Road-trip? You’ll pay loads in tolls in Catalonia. Bread and olives with dinner? That’s another €2 per person.  Free tapa with a drink (like they do in Granada or Oviedo, or in many other areas of the country)? Yeah right! Don’t make me laugh…

While it seems that nothing is free anymore in Barcelona, here are a few things that they haven’t figured out how to charge people for yet.

1. Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi is available all over the city thanks to the city government. From Ciutadella Park to the beaches of Barceloneta you can sign on and check your Facebook updates. Of course, you can also find Wi-Fi at one of the city’s many libraries. For more, read our previous post on free Wi-Fi in Barcelona.

Party for free during La Mercè festival. Photo: Hector Milla

2. Parties

This is a good one. Parties in Barcelona are elaborate, days-long, and for the most part free or very inexpensive. When I say “party,” I mean citywide parties or festivals such as La Mercè and Festes de Gràcia. These free parties take over whole barris, or in the case of La Mercè the whole city, and offer concerts, dances, decorations, activities for the kids, fireworks, fire running, and inexpensive communal dinners.

Drinks are also sold at low prices in the streets during these celebratory times. Mostly these bashes happen in the summer and early fall. Almost every barri in Barcelona has its own bash. La Mercè, which is the largest and brings in the big dogs in music, is held every September 23rd with many concerts and events leading up to it the week prior.

3. Maps

Yes maps, and info in general on the city, can be found in abundance in any of the Tourist Information Offices at no cost.  There’s a big one on Pl. Catalunya and another one on the corner of Pssg. de Gracia in Palau Robert. Which brings me to number 4…

4. Museums

Lots of museums in the city are free. Palau Robert is one, though I’ll warn you that many of its exhibitions are in Catalan. Most museums also have a free day. The MNAC for example is free the first Sunday of each month, plus free on International Museum Day, which is May 18th.

(Update: The Caixa Forum, one of my favorite museums, was free until 2013. Sadly, they’re charging now.)

5. Sunshine

As of right now sunshine, as much as you can take, is free. “Big whoop,” I hear you saying, “I can get that anywhere!” No sir, you can’t. I know this for a fact because I come from Portland, Oregon, where the Sun God makes very few appearances.

One of the aspects of Barcelona I enjoy most is all the sunny days, winter and summer alike. Go down to Barceloneta and sit on the beach in the sun in May. Have a coffee in October on a plaza in the sun. Do cartwheels at Ciutadella Park in February in the sun. It’s free, it’s uplifting, and it’s one of the reasons many foreigners from cloudy, chilly places relocate here.

Your favorite freebies?

What do you like doing in Barcelona for free? Tell us about it in the comments section below.

The post Barcelona: 5 things that are always free appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Throughout the summer Barcelona neighborhoods throw local bashes which are something like a block party on steroids. Everyone from the barri, or “neighborhood,” gets involved in the festivities. Usually these parties will go on for a weekend or in some cases an entire week.

It’s now too late to celebrate the barri of Gracia’s famous August festa, as well as the street parades and live music in Sants and La Barceloneta. Aside from paying for food and drinks, these neighborhood parties, called Festa Major, are free and worth a trip to Barcelona in August. I adore these local festes, and relish in the celebratory spirit in Spain where any reason is a good reason to have a party.

La Mercè: September 22-25, 2011

While these smaller August bashes were a good time, they all pale in comparison to the “Big Mama” of all Barcelona festes, La Mercè, which is held late September after all the neighborhoods have finished their local celebrations. La Mercè is not just a party for the city, but a party for the whole county of Barcelona, and man oh man, do they ever roll it out!

For a week, expect multiple stages set up all over the city with several concerts every night plus large concerts at mammoth venues such as El Forum. Many times, the city brings in well-known musicians to play the event from Spain and abroad. It’s all free, and therefore at times crowded depending on who is performing. There’s something for everyone: Jazz, hip-hop, classical, rock, Indie, and world music fills the air in Barcelona from September 22 to 25, 2011.

There are also games and activities for families in the parks and squares, parades in the streets featuring Barcelona’s “giants,” fireworks displays at the beach, events in the museums, and fire runners doing the crazy correfoc most nights to the beat of hundreds of marching drummers!

In fact, it’s all a bit overwhelming, but definitely a party not to be missed.

Tips for enjoying La Mercè

Get a schedule of events online or at a tourism information office and plan ahead.

