We recently sat down with Matt to discuss the book and talk about budget travel.

What advice do you have for people who say they can’t afford to travel to Europe?

There’s this false idea that Europe is expensive, but Europe is a big place with a lot of variation in prices. It’s not uniform. While Zurich, London, Oslo, or Paris might be expensive, there are always cheaper alternatives and countless other options.

Most people never see past Western Europe, but when you do, your options open up! And now, with the fall of the euro, it’s never been a cheaper time to visit the continent. Go. It’s not as expensive as you believe.

Okay, so which destinations in Eastern Europe do you find to be the best value?

I think Bulgaria, Romania, and countries in the Balkans are really good value countries. Hungary is another one. Your dollar goes very far there.

Outside of Eastern Europe, another great country that not a lot of people think about is Greece. It’s always been a very cheap country and the depressed economy has only made it cheaper. Now, with the fall of the euro, it’s become an even better bargain.

Despite a strong dollar, flights to Europe remain really expensive. How do you fly cheaply to Europe?

Airlines aren’t going to lower their fares because they are finally making money. However, the last few years has seen the rise of a lot of Transatlantic budget airlines so that is the best way to get across the pond on a budget. Fly Aer Lingus, Wow! Air, or Norwegian. Those are the best options as airlines aren’t going to really lower their high fuel surcharges.

Moreover, try to use a search engine like Google Flights to see which airports in Europe have the cheapest flights and fly into them. You can then hop a cheap flight to your final destination as Europe is filled with budget airlines.

In your book, you suggest that rail passes are a great option for Americans traveling abroad, but we usually feel otherwise. Do you actually find that they can save you money?

Rail passes aren’t as amazing of a deal as they were five or ten years ago. They have a lot of new rules with them and it requires you to really work out the math ahead of time. I think rail passes are really good if you are taking long, high speed trains and want to leave your schedule open (there is value in that). But if you are just going to one or just a couple of countries, I don’t think they are a good idea.

As a nomadic traveler, you probably spend a lot of time traveling on the road alone. Do you ever get lonely? How do you deal with that?

I don’t ever really get lonely. In fact, most of the time, I enjoy being by myself. You meet a lot of people on the road and make a lot of new friends, so you are always doing things and going out. I think the idea that solo travelers are lonely travelers is overblown. It’s a topic I’ve written about before.

You are hardly ever alone. There’s just too many other people out there.

The post Cheapo Interview: 5 questions for Nomadic Matt appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

When I entered the antique wooden doors of the hotel, located a short walk from Pont Neuf and Odeon, I found a man in the lobby staring out the sunny window, tapping his toes to the sounds of some catchy jazz music. “Bonjour, jeune fille!” he sang to me, in tune with the song. It was Henri le Goubin, co-founder of the hotel. He turned down the music to tell me about the history of his special hotel.

Henri le Goubin is one of the proprietors of the Hotel Saint-Andre-des-Arts in Paris. Photo by Kaitlin Davella

Q: When was this hotel founded?

I founded the Hotel Saint-Andre-des-Arts in 1978 along with my brother. It has been in the family since then! I recently passed the hotel down to my son, who has been the owner for about two years now.

Q: The building is certainly older than that. What was it used for in the past?

This building was built towards the end of the 16th century. It still retains its historic charm—look at these stone walls! It was probably used to house military, like many of the other buildings on this street.

Since then, many interesting people have lived here. In the 1960’s, some great American jazz musicians stayed within these walls. Do you hear this jazz music? It’s Zoot Sims, a musician who lived in here in 1960.

Q: Wow, sounds like many talented people have stayed here! Have you welcomed any interesting guests since you founded the hotel?

Oh, yes, bien sûr. I won’t say names, but we have hosted a Nobel Prize Laureate in the category of Literature, an American actress who has won many Oscars, and an Olympic champion, to name a few. In the past, this was a historic hotel of the New York living theatre!

Rooms at the St. Andre des Arts have old stone walls.

Q: Your location in the chic Saint German des Prés area must have something to do with the company of all these talented figures. What do you think of the neighborhood, and how has it changed over time?

Saint Germain des Prés is a place that attracts intellectuals and artists. Of course it has changed over the years; I have noticed there are less and less bookshops on the streets. In many ways it reminds me of the Chelsea neighborhood in New York City. These two spots are becoming more cosmopolitan, but never lose their charm. As for the evolution of businesses in this neighborhood, well, they may change, but we never do!

