Saving your pennies can feel like an impossible task in a city like London when just using public transport can burn a massive hole in your pocket. Thankfully, all the main museums are free, meaning that large chunks of your day can be spent admiring everything from the wonders of the universe at the Science Museum, to the world-famous artwork at the National Gallery without parting with a penny.

Beyond the museums, you need to be crafty to get the best value out of central London – so get your Oyster Card ready (see my previous post on saving on public transport) and follow these tips to have fun on a budget in London.

Cheapo-friendly live music

Ronnie Scott’s aside, many of London’s lesser known blues and jazz bars offer free entry and excellent live music. Plus, the venues are quirky and the atmosphere friendly and relaxed.

Try Ain’t Nothin’ But blues bar in Soho for a fun night of live entertainment without the hefty entry fees. There is live music every night of the week and free entry Sunday-Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays it’s free to get in before 8.30 p.m.

The Spice of Life in Cambridge Circus, Soho, also hosts an eclectic open-mic night on Mondays and a blues jam on Tuesdays, both of which are free to get in.

Free laughs at Islington’s Camden Head. Photo: Dom Stocqueler

Alternatively, head to the Road Trip Bar in Old Street on a Wednesday night for the jazz-fusion Hoxton Jam.

For something more relaxed, factor in a trip to ‘Round Midnight in Angel, Islington for the Monday night acoustic session which kicks off at 8 p.m.

Free laughs

London is also home to an impressively large number of free comedy nights, so if you’re up for a bit of good old British humor, this is an ideal Cheapo way to spend an evening.

The beautiful Queen’s Head pub in Denman Street (Piccadilly Circus) runs The Absolutely Free Comedy Night every Wednesday and Sunday from 8.30 p.m.

The Camden Head, just off Islington’s buzzing Upper Street, plays host to Angel Comedy on Saturday nights, plus Free and Funny every Thursday and each second and third Sunday of the month, all of which start at 8 p.m.

If you’re in the mood for a New York sense of humor, don’t miss Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous at The Source Below, just behind Regent Street. The Brooklyn-born comedian’s twice weekly show has become pretty legendary on the London comedy scene and is now in its 18th year. Catch Lewis on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8 p.m. and be sure to register your name on the guestlist in advance to guarantee entry.

Eat, drink and be pampered

If you’re looking to frequent some of London’s more exclusive establishments on a Cheapo’s budget, be sure to check out Travelzoo’s Local Deals. I can’t guarantee what you’ll find as the deals change all the time, but I have been wowed by huge savings at some of London’s finest restaurants, as well as some pretty nifty deals to swanky spas and bars. The deals last for several months so even if you see something ahead of your trip you can snap it up and then use it when you arrive in London.

For discounts on all sorts of different restaurants across the city, from the cheap and cheerful to the downright expensive, make sure you check out TopTable before booking. This is especially good for lunch and pre-theatre menus.

Also in our guide: All laughing aside, we also have recommendations for great inexpensive hotels in our London guide. Our editors have inspected, photographed and reviewed hotels throughout central London looking for the best deals.

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Here is my advice for Amsterdam’s best late-night cheapo snacks:

King of fries: Chipsy King

Chipsy King, the classic frites stand, has three prime Amsterdam spots: Dam Square, Red Light District, and Leidseplein. Open until 6 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays (3 a.m. otherwise), Chipsy King is a perfect pit stop for fries that are filling and come with an array of sauces to choose from. And for just a few euros, it’s the best deal out there.

Bitter ball IN

Pubs usually serve bar snacks until late, and the usual buy is the bitterballen. They come in servings of six balls, battered and fried, with meat purée and seasoned roux inside. Expect a side of mustard for dipping, and watch out on that first bite – they’re served piping hot! It’s a delicious snack with beer, and a traditional Dutch specialty costing about €3.

