What does this mean for residents and for tourists visiting the city? Barriers have been erected along the Seine to hold water back, and the city’s two most famous art museums, the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay, have closed and are shuffling around some of their lower-level collections to avoid any possible damage.

Furthermore, tourist cruises along the Seine have been canceled, as boats aren’t able to clear the bridges.

This boat isn’t going under any bridges soon. All photos by Bryan Pirolli.

Other challenges to tourists, however, are minimal, according to correspondent Bryan Pirolli. “Traffic is a little bit of a pain, because the quais are closed along the river, but overall it is business as usual. If you never saw the Seine before, you may not even notice at first glance that it is higher than usual.”

The water level is expected to peak tonight, but recede in the coming days. We asked Bryan to share some photos of the historic flooding. He took these shots today:

The post Flooding in Paris: Photos of the Seine appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Paris, however, is not back to the normal that it knew before November 13^th – its citizens are profoundly changed by the events that were a direct assault on culture and life here. If anything they are more defiant than ever. On November 17^th a social media movement called #TousauBistrot (“Everyone to the Bistro”) was a push to go out and dine, to support local businesses, to enjoy living. Profoundly wounded, Paris will not be kept down for long.

Related: We’re with you, Paris.

Will the casual tourist, however, even notice any big changes? Probably not. There’s no reason to cancel a trip to Paris since security is basically as tight as it could possibly be. But there are a few things to keep in mind while traveling Paris. They include:

1. Check for updates before visiting big sights

Most cultural sights are operational, however things can change. On November 18^th, for example, the historic Saint Denis Basilica, final resting place of French kings and queens, was closed due to a police operation in the vicinity.

We suggest verifying that any monument or museum is open before heading out to visit. Updates by the Center for National Monuments on Twitter (@LeCMN) are probably the most reliable. Here are some other websites and Twitter accounts worth checking in with:

• Charles De Gaulle airport: Website | Twitter
• City of Paris (in French): Website | Twitter
• Eiffel Tower: Website
• Louvre: Website | Twitter
• Musee d’Orsay: Website | Twitter
• Notre Dame: Website | Twitter
• Palace of Versailles: Website | Twitter
• Paris Metro: Website | Twitter
• Sacre-Coeur Basilica: Website

Also, check out this page on the Paris city website which includes the open status for a long list of cultural, administrative and educational institutions.

2. Transportation

The Metro and trains are mostly back to normal, barring any further police raids. Tourists shouldn’t feel any changes getting around the city. Give yourself plenty of time, however, when coming and going through the city’s two main airports, Charles De Gaulle and Orly, as security measures have been increased.

Trains stations are operating as normal, although expect to see a much higher police and military presence. Starting in 2016, the SNCF, France’s national train system, will begin experimenting with metal detectors in train stations, but don’t expect airport-like security anytime soon.

3. Christmas and holiday festivities

The Ferris wheel and Christmas market on the Champs Elysées are opened as planned on November 18^th. The lighting ceremony, however, has been indefinitely postponed. For tourists, however, it’s business as usual at these seasonal attractions.

4. State of Emergency

Tourists don’t have to worry about this on a practical level. The debate over the “state of emergency” is really about the French president changing the French constitution’s parameters for power during a state of emergency. We won’t bore you, just know that this shouldn’t manifest in any specific way for a tourist visiting the city.

5. Police presence

Just like after the Charlie Hebdo attacks, tourists today will be greeted by ramped up security in Parisian streets. President Hollande has created 5,000 more police positions following the recent attacks. Around Place de la République, the memorial site where mourners have placed thousands of flowers and candles, you’ll really notice the security. As the media circus calms down, the square should slowly return to its role as a skate park for local teens.

6. Be prepared

I had dinner with two clients who I toured with last week. They told me that on Saturday, while dining in a restaurant in the heart of the city, the owners rushed everyone into a back room during an incident in the streets. They said they stayed back there while service continued, finishing up their dessert when they learned it was all just a false alarm. Many are still on edge, so just be prepared should something unexpected happen.

It’s a good idea to check out the website of your embassy before heading over and once on the ground. The US Embassy in Paris website contains updated information for travelers on this situation, and encourages American travelers to enroll in the free STEP program, which can send travelers alerts in the case of an emergency.