Q: As Saint Germain des Prés becomes more chic, how do you keep the hotel so affordable?

We are a family business with clients who return year after year. Many hotels rely on seasonal tourism, but we always have guests year-round. Many of our clients are artists, writers, or even students. They appreciate our prices so they keep returning. Just last week we had a big group of returning American university students.

Q: With all these international guests, do you have special places in Paris you recommend to visit?

When guests ask us for places to go out to eat, we tell them to go where we eat ourselves. All of the little neighborhood spots are wonderful. There’s a great poissonerie around the corner… in fact I’m going there tomorrow.

Thanks for chatting with EuroCheapo, Mr. le Goubin! We wish you, your son and your charming hotel continued success.

Read our full review of the hotel here, and for more information on independent and affordable hotels in Paris, see all of recommended picks in our Paris hotel guide.

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Tell me about how you came to be running the Celtic Hotel.

I came from Italy after the war. I was a trained teacher and I thought that by working in London, I would learn English. Instead I met my husband, fell in love and that was it!

I’ve been here 47 years, and it’s five years since I’ve been managing the Celtic. My husband and his family have always lived in Bloomsbury, Russell Square. And I loved this area too. There’s the British Museum, Charles Dickens House, Sir John Soane Museum. It’s a very interesting, smart area. It’s full of history.

Rosanna Marazzi is one of the proprietors of the Celtic Hotel in London.

This building looks like it’s full of history too.

It’s Grade II listed. I would think it dates to the 19th century. It’s different to the standard hotel. The way it looks and the way it’s shaped, it reminds you of the past. Some of the rooms are small – in London space is so precious! We think that the three buildings forming the present hotel were a private residence. Most rooms still have the original fireplaces and the lovely high ceilings.

Whilst doing renovations, we discovered some pretty earthenware chamber pots in a partition. They were probably from the early days when ensuite didn’t exist, even in palaces. There are only 14 of them left now, as people wanted them as historical souvenirs. I use mine as flowerpots.

And I can see from the scaffolding outside, you’re doing further renovations?

We’re re-painting and repairing the front of the building and, at the end, it will be complimented with window flower boxes. The interior is pleasant and homey.

Have you had regular visitors over the last five years?

Yes, I would say that we have had regular visitors for many years as they followed us from St. Margaret’s, our previous hotel. Some have become dear friends. In many cases we have the privilege of welcoming the first and second generation of various families. Many people from all over the world call the Celtic hotel “our home in London” as they did for St. Margaret’s hotel.

Is it that feeling which makes the Celtic Hotel unique, do you think?

Yes, and it is the kind, friendly and respectful service we offer to all visitors because we wish them to go away with happy memories to cherish. We have been and are rewarded with a very positive response.

That must help you enjoy your work.

Yes, I enjoy meeting people and working with good staff who share the same attitude.

And finally what do you advise your guests to do in London?

Visit the superb museums, which are free of charge, the art galleries and historical palaces. I also suggest visiting the financial part of the city which embraces the very antique architecture of Roman walls, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, many old churches and striking modern architecture such as the “Gherkin” and the Lloyds building. I’m not keen on the height, but I think the Shard is unbelievable. It’s a very different side of the city, as is Canary wharf.

Theaterland is within walking distance of the hotel and is also on our list of suggestions. After that I say, go and see the gardens because you see history there. We have so many gardens around us: Russell Square, Queen’s Square, Coram’s Fields, Tavistock Square, Lincoln’s Inn Fields.  You walk for a bit and you find yourself in another one. They’re unique. It’s all part of the London experience.

Thanks for talking with us, Rosanna! We wish you continued success with the Celtic Hotel.

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We had plenty to ask Andy about what makes Weekend Student Adventures special, as well as his own experience with studying abroad. And of course, what it was like to growing up on the road as the son of “travel guru” Rick Steves.

How did you get the idea to start Weekend Student Adventures?

The idea grew organically when I studied abroad in Rome during my Junior year at Notre Dame. It became quite apparent there just wasn’t information geared specifically for the students abroad in Europe; plenty of guidebooks existed, but none took an angle focused on  students tight on both time and budget.

Andy Steves

I returned to Notre Dame to finish my undergraduate degrees (Industrial Design & Italian Language and Literature) overflowing with fresh ideas and incredible intercultural experiences. So I got to work on a free online resource for students abroad at andysteves.com.