If there is a band you really want to see, go early to get a chair.

La Mercè is especially crowded at night, so if you’re not into dealing with the masses, go instead to the daytime activities offered.

If you decide to go to the correfoc (and you should), be prepared for lots of noise, smoke, ash in the air (in your eyes?) and the possibility of getting burned.

Wear a coat or long sleeves to the correfoc and something to cover your hair, like a hat or scarf.

La Mercè party goes all night long and is a bit of a free-for-all, so if you’re not going to stay out until 6 a.m., consider booking a hotel out of the center of the city, which will be noisy and crowded during the week of La Mercè.

In many ways, the week of La Mercè is an excellent time to visit Barcelona, as it is not tourist season, the weather is still warm, and many of the city’s top sites are open for free and offering interesting cultural events. Enjoy the party!

The post Barcelona’s September Bash: La Mercè Festival appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Hosted at the Cantor Film Center in Greenwich Village, the two-day event featured panels, presentations, and readings featuring travel bloggers hailing from the US and abroad, some coming to town from as far away as New Zealand. The schedule was jam packed from mid-morning through late afternoon, allowing the more than 300 guests to learn from one another, compare notes, and discuss the intricacies of the travel blog industry with their peers.

In other words, it was the perfect weekend to throw a big party!

To celebrate the occasion, we collaborated with our friends from BootsnAll.com and invited all conference attendees to join us in the East Village on Saturday night for an evening of “anything goes.” What follows is a photo recap of an enjoyable, loud night in New York City.

(Note: We’re missing the names and Web sites of many partygoers pictured in the photos. Please help us out by emailing us the names, Twitter handles, and Web sites of those not named. You can also post the information in the comments section below. When sending a name, please include the corresponding photo number. Many thanks!)

1. First start with an interesting conference full of fun attendees: Here’s the crowd lining up to get in to TBEX 2010 on Saturday morning.

2. Then wait about eight hours and usher everyone to a lounge in the East Village. We had chosen The Professor’s Loft.

3. Next, add personable hosts for the evening: Tom Meyers and Sean Keener.

<Next Page>

The post Photo Essay: The EuroCheapo and BootsnAll TBEX Party appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Listed below are a few suggestions for election night viewing parties in Paris, London, Rome,  Amsterdam, and Berlin, among other cities.

AMSTERDAM

US Election Party hosted by Amsterdam American Business Club: An all-night event taking place at the Hilton Hotel Amsterdam, including panel discussions with Dutch and American politicians, snacks and an early morning breakfast.  Tickets required.  Apollolaan 138, 1077 BG Amsterdam.

Boom Chicago Election Night Party: A wild and crazy evening of comedy and poll watching at this central Amsterdam laugh-house.  Tickets are required (and you might bump into EuroCheapo staffer Christopher Franco if you go!).  Leidseplein 12, 1017 PT Amsterdam.  Tel: +31 20 53 07300.

Molly Malone’s Irish Pub: Just looking for a big bar with a giant TV?  Look no further.  Free entry.  Oudezijds Kolk 9, 1012 AL Amsterdam.  Tel: +31 20 6241150.

ATHENS

Democrats Abroad Greece: Election Night Party at the Athens Hilton, 9 pm until dawn, with a buffet, music, and video. Ambassador Speckhard is scheduled to speak. Contact pressofficer@democratsabroad.org for details.

BARCELONA

Democrats Abroad: Election Watch Party from 9:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. at Luz de Gas, Sala B, calle Muntaner 246. Contact pressofficer@democratsabroad.org for details.

Hillary, our budget travel pal from from Less Than A Shoestring, emailed us the following update for election parties in Berlin:

“There are two big open events in Berlin: one at the Amerika Haus starts in the early evening and goes only till 1 a.m.; the second starts at 10:30 p.m. and goes till the race is called, with Democrats Abroad Berlin at Babylon (Mitte). The former is free (but reservations only, and they’re totally booked); the second is 3.50 euros in advance, 5 euros at the door (but also likely to sell out quickly).”

BRUSSELS

The Renaissance Brussels Hotel is hosting an election event, sponsored by the American Club of Brussels amd The Bulletin.

BUDAPEST

From BC: I’ve called AmCham, the embassy, and a few companies. There isn’t another party that I can find. However, I’ve also called a few sports bars and Champs will play the elections on its TVs starting at 10:45 (after the champions league match). The bar technically closes at 1am but I hope it will remain open if there is a crowd. A few of us will be at Champs at 10:45. Just ask the bartenders what table is the US election party.

