The only thing that lets Menorca down when it comes to being Cheapo-friendly are the flight prices. I was traveling from London and could easily have been swayed to book flights to other more popular Spanish sun-soaked destinations for half the price, but I stuck to my guns and paid £150 on return flights to Menorca’s capital, Mahon.

Where to sleep

When it comes to accommodation, there are a lot of different options across the island, but the north is the least touristy area. I opted for a pretty whitewashed apartment in the small resort of Son Parc. An apartment with two double bedrooms here—complete with terrace—will set you back around £350 per week and sleeps up to four people (just £87 per person per week), with access to a communal pool, fantastic views and the stunning Son Saura beach just a five minute walk away. Alternatively, you can opt for the Son Parc Hotel from around £47 per room per night, based on two sharing.

The one thing worth investing in, especially if you’re staying in the north of the island, is a rental car. I paid £120 for a week between four people with BK Rent a Car.

Explore the cities and beaches of Menorca and you’ll find some picturesque spots like this one.

Eating and drinking

Menorca, in addition to great cheap sleeps, offers tasty local food at low prices—if you know when, where and what to eat. Here are some tips:

Hit the supermarket for breakfast and dinner

If you decide to hire an apartment, you should stock up on tasty breakfasts and barbecue dinners from Mercadona near the airport. The supermarket in Son Parc is useful for the essentials, but you’ll get much better value elsewhere. Then, make like the locals and eat out at lunch, when you can enjoy some delicious Menus del Día (three course menus) for as little as €10 per person. This is definitely the best way to enjoy the local produce for less.

Charming lunches in Ciutadella and Fornells

The city of Ciutadella is not to be missed. Get lost in the rabbit warren of tiny streets, drink some traditional pomada (Menorcan gin with lemon) in a pretty plaza, or lap up the atmosphere (and the fancy yachts) along the waterfront. Most of the restaurants along here serve typical fare with menus at similar prices—a slightly inflated €15 for three courses—but the fantastic view is more than worth the extra few euros.

Fornells, in the north of the island, also makes for a tasty lunch stop. The seafront is lined with restaurants boasting identical menus, all vying for the visitor’s attention and you can get a three-course lunch for €10-€12 along here with no difficulty at all. Sa Rumbada was my personal favorite; the stuffed aubergines and grilled hake were especially good. Walk off lunch with a brisk stroll up to Fornells Tower, where you’ll enjoy fantastic views of the town and the coastline.

The Menorcan dish Arroz Caldoso de Marisco is a perfect—and Cheapo—taste of the island. Help yourself!

Cheapo meal tip

Caldereta de Langosta (Lobster Stew) is Menorca’s most traditional dish, but the prices can be astronomical. Equally tasty is a hearty pot of Arroz Caldoso de Marisco—rice and lashings of seafood cooked slowly in a delicious sauce for a fraction of the price.

Don’t forget about wine!

Menorcan’s are also very proud of their locally produced vinos, so stop by Binifadet Bodega and Restaurant for a really informative tour and the chance to taste a few different wines. The tours run every day until 7 p.m. and they’re completely free— though the wine is so good you may find it hard to leave without buying a bottle or two!

Free spa treatments

Yes, that’s right Cheapos, get down to Cala Cavalleria and take a right when you get to the beach to access the natural mud baths. The kind of clay skin treatment that other destinations charge hefty entrance fees for, is here free to “do it yourself.” You’ll see plenty of other people sunning themselves while caked in the purifying goodness of Menorca’s red clay. Cover your skin evenly and let it dry for around 15 minutes before washing it all off in the sea for incredibly soft skin.

Megalithic Monuments

Menorca is scattered with over 2,000 megalithic monuments, the smaller of which you can often visit for free, while the larger sites don’t charge more than €3.50 per person. Erected in the Bronze Age, these towering stones punctuate the landscape, standing tall and proud on hilltops.

There are several different types of monuments. The Navetes were used as burial chambers, while nobody is 100% sure of the meaning behind The Talaiots, the most impressive of which are the Taules. These enormous T-shaped stone structures leave you gasping in disbelief at how on earth it was possible to position one stone on top of the other. They are normally surrounded by smaller stones believed to have been for deities or offerings but the meaning behind the Taules themselves is still disputed.

With more beaches than Ibiza and Mallorca put together, excellent value food and accommodation, intriguing cities and free or very cheap cultural offerings, Menorca really did turn out to be a Cheapo summer paradise. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

For more information on Menorca, visit the Menorca Tourist Office.  If you have any questions about Menorca or anything else, feel free to post them on the comments board below.

