If you’re traveling on a budget, there’s no time like the present to hop a flight to Dublin (with cheap airfare, of course!) and discover this fun city.

Once you’re on the ground and you’ve booked your Dublin hotel, use these five tips to keep your money where it belongs: in your pocket.

Dublin budget tips

1. Don’t waste money on transportation

It can be tempting in Dublin just to hop in a cab, but this is one way to empty your pockets very quickly. Instead of cabs, check out the local bus schedule. Dublin Bus is very affordable, and routes connect all different areas of the city.

Alternatively, Dublin’s bike share program, called Dublin Bikes, is a cheap and easy way to get around the city. And remember, Dublin is very small and manageable on foot, too.

2. Eat your dinner early

With Dublin’s current boom, there are more and more gourmet restaurants opening in the city. These same restaurants do have deals if you know where or when to look. One strategy to fill seats is offering heavily discounted “early bird” or pre-theater specials.

Take one of my favorite restaurants in Dublin for example — The Winding Stair. A meal here is usually a splurge, but early birds can enjoy an incredible 2-course meal for just €29. You will leave stuffed and your wallet won’t be nearly empty.

Related:  Five ways to save on dining in Dublin.

3. Make friends with the half-pint — And keep your change!

There’s no such thing as a discount on alcohol in Dublin — you won’t find any “happy hours” in the city. If you’re trying to keep your costs down on beer, order a half pint instead of a full pint. This way you can spread your money a bit farther between different pubs.

Also remember, if you order from a bartender, there is no need to tip. Keep all your change!

4. Seek out free entertainment

While you’re sipping on that half-pint, how about some entertainment? Many Dublin pubs are known for their live music, so check out pubs that provide some entertainment beyond the Guinness and Jameson.

For traditional music, check out O’Donoghue’s on Merrion Row. Another great option for live music is Doyles, right across the street for Trinity College. If you happen to be in Dublin on “match day” (whether it’s rugby, soccer, or the Gaelic games) be sure to grab a seat in the pub — both the game and the locals will provide the entertainment.

5. Research your ride to the airport

If there’s one thing visitors complain about when it comes to Dublin — it’s the lack of airport transportation. You won’t find a train or a subway system that connects Dublin Airport to the city center. Some visitors resign themselves to taking a taxi (this costs at least €20) but Cheapos will want to check out the buses.

There are two options: the local bus that is very cheap (but stops frequently, seriously lengthening your journey into Dublin) or taking the Aircoach, a 24-hour express bus service into the city. Purchase a return fare to save a few euros instead of paying for a ticket each way. (Read more on Dublin’s airport transportation.)

A little airport research ahead of time could mean a lot of money saved during a trip to Dublin.

Your Dublin tips

Do you have any favorite ways to save? Share in the comments below!

The post Dublin Budget Tips: 5 simple ways to save appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Berlin is serviced by two airports, Tegel Airport in the former west, and Schönefeld in the former east. The good news? Both are easily accessible by public transportation, so there’s no need to shell out €25 to €30 (plus tip) for an expensive taxi ride like you might have to in other cities.

To help you seamlessly get from the airport to where you’re headed in Berlin, we’ve gathered together the following practical tips.

More Berlin budget travel tips
• When to visit Berlin (and which dates to avoid)
• The best budget hotels in Berlin
• How to save on Berlin’s top 10 attractions

Tegel Airport

If you’re flying to Berlin from the United States, you’ll most likely land at Tegel Airport. Located in the former west, Tegel is serviced by four bus lines which run at regular intervals. These are:

TXL JetExpress Bus

This bus takes you the S-Bahn station at Beusselstrasse, which is part of the Ring Bahn that circles around the city. It also stops at Hauptbahnhof, Berlin’s main train station, and Alexanderplatz. At Hauptbahnhof, you can transfer onto the S-Bahn lines S3, S1 and S7. Alexanderplatz is a major transportation hub, with the U-Bahn lines the U-2 (red line), the U-8 (dark blue line), and the U-5 brown line and the same S-Bahn lines as Hauptbahnhof.

