However, tourists might find it difficult to navigate the many chains of supermarkets in Paris. Here are the names of Paris supermarkets to know if you’re ready to visit a supermarché.

Franprix

The chain with the most supermarkets in Paris, Franprix has at least one store in almost every neighborhood. Stores carry the brand “Leader Price,” one of the cheapest store brands available. Franprix offers decent produce, frozen selections and general grocery needs. Many locations are even open on Sundays and until 10 p.m. at night! This is by far the most popular supermarket choice.

Carrefour

The Walmart of France, Carrefour offers a huge variety of brand name and generic goods. Smaller Carrefour markets within Paris and larger Carrefour superstores just outside of the city limits are sure to please the most ardent grocery store addict.

Picard

While not the cheapest place to shop, Picard does offer an excellent selection of exclusively frozen goods (this is a good market if you have a freezer). You can get almost anything frozen for reasonable prices, considering the great quality. We recommend sampling the cupcakes at these Paris supermarkets.

Monoprix

Whenever anyone asks where to buy something, Monoprix is usually a good answer. Comparable to Target in the US, Monoprix also doubles as a great grocery store with inexpensive Monoprix brand products. Every arrondissement has at least one large Monoprix store in addition to smaller shops, called Monop’ Daily, for a quick sandwich or can of beans.

Related: Gourmet Picnic ideas for your Paris hotel room

Additional tips

Other Paris supermarkets to look out for include G20 and Coopérative U stores. And while not always as cheap, bodegas and corner markets sell small selections of food at reasonable prices (and stay open late!).

Be warned that most grocery stores close before 9 or 10 p.m. and—apart from a handful of Franprix stores—are rarely open on Sunday. Store brands are consistently cheaper than name brands, though the quality is not remarkably different. Plus, brands such as Leader Price and Monoprix now offer organic goods, so even organic shoppers can find a deal!

Related: Paris Outdoor Markets: 10 tips for budget shoppers

Your experience with Paris supermarkets

Do you have a favorite grocery store or supermarket in Paris? Tell us about it!

The post A guide to supermarkets in Paris appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

So once you book your London hotel, you’ll be ready to start exploring. Here’s the EuroCheapo guide to the main supermarket brands that are fighting it out for your pounds.

Tesco

Website

Tesco is the UK’s biggest chain of supermarkets — it’s estimated that £1 from every £10 spent in Britain is spent in a Tesco store. They carry a wide range of brands but seek out the ‘Tesco Everyday Value’ range for the cheapest prices (the biscuits especially win praise from customers).  While some Tesco stores are huge, selling everything from tomato ketchup to TVs, in central London, you’re more likely to encounter a smaller Tesco Express store. Catering to workers, these stores are open late (usually until 11 pm) but carry a much smaller range of stock. Prices will also be slightly higher.

Related: Best outdoor food markets in London

Sainsbury’s

Website

After Tesco, Sainsbury’s is the UK second biggest chain of supermarkets. The two chains are very similar, although Sainsbury’s has a slightly better reputation for quality. The stores often include fish and cheese counters so you can pay for exactly what you want to buy, rather than having to buy off the shelves. Sainsbury’s Locals are smaller stores, an equivalent to the Tesco Express, while ‘Sainsbury’s Basics’ is its economy range. It’s also worth checking out the ‘by Sainsbury’s range’, usually cheaper than branded products.

The German chain Aldi has been opening more London branches in recent years. Photo: Alan Stanton

Aldi

Website

Just as the German chain Aldi is spreading across the US, it’s growing in popularity in the UK too, thanks to its wallet-friendly pricing. In fact, it was voted the country’s favorite supermarket earlier this year. You’ll tend to find Aldis outside of central London so — if you do spot one — we recommended stocking up on its excellent value own branded goods. Look out for Lidl too, another German brand proving to be a hit with British shoppers.

Asda

Website

Asda is now the UK division of Walmart and stocks a wide range of products at reliably low prices. As with Aldi, most of the larger stores are found away from the center of London. It’s worth tracking down an Asda if you’re looking to stock up your trolley with anything other than groceries: its George range is known for selling reasonably priced, fashionable clothing and homewares.