“Oughtta” Turk

Turkish pizza and falafel bars run rampant amongst the nightlife streets of Amsterdam. MAOZ is a favorite among vegetarians for their falafel and bottomless veggie toppings, while shoarmas are heaven in a wrap for meatheads who love spice. The large Turkish population in Holland guarantees at least a hint of authenticity to your order, and deals hover between €3 – €4.

FEBO? Oh no!

If you spot Febo’s yellow sign with red letters and with food waiting inside small square compartments, try to stop yourself. There’s a good chance that burger’s been sitting there for a while. So has the chicken sandwich, just look at the wilted lettuce. Intrigued by the fried cone-shaped mystery? Don’t try a taste test at three in the morning. The little doors are fun to open, but leave the FEBO to the locals; they can handle it.

Bite into the Burger Bar until 4 a.m. on weekends. Photo: Tavallai

Hit the (burger) bars

Burger joints are beginning to blossom in Amsterdam, and one late-night life saver is the Burger Bar. There are two locations downtown (Kolksteeg 2 and Reguliersbreestraat 9), and the bonus is they’re open until 4 a.m. on weekends. Burger Bar will surprise you with their range of patties and endless list of toppings to help build a customized late-night burger made for an epic chow-down.

Go nuts

If you’re desperate for something in your stomach, most cafes will have a big jar of peanuts somewhere behind the bar. A generous handful in a bowl is just a euro, and if you’re lucky they’ve been pimped with wasabi or coated with a spicy crunch.

As a last resort, check near cigarette machines at bars for a Pringles vending box – they come in fun-pack sizes and cost only a few euros.

Also in our guide: If you’re wandering around late at night snacking on fried bitterballen, hopefully you already have a place to stay. If, however, you still need some guidance on affordable sleeps, check out our reviews of the best budget hotels in Amsterdam, all of which have been visited, inspected and photographed by our editors. Read more in EuroCheapo’s Guide to Amsterdam.

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Mayor Wowereit, affectionately called “Wowi,” also popularized the phrase “poor but sexy” to describe this bankrupt city. So no wonder Berlin is a Cheapo heaven—even the high glam of gay clubs won’t set you back too much.

Here are a few resources you need for a gay ol’ time in the world’s queer capital on the cheap.

1. Siegessäule

The free monthly queer mag is your one-stop resource for all things gay. You won’t need much German to read the calendar section at the back: S&M, after all, is “S&M” in German, too. You’ll see dozens of events and parties listed every day.

2. SchwuZ
Mehringdamm 61
(030) 6290880

Berlin’s gay scene is largely dominated by small bars. Very few clubs match SchwuZ’s longevity and diversity. Check the calendar before you go–or you might be surprised to find a gay goth night, a ladies-only gathering, or even a foam party (Yes, we’re still reliving the ’90s here. Stop judging us).

Extra cheapo tip: No one wants to be seen there too early, but the cover’s cheaper before midnight. Here’s how locals do it: Pay first, get your hand stamped, then take a seat in the popular ground floor bar for a drink before heading into the club. I repeat: stop judging us.

3. Die Busche
Warschauer Platz 18
(030) 296 08 00

No one ever admits to going here, but mysteriously the place gets packed as the night wears on. It may be the lowest rung in the hierarchy of queer establishments, but the unabashedly tacky atmosphere makes for a fun, down-to-earth evening out. (Brace yourself for top 40 hits… from a few years ago.) Also, it may be the only queer place in town where girls outnumber boys.

4. GMF
Alexander Straße 7

If Die Busche is low, GMF is as high as it gets–literally. The decadent Sunday party radiates thumping music from the dizzying heights of a high-rise at Alexanderplatz. By Berlin standards, the €10 cover is hefty, but if you’re planning on staying out all night, the rooftop seats are probably more plush than your hostel bed.

Also in our guide: We don’t just stop at clubs and bars; we also have great recommendations for the most affordable hotels in Berlin, all of them visited and inspected by our editors. Read our reviews (and see our photos) in our Berlin guide.