7. Be respectful

Place de la République has become a memorial, but the attack sites are also covered with flowers, flags, candles, and notes. Most are off the casual tourist’s radar, but if you do go to visit them, we encourage you to be respectful. It sounds silly, but just keep it in mind. These are emotional places, so be sure to treat them with solemnity. Take photos, sure, but keep in mind that it’s a place of mourning for many.

We’ll keep you updated if anything should change in Paris, but knowing that tourists will keep coming to Paris is sure to help the healing process here. This is probably the first time when Parisians and tourists alike will actually be comforted by seeing long lines at Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower.

The post Paris Update: What to expect if visiting soon appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

This exchange rate brings it back to its valuation when the currency debuted in 1999. But wait, there’s more: According to news reports yesterday, Goldman Sachs predicts that the euro could drop to $1.08 by the end of 2015, and be equal to the dollar by the end of 2016 (something that hasn’t happened since the euro’s biggest dip in 2002).

This is quite a change for a currency that was valued as high as $1.60 during the summer of 2008, and hovered in the $1.30s for much of last year.

Price drop for US travelers

So what does this mean for US travelers to the Eurozone countries? Certain things are obvious: Everyday charges will be cheaper, in dollar terms. Some examples of how this might affect your trip:

• €65 dinner for two. July 2008 = $104. January 2015 = $76.05
• €120 hotel room, per night. July 2008 = $192. January 2015 = $140
• €11 museum entry. July 2008 = $17.60. January 2015 = $12.87
• €8.20 hot chocolate at Angelina in Paris. July 2008 = $13.12. January 2015 = $9.59

You get the picture: Americans have much more buying power in Eurozone countries. And you don’t need to go all the way back to 2008 to see dramatic savings, as the euro was nearly $1.40 as recently as the spring of 2014.

Business Insider illustrated the dramatic euro-to-dollar dance in this post yesterday.

A quick refresher: As of January 2015, the euro is the official currency in the following 19 countries:

Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. It is also used as a currency in Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City.

But wait: Switzerland just got more expensive

Meanwhile, Switzerland is (as always) a different story. Just today the country’s central bank removed a limitation on how low the euro could trade against the Swiss franc. This move is currently pushing the Swiss franc higher–and thus making the already pricey country even more expensive to visit for basically everyone in the world who isn’t Swiss.

What about airfare?

It will be interesting to see what effect, if any, this currency fluctuation will have on the price of airfare. Even with the dramatic plunge in the price of oil and gas, airfare prices have remained maddeningly expensive. It seems that the big carriers are cashing in on their savings, and paying for new fleets and improvements, rather than passing on the savings to passengers.

Hopefully, some competition from the new low-cost carriers might bring a little competitive pressure into the US – Europe market. Stay tuned.

Our advice for US travelers

One piece of advice from the Cheapos: Hold off on pre-booking tours, rail passes, and other tickets through American-based agencies. Chances are you’ll be charged in dollars and they won’t be passing on the savings that the stronger dollar can bring to you. (They’ll probably be cashing in on it themselves!)

Instead, wherever possible, pay for things now in euros, and take advantage of the exchange rate. In this example, book your train tickets directly through the official European rail websites. (See tip #7 in this post, or just search online for “official railway site France”, and skip over the ads.)

And as far as sightseeing and other tickets go, you should probably just hold off on buying those until you’re on the ground. Not only will that give you more flexibility with your schedule, the dollar might even be stronger once you arrive.

Oh, and one more piece of advice for American travelers: It’s time to go.

Your thoughts: Is the currency change affecting your plans to travel to Europe?

American travelers, tell us about how this change is affecting your plans to head to Europe. And European and other non-US travelers, what impact, if any, is this having on your plans? Tell us in the comments section.

The post What the strong US dollar means for Americans traveling to Europe this year appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

As is our holiday tradition, we’re ready with our list of why you should be excited about visiting Paris in 2015. (Funny how the list gets longer every year. We wonder what 75 reasons to visit Paris in 2075 will look like…)

Fortunately 15 reasons to visit the City of Light is an easy challenge, with many new things happening, beginning in January. Here are just a few of the highlights that we’re looking forward to:

The renovations at the Musée Picasso have finally finished, and it’s looking better than ever. Photo: Yann C.