Marks & Spencer

Website

As you’d expect from a grocery store favored by David and Victoria Beckham, shoppers at Marks & Spencer (commonly known as “M&S” or “Marks and Sparks”) like to think of themselves as being a bit posh. Marks & Spencer is actually more of a department store, selling clothes as well as groceries, but — especially at railway stations — you find ‘Marks & Spencer Simply Food’ shops that (as the name suggests) specialize in food. M&S is a pricey option for a full supermarket shop, but look out for ‘Dine In” specials offers for a cheaper evening meal option. Their readymade sandwiches and salads are equal in taste and sometimes beat on price, Eurocheapo favorite Pret a Manger.

Related: 10 ways to save on dining in London

The most upscale supermarket chain in London, Waitrose also offers free daily coffee for those who sign up for a loyalty card. Photo: Paul M

Waitrose

Website

Waitrose (and its smaller version, ‘Little Waitrose’) is the UK’s most upmarket supermarket chain, the kind of place that prides itself on its range of organic olive oils and artisan chutneys (there’s even a Facebook page devoted to some of its snobbier customers). Needless to say, I’d shop there all the time if I could afford it. If Waitrose is your only supermarket option, seek out their Essentials range for more affordable basics. Staying in the UK for a longer period? Apply for a Waitrose card — amongst many other deals, it entitles you to a free daily coffee from the store.

The post Budget food shopping in London: A guide to the city’s supermarkets appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Whether you’re looking for some vin rouge to go with your dinner or you want a bottle for a friendly picnic, here are some tips to keep in mind for picking an affordable wine.

1. Don’t be thrown off by labels or price tags

Higher prices and pretty labels are not indicative of how much you will like a wine. Bottles at restaurants can cost €20, €40, €60 and beyond.

While the wine will probably be good, less discerning pallets can opt for the much cheaper and equally tasty carafe or pichet of wine. This is a house wine that is served in a small pitcher or glass bottle that comes with none of the frills of a Saint-Emillon or Chateauneuf du Pape, but it will still be a tasty accompaniment to most French meals.

Don’t feel goofy asking for a pichet at lunch or dinner, because even the locals will order up some house red, white, or rosé on a typical evening.

2.  Don’t get too cheapo…

When purchasing a bottle of wine at the grocery store or wine store, even Cheapos have a limit. Any bottle under €3 is rarely something that you’d want to drink, more often reserved for cooking or wild student parties. Stick to the €5-10 range to ensure that the wine won’t make you wince.

Appellation Medoc Contrôlée. Photo: Dominic Lockyer

3. “AOC”? A-OK!

Look for the AOC, or appellation d’origine contrôlée on any bottle you purchase. This indicates that the wine is a credible Bordeaux, Burgundy, or whatever other region (origine) it may claim. Without the AOC, there is no way to know if the wine was made by a professional or from some guy down the street in his bathtub.

Still, if you go to a wine bistrot like Le Verré Volé, many of their wines don’t have a AOC. However, you can be sure that the specialists in the store have visited the vineyards and know exactly where that wine is coming from.

4. Think inside the box, but outside the jug

Box is OK, but plastic jugs might be pushing it. Box wine is not quite trendy, but is accepted with wine stores like Nicolas offering up affordable varieties.

The liter-sized plastic jugs at the supermarkets, however, are not to be trusted. Take a tip from someone who may or may not have been there – it’s not worth testing unless you want your wine to double as a paint-remover.

5.  Know when to say “non”

If you taste a wine and it doesn’t suit your tastes, hopefully you didn’t buy a whole bottle of it at a restaurant. That said, if a wine tastes particularly offensive, with smells and tastes that seem unfit for any mouth, it may be corked, which means the wine has been spoiled in the bottling or aging process.

While rare, receiving a corked glass or bottle of wine can happen, and if you are really unable to drink the wine, ask your bartender or server what they think and they will usually be honest with you.

6. Supermarket wine is not taboo

With aisles devoted to all sorts of regional French wines, Parisian supermarkets like Monoprix and Franprix are acceptable places to buy a bottle for dinner or a picnic.

If you want to ask questions or are looking for something specific, however, head to a wine shop, or caviste. Nicolas or Le Repaire de Bacchus are two such chains found all over the city. Additionally, there are countless independent wine shops and bistros that will be happy to help you find what you’re seeking.

Your wine questions or advice?

What other questions do you have about wine in France? Have some advice to share with our readers? Join the conversation in our comments section!

Also in our guide: Heading to Paris soon and looking for advice on great affordable sleeps? Our editors have hunted down the best hotel deals, all visited, inspected and reviewed by EuroCheapo. Read more in our Paris guide.