COPENHAGEN

The US Embassy and AmCham are having an event at the Marriott. It’s only from 10pm to 2am, so all the results won’t be in by the time the event is over. Info is at http://amcham.dk/events.php?sec=events&id=249

The American Expats in Copenhagen Meet Up is hosting a party at Cafe Globon, too – http://www.meetup.com/american-27/calendar/9059973/.

The social democratic party have election nights in all major towns in Denmark. The Facebook site for the Copenhagen event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=43546658752

DUBLIN

The Button Factory is having a party, which is now sold out.

Democrats Abroad Ireland will be hosting an Election Night party at Cafe en Seine on Dawson Street in Dublin. Contact pressofficer@democratsabroad.org for details.

FLORENCE

Democrats Abroad: Watch Night Party from 6 p.m. – 4 a.m., at Saschall. There will also be a Victory Party for Thursday, November 6, 8:30 – late (location tbd). Contact pressofficer@democratsabroad.org for details.

LONDON

Yates Wine Bar:  Billing itself as “the biggest bi-partisan election night party in London,” the Yates Wine Bar in Leicester Square is open through 4 AM GMT and is providing coverage via CNN and FOX.  There’s a buffet and drink vouchers, but tickets are required.  Yates’s Wine Bar, Leicester Square, London.

MADRID

Democtat’s Abroad Election Watch Party (11 p.m until early morning): Círculo de Bellas Artes; Calle Alcalá 42. Madrid (metro: Banco de España). Live music, dancing, live election returns coverage. Contact pressofficer@democratsabroad.org for details.

MUNICH

Democrats Abroad: Election Night Party at Bushing Garden. Program: 7:00-10:00pm; Dinner for early guests with a special “Obama Menu” and a music program. From 9:00pm-till sunrise, there will be a party with music and dancing. Contact pressofficer@democratsabroad.org for details.

PARIS

“La Nuit Americaine” All-night event organized by the City Hall of the 3rd Arrondissement to “explore and understand the United States,” while tuning in to election results. (They’ll even be screening “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Crash,” and “Vertigo” before serving breakfast!).  Free entry.  Mairie de 3eme, Salle Odette Pilpoul, 2 rue Eugene Spuller, 75003, Paris.  Tel:  +33 15 30 17503.

Americans Abroad for Obama Party: 11:30 p.m.  Free entry. Palais Maillot, 2, Place de La Porte Maillot, Paris.

Harry’s Bar New York: What better place to soak up election drama than at the bar that created the Bloody Mary? Harry’s also hosts a famous expat straw poll.  Free entry.  5 rue Daunou 2nd Mº Opéra, Paris, 75002.

PRAGUE

“Democrats in Prague”: Election Night Watch Parties in two locations, The Globe Bookstore and Jama Restaurant. Contact pressofficer@democratsabroad.org for details.

ROME

American International Club of Rome: A bi-partisan, bi-lingual extravaganza at the Parco dei Principi Hotel Conference Center.  Political commentary and speakers sprawled across 4 convention halls.  Tickets required. Via G. Frescobaldi, 5, Rome.

From Roman correspondent Annie Shapero:

“Democrats Abroad” Party in Termini Station: The group is throwing a party from 1 AM – 5 AM in Rome’s main train station (exact location will be emailed). The catered event includes an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast and American-style coffee. The event costs €20 (€15 for food, and €5 for the group). For more information email events.rome@democratsabroad.it.

STOCKHOLM

All-night election watch with dinner, discussions and entertainment at the Scandic Hotel Anglais, Humlegårdsgatan 23, Stockholm, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Contact pressofficer@democratsabroad.org for details.

VIENNA

The Democrats Abroad are having a party in the 19th District, the Lion Rampant Pub, Billrothstrasse 16: http://www.democratsabroad.org/sites/default/files/DAAElectionNight2008.pdf

Tell Us

Do you plan to watch the elections from abroad? Tell us about it. And please list any other parties you know about below!

Editor’s Note: We have listed several Democratic-leaning events above. Most of this information has been provided by Democrats Abroad. Find more information, including more parties, on their website. We have looked hard for Republican events as well, but to no avail. If you know of any, please let us know.

The post UPDATED: Where to watch US election results in Europe appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.