Welcome, budget traveler!

If you’re looking for ways to make your upcoming trip to Europe more affordable, you’ve come to the right place. Since 2001, EuroCheapo has been helping travelers save in Europe. It’s what we do.

On the following pages we’ve compiled our top budget travel advice. It’s organized into 10 quick chapters about ways to save on the big items in your travel budget: the flights, hotels, train tickets, rental cars, sightseeing, using your smartphone and more.

But let’s be clear: These travel tips aren’t only about spending less on your trip. They’re also about having a better experience when traveling in Europe.

We believe that the best budget travel is also about slowing down and traveling in step with the locals. If you can do that, and if you’ve learned a couple tricks of the cheapo trade, the savings will follow. And, in the end, you’ll have a richer experience. We’ll get into all of that below.

A quick note about us — and why we can help you save in Europe

My name is Tom Meyers and I started EuroCheapo back in 2001. I quit my job in New York and moved to Berlin and hand-coded the first version of this site that launched that June. Honestly, I had a blast — I spent the year hunting down the best small, budget hotels in the center of Europe’s most expensive cities. I felt like every day was a treasure hunt.

Since then, I’ve been joined by a team of writers and editors who have kept up our hotel picks (like these in Paris and Rome), but who’ve also written nearly 3,000 articles about simple ways to save on every aspect of your trip, from booking flights and train tickets to cheap eats and saving on sightseeing.

In the following pages, I’ll be sharing these tips with you in the first person, although many of these tips have been plucked from the thousands of posts published on our blog. I’m thankful to the dozens of fabulous writers who have shared their expertise with us on the site over the years and continue to write for us. You can read more about them if you click their names on any of the blog posts we link to.

I hope that you’ll find these budget travel tips helpful and that together, we can help you spend less while improving your travels in Europe. If you have questions or feedback on these tips, send me an email or leave a comment below. And please join us on Facebook.

Thanks — and bon voyage, Cheapos!

Our guide to saving in Europe

Chapter 1:  When to go to Europe (for the best bang for your buck)

If you have the flexibility to choose the timing of your next trip, you’re in a good spot. Which season makes the most sense for your schedule and for your budget? Is there a better time to go?

Cheapo Tip: If possible, travel during low season or “shoulder season” for the best deals.

Chapter 2:  Building an affordable itinerary

Travelers, especially those from North America, tend to overbook their trips to Europe. We can’t help it. Resist the urge to “see it all”, and you’ll save time and money — and probably have a much better travel experience.

Cheapo Tip: We like to spend at least two nights in each spot. It helps our budget… and our sanity.

Chapter 3:  Finding cheap airfare to Europe

Flying to Europe is expensive — in fact, it’s probably the largest expense facing many American travelers. How can you actually find great deals on airfare to Europe? Here are some tips to help you fly the cheapo skies.

Cheapo Tip: Airfare alerts are your friend. So are “open jaw” flights.

Chapter 4:  Saving on hotels in Europe

Whether you’re planning to travel for two days or 20 days, where you stay can have a major impact on both your budget and your trip experience. Here are some tips for booking the right hotels for your trip — and at the best possible price.

Cheapo Tip: Small, family-run hotels can make all the difference on your trip. But you have to find them.

Chapters 5-8: Coming soon!

Stay tuned — we’ll be publishing our guides to saving on train tickets, rental cars, sightseeing and more in the coming week!

Now… where are you going?

Once you’ve read through these quick chapters, you’ll have a great grasp on many of the top budget travel strategies that work today. But wait — there’s more!

Now comes the fun part: It’s time to start researching ways to save in the countries and cities that you’ll be visiting. It’ll probably come as no surprise that we have a lot to say about that, too.