15. Picasso is back in the house

After accidentally lying to you years ago, this time we’re sure. The newly renovated Picasso Museum has finally reopened. We’re serious this time. We’ve seen it. It just reopened. So go visit!

14. BYO Bag

A city free of plastic bags? That’s what Paris should look like in 2015. Mayor Hidalgo wants to rid the city of the pervasive bags that contribute to pollution. We’re inching closer to a cleaner Paris. Think about bringing your own tote bag.

13. Swan Lake! Singin’ in the Rain!

“Swan Lake” at the Opéra Bastille this March-April? Yes please! (And cheapo seats are available from €5!) The theatrical offerings next year are as high quality as ever at the city’s two main opera houses. Or swing over to the Théâtre du Châtelet for a bit of “Singin’ in the Rain”, March 12-26.

Related: Cheapo guide to the Opera district

12. Papal visit

The pope’s coming, and he’s pretty cool, right? Francois I’s plans are still shaping up—no doubt waiting to see if we’ll be around to give him a visit of our favorite spots—but we’ll let you know once he decides to book. With only two or three other visits planned around France, you can bet this historic trip will mean a lot of excitement in Paris.

The Ritz at Place Vendome might be out of our price range, but we’re still looking forward to the new renovations. (Hint: fancy bathroom break!) Photo: Welshdan

11. Flushing at the Ritz

Okay, so we can’t afford to stay there, but the post-renovation re-openings of the Hotel Ritz and the Hotel de Crillon are still exciting. We like to stop into the bars to pretend that we’ll have a drink and splurge, but actually we’ll just use their impeccable bathrooms when nature calls. Why not?

10. New Paris Philharmonic opens

The opening of the new Paris Philharmonic, a building designed by Jean Nouvel, will “revolutionize music in Paris” according to some, but we’re just excited to see the final architectural product. Way up in the 19th arrondissement, it’s sure to have an impact on the neighborhood at least. Check their site for the 2015 program.

9. Navigo gets simpler

Those monthly Navigo passes for the Metro can get tricky, but in 2015 it all gets easier. For monthly subscribers—so students, long-stay visitors, expats—the new fee is €70 for all zones, so there’s no need to buy extra tickets to get out to CDG or Versailles. Thanks for making things easier, Paris!

Related: Will buying a Navigo Pass help save you money?

8. Taxi changes

See them while they’re still here! Those green taxi stands with the buttons that you press in vain while calling a cab? They’re on their way out, to be replaced with a smartphone app. At the moment, Parisian taxi drivers aren’t happy, already facing competition from Uber. We’ll see how the story develops.

The Grand Palais is one of the most beautiful spaces in Paris, and 2015 welcomes a host of world-class art. Photo: Pierre-Louis F.

7. MOMA and Gaultier at the Grand Palais

The Louvre in Abu Dhabi will be stealing a lot of the attention on French art in 2015, but there will be no shortage of great shows going on, especially at the Grand Palais. Modern art from the San Francisco MOMA will headline one show in April-June alongside another featuring French fashion’s bad boy Jean-Paul Gaultier (April 1-August 3).

Another much-anticipated Picasso exhibit, featuring his works compared to those of other famous artists, should be up in the fall also at the Grand Palais. But then, there’s also a lot happening at the Orsay, the Petit Palais, the Palais de Tokyo, the Louvre, the Carnavalet…

6. New Generator Hostel powers up

European chain Generator is opening up its newest youth hostel boasting 916 beds in the 10th arrondissement. The hostel isn’t your dad’s backpacker hostel, featuring more a more upscale design that might attract business travelers looking for a deal. And with rooms starting at 25 euros, who could blame them?

Related: The best cheap hotels in Paris 

5. “Best City for Students”

Paris was named best city for students in 2015 by the QS report, beating out London and Melbourne. With so many student discounts, free cultural offerings, affordable student living, and a concentration of good inexpensive schools, we totally agree. (So maybe take that semester abroad now, right?)

Pedestrians will have more room to stretch their legs next year in the central districts of Paris. Photo: David McSpadden

4. Cars out of the center

Adieu, we say to the cars, adieu. The mayor has proposed addressing air pollution by restricting the number of cars in the central first four arrondissements in Paris. By allowing only cars from residents, deliveries, and other necessary vehicles, she hopes to make the historic center more pedestrian and bike friendly, and a whole lot cleaner. Diesel fuel is also on the chopping block…

3. “Tastes of Paris” in late May

We’re not about to throw down a few hundred euros for a Michelin star dining experience in Paris. Not yet at least. But the country’s most famous chefs are bringing their dishes to the public at the first ever Tastes of Paris event at the Grand Palais, May 21-25. Names like Ducasse and Robuchon will be there, offering tastings of their famous fare—with much more enticing prices.