With graduation on the horizon in May of 2010, I took advantage of Notre Dame’s annual business plan competition to vet my business idea: weekend trips for students abroad in Europe. We came away in first place (out of 101 teams competing), so I took that as an indication that this concept was viable. Over the summer of 2010 I transformed our online resource into weekend tour packages and hit the ground running that fall semester.

Why did you feel you needed to start WSA?

WSA is for students who feel there is more to experience in Europe than the inside of bars and pubs. I wanted to focus on creating trips that I would love to go on myself, with the perfect balance of sightseeing, interacting with locals and free time to find your own corner of the city. I am passionate about bringing these cultures alive for others, and that’s what has kept me going!

What advantages are there in booking a WSA trip over doing it on your own?

As in many things in life, it may be cheaper to do something on your own; less expensive to make your own spaghetti than going to a restaurant for dinner; less expensive to make your own coffee than purchase your daily Starbucks.

But on our weekend excursions, it’s the intangibles built in that turn a ho-hum weekend into an incredible experience that creates lifelong memories. In Prague, Prince William Lobkowicz Jr. walks us around his family’s palace located in the castle there. In Barcelona, we enjoy a Flamenco show and a Paella- and Sangria-making class. My friends traveled with me while abroad because I was able to connect them with locals and unique cultural experiences they wouldn’t otherwise find on their own. And that’s the foundation of WSA’s travel philosophy–that’s what differentiates us.

Then there’s the practical differences: efficient, skip-the-line sightseeing, great hostels, fun local guides, delicious restaurants, no time wasted being lost and more. All around we believe we’ve found the right formula for great weekend student travel.

Andy and his father, travel author and TV star Rick Steves.

As the son of Rick Steves, did you always assume that you’d eventually work in the travel business, or did you want to get away from it?

Growing up, my mother, sister and I went to visit my dad every summer in order to meet up with him during his four-month-long trips around the European continent. As many will agree, traveling with family can be a pressure-cooker experience. And our family trips were no exception. If Rick Steves is in Europe, he’s working and it doesn’t matter who he’s with. Like any youngster, missing friends’ birthday parties and end-of-school-year celebrations to go to stuffy museums and eat unfamiliar food wasn’t a dream come true. But it did teach me how to travel, and travel well.

In terms of business advice, I’ve developed WSA independently. Oftentimes he wishes he could help more, but we launched business in very different eras; him with manual bookings, mini-vans and scratch calling cards compared to us with all online bookings, budget airlines and Skype. His Social Media IQ is improving nicely though…

Are you ever able to meet up with your dad on the road?

We’ve occasionally met up while in Europe—me running a tour, while he’s updating guidebooks or making TV shows. Most recently, my dad was in Barcelona when I was leading a tour there myself. It was fun to have him tag along, and I think he was reliving his glory days of leading backpacking tours himself.

Andy with a WSA group in Rome.

I see that you studied abroad. How did this experience help shape WSA?

I did! After traveling to Europe every year until I was 18, I went there for the first time independently with my best friend after we graduated from high school. This was also the first time I can truly remember realizing that I could grow to love travel. Exploring on my own and making my own decisions really allowed me to explore personal interests and open my mind to new ideas.

Not being able to stay away from the European continent for long, I went back over in January of 2008 to start a semester in Rome through Notre Dame. This is when I quickly noticed that my summers spent traveling in Europe really allowed me to understand how to get around in an efficient way during our short weekend trips. Many of my friends started coming with me to places like Prague, Venice for Carnevale, Switzerland, Dublin for St. Patty’s Day and Sicily.

Did you have a favorite trip that you took as a study abroad student?

Hands down, the best trip was when I convinced a group of six friends that it would be a good idea for us to charter a 42 foot sailboat with a skipper off the coast of Greece. I crunched the numbers and realized the cost of chartering this boat would be comparable to staying in a hostel for seven nights in Athens. This really showed me the value of thinking outside the box while making travel plans!

Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, Andy. Keep thinking outside the box, and best of luck with Weekend Student Adventures!

The post Q&A: Andy Steves, creator of Weekend Student Adventures appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

So I did. Pastry chef, blogger, and author David Lebovitz just launched a new iPhone application last week called “Paris Pastry Shops” that includes 300 of his hand-picked favorite places in Paris to indulge in sweets.