The post Menorca: A Spanish beach paradise for Cheapos appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

To save a few shillings without having to scrimp on the sights, here are our EuroCheapo top tips for first time visitors to London.

1. Walk it.

The center of London is deceptively small. Rather than be the tourist who wastes £4.50 getting from Charing Cross to Embankment on the Tube (when they’re right next to each other on the street), it usually pays to use your feet. You get much better views too.

Marvel at London at its most imposing by walking from Trafalgar Square and National Gallery, down Whitehall and on to the Houses of Parliament and Westminster. Or experience the city’s fun side by exploring the streets of Theater Land around Covent Garden, before wandering over one of the Thames’s bridges to the always-bustling South Bank.

From street performers to hidden parks, there’s a lot more to happen-upon when you’re traveling above ground.

2. Use an Oyster card.

It’s an unrealistic hope to completely avoid public transport in London so make sure that when you use it, you’re using it in the smartest possible way. Get an Oyster card: it slashes your journey costs. (For example, it would reduce the cost of that unnecessary Tube trip from Charing Cross to Embankment to £2.10.)

Additionally, opt to take the most picturesque bus routes rather than paying for sightseeing tours (we recommend the RV1).

And if aquatic is your favorite style of transport, I would recommend the Thames Clipper, which goes from Waterloo to the Dome in North Greenwich, as a great cheapo alternative to a river cruise, costing only £3.90 with your Oyster.

3. Visit free sights and museums.

National Museums are all free and definitely worth factoring into any itinerary. The British Museum, Tate Modern and the National Gallery are the more obvious choices for first time visitors, but it’s also worth saying hello to the dinosaur skeleton hung in the imposing Gothic building of the Natural History Museum, spending an afternoon in Greenwich – a world heritage site – at the National Maritime Museum or learning more about your host city at the Museum of London.

Cheapo tip: If you arrived by Eurostar, it’s worth keeping hold of your ticket: they allow two for one entry into many of the major temporary charging exhibitions.

4. Find special offers in advance.

While the paying attractions will undoubtedly make a dent on your wallet, it’s always worth checking out deals before you turn up. It’s cheaper to go on the London Eye if you book in advance, for example. The same applies to bus and train fares.

And while you’re on the National Rail website, make sure to stop off to look at their two-for-one entry deals to places like Tower of London, the Zoo and Madame Tussauds.

5. Grab a free Time Out.

If the last two tips have both failed you, make sure you pick up a copy of Time Out Magazine for their money saving tips and vouchers. The city’s best listing guide is now given away each week for free. Get the new edition each Tuesday for the latest of what’s going on and their authoritative reviews, as well as cost-cutting advice.

6. Vouchers can make meals much cheaper.

Vouchers are your secret weapon when it comes to eating in London without breaking the bank. UK website Money Saving Expert keeps an up-to-date listing of which restaurant chains are currently running 2 for 1 or money off promotions.

We recommend Pizza Express as a safe bet: it’s got branches throughout the capital, reliable service and food and is part of London’s history: it opened its first branch in Soho’s Wardour Street in 1965. Celebrate your savings with an extra helping of their dough balls.

7. Join a free walking tour.

Take a walking tour to familiarize yourself with the city. While there’s plenty of paying options available, there are some fantastic free walks on offer too. Sandeman’s has a free Central London Royal London tour that will guide you through the city from Anglo-Saxon times.

For contrast, Alternative London runs a pay-what-you-like tour of East London, with an emphasis on its street art and creative scene. Both are great ways to get a flavor of the city and to work out what bits you’d like to spend more time exploring yourself.

8. Avoid peak travel times.

If you have some flexibility with your timings, avoiding peak times for travel in the UK will help with both costs and crowds. These times are mainly Easter, Christmas and the school summer vacation, when you’ll be competing with British families to make the most of London. An enjoyable time to visit would be September and early October, once the schools have gone back and there’s usually some late summer sunshine hanging around.

Between Christmas and New Year can also be a good period for exploring the city: the streets are still looking pretty in their festive decorations but are free of stressed commuters. Just be prepared for bad weather and be willing to spend some of your day hauled up in a cozy pub.

9. Use bathrooms when they’re free.

Public conveniences in London tend to be rather inconvenient. There’s not many bathrooms left for public use and those that remain are often paying. With entrance fee of up to 50 pence per visit, you can spend a lot more than pennies during a day’s sightseeing. Instead, make the most of the bathrooms inside tourist attractions, and in restaurants, bars and pubs.

