Posts by author Hilary Bown
Doner kapabs can be enjoyed in the afternoon, evening, or on any random street corner at 2 AM. Photo: Alexander
Cheapos traveling throughout Europe delight upon arriving to Berlin — after weeks of spending mad cash on “cheap” eats, from $7.50 falafels in France to $10 hot dogs in Scandinavia, Berlin offers budget travelers’ pocketbooks a reprieve. Throughout the city, you’ll have no problem finding delicious meal deals, like a döner kebap piled with fresh toppings » Read more
Bremen. Photo: Aleksandr Zykov
One of Germany’s 38 UNESCO World Heritage sites, Bremen is a handsome city filled with impressive architecture, a spectacular old town, playful public art, Brother Grimm folklore and plenty of budget attractions along the way. Best of all, it is possible to visit Bremen’s top highlights in just one day! And with bus fares as » Read more
German train service is undergoing big changes. Photo: Hugh L.
Train operators across Europe have been under intense pressure from both low-cost flights and budget bus service in recent years. Cheap flights between European destinations have been very easy to come by for nearly two decades now, since the European low-budget airline craze took off in the 1990s. More recently, Germany started loosening rules on how bus companies » Read more
FliXBus is merging with MeinFernBus. Photo: Andreas Trojak
Two of Germany’s biggest long-distance bus operators, FliXBus and MeinFernBus, recently announced that they are merging. So how will this affect consumers? Since the 2013 liberalization of a law preventing most long-distance bus service in Germany, the market for Greyhound-style travel around the country has been booming. Steep competition between new carriers has led to low fares » Read more
Photo: Photo by Andreas from Pexels
Whether you are going to Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne or any other city, traveling by rail in Germany is usually a pleasure—except where your pocketbook is concerned. It pays to think about saving on your ground transportation costs before you even arrive in Germany. In this article, we’ll show you four simple ways to cut » Read more
Hamburg at sunset. Photo: Karsten Bergmann
In recent articles in the blog, we’ve culled the best of Hamburg’s budget nightlife and recommended the coolest and cheapest beds the city has to offer. Now we’re pulling it all together with a handy list of seven ways to save a few more euros on your Hamburg travel adventure. 1. Book your train and » Read more
Speicherstadt is a popular warehouse district in Hamburg. Photo: Klim Levene
If you’ve only got a weekend to spare in Hamburg, we’ve got you covered. Our budget-friendly two-day itinerary hits all of the port city’s major highlights while leaving enough flexibility for personal preferences and surprise discoveries. There’s a lot to discover during 48 hours in Hamburg—let’s get to it! Saturday 9:00 AM: Hamburg’s most popular attraction » Read more
Generator Hostel Hamburg is a bright, modern lodging option where rooms start at €25. Photo: Courtesy of Generator
Finding an inexpensive hotel or hostel can sometimes be a challenge in Hamburg, but we have found five incredibly cheap options that range from €14 to €25 per night for a bed in a shared room. Best of all, these five spots meet the important criteria that every Cheapo holds dear: affordable, clean and centrally » Read more
Hamburg Fischmarkt at night. Photo: Martin Schmid
A long night out in Hamburg doesn’t have to burn a hole in your pocket. Germany’s “Hafenstadt” (port city) offers a number of fun, free evening diversions that, accented with select stops for food and drinks, will leave you with plenty of travel funds left over for the next day’s adventures. This tour takes you on » Read more
Hallo Frau Nachbar is a popular monthly flea market in Karo featuring local artists, designers and chefs.