Note: This post was updated on September 30, 2015 with new links, photos and information.

The post France: 6 wine buying tips for Cheapos appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But we have watched one too many tourists wander through the dreary aisles of a French supermarket scavenging like lost urban seagulls for industrially made scraps when all of Paris is there for the taking in its competitively priced gourmet food shopping glory.

Follow our tips on how to get more value and quality for your money and turn that in-room picnic into a memorable meal you couldn’t get at home.

Why the Supermarket Should Be Your Last Resort

Note that while American supermarkets have become more glamorous and high quality in recent years, Paris supermarkets just don’t try that hard. Even larger chains like Monoprix with their own deli counters and more extensive offerings can’t give you the same quality that you can find elsewhere. And if you are going to make a meal of wine, bread and cheese, which are usually accompaniments to the main meal in France, remember that life is short and you have better options than the inferior mass-market variety.

A Paris Farmers Market for Every Day of the Week

Another obvious one-stop destination for in-room picnic supplies is the Paris farmers market. Paris has 82 farmers markets in every neighborhood of the city, meaning you have your pick of locations any day of the week.

The lively markets of Paris are entertaining and life-affirming. Not only can you find fresh whole foods, you can also find more exotic but still affordable pre-prepared offerings like warm freshly made paella, choucroute or roast chicken and potatoes, or even a plate of shucked oysters (just ask) that you can enjoy with a glass of wine, some made-in-Brittany butter and fresh bread in your room, no cooking required.

Because the food is not pre-packaged, you can buy only as much food as you need, like a single roasted chicken thigh with a handful of roasted potatoes, instead of a whole chicken, or any sized morsel of cheese, which will save you money on wasted food.

Specialty Shops and Traiteurs

Don’t be intimidated by cheese shops, wine shops, fruit and vegetable sellers, butchers (who sell ready to eat cooked meats and pates as well), fish shops (which sell the aforementioned oysters or already cooked shrimp or smoked salmon) and other specialty shops, which may look fancy but aren’t necessarily more expensive.

The traiteur is the name for a gourmet take-out shop or deli where you can buy prepared foods. This is not a budget option per se, although if you want to sample gourmet dishes prepared by French hands without paying for a sit-down restaurant meal, there are savings to be found. Also be aware that even apparently upscale wine shops will have plenty of perfectly drinkable wines priced at well under €10, and the staff is trained to help.

Pick up bread, pastries, sandwiches, quiches and more at a boulangerie. Photo: meminick

Boulangeries and Patisseries

There is no point buying pre-packaged supermarket pastries when the city is jam packed with patisseries where you can buy anything from a single macaron to a slice of tart for the price of a pack of industrially made cookies at the supermarket.

It should go without saying that the boulangerie is the cheapest place to buy the freshest bread. But the boulangerie is also a reasonably priced place to pick up sandwiches, quiches, desserts, salads and in some cases hot meals packaged to go (if you want your meal heated, just ask).

Pretty much every boulangerie offers a fixed price menu option (or three) that can save you money on a sandwich/quiche/pizza/stuffed bread plus a dessert and a drink. (But be sure to do the math in your head first since in some cases you can save by buying separately.)

Remember not to buy more bread or pastries than you plan to consume asap, as items are baked fresh and not injected with preservatives to give them a shelf life.

If you want fresh bread but don’t want your baguette to go stale (which it will, often in a matter of hours), don’t go for those overpriced mini breads they sell like candies at near the cash register. Instead, ask for a “demi-baguette,” and you will pay half price for half of a full-sized baguette (this generally works only for standard baguettes, not ones made with special flours or whole grains or added ingredients like nuts or olives).

Microwave Meals

If your hotel has a microwave, we have two words for you: Picard Surgelés. This ubiquitous chain has been selling flash frozen foods and upmarket TV dinners to French citizens since the early 1970s, and now has more than 100 locations in Paris alone. Even if you don’t plan to buy anything, taking a stroll through the chilly aisles provides a fascinating sociological glimpse into the modern French palate. Plus you can try French specialties like escargot, duck stuffed with foie gras and more without paying restaurant prices.

Take Out and Delivery

More and more Paris restaurants offer take-out (à emporter), which isn’t necessarily a low cost way to go, especially since tipping is included in the price of items. Some restaurants, like the hipper than thou organic pizza makers Pizza Flamingo, knock €1 off for take-out. And there are mediocre sushi restaurants all over Paris that offer food to go.