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Start with these four bars…

1. McSorley’s Old Ale House
15 East 7th Street
Web site

Call us sentimental, but we feel pretty strongly that a good New York Irish pub crawl (or any New York pub crawl, for that matter) should start with a pilgrimage to this New York City institution, the city’s oldest operating saloon.

Another reason to start here, incidentally, is that McSorley’s is one of the few New York bars that closes at 1 a.m., as we realized on a recent late-night visit. But when you’re this cool (and old), you can close whenever you want to.

Why do we gush so?

1) The bar, which was established in 1854, is a living museum, littered lovingly with everything from yellowed photographs to the chair in which Abraham Lincoln enjoyed his share of McSorley’s ale.

2) You get two drink options here, light or dark McSorley’s ale, and for $5 you get two glasses of it.

3) It’s been the subject an E.E. Cummings poem, a John Sloan painting and several short stories. Plus, its walls talk—and you can usually sweet talk the famously curmudgeonly bartenders to pick up where they left off.

2. Bull McCabe’s
21 Saint Marks Place
Web site

Just a block north of McSorely’s, the gritty little dive bar Bull McCabe’s dominates a somewhat kitchy block of St. Mark’s. The crowd here tends to be on the young and rowdy side, but the drinks are cheap, the music is fun and the pool table is… well, a pool table. There is also a great patio for those nice-weather days.

3. The Thirsty Scholar
155 Second Avenue
Web site

Those who like their pubbing on the more “refined” side (snobs!) would do well to check out Bull’s sister bar, the Thirsty Scholar. You bring your best James Joyce commentary, they supply the charcoal portraits of Samuel Beckett. Oh, and the libations of course, which are cheaper during daily happy hour, from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m.

4. Puck Fair
298 Lafayette Street
Web site

This tri-level bar just a block from EuroCheapo’s headquarters has a lot going for it, including a fun atmosphere and a crazy-comprehensive array of beers, both bottled and on tap. If the options are overwhelming, know that you’ll never go wrong with the Guinness, which, thanks to a schmancy cooling system, tastes almost as good as it does in Dublin.

A little trivia tidbit: The bar’s across from the gorgeous red Puck Building, but its name actually comes from the goat-themed festival that takes place every August in Killorglin, County Kerry (read about its history on the wall above the bar).

5. Molly’s Pub and Shebeen
287 Third Avenue
Web site

Still standing? Take a little breather by way of hopping on the “6” train (at Bleecker and Lafayette) and making your way up to Gramercy Park. There awaits a gem of a joint, with sawdust-covered floors, stucco walls and a working fireplace. Molly’s has been doing its thing since 1895, paused only by a brief stint as a grocery store during Prohibition.

Molly’s is the adorable, friendly sort of spot on which modern Irish pubs model themselves. But Molly’s has experience on its side, and what better way to wrap up the night than with a few beers, a crackling fire and a bit more history. Oh, and don’t forget about your umpteen new friends (also known as the rowdy, cheerful crowd that goes hand in hand with any good Irish bar).

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My fondest memories of traveling to Paris are when I traveled solo. Paris is a city of discovery and when traveling alone, I felt free to look into every nook and cranny of the city to find new museums, galleries, boutiques and markets. Traveling solo gives me the freedom to walk wherever I want to walk and at my own pace.

There are times, however, where I do want to socialize and meet up with others. Here are a few suggestions for places to meet fellow travelers in Paris:

Meeting through Web sites

The Web sites www.traveldaddy.com, www.meetup.com and www.virtualtourist.com have listings of “meetings” where travelers can connect with each other. This usually involves having dinner or some type of similar activity with anywhere from 2-25 travelers.

I’ve been to several of these gatherings. For the most part, I have enjoyed them. I’ve made friends with people that I have kept in touch with over a long period of time. There are online listings for people interested in getting together on www.tripadvisor.com, www.craigslist.org, www.fusac.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Use common sense and normal precautions when meeting strangers. Always meet in a public place and never give out personal information until you feel absolutely confident about whom you have met.