Related: Eating cheap in Paris with 8 dinners for €10 or less

2. Race up the Tour Eiffel in March

Sure the Paris Marathon is attracting tens of thousands of people to Paris in April, but the Eco Trail run, held just a few weeks before on March 21, is offering a historic opportunity to run up the city’ most iconic monument, the Eiffel Tower herself. If you’re an experienced runner, enter the lottery to win a spot among the 40 runners to be selected for the “Verticale Tour Eiffel” race in March.

You can never have enough baguettes in Paris. Photo: Paul Asman

1. Baguettes

And if nothing else, I hear that Paris still makes some good baguettes… You know, if nothing else. Here’s a list of the 2014 winners for the “Grand Prix de la Meilleure Baguette” (Grand Prize for the Best Baguettes). Why not check them all out?

The post 15 reasons to visit Paris in 2015 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

According to news reports, this new law was intended to prevent sound pollution and damage to the city’s historic cobblestones. Rolling offenders would face fines of €500!

Why, oh why would they do this? Doesn’t the city rely upon tourists rolling forth from the train station, water taxis and vaporetti? What are you supposed to do—carry your suitcase for long distances? It’s a war on tourists!

But before you go online and cancel your big vacation plans for Venice, everybody just take a deep breath. It’s not happening. No law was ever passed. And furthermore, the story seems to hang on a detail that was either lost in translation or simply overlooked. And then everyone’s imagination sort of ran off with it.

But let’s rewind…

What was proposed?

The first we heard about this improbable story here in Venice was late last week, on November 20, when the local papers ran headlines declaring that Venice had started a war against rolling suitcases, or trolleys. Most newspapers, even if they mentioned that this was merely a proposal and not yet a law, went ahead and published the date when the law would be enforced, including details about how much people would be fined.

Unsurprisingly, the news shot around the Web and pretty soon Venice-bound travelers with more than a backpack went into a panic, writing to people like me (I live here and run a travel blog), asking for confirmation of the news.

I thought it was a joke and laughed the whole thing off, wondering why people were so worried: This is Italy, even if we pass a crazy law, we never enforce it, so why all the panic?

But immediately the international newspapers picked up the story. On Friday, November 21, stories appeared on the BBC, and on Yahoo! Travel (under the headline, “No Joke: Venice Is Banning All Wheeled Suitcases for Tourists”). CNN chimed in, under the headline, “Venice to Ban Wheeled Suitcases”:

City officials have become so tired with the cacophony of rumbling luggage they’re introducing fines of up to 500 euros ($620) for anyone caught using one. The move, due to come into effect in May 2015, is likely to create a headache for many of 22 million who annually visit the city and need to cart bags to hotels in car-free streets.

Oh boy, things were now officially out of control.

So Friday, that same day, Special Commissioner Vittorio Zappalorto (appointed to run the city after the local mayor was arrested for corruption a few months ago) issued another press release. In it, he denied that Venice was going to ban rolling suitcases and clarified that the proposed law would affect only push carts used by vendors.

This is Italy. It is totally normal here to have one official issue a statement one day that is immediately overturned the next.

The next day, Time Magazine published an article under the headline, “Venice Wants to Ban Your Noisy, Offending Suitcase Wheels” in which the magazine declares, “Leave your efficient, easy-to-transport wheelie suitcase at home, says the gondola-filled city.”

The story obviously has, um, wheels. How could it be stopped? Even if it’s wrong, it appears to be too tasty for journalists to correct.

The press releases

I took the time to translate the two official press releases. I think you can make up your own mind.

Here’s he first press release by a local sub-commissioner. (Read in Italian here.) I’ve highlighted the most important part of the story.

November 20, 2014

The measures for the protection of the city, the joint statements of the sub-commisioner Scagnamiglio and the manager Dorigo.

The Special Administration of the City of Venice, making theirs a will already manifested by the previous Administration, has taken over the review activities of its endowment regulation, among these the one already in an advanced stage of working on building code.