Lebovitz, a favorite resource among expats, tourists and locals, took a few minutes to discuss how to find the right pastries at the right price in the City of Light.

If you found a €2 coin and had a sweet craving, where would you go?

I would probably go to a really good bakery and get a croissant such as the ones listed in the app, like Blé Sucré (Square Trousseau 7, rue Antoine Vollon). Generally you can get one for €1.05, and that’s a really good deal.

What’s the worst way to waste money on pastries or chocolate?

I think people shouldn’t necessarily assume price goes with quality. There are a lot of neighborhood bakeries that make very good pastries but that are not famous and are not Ladurée or Pierre Hermé (which are good, but you can do very well in neighborhood bakeries spending a fraction of the money for exceptional quality).

In the app we tried to include things that were not necessarily well known but were places for people who are a little more adventurous and looking for bargains.

Why an app for the iPhone?

I started a guidebook several years ago and I spoke with several of my publishers who said guidebooks are going out of favor. I figured a lot of people come to France for pastries and chocolates and ice cream, so this was a natural fit.

When smart phones became more prolific, it seemed like the perfect format for this sort of application. It can be updated and readers can add their own favorites and share things. The price of the app is also lower. Plus you can include hundreds and hundreds of photos, so even if you’re not going to Paris you can still enjoy the pastries.

Are there any sweets you don’t like?

I don’t like desserts that are heavily sweetened. I like caramel that’s slightly burnt, lemony things, bitter chocolates. I search for things that are more balanced, things that have a sweet edge.

What’s your favorite splurge?

I would go to Fouquet and get a big box of the chocolate covered spice wafers called “croquantes.” They are addictive and exceptional. I’d get a big tin of those and eat them all by myself.

Favorite neighborhood for sweets?

There’s a high concentration of very good places in the 6th because there are lots of tourists and lots of money there. But I think if you explore the 11th there are lots of good places, like Blé Sucré. I think that this part of Paris is a lot more interesting.

Farthest you’ll travel for a sweet?

I won’t take three Metro lines. Generally two is my maximum. If I have to change more than two Metros I won’t bother.

Do you ever get sick of pastries or chocolate?

Not really. I actually like to taste a lot of things. It’s hard for me to eat a whole pastry. It’s more interesting to try bites of different things. I like bite-sized pastries. I kind of graze, so I’ll sit around and eat little bits and bites of things, instead of an entire cake, which is good for my waistline.

For more information on his new app, check out David’s blog at www.davidlebovitz.com

The post Paris: David Lebovitz reviews Paris’ best pastry shops appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

As a first-time visitor to Copenhagen, what did you find surprising about the city?

I didn’t think it would be so compact! All the main attractions are roughly in the same area, so it’s very easy to cover the city on foot.

Did you walk everywhere?

Nearly. I never needed to take public transportation, aside from getting into the city from the airport. I would have loved to rent a bike, but the weather was pretty miserable and rainy so I opted out.

Did you find Copenhagen easy to visit for budget travelers?

With a bit of effort, it can be. Hotel rates themselves are probably the biggest expense, though there are certainly deals to be had. Dining can be reasonably cheap if you forgo touristy restaurants (especially around Tivoli and Nyhavn) for meals at the pizza and kebab joints popular with the locals.

Mmmmm… Pizza and kebabs. Did you have any memorable meals?

In an effort to keep expenses down, I ate meal after meal of falafel schawarma sandwiches. With good reason, too—they’re delicious and cost around DKK 20 (about $4). After my last day of visiting hotels, however, I did splurge on some tasty Japanese fare at Kung Fu Izakaya Bar in Vesterbro.

You deserved it, after visiting dozens of hotels in the city. Which hotel was your favorite?

It’s a tough call, but the Avenue Hotel in Frederiksberg won me over with its lovely rooms and warm hospitality. Hotel Alexandra, which boasts guestrooms outfitted with the work of famed Danish designers, is a close second. However, these are just two of many hotels boasting sleek Danish design and central locations.

Where did you stay?

I stayed at the Absalon Hotel. I had booked a room at the Absalon Annex (which I reviewed), but upon arrival was upgraded to a room at the hotel’s three-star sister property.

Really? Did they know you were reviewing them?

No! Of course not. I told them during check out–and then asked to see a bunch of rooms!

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Thanks for the great job, Sarah. To read her work, check out her Copenhagen hotel reviews and city guide articles.

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