Organized events

I’ve also had success in attending organized functions like wine tastings or bike rides. For instance, last month I attended a wine and cheese lunch at O Chateau near the Louvre. About 20 people attended. The sommelier gave an excellent presentation on the wines of France. The lunch, while simple, was excellent. I enjoyed meeting people from Australia, Canada, and the U.S.

Fat Tire Bike tours are extremely social and include activities like lunch and wine tastings with the theme of a bike tour in Paris, Versailles, or Giverny – the home of Monet.

I find that attending performances like concerts or shows doesn’t offer the social opportunities I am looking for.

Taking a class

Many people are interested in taking a cooking class while in Paris. I have heard positive comments on L’Atelier des Chefs. Be sure to do it in the beginning of the trip so that if you do make friends, you will be able to enjoy each other’s company for the duration of your stay.

Finding other travelers

Another way to meet people is to go where other travelers congregate. For example, I have always been able to strike up a conversation at Starbucks. Some restaurants like Chartier have communal tables where I have met some interesting people. I have always felt welcome whenever I have attended religious services in Paris.

An American ex-pat, Jim Haynes hosts a dinner at his home for about 50-100 people on Sunday evenings. I attended one night and met quite a few English-speaking guests and made some new friends. Jim is very welcoming and makes guests feel right at home. For details, check his Web site.

Your ideas

Have you traveled alone in Paris? Do you have suggestions about interesting places where you can make new friends? Tell us about it in the comments section.

About the author: Professor Stephen Solosky is the author of “The Traveling Professor’s Guide to Paris”. He runs the Web site, http://www.travelingprofessor.com and organizes small group tours to Paris and Italy.

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Like good bread and wine, affordable nights out are abundant if you know where to look. Here are some of our favorite spots for a Cheapo night out:

Music on the waterfront…

25 Est
10 Place de la Bataille de Stalingrad, 75019
Website

Overlooking the northern stretch of Paris’s canal, the restaurant 25 Est is known mostly for its large terrace and live music. Happy hour ends around 8 PM, but drinks are not expensive even at normal prices (pints of Stella are €5). Considering the waterside view and local bands, it’s a good deal.

BYOB with a view…

Pont des Arts
Spanning the Seine between the Institut de France and the Louvre

While picnics along the Seine disappear with the setting summer sun, one spot still retains its outdoor atmosphere. The Pont des Arts, the bridge linking the domed Institut de France with the Louvre, is a great “BYOB” experience, weather permitting. Artists hang art and locals break out their guitars, creating the biggest party spanning the Seine. Of course, if it’s raining or too cold, opt for an indoor venue. However, the Pont des Arts is a refreshingly affordable evening with a view throughout the summer and into the late fall.

Late night wine tastings…

Barav
6 Rue Dupuis, 75003
Website

“Wine bar” meets “street party” at The Barav, a cozy bar in the ever-hipper Upper Marais. The street is filled with new eateries and bars with clients spilling out into the streets. The Barav’s hip staff pair glasses of wine (€4) with delicious charcuterie or cheese platters (between €6 and €12). A summer concert series at the adjacent town hall keeps live music pumping during summer months.

Corner bistrot concert hall…

Chez Adel
10 rue de la Grange aux Belles, 75010

When you spot the overweight mini Dachshund, you know you’ve made it to Chez Adel. A block away from the trendy Canal St-Martin, this tiny neighborhood bar serves up cheap but tasty food and drinks late into the night, and the Dachshund will be glad to pick up any scraps you leave behind. Local musicians, from jazz and zydeco to an Edith Piaf character who serenades tables, bring the place to life. If  jazz is your thing, check out our post about one of our favorite Paris jazz lounges.

Cheap and dingy, but still Paris…

Hideout
46 rue des Lombards, 75001
Website

If a dive bar is more your scene, Paris certainly isn’t lacking. In the Chatelet neighborhood there are plenty of bars geared towards tourists, students, and “happy hour” enthusiasts. The Hideout, with its €2 happy hour, is a little hole in the wall aimed to please bargain hunters. You get what you pay for—a dingy bar, elbow to elbow with other patrons. Its location, however, next to the largest transportation hub in the city center, guarantees a good time with a wild mix of locals and visitors in search of cheap beer.