Related: How to ride Berlin’s public transit system like a local

X9 JetExpress Bus

This bus takes you to S+U Zoologischer Garten, the transportation hub in former West Berlin. Change here for the U-9 (orange line) and the U-2 (red line) as well as the S7, S1, and S5. “Zoo,” as it’s called by locals, also services around ten different bus lines. If you need the Ring Bahn or the U-7 (light blue line), get off at S+U Jungfernheide.

128 Bus

This bus will take you to the U-Bahn stations Kurt-Schumacher-Platz (U-8) and Osloer Strasse (U-9).

109 Bus

This bus follows the same route as the X9 but makes more stops along the way, so opt for the express X9 if possible.

How long will it take?

Although this will depend on several factors (how many times you need to transfer, traffic, etc.), a trip from Tegel into the city should take you about 20 to 30 minutes if you’re going somewhere in the former west, and 30 to 40 minutes if you’re going somewhere in the former east.

What ticket do I need?

For this ride, you’ll need a regular VBB one-way transportation ticket. Buy a zone AB ticket (2.80 €/1.70 € reduced) if you’re headed anywhere in the city center or a zone BC ticket (3.10 €/2.20 € reduced) if you’re headed to the outskirts of Berlin or Potsdam. Children 5 and under ride free.

Related: Transportation tickets explained (and why you should never go ticketless)

Important tip: Make sure you stamp your ticket in the validation box once you’ve entered the bus. If you don’t do this, you will be a “schwarzfahrer” (black rider), the German word for people who ride public transportation without a ticket. Although you don’t have to show your ticket to transfer to the U-Bahn or S-Bahn, controllers do sometimes make surprise sweeps, and they’re not above fining clueless tourists who didn’t stamp their ticket €60, which will put a dent in your budget, to say the least. Once stamped, your ticket is valid for two hours on any form of public transportation (bus, U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram, etc.) in one direction. In other words, you can’t use it to go to your hotel, and then ride around in the opposite direction afterward. If you plan on doing this, opt for a Tageskarte (day ticket) instead.

Savings tip

If you plan on staying in Berlin for a while, you may want to purchase a ticket for a longer period, such as a day ticket (zone AB 7.00 €/zone BC 7.40 € per adult, up to three children aged 6 to 14 free) or a 7-day ticket (zone AB 30 €/zone BC 31.40 €/zone ABC 37.50 €). Any culture junkies may also want to consider picking up a Berlin WelcomeCard, which covers transportation as well as free museum entry and other discounts for a specific period of time.

Related: The Berlin WelcomeCard All Inclusive: Is it a good deal?

Where can I buy the tickets?

You have several options here. You can either buy tickets at the ticket desk in the main terminal or at the ticket machine outside of Terminal A where you catch the bus. Ticket machines accept cash and, as of August 2017, now also accept credit cards. However, only chip cards with a pin number work and no AmEx allowed. You can also pay directly on the bus, but only with coins. To save your jetlagged self some grief, you can also buy self-printing day tickets or Berlin WelcomeCards here.

For more information, you can check the official website of Tegel Airport.

A budget airline taking off from Berlin-Schönefeld Airport. Photo: neuweiser.

Schönefeld Airport

Located further out of the city in the former east, Schönefeld Airport mainly services discount airlines, like Norwegian, Easy Jet and Ryan Air.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport, aka the “airport that never gets built,” is also located nearby. A larger airport that was supposed to take over for both Tegel and Schönefeld, Berlin Brandenburg Airport was scheduled to open in 2011 — airlines had even sold tickets from this airport in advance. Six years and dozens of scandals later, BBA is still under construction. The latest estimates are a grand opening in 2020, though experts say 2021 is more realistic.

Since BBA is still (maybe) yet to come, you’ll have to get into Berlin from Schönefeld for now. The S-Bahn lines S9 and the S45, which segue into the ring bahn, are an easy five-minute walk from the station. You can also take the express bus X7 to the U-7 station Rudow. The bus stop is located in front of Terminal A. Travel times should take roughly 30 to 40 minutes to the former west and 20 to 30 minutes to the former east.

The same ticket guidelines apply with one important difference: Schönefeld airport is located in zone C, so make sure you buy an ABC ticket if you plan to head into central Berlin!

