But fear not Cheapos, because we’ve compiled the dates you need to pay attention to, so you can plan your trip with a little less stress and more money in your pocket.

When to visit Barcelona

Easter Holidays during April

Spring break in Spain happens during Easter Holy Week. Each year the spring break dates change, and this year it comes late enough to promise (hopefully) sunny weather and Mediterranean swimming for the brave.

Oftentimes, locals take the whole week off and travel. If they can’t get the whole week off then they take the 18th-21st off, as these dates are national holidays, and make for a nice four-day weekend. This is not a good time to travel because everyone else is.

Easter Holy Week, or Semana Santa as it’s called here, is the first big vacation for Spaniards since Christmas and they like to make the most of it! You’ll have a hard time finding rooms during these dates and sights will be more crowded. In addition, you might be asked to pay more for a hotel room because it’s Semana Santa: supply and demand.

Barcelona’s beaches fill with people ready to party for Sant Joan. Photo: Regina W Bryan

Sant Joan beach parties: June 23-24

After Easter Holy Week, things tend to calm down and prices return to low-season or shoulder-season rates, only to shoot up again in June for Sant Joan. Held on the 23rd and 24th of June, this is another block of dates when Spaniards like to travel. If you’re planning a trip around this time make your reservations way in advance. Wild parties are held on beaches all over Spain for Sant Joan, and Barcelona is no exception.

Where to stay during Sant Joan

If you like noise, fireworks and a rowdy good time, book one of the 72 rooms at Hotel del Mar, a three-star property between the Gothic Quarter and the beach. You’ll be right in the middle of all the action. If big bangs and late-night parties grate on your nerves, reserve a tastefully-decorated room at Fashion House, an intimate B&B in a non-touristy location away from the hubbub. There’s even a lush garden patio, so you can still relax outside, while the rest of the city parties down on the beach.

Fashion House hotel is far enough away from the Sant Joan party to enjoy some peace and quiet. Photo: Regina W Bryan

High Season: Late June to the end of August

From Sant Joan until the end of August, it is officially high-season in Barcelona and all over Catalonia. You’ll pay more during this time and will be sharing the city streets with many more tourists. In August visitors flock to Barcelona, but locals leave for month-long vacations elsewhere. This is a problematic month in that many shops and restaurants will be closed for 20 days or more (though this is not true in the tourist areas of the city).

Plan around these tough dates to save money and beat the crowds in Barcelona and around Catalonia. Good luck!

More trip planning advice

Visit our Barcelona section in the blog for many more articles about ways to save on your trip. Plus, be sure to check out our favorite cheap hotels in Barcelona our full guide to Barcelona hotels.

The post When to Visit Barcelona: Choose the best dates to save appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

And it’s not just the locals who feeling the season. Visitors to Paris during these warmer spring months have a tendency to get downright giddy (weather-permitting).

To help you get your giddy on, here are 9 ways to celebrate the spring this year in Paris, nearly all of them outdoors.

1. Drink on a terrace

Find me a Parisian who doesn’t love a chilled beer or glass of rosé while sitting on a sun-soaked terrace – I dare you. This is the most typical way to usher in warmer temperatures with friends, drinks, food, and sun. Here are some of my favorite drinks to order at an outdoor cafe.

2. Picnic in a park

If the terraces are too crowded, take your bottle and baguette to the closest waterfront or park and set yourself up with a picnic. I can’t stress enough the importance of picnicking in the springtime. Sure, go ahead and visit the Louvre, Notre Dame, and the Eiffel Tower, but then, before all else, have a picnic.

Here are some favorite items to pick up at the butcher in Paris, and here are some recommended picnic spots.

(Photo: seafolke)

3. Spend the Night at the Museums

The European-wide Nuit aux Musées on May 16 offers a unique way to experience some of Paris’s most iconic galleries. Museums are open at night and cost nothing to entrer. Games, illuminations, and guided tours await those who can stay up late enough. Read more about it here.

(Photo: anhgemus-photography)

4. Bike about

Check out the “I Vélib I Can Fly” exhibit at the Hôtel de Ville, April 2 to May 16, 2015. The exhibit features work by international artists who just love biking through their cities (who can blame them?). And of course, it’s free. Maybe afterward you’ll feel inspired to take a spin on a Vélib on your way to your next destination (here’s how to use the cheapo bike share program).

(Photo: gregcullen)

5. Head to the Bois de Vincennes for a carnival

For those looking to get a breath of fresh air, spend the day in the Bois de Vincennes to the east of Paris. The annual fair, the Foire du Trône, runs from March 27 to May 25 and features family-friendly activities and food, including rides, games, and of course churros. There will be fireworks on May 1st to sweeten the deal.

(Photo: kerolic)

6. Spend rainy days with Edith, Napoléon, and Gaultier

When April showers cometh, head inside for one of the many springtime exhibits featuring some very famous Frenchies. This season’s must-see shows include an Edith Piaf show that will go up at the BNF, a Napoléon exhibit hitting the Carnavalet, and a Jean-Paul Gaultier show that has already landed at the Grand Palais.