Looking for gay nightlife? Read our guide to Paris’ gay bars (for the boys).

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Ideal Bar at VEGA
Enghavevej 40, 1674 København

One of the Copenhagen’s most high-profile clubs, VEGA is a mammoth complex of four lounges, bars, and music venues. While VEGA proper regularly hosts international superstars like Kylie Minogue, Moby, and Fatboy Slim (with the price tags to match), the more modest Ideal Bar has plenty of free events.

Stop by the Ideal Bar Wednesday through Saturday, when the lounge offers free admission to DJ sets and parties with different musical themes. Aside from the wonderful perk of free entrance, the spot offers an intimate, low-key vibe that you won’t find in VEGA’s other mega-clubs. Check the Ideal Bar’s calendar to see what’s playing when you’re in town. The lounge is closed Sunday through Tuesday.

Laurits Betjent
Ved Stranden 16, 1061 København K

If you’re looking for a young vibe and student-friendly prices, Laurits Betjent is a good bet. Located on Ved Stranden near the pedestrian-only Stroget, the club hosts a “17+” party every Thursday from 10 PM-5 AM. Entrance costs 60 DKK (about $11), and includes free beer and champagne. (Note that clubbers under 18 will only be served soda and Carlsberg 2.7% beer.)

On other nights of the week, Laurits Betjent offers a similarly cheap cover charge and Cheapo-friendly drinks. Complete with two dance floors and a foosball table, it’s a thoroughly fun place.

Andy’s Bar
Gothersgade 33, 1123 København K

Less scene-y and more retro, Andy’s Bar offers a pub-style atmosphere with cheap beer, to boot. Located near Rosenborg Slot, this watering hole is a favorite of musicians and artist types who congregate over glasses of cheap beer. The bar stays open till 5 AM.

Don’t miss Andy’s wonderfully faded exterior, which is a testament to the bar’s many years of operation.

Copenhagen Nightlife Tips

Make sure you know the age limit before you queue up for a club, as many venues set the bar at age 23.

Also, know that several clubs will require you to check your coat, which costs around $4.

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Friday AM: Boats and beaches of the Elbe River

Cheap boat rides can be found along the Elbe River areas of Altona, Elbstrasse, and Landungsbrücken. They cost as much as a bus ride (about €1.60) and stop at many ideal places for eating, drinking, and sunning on the sandy beaches around the Elbe River. The Alster lake area is another option for organized boat tours.

Friday PM: Watching the St. Pauli Football Team

Snag tickets to one of the most raw, gritty, and hardcore soccer teams in Europe, the St. Pauli Football Team. St. Pauli has it all: a loyal fan base who love to party, sponsors like Hamburg’s signature Astra beer, and a skull-and-crossbones logo. It’s the “Harley Davidson” of European football.

Tickets range from €7-50. Check here for more information. The stadium is located near Feldstrasse, an area rich in World War II monuments, vintage shops, and a Saturday yard sale market.

Saturday AM:  Walking through Sternschanze

Stroll along the hip and bohemian Sternschanze neighborhood for a taste of Hamburg’s café terrace vibe and culture. Streets are lined with interesting boutiques, cheap eats, and bargain bars with a classic décor. A large park, the Planten un Blomen, is nearby – grab an ice cream and do some people-watching in the sun.

Saturday PM: Partying on Reeperbahn

Spend a night out on the Reeperbahn – Hamburg’s main party strip. See the blend of sailor roughness mix with trendy locals at the bars, music venues, clubs, and wurst stands. Beatle-maniacs should try out the nightlife around Grosse Freiheit, the street where the four “mop tops” made their European debut on stage and at parties.