The definition of the new text is currently in phase (administratively optional) of consultation with the professional bodies and categories for the sole purpose of improving the normative content in order to achieve maximum sharing. Among the objectives of the new regulation there was the need to find space for the management of the critical issues related to urban decay and the intensive tourist use of the largest monument in the world today, attacked by at least 27 million tourists.

In this context, an article of the draft Regulation aims to manage the protection of public places (streets and bridges), and the increasing noise pollution that the mobility of a city which moves goods and things without cars, forces on pushing wheels. Therefore it has been proposed to the interlocutors of the table for consultation, the provision (art. 23, para 7) which prohibits, over the historic center of the Old City and the Islands the use of means of transport for materials, all objects or persons on wheels, which are not of rubber or tire inflated with air or liquid.

The standard also wants to respond to the needs of the many people who in recent years have turned to the Administration indicating the severe discomfort they suffer in their homes related to the movement of goods and property in times acoustically protected by the legislation (during the night or early morning ), where the major acoustic inconvenience, generated from the provision of commercial activities (pallets of goods) or tourism (transported bed linen), focuses, all combined with a historical paving, consisting of “masegni – paving stones”, like the Venetian one (which is covered by a national law). Numerous are also, especially in recent years, the disturbing signs of a progressive deterioration and wear of the pavements and bridges which survived at first, free of damage, for hundreds of years.

It is also, of easy resolution, the possibility of adaptation of all means to the new provisions, through adapters, that companies will offer to the market and that could be of great use to all the historical centers, developing opportunity that improves quality of life to the residents in town centers with high-quality roadways.

The sub-commissioner of the City of Venice, Dott. Michele Scognamiglio, and the director Sportello Unico Edilizia del Comune di Venezia, dott. Maurizio Dorigo

This is the second press release issued by the Special Commissioner Zappalorto on November 21, 2014. (Read in Italian.)

Trolley banned in Venice, the denial of the Commissioner Zappalorto

The commissioner of the City of Venice, Vittorio Zappalorto, with a note, wanted to deny the news, which appeared yesterday in a local newspaper reported and today in many newspapers and also by the international press, regarding the trolleys, which would be prohibited in the historic center unless with rubber tires inflated with air.

“I intend to deny with the utmost firmness that the City of Venice has ever thought to ban trolleys in the historic center. The draft of the building code that, I want to repeat, is a draft and which editorial work has already started with the last administration and had a further definition these days by the staff of the sub Commissioner Michele Scognamiglio, is currently undergoing a participatory process by sending it to the professional associations.

The document contains only a reference to the means of transport of goods by land, namely the carts and the pallets, that having hard wheels ruin the historical Venetian masegni, as well as causing noise pollution especially annoying if it takes place in the early hours of the morning, when many citizens still sleep. The solution to this problem must be clearly studied and shared together with the Superintendent, to the economic categories and, in general, the stakeholders.

As for the trolleys, certainly the hard wheels contribute to damaging the paving stones of the streets and squares, and especially the bridges, precisely because of the constant blows caused by the climbs and descents. This does not mean, however, that the City will ban the use of it from May. The draft is intended to regulate only, I repeat once again, with the consultation of all interested parties, the movements of goods by land in the historic city.

Any other interpretation on the subject is imaginative and not true. If then, thanks to the media brawl that followed this false scoop, some company in the industry will find appropriate solutions for the problems of Venice as in other ancient cities that share the same problems of the passage of the trolley and suitcases on wheels with our historical center, this will undoubtedly be a meritorious action that will contribute to the preservation of our architectural heritage and tranquility of residents and tourists themselves. ”

Venice, November 21, 2014 / po

Final thoughts

So then, if you are a very suspicious person like myself, you could also read into these two statements that perhaps someone in the committee must own a company that’s ready to sell some kind of rubber wheeley thingy? (Sorry, that is the Italian in me!)

All I can say is, don’t change your plans to come to Venice on account of your suitcase. Nobody is, or ever was going to, fine you for rolling along.

Now, if only we could get the international press to pay attention and correct the story. But of course, those headlines would be less alluring.

The post Roll with it, Folks: Venice is not going to ban your suitcase appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

U.S. carriers have already begun applying for safety dispensations, and the industry, along with electronics manufacturers, are pushing for action on the matter prior to the upcoming holiday travel season.