(Photo: calips96)

7. Take a stroll

Why not celebrate springtime with a good old-fashioned stroll? Explore the old railways of the Petite Ceinture and the Coulée Verte, or simply make your way along the Seine until you can walk no more. It’s so much nicer to stroll the city without being bundled up under layers of scarves and sweaters.

(Photo: Paris.fr)

8. Ahoy! Float along the Canal St-Martin

You might want to forget walking and biking and give into your nautical side instead. You can rent a small boat along the Canal de l’Ourcq (€40 for 1 hour in a five-person boat) and enjoy the Canal St-Martin from a new perspective. It’s not the cheapest activity, but split five ways, you can spend an hour or two without breaking the bank. No license required!

(Photo: fatemeh)

Strawberry season at the Marche d’Aligre. Photo: ligelena

9. Taste the springtime

Springtime means we can ignore the cabbage and potatoes at the market and lighten up our dining habits a bit. Seasonal eating is important to the French, so in April and May we’ll feast on cherries, strawberries, apricots, asparagus, and creamy goat cheeses. The Marché d’Aligre (daily except Monday) is a local favorite to visit, but the Bastille market is an enormous bustling alternative (open Thurs and Sun).

How do you celebrate the springtime in Paris?

Have a springy activity to add to our list? Tell us how you celebrate the springtime in Paris in our comments section below.

The post 9 ways to celebrate the spring in Paris this year appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

There are so many options from small towns in the mountains to buzzing beaches, but one of our favorites is a trip to the scenic whitewashed fishing villages along the Costa Brava. Here you can get away from the bustle of the city and enjoy hidden beaches, beautiful walks and unique cultural attractions.

The white buildings of Cadaques make the perfect backdrop for a weekend escape. Photo: MorBCN

Cadaqués:

This is one of my go-to spots when visitors come to Barcelona. We hop in the car and drive up to Cadaqués, a bone-white village tucked into the bottom of Cap de Creus Natural Park. Portlligat, where artist Dalí lived for 40 years, is nearby and makes for a fascinating day-trip. Make sure to book tickets to visit his house, which is now a museum, in advance.

Calella de Palafrugell is a charming fishing village worth exploring. Photo: Regna W Bryan

Calella de Palafrugell

My husband’s relatives introduced me to Calella de Palafrugell, a popular fishing town to the south of Cadaqués. Stone houses with sapphire and green wooden shutters crowd around compact coves with pebble shorelines. From the center of town the Camí de Ronda winds over the hills, through pine forests, to spectacular hidden beaches.

Stroll along the soft sands of La Fosca in Costa Brava. Photo: Regina W Bryan

La Fosca & Palamós

Although popular Palamós can be touristy and built-up, there are still a lot of options for affordable lodging, nightlife and restaurants in town. But we recommend getting a little bit outside of the action for a more enjoyable visit. Instead of staying in Palamós, chill on the beaches of La Fosca, which are just a few kilometers north. La Fosca is a quiet village with a hostal and a handful of seasonal restaurants and bars. Best of all, the beach is a soft crescent of Mediterranean bliss.

Transportation tips

Unfortunately, reaching these spots isn’t as easy as hopping on a train. Most of the beaches along the Costa Brava have maintained their charm because there is no rail service to them. To get to these sweet spots, you need to either rent a car or go by the bus company known as Sarfa (which can be slow going). Most Costa Brava beaches are about 90 minutes by car from Barcelona proper.

The post Barcelona excursions: 5 beautiful getaways in Costa Brava appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

1. Walk aimlessly

I’m a walker, and one of the many reasons I like living in Prague is because it’s a great city to get lost in. Just pick a starting point, start walking and see where the path takes you. It’s a great way to explore the city and stumble upon any of Prague’s myriad treasures.

2. Drink a beer outside

After walking for a while, you’ll naturally get thirsty. Of course there aren’t as many outdoor beer gardens open now as there will be in the summer, but I just passed one yesterday and the people looked like they were in Czech beer heaven. Sipping a brew outside is one of the country’s greatest pleasures; if you don’t do it, well, you just haven’t experienced the Czech Republic. Na zdraví! (That’s “cheers!” in Czech.)

3. Find a park bench

Prague has a number of parks, squares and even little corners with benches to relax, and from which you can watch the world go by. When the temperatures warm up residents emerge from their apartments and take in the sun on their favorite park bench. It’s great people watching!

4. Head to the farmer’s market

Last year a host of farmer’s markets popped up in various locations in the city. They were so popular that they’re doing it again this year, and the season has just begun. At the markets you can find cheeses, breads, fruits, veggies and a variety of Czech specialties. Check out the official Web site (in Czech, but you can translate it online) for info about when and where to find the markets.

5. See what’s in bloom at the Botanical Gardens

Head on up to Prague Botanical Gardens. Open throughout the year, the area includes a Japanese Garden, the Fata Morgana greenhouse and St. Claire’s Vineyard, where you can sample local wines in a lovely wine bar. The gardens are located in a residential area above the city center called Troja, which is an area you might otherwise miss. While there, why not stop by the nearby Zoo and Troja Chateau. Bonus: From March 18- 27, 2011, the Fata Morgana greenhouse is hosting an orchid exhibit.

The post Prague Spring: 5 outdoor activities to celebrate the season appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.