That’s right, it’s not all hotels all the time here at EuroCheapo (just most of the time). We love to recommend hostels, as long as they’re clean, central, and have the option of booking a private room. And if they have a little bit of character, all the better. Prague has a bunch of properties that meet these criteria with flying colors.

So if you’re willing to step out of your hotel comfort zone, you might want to Czech, er, check out the following Prague hostels. (Note that each of these properties offers privates in addition to dorms.)

Czech Inn
Francouzska 76,10100 (Vinohrady)
Dorms from $15; Doubles from $64
Great for: hostel doubters

For anyone skeptical of trying a hostel in place of more traditional accommodation, the Czech Inn (bonus points for “Czech” puns!) would be a good place to start. Featuring privates and apartments in addition to dorms, the hostel has a sleek, artsy feel to match its location in the hip Vinohrady neighborhood.

Some nice touches (chandeliers, fancy showers) help the Czech Inn transcend typical expectations of budget sleeps. With a bar area and lobby that houses an art gallery, you may forget you’re in a hostel at all.

The breakfast room at the Dlouha Hostel acts as a lively bar at night.

Dlouha Pension and Hostel
Dlouha 33,11000 (Stare Mesto)
Dorms from $17; Doubles from $44
Great for: party-seekers

Of course, not everyone wants to forget they’re in a hostel, and many are looking for certain elements associated with this breed of accommodation–namely, youthfulness and a place to party.

If that’s the case, the Dlouha Pension and Hostel would be a good choice. Its location on the lively Dlouha Street in Stare Mesto provides easy access to plenty of trendy nighttime hotspots.  The hostel itself isn’t just a snoozer either,  featuring a fun bar complete with foosball and a jukebox.  And while the furnishings are basic, this doesn’t seem to bother the hostel’s youthful clientele.

Hostel Sokol
Nosticova 2, Prague 1 (Mala Strana)
Dorms from $15; Doubles from $35
Great for: strict budgets

If all you need out of your hostel is a super-Cheapo sleep, the Hostel Sokol is your best bet.  The barracks-like accommodations are as plain as can be–but they’re clean, comfortable and bargain-bin cheap. As an added bonus, the ever-friendly Sokol provides a great Mala Strana location and a rooftop terrace with unbeatable views.

Hostel Tyn
Tynska 19, Praha 1 (Stare Mesto)
Dorms from $18; Doubles from $50
Great for: sightseers

In a neighborhood where hotel rates can make it seem more like you’re in London than Prague, the Hostel Tyn provides a breath of Cheapo fresh air.  While the furnishings and decor are fairly basic, the Tyn’s great rates and location (a stone’s throw from Old Town Square) are perfect for those who want to step right into Prague’s Gothic charm without feeling it in their wallets.

The garden at Sir Toby’s Hostel is a great place to hang out.

Sir Toby’s Hostel
Delnicka 24,17000 Prague 7 (Holešovice)
Dorms from $12; Doubles from $65
Great for: socializing

It may be a little out of city center, but Sir Toby’s Hostel in the up-and-coming Holešovice neighborhood provides enough laidback comfort to make up for a slightly longer hike to the main sights.

The hostel provides a home away from home, with funky dorm-room furnishings to complement hip common areas that include a cellar bar and delightful backyard garden.  All of this, plus a sociable staff, combines to make Sir Toby’s a great place to set up shop in Prague and make a few travel buddies.

Want more? Check out our list of recommended hostels in Prague or our favorite budget hotels in Prague.

Your favorite hostels?

Have you stayed at any of these hostels? Or do you have other hostels in Prague you’d like to recommend?  Leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

The post Prague: 5 hostel picks for every kind of Cheapo appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

In Barcelona, and in fact all over Spain, the party seems to go on forever. While there are holidays, long vacations and festivals year-round in Spain, December is an especially merry month offering up nine days of “fiesta” instead of just the 25th and 31st/1st. So merry, it’s scary, one might say….

Not 2, but 9 celebrations

We start off the month with two holidays on the 6th and 8th of December. Since these days fall mid-week, most people take the whole week off and go skiing, or somewhere fun. Despite the economic crisis and 20% unemployment, Barcelona was very quiet last week, meaning people went out of town.

Cheapo Tip #1: Head over to the Santa Llucia Market in front of the Cathedral. While not as “Winter-Wonderland” as say, the Christmas Market in Prague, it’s a fun time all the same. Pick up a “Caga Nen,” or a “Little Shitting Boy” for your nativity scene (€5).

Christmas Eve

Then folks have a couple weeks to get presents and ingredients together for the 24th, Christmas Eve. This is an important night to spend with family, feasting on tapas or seafood dishes. Depending on the family, some gifts will be exchanged. Don’t expect a lot to be open the 24th in the afternoon and evening, as people will be with relatives.

