It would figure that “the city that never sleeps” is home to many of the late night greats, from “Saturday Night Live” to “Late Night with David Letterman.” And where there are late night shows, there are studio audiences. The coveted (and free!) tickets to these shows are hard to come by, and usually require some advance planning. Because each show has a different set of rules, it can all amount to quite a headache.

But before you reach for the aspirin, check out our handy dandy breakdown.

Saturday Night Live

Really, “SNL” simply wouldn’t be the same without the phrase, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!” Tickets to the weekend mainstay are issued by a lottery system. To be entered, send an email with your contact information to snltickets@nbcuni.com. If selected, you’ll be granted two tickets to a randomly determined show date.

Important Note: The email must be sent in the month of August (for the 2011-2012 season) and specific date requests are not allowed. Only those selected will be notified.

Standby: Try your luck, and line-waiting, at standby tickets for either the 8 p.m. dress rehearsal or the 11:30 p.m. live show. Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at 7 a.m. on the morning of each taping. Plan to line up at the 49th Street side of 30 Rockefeller Plaza early (read: sleep over). Note that a standby ticket does not guarantee admission, and tickets are limited to one per person.

The Late Show with David Letterman

Letterman tickets are also distributed via a lottery, and you can either request either by using their online form or visiting the theater (1697 Broadway). In-person hours are Monday through Thursday 9:30 a.m. until 12 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. (Note: Arriving prior to 9 a.m. will disqualify you!)

Tickets may be requested for up to one month in advance of the taping date, and those with flexible dates should note that listing multiple date requests increases the likelihood that you’ll be selected.

Standby: To be placed on the standby list, call the phone line (212-247-6497) at 11 a.m. on the morning you wish to attend. Then show up at the time you are given (the show tapes in late afternoon) and keep your fingers crossed that seats will be available.

The phone line remains open for 30-60 minutes, depending on the number of standby slots, so call as early as possible. Government-issued IDs matching the names given over the phone are required for all standby tickets.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Fun fact: Crush-worthy late night host Jon Stewart is this New Yorker’s favorite New York celebrity sighting. Unfortunately—though not surprisingly—said sighting does not make up for the fact that his show books up quickly. When available, up to four tickets and be acquired through an online request form. Simply choose from the dates offered, fill out your form and wait for a response.

If nothing is available, be persistent. The site changes quickly (we visited three times within one night and each time offerings were different) so keep checking back for available dates. You can also email requesttickets@thedailyshow.com, but we prefer following up with the form. Those with flexible dates can sign up for the email list for alerts to new shows.

The show tapes Monday through Thursday at 733 11th Avenue (at 52nd Street), and doors open at 5:45 p.m.

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

To watch funny-man Jimmy Fallon do his late-night thing, call (212) 664-3056 to request up to four tickets. Tickets are usually booked one month in advance.

Standby: Follow Late Night’s Twitter updates for updates on last minute ticket openings, or head to the “NBC Studios” marquee on the 49th Street side of 30 Rockefeller Plaza (GE Building) on the morning of the taping. Arrive no later than 9 a.m. to receive tickets (one per person), or visit the NBC Studio Tour Desk on the second floor of the NBC Experience Store in Rockefeller Plaza later in the day to see if there are any extra tickets available.

Tickets must be picked up by 4:15 p.m. for the 5:30 p.m. taping. As with all shows, visitors should note that a standby ticket does not guarantee admission.

The post New York TV Shows: Free tickets to late-night tapings appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Luckily for you, Florence does have plenty open in August. The main tourist attractions and centrally located restaurants and shops generally remain open to meet the demands of summer visitors. In fact, you’ll find there are many advantages to visiting this picture-perfect city during this hot month.

Here are a few of my favorite reasons to head here and stick around (if you can stand the heat, that is…).

Less crowds and commotion

While the amount of tourists visiting the city remains more or less the same, almost all Italians are on vacation in the mountains or on the beach. While you may miss out on some interaction with the locals, you will benefit from the ease of an empty city, very quiet weekends and less hustle and bustle. Even in the main tourist areas you’ll notice the slower pace of the summer.

Summer nights and concerts

When the warmth arrives in Florence, the city’s nightlife welcomes it with open arms. Open-air concerts and parties are scheduled for every night during the summer. Granted, things do tend to slow down a bit in August, but there are still plenty of events—free and paying—to choose from.

For example, the summer concert series Live On, at the large fortress near the train station, La Fortezza da Basso, offers a wide range of concerts, the majority of which are free, as well as a place to dance and drink in the open air.

If you’re looking for something more low-key, the former prison-turned-cultural space Le Murate, right near Piazza Beccaria, offers aperitivos every Monday night. During the month of August, the post-aperitivo entertainment includes presentations of short films and documentaries from all over the world.

Gelato

Ok, I know you can get gelato all year round and in all parts of Italy, but come on, what is better on a scorching hot day in the Tuscan capital (and disputed home of the luscious snack) than three solid meals of icy creamy gelato? You could start with a breakfast of fruity sorbetto topped with whipped cream, linger over a hearty lunch of nocciola (hazelnut) and pistacchio and finish off your night with some rich cioccolato fondente (dark chocolate) and crema (cream).

After all that, you may even need a gelato al caffe’ (coffee ice cream) to help digest. I’ll be writing about my Florence’s best gelato places soon, but in the meantime go to my favorite, Perche’ No (literally named Why Not?) in Via dei Tavolini, right off the main shopping street of Via Calzaiuoli. In addition to the central location, it boasts gelato made on the premises from all natural ingredients. The shop even has vegan ice cream!

Extended hours at the Palazzo Vecchio

The Palazzo Vecchio will remain open every night, except Thursdays, from 9 a.m. to midnight. These late-night openings allow the public an even more special look at one of the most important buildings of past and present Florence.