Checking Facebook on Norwegian. Photo: kkoukopoulos

What about European low-cost carriers?

These U.S. research findings are likely to influence carriers around the globe, including European airlines. While the continent lags behind its North American counterparts in offering in-flight Wi-Fi services for passengers, this change may provide just the boost needed for airlines to consider offering or upgrading on-board internet service. Currently the only European low-cost airline I am aware of offering broadband connections for mobile users in-flight is Norwegian – which it does for free!

The BBC reports that EU countries are in the process of legislating changes allowing for satellite access to faster internet service for airline passengers, which may improve on-board connectivity as soon as 2014.

The in-air use of cellular phones for calling, still largely an unpopular idea with air travelers, is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and will not be affected by the aforementioned change. EU fliers are already allowed to make mobile calls in-flight if their carrier has appropriately outfitted their planes for the service; one of the few airlines to have done so (and charging a premium for it) is Ryanair.

Yet if, as the BBC projects, internet streaming both increases in popularity and speeds up dramatically, the use of VoIP services such as Skype may circumvent current regulations and unleash across the friendly skies a new wave of anger over appropriate airborne telephone etiquette.

The post Will European budget airlines be affected by FAA changes on personal electronic devices? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

No surprise, then, that many Europeans develop a certain geographical myopia. Look beyond the capital cities and — particularly as you move away from Europe’s Atlantic littoral — the gap between Europe and the New World becomes a veritable chasm.

The United States in the European imagination

North America is the terrain of movies. The real America, the communities beyond the cinema screen and the newsreels, hardly feature in the imagination of many Europeans and, insofar as they do, they seem rather scary places — we remember Columbine and Sandy Hook. The U.S. is a far-off land and one that many of us who live in Europe feel uneasy about.

In most European countries, Guantanamo certainly gets more publicity than the entire state of California. Many Europeans would just not know who Harry Reid or Joe Biden are. But we all know who Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning are, and chances are that Europeans you’ll run into on your travels will regard both men with a certain awe for their courage and determination. That’s not to say we totally endorse what they have done, but their audacity in confronting totalitarian tendencies commands respect.

Travel with an open mind

The beauty of travel is that, for those who dare, it is a chance to meet people who think differently. Very differently. It turns one’s mindset inside out and gives it a thorough shakedown. Travel is a chance to confront the demons that frame our everyday life. We meet people whose take on the world is diametrically opposed to our own.

Only a small percentage of the residents of central and eastern Europe have ever crossed the Atlantic to visit the US. Those that have are invariably surprised to discover that the US is full of interesting landscapes populated in the main by mellow and interesting people.

Disconnect from everyday life

The trick of course is to leave your prejudices at home, but it takes something more. Discovery is about stepping out of your lifeworld and escaping from the frame of reference that shapes your thinking back home — escaping even from the web, social media and your regular news channels.

The choice that confronts travellers is stark. The connectivity and immersion in the web that gives texture to your everyday life might be the biggest barrier to appreciating the communities you visit. At one level, travel has never been easier. But real travel has never been harder.

The post Confronting Demons: Why Real Travel has Become More Difficult appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But keep in mind that just as French vacationers commonly divide themselves into camps of those who like to vacation in July (“juilletistes”) and those who favor the month of August (“aoutiens”), the city government takes the obligation to provide bread for its citizens and visitors so seriously that Parisian bakeries are assigned vacations, split into two groups and allowed by law to alternatively take off either July or August, switching it up every year. The law dates from 1790, created in order to prevent famine when bread was a major source of nutrition during the French Revolution.

(A caveat, however: just because your favorite boulangerie happens to be open doesn’t mean that it’s the A team running the place. The only time I have ever seen a boulangerie run out of croissants? August in Paris.)

Earlier this summer, the national Observatoire du Pain launched a billboard campaign to encourage the French to buy more bread (although 97,6 % of French people eat it, bread consumption in France has dropped to half a baguette per person per day, down from three baguettes per day in the early 1900s, and one baguette in the 1970s).

The campaign is also fighting against public perception that bread is fattening and gluten is the enemy by promoting bread as a healthy diet aid.

Finding your baguette in August

To help summertime Parisians procure their daily bread, the Chambre professionnelle des artisans boulangers-pâtissiers has compiled a list of boulangeries that remain open in August.