See our top budget travel advice for:

Top Cities:

Amsterdam | Barcelona | Florence | London | New York | Paris | Rome | Venice

Top Countries:

France | Germany | Italy | Netherlands | Portugal | Spain | Switzerland | UK

The post How to Save on Your Trip to Europe appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

The city’s most famous drag, La Rambla, divides the Gothic Quarter and El Raval. If you stand at the top of La Rambla and look down towards the sea, the Gothic Quarter is on your left and El Raval is on your right.

Because it’s so popular with tourists, the Gothic Quarter (known locally as “Barri Gòtic”) can be a challenge to explore on a budget. Fortunately, we have some tips below to keep your spending in check!

Get around on foot

The only way to really explore the Gothic Quarter is by walking. Though the Metro stops Jaume I, Pl. Catalunya, Liceu and Urquinaona will put you at the perimeter of the neighborhood, much of the Gothic Quarter is closed to car traffic, making it a haven for pedestrians who are ogling the cathedral’s gargoyles or stopping to window shop.

Make sure to get a good, detailed map of the area as it can be very confusing to find your way from point to point without any direction. But that’s part of the fun! While the Eixample is laid out in a simple grid pattern, the Gothic Quarter is a mess of winding alleyways and dead ends. Getting lost in the Gothic Quarter is common even for the locals, so don’t worry too much if you get turned around.

Barcelona Cathedral in the Gothic Quarter dates back to the 1300s. Photo: Catalan Art

What to see

While the neighborhood demands to simply be wandered, there are a number of sights you shouldn’t miss. These include:

• The Barcelona Cathedral and the plaza just in front of it are both required visits. You will have to pay a small fee (€3) to enter the cathedral unless you go for mass, but it’s also fascinating to walk around its huge outside perimeter and admire the architecture.

• Seek out Pl. Sant Felip Neri near the cathedral for a respite from the Gothic Quarter’s bustle. The plaza has a sad history (look for evidence of the bombing during the civil war on the plaza’s walls) but it’s currently one of the prettiest spots in the city to have a coffee or just sit and listen to the trickling fountain.

• Roman sites: Visiting the numerous Roman sites scattered throughout the Gothic Quarter is free and interesting. Get information and a map showing where each site is located from the tourist information office in Pl. Catalunya.

• More ancient history: If you want to dive deeper into Barcelona’s Roman era then seek out the MUHBA (Barcelona City History Museum) on Plaça del Rei, which holds artifacts from the 1st century BC to the early Middle Ages (€7).

• La Rambla: Of course, you should take a stroll along La Rambla, which lines the western edge of the Gothic Quarter all the way down to the port. Check out the flower stands, human statues, and opera house as you walk. (Related: Is the Rambla a tourist trap? Not necessarily.)

• Plaça Reial is also a lively square worth your time, surrounded by restaurants, bars and once-glamorous apartments. Some good jazz clubs and live music venues are found around Plaça Reial, too.

• Organized tour: If you feel like splurging, book the Secrets and Legends Tour with Ciempies. This is the best tour I’ve been on in Barcelona, and maybe in my entire life. The tour focuses on the history of the Gothic area as well as local tales passed down from generation to generation.

• Nightlife savings: You can also save money on shows when buying tickets in advance. Jamboree sells tickets online for slightly less than at the door. Atrapalo also has daily deals on concerts, shows, food, tours, and classes in the city.

Finding affordable food & drink

Because the Gothic Quarter is so popular with tourists, some restauranteurs feel they can charge more and serve substandard eats. Skip these places. You’ll know them by the photos of their dishes taped up next to a menu that has been translated into 10 languages.

Luckily, there are still some wonderful, old-timey bars and traditional restaurants sit near the more touristy places. These include:

• For cheap breakfast or lunch options, try El Mos (Carrer Comtal, 12), a cafe serving a wide array of pastries, plus sandwiches and simple daily specials. You can eat a meal at El Mos for about €6.

• Another inexpensive choice is Buenas Migas, which serves salads, focaccia, pastries, cakes and breakfast items such as freshly-squeezed OJ and yogurt with granola.