The post Top reasons to visit Florence in August appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Not feeling in the groove? No worries: The city has plenty of other nightlife options as well. From international bars to dives serving beer for €1, Seville’s after-hours scene has something for every Cheapo.

For a local scene: El Tremendo Cervecería
C/ Previsión, 10
Tel: + 34 954 358 952
Hours: Open daily from 12 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Web site

A popular cervecería in the Santa Catalina district, El Tremendo is popular among locals for its social atmosphere and its seriously cheap beer. A beer will set you back a mere €.90, and the lack of tables means you’ll get to mingle with the locals outside. Other than some chips and nuts, El Tremendo has little in the way of food.

For a historic setting: El Rinconcillo
C/ Gerona 40 y Alhóndiga 2
Tel: + 34 954 223 183
Hours: Open daily from 1 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Web site

If it’s atmosphere you’re after, look no further than El Rinconcillo, the oldest bar in Seville. Dating back to 1670, this historic place is still owned by the same family who opened its doors centuries ago. The restaurant serves tapas, a la carte items and prixe-fixe meals (though the latter range from €27-47). Stick to the tapas and small plates, and consider shelling out for some of El Rinconcillo’s famous house wine.

For live music and flamenco: El Perro Andaluz
Bustos Tavera, 11
Tel: + 34 954 222 029
Hours: Open 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. (Tuesday-Saturday)
Web site

Another pick in the Santa Catalina hood, El Perro Andaluz is known for hosting live bands most nights of the week. (Thursday is usually Flamenco night.) Shows are usually free—beside the cost of a drink, that is.

For all-night partying: Sala Fun Club
Alameda de Hercules 86
Tel: +34 650 489 858
Hours: Open from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. (Tuesday-Saturday)
Web site

Home to plenty of rock and alternative performances, the Sala Fun Club is also the place to go if you want to dance all night, as it stays open till 8 a.m. (Come on a Thursday if you want to dance; this is when the DJ spins.) The club boasts a central location in La Alameda, so it shouldn’t be hard to find another spot if you reach your limit of pounding bass and metal bands.

For an international crowd: Texas Lone Star Saloon
C/Placentines, 25
Tel: +34 954 560 491
Hours: Open from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. (Monday-Thursday), 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. (Friday to Sunday)
Web site

Before you snicker at the decidedly un-Spanish theme of this popular bar, know that it is cheap. Also known as the “Tex-Mex Bar,” this place is owned by the director of a study-abroad program, and it shows: The bar is decked out with college banners and the multiple TVs broadcast NBA games and American sitcoms.

We recommend hitting up this bar if your wallet is getting empty but the night is still young. Happy hour specials include €1 beer and sangria. The Texas Lone Star Saloon sits in the center of Seville near the Cathedral and the Jewish Quarter.

And if you need a place to stay, check out our favorite cheap hotels in Seville.

The post Seville: Bars and restaurants for a cheapo night on the town appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are a few of my favorite FREE things to do in Amsterdam.

1) A walk, skate,  or museum visit, in the park…

Just south of the Leidseplein, you’ll find Vondelpark, a beautiful park nestled among the gray, towering blocks in Amsterdam’s city center.  Named for a famous poet, the space benefits from a location close to all the major museums and is a great place to stop after a busy day spent exploring the city.

Hundreds of acres of land are sprinkled with thriving greenery, colorful blooms, and the occasional wildlife (read: ducks, swans). Best of all? This urban oasis is FREE and open to the public every day of the year.

What to see and do: The National Film Museum, a treasure trove of more than 30,000 films, will wow eager art fans who will be tempted to stop and catch a screening. Playgrounds abound in Vondelpark, making it a delight for traveling family groups. You can rent a pair of skates from Snoephuisje (Vondelpark, 7) if you are up for some fun and games or just bring along a blanket and goodies for an idyllic picnic in the sun. And of course, summertime brings in numerous free concerts in the park’s quaint Open Air Theater.

Opening Hours: Daily (9 AM to 5 PM)

2) Narrowest house in the world?

Rather than visiting the high-profile tourist spots, wouldn’t it be more exciting to check out one of those little known record-breaking monuments? How about something quirky or innovative, something that made a mark above all its more glamorous peers? Well, this is one of those fascinating sites, and it’s FREE to enter and explore.

At Singel #7 (just off of the Singel Canal), barely reaching one meter in breadth, this house is definitely one of the narrowest in the world. Admittedly, it’s the entrance that boasts the most tiny proportions; the rest of the house is pretty run-of-the-mill. Nonetheless, it’s worth checking out.  And, hey, you could always stay at the Liberty Hotel (next door at #5) and snap some photos from your room.

Cheapo tip: If this topic continues to fascinate you, head over to Oude Hoogstraat, 22 which is also queuing up for the narrowest house title.

3) Statue-yes-que!

Amsterdam’s rich historical background is evident in a variety of city landmarks; no need to dish out oodles of cash for a bit of Dutch culture. Most landmarks signify amazing turning points in human history too, so catching a glimpse of them is certainly worth a jaunt. Here are three must-sees:

The Spinoza statue, located outside Amsterdam’s City Hall, is a requisite for history buffs. Dedicated to the renowned philosopher by the same name, the statue is a tribute to a great thinker of our time. Do snap a shot of the phrase near the statue: ‘The purpose of the State is freedom.’

Situated in the midst of Dam Square, the Dutch National Monument is a towering symbol dedicated to loved ones lost during World War II. A worthy testament.

Finally, in 2007, a bronze statue depicting a female prostitute was placed in Oudekerksplein, in front of the Oude Kerk.  As is the custom in Amsterdam, the sculpture aims to show respect for all those who choose prostitution as their line of work.

The post Amsterdam Tip: Free things to do appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.