For when you’re out and about, it’s worth taking note of this excellent toilet map, a mobile-friendly guide to all of London’s public facilities. You’ll never need to be caught short – or short of cash – again.

The view from Alexandra Palace is stunning—and Cheapo! Photo: lo_ise.

10. Enjoy free views of the city.

With a trip on the London Eye costing from £17 upwards (even after your early booking discount), going up the Shard priced at £24.95, and an ascent of the London Orbit in the Olympic Park billed at £15, getting a good view of London can be a costly business. But some of the best views in London are free and a great way for a first time visitor to get their heads around the city.

Head up northwards to Alexandra Palace to see a majestic sweep across all of London, or to Parliament Hill where residents gather with picnics in the summer and celebrate each new year with sparklers. In central London, Monument – 202 feet tall and built to commemorate the Great Fire of London in the seventeenth century – costs only £3 to climb. You’ll even get a souvenir certificate thrown into the price.

Got your own Cheapo tips? Share them in the comment section below.  We’re always looking for ways to save in London! And of course, if you’re looking to save on your accommodation, swing by our guide to budget hotels in London.

The post 10 money saving tips for first-time visitors to London appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

If you’re making plans for a 2010 getaway or adventure, here are six inexpensive and popular electronics people are adding to your “what to bring” checklist.

1. SIM cards for cell phones

Postcards, telecartes, and payphones just don’t cut it anymore when saying hello from abroad. Cell phones are an expected travel item worldwide, and the cheapest option is usually not a home-based plan. It’s a SIM card.

SIM (“subscriber identity module”) cards are simply thumbnail-size chips that users insert into their cell phone to make calls. Users are provided with an individual phone number on a pay-as-you-go credit program. These cards can be purchased, as well as topped off with credit, in supermarkets, kiosks, and most shopping centers.

For more on buying SIM cards abroad, see this Rick Steves’ article on mobile phones in Europe.

2. MP3 players: Bring a USB cord to keep the travel soundtrack rolling.

The most common uncertainty when it comes to toting along MP3 players is the relatively short battery life. Know this: All it takes is a simple USB cord to charge your personal music collection via any computer. Earbuds minimize space (no need for clunky headphones), and travelers can easily collect a more worldly selection of music by sharing and trading songs with others.

3. Netbooks: The smaller and lighter notebook.

I find small “netbook” computers perfect for traveling. Look for ones that are light in weight, usually from two to four pounds. Long battery life is key, and there are models with batteries lasting four-to-five hours. Screen size can dip below eight inches, which is compact, but tricky for Web browsing.

Try finding screens 10-to-12 inches with a sturdy feel and, if possible, a webcam. Prices vary, but basics start around $300 and creep up to over $1,000.

For a list of top-rated netbook computers, check out this Consumer Reports guide.

4. The power of the compact camera.

Digital point-and-shoot cameras have come a long way in the past few years and, let’s face it, they’re much easier to travel with than a professional SLR. Many are now waterproof, and features like video and audio are increasingly the norm. They’re also easy to slip into a pocket and able to hold buckets of high-quality images. Reconsider the convenience of small digitals before instinctively reaching for the pro piece with the monster lens.

For tips on buying a point-and-shoot, visit Consumer Reports.

5. Trust the Internet cafés.

Not in the mood to take a laptop or netbook with you? Don’t feel the need to be constantly wired? Internet cafés have gone through some extreme makeovers the last decade and offer a great service. Most are completely “pimped out” with sleek desktop computers, web cams, mic and headphones, and offer the latest software with the click of a mouse.

Hourly prices at most Internet cafes dip in the more competitive and big city areas, but rest assured that an Internet café is within reach when you least expect it.

6. Smartphones

Looking to consolidate your wires and devices while traveling? Consider a smartphone. Whether you opt for an iPhone, Blackberry, G1 or other types, these handy devices have rapidly become indispensable to many travelers (so long as you’re willing to swallow the cost of owning one.) Being able to snap photos, record video, listen to music, check email and post media to Facebook and other sites is undeniably appealing to many, although also abhorred by some.

If you’re considering using a smartphone while traveling, also consider this: photo and video quality won’t be quite as good as what you get with standalone devices, although recently it has greatly improved. Also, always be aware of your smartphone’s data and usage fees for overseas travel. Unlike the American Express card, you might want to “just leave home without it.”

Tell Us: How do you stay wired?