Sunday AM: Stroll through the fish market

A Sunday morning in Hamburg is incomplete without a trip to the lively and exciting Fischmarkt. Located directly on the harbor from Reeperbahn S-bahn station, stroll around the dozens of seafood and produce stands. The market is action-packed with amusing characters and partygoers still out from Saturday night. Stop by anytime between 5 AM to noon.

Sunday PM: Historic Hamburg and the harbor

Spend the rest of Sunday walking along the Elbe River and surrounding harbor. Old harbor vessels permanently dock along the walkway as museums and cafés, and the surrounding area is a historic part of Hamburg undamaged from World War II.

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A stroll for free

After doing a bit of research, we mapped out a fun, Seine-side stroll from St. Germain des Prés (where we were staying at the lovely 2-star gem “Villa des Princes“) to the foot of the Eiffel Tower. The whole journey took about an hour as we wandered along the river, stopping at bridges, watching the tour boats, and posing for photos.

A pancake dinner

By the time we arrived, we had worked up an appetite. Sure, we were feasting on the sight of Paris by night, but that didn’t quite cut it. We got in line for fresh crepes from a street vendor and salivated as he poured the batter, flipped the pancakes, and added our ingredients: Nutella and banana for Mere, and ham and emmental for Pete. Two crepes set us back about €7 and we shared a Coke (€1.50).

A free light show

We timed our walk so that we’d get to the tower just as the hourly ten-minute light show sparked up the sky. Light shows start at the top of the hour, after sunset. They occur every hour until 1 am or 2 am depending on time of year.

After ingesting crepes and stars, Seine and Eiffel, we hopped on the Metro. For €1.50, we scooted from Invalides to the Latin Quarter.

Slow sipping at the cabaret

We were ready for some good company, old fashioned standards, and the wacky feel of live cabaret, so we ventured to “Aux Trois Mailletz,” our favorite cabaret at 56, Rue Galande in the Latin Quarter. Downstairs, the fancier vaudeville show costs €25 a ticket, but upstairs in the more casual piano bar, you need only buy a drink to sip it all in. (We also found that if you tip the singer and pianist, they’ll fulfill multiple song requests.)

Cheapos could sip a Coke for €5, which isn’t cheap. Beer costs €9, while cocktails run about €11-13. Obviously, you’re paying for the tunes, but you can sip your drink as slowly as you like. We think it’s worth the inflated drink price just to take in the music, the sight of dogs in the audience, and that weird glamour of cabaret performers running about in full makeup. Bravo!

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Here’s our cheapo guide to living it up for a night in Spain’s vibrant capital.

Get in the mood

Start out near central Plaza de Chueca, an area where there’s no shortage of trendy clubs and restaurants, many of which are cheapo-friendly. Considered to be the premier gay area of  Madrid, Chueca and its main square are full of people hangin’ out in cafes and bars almost every night. In fact, if you hang out in the square long enough, chances are decent that you’ll make some new friends and find yourself involved in some last-minute plans.

Dinner

While daytime lunch specials certainly abound around Chueca (a good midday meal can be had for between €5-8), it can be a bit challenging to keep dinner prices low. We’d recommend checking out the trendy and delish Bazaar Restaurant, located just south of Plaza de Chueca on C/Libertad, 21. The menu runs the gammut from goat cheese salad to Thai-style noodles with grilled meats, and can be digested with ease for under €25.

And a movie…

Next stop: Filmoteca’s Cine D’Oré (Santa Isabel, 3, next to Metro Anton Martin) where the Spanish film archives are housed and any number of old greats from Ingmar Bergman to Luis Buñuel are showcased in one of three “session” rooms. Tickets are €2 for students, €2.50 for non-students.

And then drinks to discuss…

When the movie lets out, try Café Central, located about three blocks away, at Plaza del Angel, 10. The jazz bar has a bubbly atmosphere with reasonably-priced drinks, delicious snacks (pinchos y tostas €1.20), and even fixed-price meals (€10 for two courses).

And if you decide to spring for tickets to the evening’s jazz performance, they’ll throw in a free drink ticket. We don’t know about you, but we always love getting an added bibbidy for our buck.

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