Book ahead for a sit-down dinner, and make sure to toast with a glass of Catalan cava (like Champagne) wherever you are. If you’re religious, don’t miss Spanish mass at midnight on the 24th.

Cheapo Tip #2: Buy a bottle of Cava (€5.00) and toast with friends at your hotel or on the beach. Go to Christmas Eve Mass at Santa Maria del Mar in the Born if you’re religious.

Christmas Day

Then the Christmas Day arrives, and another feast is laid out. Families gather for lunch and chow roasted piglets and turrons, a classic, chewy Spanish dessert that I have never managed to like (the chocolate turron is OK). You can pick up a couple turrons in the Barri Gotic from one of the many artisan food vendors lining the streets the weeks leading up to Christmas. Or, pick one up in the gourmet section of the Corte Ingles in the center of town.

Again, expect a lot to be closed on Christmas. If you’d like to have a nice meal most hotel restaurants should be open and will offer a special set menu. You will want to book ahead or you may find yourself eating “Christmas kebab.” On both the 24th and 25th many people go out at night to party. Some bars will be open, though not as many as a normal weekend.

Cheapo Tip #3: Have Christmas lunch or dinner in La Barceloneta by the Sea at Restaurant Salamanca (€30 and up). Nothing says Christmas like “Paella.” Or splurge and have lunch at Hotel Colon (Av. Catedral 7, Barcelona).

December 26

Loosen your belt another notch, because the celebration is not over yet! No sir! The 26th is St. Esteve’s Day and guess what? There’s another feast!

At this point I change into sweatpants (just kidding, I would never wear sweatpants, no matter how bloated Christmas cheer has made me). St. Esteve’s Day is again celebrated with family and revolves around lunch. Traditional families will serve cannelloni stuffed with beef or with spinach and pine nuts.

Again, this is a holiday, so expect a lot to be closed. Bars and restaurants may be open, but little shops and most businesses will be shut up.

Cheapo Tip #4: Head to Cafe Absenta Bar where beers are always €1 to start your night out on the town. Cafe Absenta Bar also serves Absinthe.

Then, slowly, Barcelona wakes from its feasting coma and some people “work” from the 27th to the 31st. By the afternoon of the 31st, everything is closing down again, and people are getting ready for more eating, drinking and maybe a night on the town, too!

New Year’s Eve

Unlike in the United States, New Year’s Eve is spent with family in Barcelona. Everyone sits down to a meal together, and brings in the New Year with twelve grapes and lots of bubbly cava!

At about 12:30 a.m. or 1 a.m. young people head out for a night on the town. Expect hefty covers at all Barcelona’s clubs and long lines for cabs. Most bars are open New Year’s Eve and do not charge a cover. If you’d like to see live music on New Year’s. you’ll want to get those tickets in advance on the net or the day before at the box office. A lot sells out on New Year’s Eve and the city is crowded, but the vibe is fun and festive.

If you want to have a special New Year’s Eve dinner you’ll also want to book ahead as there are not many restaurants open on the 31st, and those that are open tend to charge an arm and a leg. However, most restaurants that open offer a multi-course meal, cava, grapes, and party favors; so you’ll get bang for your buck (€40 p/person and up!). Check the Born area for some nice dining options.

Cheapo Tip 5: Skip the clubs to avoid paying a lot in cover charges. Stick with bars in El Raval and El Born for a fun night out.

New Year’s Day

As the hangover of the 31st wears off you’ll realize that it’s the New Year and that means it’s time to eat and drink some more. Families get together and have a large New Year’s Day lunch more wine, more cava, more food and probably some turrons, too. At this point most people make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight.

January 5

And then peace…..until the 5th of January, which is King’s Day Eve. This is when the three magic Kings, or Wise Men, start making their way into Barcelona atop camels and extravagant floats. The King’s Day Parade marks their arrival and takes place on  January 5 and is worth checking out. The 6th, a holiday, is when kiddies open up their presents form the Kings. This is the big gift giving day, much more so than Christmas.

And then, thank goodness, it’s over. Nine days of partying comes to an end, and Barcelona goes back to normal for a couple months. Most of us sign up for a gym membership.

The post Barcelona: Tips for celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Eve appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

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.

The post Berlin: Gay nightlife on the cheap appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

No formal RSVP is required, just show up and bring your travel friends. Here are the details:

When: Thursday, Feb 3, 2011 from 6 – 9 p.m.

Where: The Loft at Professor Thom’s. 219 2nd Avenue (between 13th and 14th Streets), 2nd floor, in the East Village.

We’ll be handing out some freebies to those arriving early, but we’ll look forward to seeing you regardless of what time you arrive.

If you’re interested in a few photo outtakes from our previous shindig, click here.

See you soon!

The post You’re Invited: A very Cheapo happy hour this Thursday appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.