Spain: Budget Travel Guide

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

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 Barcelona hotel scene offers something for everyone from super cheap dorm beds to fancy penthouse suites. Cheapos have plenty of options but it can be hard to decipher between hotels, hostels, hostals, and a variety of other accommodation types in Barcelona. (By the way, to clear things up, you might want to read our » Read more

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

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

During my time living in Barcelona, I’ve met many Europeans who have traveled to the US. I always ask them where they chose to go, curious as to which places enticed them. The truth is, with rare exceptions, I know the answer to my own question. Inevitably most respond California (Los Angeles + San Francisco), Las » Read more

You’ve got a bit more than a week to spend in Spain? Lucky you! As a resident of Barcelona, I’m of course tempted to say that you could easily spend the whole time in my city, but most visitors try to see more of Spain than just the northeastern corner when they come. Indeed, you’ve » Read more

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

Hoping to escape the heat, hustle, and bustle of Madrid, Barcelona and other big cities in Spain this summer? Spain is literally lined with seaside options, and as temperatures rise these sandy retreats fill up. However, not all of these summer destinations are recommended for travelers trying to keep their costs under control. Many are » Read more

You’ve booked your flights, bought your guidebook, and are ready to take off for beautiful España this year — congratulations! You’ve made a wise choice. But as you plan your Spanish jaunt, it’s important to think about a few pitfalls that are easy to walk into… but just as easy to avoid. Once you reach Spain, » Read more

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

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

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

New to the hotel scene in Tarifa, The 8 Rooms House is an affordable, stylish surprise that Cheapos will love. This little minimalist guesthouse is a quick walk to the beach and Old Town and offers rooms starting as low as $64. If you’re looking for a cheap hotel in Tarifa, 8 Rooms is an excellent choice. » Read more

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

The final stop on Spain’s epic St. John’s Way pilgrimage, Santiago de Compostela has much more in store for visitors than just the holy relics housed by its world-famous cathedral — although the cathedral is certainly worth a visit. Full of granite edifices with greenery springing out of hidden crevices and decorated with gargoyles, in » Read more

Spain’s capital city (like the rest of the Iberian Peninsula) is a budget-travelers’ paradise. And dining out in Madrid offers a fun experience from tapas bars to cafes. But even so, as in all popular European destinations, if you’re not careful, you may end up spending more than you’d like on a pretty lackluster dining » Read more

San Sebastián, a famous resort city on the bay, boasts beautiful beaches, some of Basque country’s best pintxos, (traditional bar snacks), and a charming Belle Époque old town. It’s definitely worth adding to your itinerary. And while San Sebastián (like most of Basque Country) doesn’t normally figure among Spain’s most budget-friendly destination, with a little » Read more

The birthplace of Spain’s most famous artist, Pablo Picasso, Málaga is often a point of arrival — and little more — on visitors’ Costa del Sol itineraries, which is a shame really. Why? Because past an outer ring of unattractive high-rise housing, the city boasts a pedestrianized city center packed with charming squares and lively » Read more

Most Barcelona side-trips focus on the coast and beachy paradises like Sitges and Figueres. But a few hours further inland, there’s an equally dramatic (and much more budget-friendly) landscape to explore — the Spanish Pyrenees. Popular come winter and summer with Catalans and folks from around Spain, this striking mountain playground offers many of the » Read more

It’s always easy to find a reason to visit Spain. Topping many travelers’ lists are tapas, aka the world’s best bar food, miles of sandy beaches (many of them along the mild waters of the Mediterranean), and of course, some of the world’s best wine. On top of that list, you can add friendly locals, » Read more

Finding an affordable hotel room in Barcelona is not as easy as it used to be. As Barcelona’s popularity as a tourist destination continues to soar (with almost 9 million visitors in 2015), so do the hotel prices. Long gone are the days when you could roll into the city and find a great deal » Read more

Known worldwide for its Film Festival and Carnival, Sitges is a beachy escape less than an hour from Barcelona.  With 17 beaches to choose from and an estimated 300+ sunny days a year, you’re sure to find a stretch of sand to call your own. When you get tired of soaking of the sun, just » Read more

Also known as Casa dels Ossos, or the “house of bones”, Casa Batlló in Barcelona looks like something Tim Burton and Walt Disney might have dreamed up for a movie set. Famed Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí built it in 1877 for one family, then renovated it into the masterpiece that it is today for another family » Read more

There’s much more to Basque country’s biggest city than Frank Gehry’s iconic Guggenheim Museum. Beyond its stunning modern architecture, this gritty but charming metropolis is packed with historic churches and government buildings, and traditional shops on narrow cobblestone streets. An industrial center since the Roman era, Bilbao (Bilbo in Basque) is a combination of ancient » Read more