How do you stay wired on the road? Do you take your computer with you or simply check-in at the Internet café? Do you still pack your big camera, slip a small one in your pocket, or skip the camera all together? Tell us about it!

The post Cheapo Technology 101: How to stay wired while traveling appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Read on, Cheapo!

A for Abbesses
By now it’s no secret that “Amélie” was filmed here, but did you know that its original title was “Amélie des Abbesses”? If you come by Metro, do take the lift. The station is ten stories underground!

B for Brocante
Throughout the year you’ll find “brocantes” (antique/junk sales) and “vide-greniers” (garage sales) scattered all over. For a listing, click here.

Outside the Coquelicot boulangerie.

C for Coquelicot
Next to Metro Abbesses, you’ll find the Coquelicot boulangerie. Thierry Racoillet’s old-fashioned and award-winning Picolla baguettes are not to be missed. They also give bread to the homeless.

D for Dalida
The late pop diva’s house is at the bend in rue d’Orchampt, and her grave is in the Cimetière de Montmartre. Pilgrims still visit both shrines to the female Elvis of France!

E for Eiffel
Not only did Madame La Tour Eiffel recently celebrate her 102nd birthday, but now it’s possible to buy tickets online prior to your visit!

F for Flea markets
Junkies, note that the Porte de Vanves is open Saturday and Sunday mornings, while the Porte de Clignancourt flea runs all day Saturday through Monday.

A shrine to popstar Dalida

G for Serge Gainsbourg
Long live the late French King of Croon! “Vie Héroïque,” a film about his life, was just released. His former pad at 5 bis Rue de Verneuil is now covered with layers of graffiti left by ardent fanatics.

H for le Halle Saint Pierre
Visionaries, naives, and outsiders, oh my! Homemade quiche with a view of Sacré Coeur! If you like Baltimore’s American Visionary Art Museum, you’ll love Halle Saint Pierre, a giant cultural center with plenty of attractions.

I for “I Love Sympa”
Practice the art of elbow-to-elbow bargain bin shopping in the heart of Montmartre, elbow-deep in garb by Kookai, Jennyfer, Naf-Naf, Pimkie, Sinéquanone, and Sandro . . .  at only a fraction of original cost!

J for Jardin des Tuileries
This is the place to read your book or museum catalogue—and people-watch! Nab a bench and stay till sundown.

Strawberries and asparagus in season

K for Kilos
At the markets, think seasonally! Produce will taste better and cost less. Asparagus rules in May, cherries star in July, and apples shine in early autumn. The lively marché d’Aligre in the 12th arrondissement is a favorite.

L for Jardins de Luxembourg
Run, Cheapo, run! Each loop is about 1.25 miles. Forgot your watch? There’s a clock on top of the Palais du Luxembourg.

The Mona Lisait bookstore

M for Marais
The great discount bookstore Mona Lisait and the Musée Carnavalet are practically neighbors in the Marais! Carnavelet has an entire jewelry shop designed by Mucha and featuring Marie Anoinette’s dancing slippers. Bookshop tip: Avoid heels, the floor is ancient cobblestones.

N for Napoléon
High and aloof atop his column in the Place Vendôme, le petit caporal overlooks the Hôtel Ritz, (where the daring Cheapo will sashay through, just to have a look, see).

O say, can you see the Opéra?
The best spot for ogling the Phantom’s lair is the Metro Opéra entrance.

P for Pariscope
Pick up a copy at any newsstand. The pocket-sized weekly lists the week’s cultural happenings for brows of any height.

Q is for Quizzes
Expect more to come, Cheapos!

R for Raindrops
They fall often but never for long. Pack your “parapluie!”

The Studio 28 cinema

S for Studio 28
Thank heaven for little cinemas! At Studio 28, you’ll be wooed by Jean Cocteau’s fantástico chandeliers, a crushed velvet fainting couch in the lobby, an art gallery, café, and footprints of the stars!

T for Taxi!
Need a cheap airport ride? Contact Lizza at Art-Trans Voyage.

U is for “Erope”
What’s missing? You!

The Bazzar de l’Hôtel de Ville department store.

V for Bazaar de l’Hôtel de Ville (BHV)
At grand magasin BHV, you’ll find one of my favorite souvenirs, the French bath mitt. Pair it with Provence soap and you’re good to bathe.

W for Wallace Fountains
Test the waters at 108 fountains sprinkled around Paris.  Bring your own bottle; the water’s free.

X for the Unexpected
Sometimes the best things in life take us by surprise.