Or if you want to geo-localize your next croissant, go here.

The post Half of Paris’ Boulangeries Remain Open in August appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

That Croatians raised a modest cheer at midnight last Sunday was perhaps the greatest surprise of the week. Croatia smiled and fireworks brightened the skies over Zagreb to mark the moment when the country became the 28th member of the EU.

Snubbed by Merkel

In fact, the crowds had been out in Zagreb much of Sunday afternoon and evening. There’s nothing like a good party to mark acceptance as member of a club worth joining. The great and the good from across Europe were invited to come to Zagreb and share Croatia’s moment in the limelight.

Most gave their various excuses. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said yes, but then changed her mind at the last moment. This left a conspicuously empty space at the top table. German attitudes towards Croatia have cooled since autumn 1991 when Berlin and Bonn moved a little too quickly to recognize the fledgling state when it declared independence from Yugoslavia — so upping the stakes, some said, in Croatia’s vicious spat with neighboring Serbia.

Signing up to the European project

In the absence of Merkel, journalist turned diplomat Vladimir Drobnjak, who led the Croatian team negotiating with Brussels, was left to hold the fort. By all accounts Drobnjak did a grand job talking up the EU project as the accession hour approached. Folk in the square, ordinary citizens of Zagreb who have traveled in by tram from the suburbs to be part of the magic moment, politely applauded. And there was genuine good spirit.

Past or future?

But was that joy born of excitement at joining the EU? It was perhaps more a sense of relief that Croatia could now eventually lay to rest a few ghosts. In a quarter of a century, Croatia has reinvented itself. But the path of change has been a rocky one.

One by one key political figures have been sidelined by allegations of war crimes or corruption. For example Ivo Sanader, who served as Prime Minister of Croatia from 2003 to 2009, fled the country amid accusations of war profiteering. He was arrested in Austria and sent back home to stand trial. Last fall he was sentenced to ten years for taking backhanders from an Austrian bank.

Croatians hope that accession to the EU closes a troubled chapter in national history. But that does not necessary equate with unqualified enthusiasm for the great European project. Just after Easter this year, Croatians had the chance to elect twelve members of the European Parliament. Here was a chance for Croatians to help shape a better, brighter future for their country. Just a fifth of the electorate bothered to vote. To be exact: 20.8%.

The post Croatia becomes the 28th member of the European Union appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

The quick backstory

Code-named “CheapoSearch” when we first took it live five years ago, our hotel search engine lets readers quickly see room rates for all of the hotels we recommend on EuroCheapo (as long as they have online booking – which some of them don’t). Easy-to-use filters let you narrow down your results by location, user rating, price and accommodation type. In our results we display room rates from a range of hotel booking websites, showing you the lowest rate out there.

This new upgrade

Lately we’ve been dreaming up a bunch of new features that we think will make hotel research more efficient. This new upgrade centers on trying to make EuroCheapo as easy to use as possible. These new features include:

More hostel inventory: We expanded the volume of hostels in our search results to include those we feel are a cut above the rest.

Display both dorm and private room prices: Rather than making dorm rates hard to find, we now show them alongside private room rates for hostel results.

Show room type information: To minimize the amount of back-and-forth clicking within our search results, we now display room type info (with rates) directly within search results. Now you can quickly find the specific room type you’re looking for — for example, two twin beds rather than one queen.

Highlight our hotel reviews: The heart and soul of EuroCheapo are the hotels we visit, recommend and review. In order to feature these hotels (and our reviews) more clearly, we simplified the design to make our “Editor’s Picks” stand out more.

Give it a whirl

But enough of the descriptions. The best way for you to experience the new CheapoSearch is to go ahead and search away. You can test it on this page by using the big blue hotel search box in the top right corner or by doing a search on our homepage.

Go on – kick the tires a bit. Try Paris. Or Rome. Maybe Amsterdam? But compare some dates, use the filters and see what gorgeous (and cheapo) hotels we have in store. Also, we love getting your feedback and suggestions on what you think should be improved or added. Please send an email our way to let us know what you think.

And remember, next time you’re looking to book a hotel in Europe, CheapoSearch is ready to help out!

The post CheapoNews: Announcing a big upgrade to our hotel search engine! appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.