For more information, check out the official website to Schönefeld Airport.

Public transit in Berlin

For a map of Berlin’s transportation system, including information about the different zones, click here. You can also plan your trip in detail, as well as find out travel times and transportation schedule, by using the BVG journey plan. And read our guide to riding public transit in Berlin like a local before you take off on your trip. Happy travels!

Do you have any tips for getting to and from the airport in Berlin? Share them in the comments below!

The post How to get from the Berlin airport to the city center on the cheap appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Another old Paddington euphemism, one we have not heard for many a year, is the habit of alluding to Platform 1 as “the departure stage.” In the 19th century, that was where the premium trains departed. It’s a nice phrase, a happy reminder that there is still something theatrical about leaving a grand railway station. Departures deserve a little drama.

Arriving in Paddington after 15 minutes of theatre. Photo: Lars Plougmann

All stops on the Piccadilly Line

Visitors to London are spoiled for choice when it comes to getting out to Heathrow. But let’s face it. There’s not much drama if you ride the tube, en route swapping subterranean gloom for London’s leafy western suburbs. There are an awful lot of intermediate stops and it’s a challenge to work up any great enthusiasm for the architectural charms of South Ealing, Northfields or Boston Manor.

Or 15 minutes of theatre

But the Heathrow Express does have a touch of the dramatic about it. It is a great alternative to the slow grind on the Piccadilly line. Trains run every 15 minutes and the travel time from Paddington to Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 and 3 is just 15 minutes. (Trips to slightly further distant Terminals 4 and 5 take a little longer.) And the run out from Paddington to the airport offers 15 minutes of theatre.

You catch glimpses of some very engaging architecture along the way, from the assertively modern Paddington Basin development to sedate Victorian suburbs like Ealing. There is art deco style (watch out for the EMI plant at Hayes), a water tower disguised as a castle (near Southall) and wonderful reminders of London’s multicultural character.

Just before Southall station, on the left and easily identifiable from its golden dome, is the largest Sikh temple in Europe. And the station signs at Southall station are in both Punjabi and English. This is “Bend it like Beckham” country and a chance to catch a glimpse of quite another London from that which features in the regular tourist guides.

A blurry flurry passes… Photo: JDinBawlmer

A changing London

Times have changed since the great 19th-century engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel built this fine route out from Paddington to the west. The new branch off to Heathrow is a mere youthful upstart.

But until the moment, usually about 11 minutes out from Paddington, when you branch off from Brunel’s main line to burrow underground to Heathrow, you’ll get an eyeful of classic railway architecture. There is Wharncliffe Viaduct, a feast of brick and Georgian elegance that just oozes style.

Heathrow Connect for slow-motion replay

There are some journeys that we just wish would take a little longer. This is one of them. Heathrow Express is a premium service, but it is a visual feast. Part of the appeal is the kaleidoscope of images seen at speed.

If you want a slow motion re-run, then note that Heathrow Express has a slower sibling that makes the same journey at a more moderate pace. It is called Heathrow Connect and the fares are a little cheaper.

The post London’s Heathrow Express: 15 minutes of theatre appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Since moving to Madrid, I’ve spent a lot of time arriving in and departing from the Barajas International Airport. I’ve been in all four terminals and have learned the hard way how to make getting to the airport a stress-free experience. To make your arrival or departure as glitch-free as possible, follow the tips below.

1. Getting to the airport: Use the Metro

Getting to the airport from the city center is a cinch. Most locals hop on the Metro, switch to Line 8 (pink) at “Nuevos Ministerios” and arrive at their desired terminal.

Why do most locals take the Metro? It’s cheap! At just €2 (€1 for the ride and €1 for the airport tax), it’s a much better option than shelling out upwards of €20 for a taxi ride. The Metro can take between 30 to 45 minutes, depending on which part of the city you’re coming from. If I’m traveling light, I always take the Metro. If I can’t carry my bags, then I know it’s time to hail a cab.