Y for Degas’ “Young Dancer”
Where bronze meets tulle at the Musée d’Orsay.

Z for Émile Zola
Signing off with a mantra by Zola, “I am here to live out loud!”

Speaking of “out loud,” Cheapos, let’s hear from you! What tips would you add?

The post Paris In A Cheapo Minute: City tips A-Z appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

I’ve spent the past two weeks in Munich watching the city prepare for, and then celebrate, Oktoberfest. Although the festival continues through October 4, 2009, I’ve already taken some notes for getting the most out of the festival next year. Simply follow these five tips:

1. Come in September

The most common misconception is that Oktoberfest runs in October. While that makes sense to the rest of the world, the festival is meant to “bring in” October, so it runs the last two weeks of September. To be exact, Oktoberfest begins the second-to-last Saturday of September and lasts for two weeks. This year, 2009, it runs through October 4.

2. Bring only what you want to spend

Between beers hovering around €10 and not-so-cheap grub, it is scarily easy to drop €50 in one day. Make a daily budget and stash the rest of your cash somewhere far, far away: you’ll thank yourself later. Of course, ATMs are always available for emergencies.

3. Pace yourself

A stein is one liter… period. That’s about three cans of beer, each with almost six percent alcohol, by volume. Remember this: it’s all about knowing your limits. Eat a giant soft pretzel (“Bretzel”), drink a half-liter water (“Wasser”). Whatever happens, just remember to pace yourself to survive a demanding day full of beer-drinking.

4. Bring your camera for cheap souvenirs

Legally acquire souvenirs. After all, stealing a stein can cost you thousands of euros, and stealing a kiss can cost you a fat slap on the face! Common Oktoberfest souvenirs are costly t-shirts and cheaply made trinkets. Photos are the best way for cheap memories—the festival brings endless photo-ops and camera theft isn’t a common occurrence.

5. Know how to score a tent seat

Never use the main entrance during busy times. Some people wait in line for hours, not knowing that the side and back entrances are crowd-free. Larger groups should split up on busy nights and rendezvous when things get a bit more spacious. When zoning in on seats, make sure the table you find is not reserved.

Bonus tip: Hit the loo early on

Lines for the toilet can be ridiculous, especially on weekends. Head to the W.C. as soon as you feel the need: chances are you’ll have to wait in line. Toilets are in tents, on the terraces, and in between tent zones.

The post Munich: Top five Oktoberfest survival tips appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

How to keep costs manageable in such a pricey Nordic capital? We’ve got a few suggestions.

1. Find a cheap bed. The well-scrubbed Eurohostel, located on Katajanokka, is a cheap spot to lay your head. Rooms are small but spic-and-span, with Ikea-like blond wood bed frames and gray and green room accents. Doubles begin at €53 in the summer, which is pretty darn cheap for the pricey Finnish capital.

Central Helsinki by day…

2. Grab a cheap lunch. Grub is expensive in central Helsinki. One good value can be found at the Hietalahti Flea Market café, where the lunch buffet is just €7 per person. Just don’t go assuming that you’ll be able to find such good deals in the flea market hall itself, which is packed to the rafters with spectacular Finnish modernist pieces (as well as some inarguably uninteresting fluff). A trip to the nearby Design Museum (Korkeavuorenkatu 23) will confirm your suspicions that many of the Flea Market’s cast-offs are in fact Grade A modernist beauties.

3. Visit a free museum. The splendid Kiasma (Museum of Contemporary Art) is worth the €7 admission fee for the exploration of its curved passageways and awesome scale alone. But on the first Wednesday of every month, admission is free. Several other museums occasionally offer free admission as well.  Helsinki City Art Museum is free on Fridays, for example.

Helsinki’s main cathedral, the Tuomiokirkko

4. Free furniture? Well, not really. All those expensive shops full of incredibly dear and well made Finnish furniture can be visited and viewed by any Cheapo with an appetite for good, high-end design. Check out Vepsäläinen and the adjacent Solid Furniture on Annankatu 25, and Amfora Shop on Bulevardi 11 for some particularly inspiring selections.

5. Take a cheap day trip. It’s all relative, of course, but a boat trip to the beautiful island of Suomenlinna—where one of the largest historic maritime monuments in the world holds court—is just €3.80 roundtrip for adults and €1.90 roundtrip for children aged 7 to 16.  Once there, guided walking tours of the island are available most every day in the summer, less frequently in the down season. They are free for Helsinki Card carriers.

The post Wandering Cheapo Helsinki: Five Cheapo Tips appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.