If, like us, you’re looking to avoid chain stores and restaurants when visiting Hamburg, the Karolinen- and Schanzenvierteln—or as they’re known to locals, Karo and Schanze—are the city’s answer to your prayers. Nearly every shop, cafe and restaurant is owner-operated; Here you’ll meet the designers and chefs behind the products themselves. You’ll find a wide » Read more
The Brandenberg Gate is one of the highlghts of Berlin's Fan Mile. Photo: Russell C
This Sunday marks the end of the FIFA World Cup run for 2014, and unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that Germany qualified for this year’s final with their stunning defeat of Brazil’s national team 7-1 Tuesday. (If you have been living under a rock, you can catch the highlights here.) They’ll » Read more
Oberbaumbrücke is one of the most famous sights in Berlin and connected Friedrichshain to West Berlin. Photo: alehins
There are many corners of East Berlin that have undergone significant transitions since the GDR era. On this 4 km self-guided walk through Friedrichshain, you can sample some of this district’s finer and rougher edges, with city highlights for both day and night. These sights will be more crowded on the weekend, but for good » Read more
A piece of the Berlin Wall as it stands in 2016. Photo: Dennis Jarvis
This November, the world celebrates the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Berlin has spent a quarter of a century reconnecting, rebuilding and redefining itself around this painful historical scar. While Berliners long sought to forget this period, thankfully numerous museums, exhibitions and tours have developed to help younger Germans and foreign » Read more
Ryanair can get you to Eastern Europe destinations incredibly cheaply. Photo: somkuti
The budget airline Ryanair is known for saving travelers big bucks. But a lot of frequent flyers complain that Ryanair’s network of remote airports can leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere if you book without paying attention. However, those with their eyes open and a map close at hand may find that a » Read more
Book a super cheap fare on new bus companies like Flix that leave from Berlin ZOB station. Photo: fleno.de
Berlin’s ZOB bus station is a hub that can take you to other German cities and beyond for a very economical price. But just how cheap? I recently traveled from Berlin to Bremen and back again for just €1 each way. That’s not a misprint: €1 for about a five-hour journey. Within Berlin’s public transportation network, » Read more
Britzer Garten tulips in full bloom in May. Photo: manu
When the pavement and bustle of Berlin starts to get to you, just hop on any southbound M44 bus from S-Hermannstrasse and be transported into another world. It’s only a 10-minute ride away, but it feels like an eternity once you find yourself wandering this scenic public space. Located in Berlin’s Neukölln district, this is » Read more
A bus departing Dresden. Photo: KK70088
When Germany relaxed its laws preventing competition with train lines last year, numerous long-distance bus companies sprung up to fill in a gap which has perplexed budget travelers in the country for years. Traditional transportation companies are creating new routes, but even the post office and a national supermarket chain are getting into the bus » Read more
Berlin will come alive in 2014 as the city commemorates the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Photo: Noud W.
There are always plenty of reasons to pack your bags and head to the German capital for a hip and very affordable European adventure. But in case you haven’t made your travel plans yet, we have come up with five special events to get you motivated. From blockbuster art shows to the 25th birthday of » Read more
Which ticket is right for you? The Berlin U-Bahn arriving underground. Photo: Dennis AB
In a previous post, we described the conditions, rules, and customs of public transportation in Berlin. This time, we’ll focus on the best ways for travelers to save using the day and tourist tickets on offer, and help break down each option, so you can save your Euros for an extra bier or two. Tips » Read more
Take a Turkish bath break on your next trip to Berlin. Photo: Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash
The German capital, known for its large Turkish immigrant community, has heaps of Turkish culture on offer. Supermarkets, outdoor markets, shops, restaurants, and bakeries across the city cater to this population, their language, and their specific needs and preferences. Those of us who can’t afford a warm winter getaway to the Black Sea coast know » Read more
EU airlines are starting to role out rules letting you use your iPhone for the entire flight. Photo: hildgrim
There’s big news out of Europe for frequent air travelers who just can’t fly without their iPhones, iPads, and other mobile gadgets. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced that it would allow passengers to use their personal electronic devices (PEDs) such as tablets, e-readers, mp3 players, and even mobile phones during all phases of » Read more
Gendarmenmarkt has Christmas entertainment and cheer for a small fee. Photo: jccabrejas
As the end of November rolls around, busy little elves begin constructing mini-villages of wooden huts across the entirety of Berlin, and city natives begin to get restless for a taste of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts. By December, new residents have moved in, brightly displaying their wares and opening their cottages for business—the Christmas » Read more
Get closer to Hamburg's maritime history by taking a boat tour. Photo: LuxTonnerre
Given its prime position on the Elbe, its status as a major port city, the various canals cutting through the city, and the centerpiece Alster lakes, you can be certain that Hamburg offers a multitude of opportunities to explore the city from the water. Cheapo tours The city has numerous ferries plying the Elbe in » Read more
Norwegian already offers Wi-Fi on board... for free! Photo: Aero Icarus
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced at the end of October the loosening of regulations prohibiting the use of certain popular personal electronic devices during take-off and landing. So long as their batteries are charged, passengers can now look forward to reading on their Kindles or iPads, listening to their mp3 players, or watching » Read more
Don't forget to validate your ticket! Photo: Genista
Visitors to Berlin quickly realize that the city offers a wide range of efficient and reliable public transportation options. The system works well, and with just a bit of preparation, is quite easy to use. In this, the first of two articles covering Berlin’s public transportation, we’ll be looking at ticket options. Which ticket type? » Read more