2. Budget extra time for long lines

When flying from Madrid to other European destinations, I normally arrive at least two hours early, and when traveling to the U.S., I arrive a little more than three hours in advance. If I’m leaving out of Terminal 1, I always give myself some extra time because of the long indoor walk to the terminal from the Metro.

Why so much time in general? Lines. If you’ve spent some time in Madrid, you know that Spanish people embrace lines and they don’t get upset waiting in them. The airport is no exception. Security lines are a breeze compared to the check-in lines. The worst lines are for Ryanair flights when you’re checking baggage, or flights to Newark, JFK or any other U.S. destination. Prepare to wait for almost an hour to check in.

Once through security, check your watch. If you’ve taken my advice, you’ll most likely have time for a café con leche or a bit of browsing in the duty-free shops. Make sure to check the monitors, as there are no PA announcements to let you know that a flight is boarding.

3. Ready to board. Ready to wait in another line.

If you haven’t gotten used to lines by now, don’t worry: You’ll really understand the concept after you reach the boarding area. Don’t get nervous if you see a long line starting to form before boarding has begun. As I said before, the Spanish love lines. Most flights are still boarded by rows, but lines are customary.

4. The easy part: Arriving at Barajas

The difference between arriving and departing from Barajas is that, upon arrival you don’t have to wait in any lines! The only wait you’ll have is for your luggage. Terminal 4 has the longest luggage retrieval wait time.

If for some reason your bags don’t arrive, walk to the customer service desk (hopefully there isn’t a line). Here you give them your information, identify the brand and color of your luggage, fill out a form with your address and they’ll deliver it to you, for free.

5. Go to town!

Once you have your luggage, you can either take a cab, bus line 200 or the Metro. Again, I most always opt for the Metro. Take line 8 (pink) to “Nuevos Ministerios.” From there you can hop on Line 10 and be in the city center in about 10-15 minutes.

For more information about getting to the airport, check out our Madrid city guide.

Have you been to Barajas?

Have you recently flown into or out of Madrid’s airport? Tell us about your experience in the comments section.

The post Madrid: 5 tips for passing through Madrid’s Barajas International Airport appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Taxi

There is of course the classic taxi option. It tends to cost about about 500 SEK to take a taxi from the airport into central Stockholm. I don’t suggest it for a variety of reasons, one being the risk of black taxis that are more than willing to relieve you of your money in the 45 minutes it takes to get into town.

Bus

Another option into town is the bus. Flygbussarna takes about 45 minutes for the trip, but costs only a quarter of what you’d spend on a taxi. For 119 SEK, an adult can make the one-way trip into town. The cost is 89 SEK for a youth (under 25) ticket.

You can also save a bit of money by purchasing the round-trip ticket and buying the ticket online. The bus leaves on a pretty regular basis depending on the hour of the day. During heavily trafficked hours, the bus leaves every ten minutes. In the middle of the night, it departs every 30 minutes.

The Arlanda Express Train

Finally, there is the Arlanda Express. This is my favorite option (probably because I still qualify for the youth ticket!). The super-fast (200 km per hour) train will get you into Stockholm’s Central Station in 20 minutes. Adult tickets are 240 SEK, but watch for group deals where you and a buddy can travel one way for 280 SEK total. Youth and students pay only 120 SEK. Check the timetable to be sure, but the train leaves every 15 minutes for most of the day.

Public Transportation

And finally, public transportation. With a mixture of buses and trains, you can get from the airport into town for about 60 SEK. Of course, it will take you about one hour, but it is a good option if you’re willing to take the scenic route.

Getting into Stockholm from other airports

If you did fly into one of the other airports surrounding Stockholm (Ryanair to Skavsta for example), take the bus. Seriously. It will take you just over an hour and costs 75-99 SEK one way. The price depends on which company you choose (Flygbussarna or FlybyCoach) and whether you book online or not. Watch out for taxis: They’ll cost you well over 1000 SEK.

For more info on getting into Stockholm, view this article in our city guide. With the stress of getting from the airport to town out of your system, you’ll be able to enjoy and explore all that Stockholm has to offer. And with the money you saved on your way in, you’ll be off to a great start.

The post Stockholm Airport Transportation: Cheap ways to get in from Arlanda appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.