Since I didn’t have a yacht to travel the coast (it was in the shop, of course!), I took the next best thing: the €1 Ligne d’Azur bus.

What’s that you say about €1?

That’s right. One euro gets you anywhere from Cannes to Montecarlo, and everywhere in between (price is per trip). So, for pennies, I hobnobbed from Nice to Monaco and had time to visit Cannes along the way.

At this price, you can’t exactly expect hors d’oeuvres to be served, but all buses are air conditioned, have comfy seats, and big windows from which to watch the view as you glide by. And, get this – the locals use them like they would public transport. In fact, during my ride to Montecarlo, an older woman asked me if we had gotten on the express. My elementary French was good enough to understand the question and say yes.

Before you hop on…

Nice is a major hub and there’s no need buy tickets in advance. Pay on board the bus and head to Juan les Pins, Cape d’Antibes, Antibes, or the lavender-scented Giot. Or, do as I did and visit Montecarlo for an afternoon. Cannes is also on the Ligne d’Azur’s list of bus stops. Otherwise, just hop on the Ligne’s #100 bus (also known as the Monaco Express) from Nice to Montecarlo and vice versa.

Buses leave from Nice’s Gare Routiere.

For more information, visit the Ligne d’Azur’s official web site where fares and schedules are easily accessible. Fares and schedules are available here.

The post Nice Tip: Travel the French Riviera for 1 Euro! appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

“Do you have any advice for inexpensive, authentic Roman restaurants in the center of town?”

Annie Shapero 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 Filetti di Baccalà (Largo dei Librari, 88), which is named for its specialty, fried slabs of salty cod served alongside puntarelle salad, a crispy curly hybrid of celery and romaine hearts, made from the stalks of chicory and garnished with garlic, oil, and anchovy paste.

In Rome’s grimier neighborhoods, you’ll spend even less. Testaccio and Garbatella (both within walking or busing distance from the Piramide Metro stop) have snubbed the made-for-tourists makeover and are well worth exploring for local “character.” Agustarello (Via G.Branca, 100) has been lauded by locals and the travel media alike as cheap and tasty. They do half portions too!

In Garbatella, Il Grottino del Traslocatore (Via delle sette chiese, 2) is best in the summer when tables spill out on the sidewalk. Otherwise, it’s a steamy basement setting serving huge portions of la cucina romanesca… which does include guts of all varieties in addition to the sumptuous spaghetti alla carbonara, matriciana, and gricia. This is not for the weak at heart.

Rules of the road:

1. At the Roman trattoria or osteria, portions are big and prices are low. You get what you pay for where service is concerned, but hey—you asked for authentic.

2. Order house wine only.

3. Ask for half portions.

4. Ask for their recommendations, not the menu.

5. Don’t ask for a receipt until they’ve quoted you a price. They often write it on the paper tablecloth.

Annie Shapero lives, writes, and eats in Rome. Annie wrote hotel reviews for EuroCheapo’s guides to hotels in Rome, Florence, and Venice.

The post Rome Q&A: The best neighborhood for “real” Roman cuisine? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Though viniai are technically wine vendors, they’ve adapted to changing times and appetites, including the sandwich and snack craze. These days, a couple of Euros gets you a glass of wine, though a couple more will buy you a focaccia sandwich with your choice of ingredients. It’s one tasty deal.

You’ll notice immediately that these are not large shops. In fact, they can be amusingly cramped. But they are packed, from floor to ceiling, with fabulous local and national wines (and usually a character or two!).

Recommended by tour guides and taxi drivers alike (and endorsed by the crowd almost always outside), I Fratellini (Via dei Cimatori, 38/r) is the city favorite.

The post Florence: Cheap Sipping and Supping at I Fratellini appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Fiaschetteria-Trattoria Mario (Via Rosina, 2r. Tel. 055218550) is only open for lunch. Go early and be prepared to eat on your feet—or squeeze in at the first available seat with groups of hungry locals.

On the other side of town, at Trattoria Accadi (Via Borgo Pinti, 56r. Tel. 0552478410; see above), a Japanese head chef turns out some darn good Tuscan Italian specialties at rock bottom prices. You can actually have two hefty courses for around €12 total.

Who said you can’t eat cheap in this most touristed of cities?

The post Florence: Cheap places for lunch appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

As most of you know, Annie spent the last week clicking and clopping through the precious, cobbled alleyways and bridges of Venezia, hunting down new hotels to recommend. We just weren’t ready to put Venice to bed with only 45 hotel reviews.

All reports indicate that she outdid herself, easily adding a couple dozen more to our list.

“I battled wind, rain, and snow all day on Thursday, and lived to tell about it–with 13 new hotel finds and barely-damp all-weather hiking boots (The North Face is not putting you on! They are serious about Gore-Tex!)

“My San Polo hotel was in a prime location, and I’m proud to say I set no foot upon the vaporetti waterbuses. That’s right. Walking is definitely the fastest and most fat-burning way to get around Venice. And thank you, Lordy.”

But the story doesn’t end there. It seems that somewhere along the way she became a “Ciccheti” connoisseur:

“On Friday I wrapped up a total of 17 winning hotels and embarked upon an eating rampage. Cicchetti – the Venetian take on tapas – are traditionally served with an ombra (shadow) of wine in a little cup.

“I dodged tradition and ordered standard-sized glasses (starting at 1euro each, I might add) to accompany pay-by-the plate caprino-stuffed spicy peppers, herbed feta, crusty, fried mozzarella, miniature sandwiches bursting with everything from radicchio and shrimp to salami and eggs. Creamy, baked saltcod spread topped my crostini and one place was even serving sushi!

“Am I fatter for it? Yes. Am I better for it? Indeed. Do I recommend you try those darn cicchetti? Yes. And save me a seat at the table!”

The post Annie Takes on Venice…and Cicchetti appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.