• For beers and cocktails try Ginger (Carrer de la Palma de Sant Just, 1) or Polaroid (Carrer dels Còdols, 29) which draws a young crowd.

Related: 4 local dishes to try when visiting Barcelona | Favorite bars (including Gothic Quarter)

Supermarket savings: You can cut down on what you spend on food by buying some of your meals at the supermarket. Carrefour and El Corte Inglés have large selections of pre-made dishes (pasta salad, roasted chicken, sandwiches) plus all the snack and drink options you’d expect from a European supermarket. Try getting breakfast and lunch from Carrefour and then going out for dinner and drinks. (Here are some picnic tips for Barcelona.)

More restaurant advice: We have much more to say on the subject of saving on Barcelona’s restaurant and bars. Check out these articles for more tips.

Best budget hotels in the Gothic Quarter

If you choose to stay in the Gothic Quarter, you’ll save bucks on transportation, as you’ll be within walking distance from just about everything, including the beach, Gaudí sights, shopping, restaurants and the major train and bus stations. Cheapos will love the convenient location.

Check out all of our accommodations in Barri Gòtic, and take note of this stand out:

Hostal Levante: This friendly stay offers an unbeatable location at great prices. All of the accommodations are spic-and-span, and a few rooms have balconies overlooking the cobblestoned streets. Doubles from under $100.

The post Cheapo Guide: Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Unfortunately, the area is fully aware of its own charms and has pushed the prices up accordingly. With members of the British royal family frequently photographed emerging from South Kensington’s pubs and clubs, it’s obviously never going to be the cheapest part of town. However, as a base, the location alone means you should save on some transport costs, and there are still some bargains to be had, if you follow our Cheapo guide.

The Meininger Hotel offers clean, comfortable rooms in a great South Kensington setting. Phot by EuroCheapo.

Where to Stay

Meininger Hotel
65–67 Queen’s Gate SW7 5JS
Doubles from $121 to $152

Part of a small German chain, the Meininger takes all those Germanic clichés of efficiency and cleanliness and transfers them to a convenient location, just down the road from the magnificence of Hyde Park. The hotel offers both dorms and private rooms, with a mixture of private and shared bathrooms too.

Although perhaps lacking in some of the charms of a traditional B&B, that’s more than compensated for by the view in the rooms facing the Gothic splendour of the Natural History Museum.

easyHotel South Kensington
14 Lexham Gardens, W8 5JE
Doubles from $68 to $86

“A very small room” says the sign on the guest room door. And they’re not lying. The easyHotel makes no pretense to be anything other than what it is—a no frills hotel, with very small rooms, and with any extras coming at an additional cost. If you don’t begrudge paying for your breakfast, TV or Wi-Fi, on top of the basic super-cheapo room rate, the concept might appeal.

The hotel is housed within a gorgeous mansion, conveniently placed between Gloucester Road and Earls Court Tube stations, so at least you can aspire to South Kensington grandeur even if the size of the room and, thankfully, your bill say otherwise.

Where to Eat

Raison D’Etre
Bute Street SW7 3EX

Here’s a slightly crazy fact: In terms of population, London is actually the sixth largest French city in the world. And South Kensington, with both the Lycée Francais Charles De Gaulle and the French Institute, is sometimes known as “Petite France”. The aptly named Raison D’Etre is a charming sandwich shop that could almost convince you that you were in Paris, located down the road from a French bookshop and a rotisserie.

You’ll probably have to fight off a few of the Lycée students to get a table, but it’s worth it for this shop’s hearty range of ciabatta, baguettes and focaccia – all around £5 – with a dazzling range of fresh fillings. There’s great coffee too, all topped off by the café’s eager-to-please service.

