo: Reiseuhu on Unsplash
Best known for its oranges and its yearly fire festival, Las Fallas — when locals create huge paper maché effigies, burn them, and set off fireworks by the ton, Valencia has far more to offer than citrus fruit and flames. Spain’s third largest metropolis, Valencia is home to the sleekly modern Ciutat de les Artes I » Read more
Bring home some cava! Photo: Keith Williamson
While we’re firm believers in the idea that travel is about the experience and not the “stuff” (or budget, obviously), it’s sometimes nice to bring something back with you. Whether you’re picking up souvenirs for friends, family members or me, myself and I, we’ve gathered our best tips on what to buy, where to buy » Read more
A refreshing glass of Fröccs in Hungary. Photo: Benjamin
When traveling on a shoestring budget, cutting out pricey cocktails and spendy alcohol seems like a given. But do you really have to? Probably not — in many European destinations boozy beverages don’t cost much. Sometimes they’re the same price or even less than soft drinks! For example, in Prague, beer is the cheapest thing » Read more
A plate of churros in Spain next to a cup of hot chocolate. Photo: < a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sami73/36280554/">Sami Keinänen
While even the cheapest of Cheapos most likely envision their European meals as traditional sit-down affairs, sometimes hunger hits on the go. So what’s a hungry Cheapo to do? Do as the locals do. Grab a quick and affordable snack! More cheap travel tips in Europe: • 10 Ways to save time and money before your » Read more
Climb up to Sacré Coeur in Paris for free views. Photo: Pedro Szekely
Does Europe on the cheap sound too good to be true? We’re here to tell you that it is possible! Beyond the fact that getting to Europe is truly cheaper than ever from the US (with crazy bargains on budget airlines), there are lots of ways to save once you’re across the pond, too. You » Read more
Monaco Port. Photo: Sandrine
Much like Switzerland, Monaco is far from heralded as a budget destination in Europe. And with good reason. Nestled on the spendy French Riviera, Monaco is overflowing with glitz and glamour from fancy restaurants to million dollar yachts docked on the harbor. It certainly can’t compete with Spain, Portugal, or Slovenia when it comes to value » Read more
Relax! We'll help you survive the Uffizi. Photo: VI
The most-visited art museum in Italy, Florence’s Uffizi Gallery is home to some of the most famous masterpieces from the Italian Renaissance, among them, Botticelli’s iconic Birth of Venus painting. Formerly the private collection of Francesco de’Medici, it deserves a sliver of your Italy budget and a spot on your Florence itinerary. That said, the line » Read more
Is Lisbon calling your name? Photo: Alonso
The Portuguese capital has a reputation as a budget traveler’s paradise — and with good reason. So it’s hardly surprising that Lisbon ranks among our favorite cheapo destinations. We’ve shared tips about finding a low-cost hotel room and where to find cheap eats, but when is the best time to visit Lisbon if you’re traveling on a » Read more
A room with a view in Lisbon. Photos: Booking.com
There’s no debating it, Portugal is a budget traveler’s paradise. But while food and drink are consistently a bargain almost everywhere, accommodations in Portugal’s capital and largest city, Lisbon, tend to cost significantly more than elsewhere around the country. And as the city attracts more and more visitors, getting the best possible price for a » Read more
A grand staircase in Teruel. Photo: Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie
Spain is widely known as a budget traveler’s paradise. The only downside? Sometimes things can get a little crowded, especially if you follow the well-traveled path and flit between much-lauded destinations like Madrid, Barcelona, San Sebastian, and Santiago de Compostela. Don’t get us wrong. Come high season, these places are full to brimming with visitors from » Read more
The view from a hotel in Madrid.
While Spain is certainly a budget traveler’s paradise, room rates in the Spanish capital can cost substantially more than elsewhere on the continent and tend to skyrocket even higher during major events. So how can you ensure savings on your hotel room in Madrid? Surprisingly, it’s not as difficult as it sounds when you use » Read more
Find a bench and soak in the view. Photo: Dun.can
Whether you’re in Berlin, Lisbon or Paris, chances are high that there is a monument visitors flock to for sweeping views of the city and beyond. And sure, you’re always welcome to shell out a few euros to climb the stairs or hop an elevator for a bird’s eye perspective. But why would you when » Read more
Don't miss Lake Bled on a trip to Slovenia. Photo: < ahref="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sjdunphy/42900770182/">dumphasizer
Slovenia has all of the appeal of its neighbors Italy, Switzerland, and Austria but for a much lower price tag. It’s packed with equal parts natural treasures — think snow-capped mountains, alpine lakes, and unreal underground caverns — and cobblestone streets and castles in charming towns and villages like the capital city Ljubljana. Use this » Read more
Follow our tips to save on your Barcelona hotel.
Despite its popularity, Barcelona is a bargain for travelers, particularly when it comes to food and drink. But what about accommodations? While rooms in the Catalan capital may be substantially cheaper in comparison to other large European cities, there are a few tricks to getting the best possible price on your accommodations. And all things » Read more
A picturesque scene on the Greek island of Skopelos. Photo: Nick F.
Destinations in Southern Europe like Portugal, Spain, Greece, Croatia, and Bulgaria have a well-earned reputation as budget travelers’ paradises. Even the admittedly more expensive destinations in Italy (like Rome, Venice, and Florence) easily compete when it comes to cost with similarly popular cities up north. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any tricks to make the » Read more
A scenic view over Valderrobres, Spain. Photo: Manel Z
Complete with a Gothic castle and church, a renaissance town hall, and one of Spain’s most charming old towns, Valderrobres is the perfect fairy-tale village for budget travelers. And it should come as no surprise that it’s a favorite on lists featuring the most beautiful towns in Spain. One thing for sure seems certain: if » Read more