La Cave à Fromage
24–25 Cromwell Place SW7 2LD

Yes, more to be thankful to the French for. You can’t miss this one, not least because of its powerful aroma. Just around the corner from the South Kensington Tube, La Cave is a mecca for fromage fans. Primarily a specialty cheese shop, there are also simple wooden tables and chairs for customers to relax and sample the wares.

At lunchtime (and also in the evenings if there’s not an event going on), they serve up huge platters of, yes, cheese, but also freshly baked bread, cured meats and specially selected wines. You can stagger out, fully sated by some of life’s finest things, for around £10.

Al Arez 2
128 Brompton Road SW3 1JD

It defies logic but one of the area’s best cheap eats is situated opposite Harrods, one of the world’s most expensive department stores. Al Arez 2 (the original is on Edgware Road) is a canteen-style Lebanese restaurant whose three floors are always packed with devoted fans. Everything is extremely reasonably priced: It’s a challenge to spend over £10, no matter how hungry you are.

The biggest bargain has to be the wraps, costing between £3.25 and £3.50 each, filled with delicious shawarma, falafel or spicy sausage. The wraps are available to take away, but eat in to enjoy all the bread, olives and baklava extras that are standard with service.

Where to Drink

The Queen’s Arms
30 Queens Gate Mews SW7 5QL

Given its charming back streets and hidden corners, drinking in South Kensington isn’t the delightful experience it should be. In fact, its pubs fall into two disappointing categories: either really expensive or dingy, or—in quite a few places—both.

The Queen’s Arms is probably the closest to pub perfection in the neighborhood. It isn’t particularly cheap but its pricing is reasonable and, set on the corner of a mews street, the building itself is charming. There’s a wide range of lagers, ales and ciders available, and a traditional range of meals too. In fact, it’s got just about everything you’d want from a boozer. If you are going to splash out for a pint anywhere in the area, your pound will bring you the most pleasure here.

Imperial College Union Bar
Prince Consort Road SW7 2AZ

South Kensington is also home to the campus of Imperial College and the cheapest drinks in the area. They have a couple of bars that cater to the demands of their students including Union Bar, a quaint wood-paneled bar, with real ales, the University’s tankard collection and a large grassy area to sit out in on a sunny day.

So why isn’t it swarming with bargain-hunting tourists? Well, it’s only open to members of the Imperial College Student Union, so you can’t just walk in off the street. However, visiting students from abroad are lucky enough to be able to become an Associate Member.  Membership is automatic for students at some American universities in London, such as the Boston University Academic Center, but any student can simply register at Imperial College reception to make the most of the cheapest catering facilities for miles around.

Museum Lates
Natural History Museum (last Friday of month), Science Museum (last Wednesday of month), V&A Museum (last Friday of month)

The attraction here isn’t the cheap booze (you’ll need to head out of South Kensington for that), rather it’s the unexpected extras. Each of the major, and already free, museums in the neighborhood offers its own late night event, attracting a younger, cooler crowd to the area. The museums stay open into the evening, and the galleries are given over to pop-up bars, as well as free music and events. With open-mics taking place next to the dinosaur skeletons in the Natural History Museum, screen-printing sessions at the Science Museum and live DJs at the Victoria & Albert, who needs to pay to head out to a nightclub?

Bonus: Charity Shops

With its affluent, well-heeled and well-read population, the charity shops around South Kensington offer some of the city’s best second-hand bargains, if you are prepared to rummage. Octavia and Trinity Hospice on Bute Street often contain catalogues from museum curators’ bookshelves and the nearby Christie’s auction house, while the British Red Cross on Old Church Street is stuffed full of famous names, whether that’s in the form of a Missoni jumper or a pair of Ferragamo shoes. It’s designer shopping without the guilt, or the hefty price tag, attached.

Want more?

Be sure to check out our Cheapo guide to Soho and feel free to leave any questions or comments below.

Have a favorite spot in South Kensington to add to our list? Tell us about it in the comments section below!

The post London: A Cheapo guide to South Kensington’s hotels, restaurants and bars appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.