Delivery (livraison) is also increasingly popular in Paris, but you will wait an hour and quality to price ratios are not necessarily givens. Be sure to check first with your hotel if you decide to go the delivery route.

The post Gourmet Picnic Ideas for Your Paris Hotel Room appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Hey, you’re in Florence, consider this a good thing! Do not waste this unique opportunity to pick up some great souvenirs! Here’s a quick guide to gifts that will fit many a Cheapo budget:

Food & Wine

Why beat around the bush? Your tummy is getting a lot out of this trip and you’d like to share some of the yummy treasures with your loved ones back home. Problem is, a Florentine tripe sandwich doesn’t travel very well.

But, confection food does! Those olives you had with your aperitivo? They were from a glass container! That ball of mozzarella that balloned over your pizza? Comes in sealed plastic! Those sundried tomatoes? They’re, um, dry so they actually travel quite well.

My point is that all these things are purchasable at any of the markets in Florence and come in small travel-friendly packages. Or if you want, do it the “cheapo way” and buy them in a supermarket.

In terms of wine, don’t waste your time. Go straight to the supermarket where a bottle can cost up to 75% less than it does in a specialty shop.

Art

In the good ol’ days, all you had to do was become friends with the local nobility to get Michael or Leo to paint you a little number for your living room. Now, one either has to be an international art thief or an auction prince with deep pockets to score one of those. Bummer.

So we’re stuck with the replicas. Hit the souvenir shops in the Uffizi museum, the Palazzo Strozzi, or any of the other galleries where you just saw a fancy painting to pick up the poster/picture format. For something like movie posters, try the Movie Store on Via Guelfa near the tourist office.

Or, just prance about the little streets in the historic center where you’ll find tons of shops selling prints. Prices vary so don’t be afraid to shop.

Clothing

Now for the third prong in our souvenir trifecta: clothes. If it’s souvenir threads you’re after (i.e. t-shirts with prints of statues on them or sweatshirts with “University of Florence” embroidered onto the front), then the markets will be your best bet. They also carry soccer jerseys, aprons, scarves, hats, just think of something and you’ll probably find it.

Also, don’t forget about Florence’s rich tradition in leather-making. You’ll find small shops all over the place that carry these goods. Sandals, purses, wallets all make great souvenirs. Some are pricey, some aren’t. A wallet can cost as little as €5 and a purse, €20.

Last Chance: Airport

Oops, you’re just about to board the plane and forgot one last cost center from your list that’s souvenir worthy. Fortunately, there are a few shops in the airport that carry food, wine and clothing. But of course, these will be more expensive.

Whatever you do, don’t snatch the blanket from the plane to give to your uncle. Seriously, don’t.

Also in our guide: Looking for hotels that fit your Cheapo budget? You’re in luck! Our editors have visited, inspected and reviewed the best cheap hotels in Florence, all centrally located. Read more in our Florence guide.

The post Florence: Cheap souvenir ideas for everyone on your list appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

This piece of advice may seem quite obvious, but it’s also surprisingly easy to forget or brush off. After all, when you get thirsty walking down the rue de Rivoli toward the Louvre, dropping a euro or two for a small, yet convenient bottle of water seems like the best option.

Quite often, however, a giant bottle for a fraction of the price sits waiting for you on a shelf, only a minute or two away…

Check in and hit the grocery store

I’m quite proud to say that I’ve now got my grocery routine down. As soon as I check into a hotel in Paris, I usually ask at reception for directions to the nearest grocery store. Not only are French supermarkets fun (you can spend an hour in the cheese section alone) and mix you right in with the locals, they save you money and offer healthy food alternatives to boot.

I usually pick up several bottles of water, along with bananas and oranges, and, if I have a mini-fridge back in my hotel room, yogurt for breakfast. All of these items will be much cheaper in the grocery store (perhaps 50-60 cents for a bottle of Evian that would cost €2-3 at a train station), and they allow me to eat something healthier than the usual hotel offering for breakfast. (I don’t know about you, but after a week of a morning croissant, I start to look a bit like a stick of butter.)

After my cheapo breakfast en chambre, I head to a cafe for a tasty espresso or cappuccino (standing at the bar, of course!).

Back to those water bottles

One note about those bottles of water waiting for you at the supermarket: They’ll be packaged in groups of six or so, and usually priced to be sold as one unit. Don’t panic, in most cases you’re allowed to break up the packs and buy single bottles.

I took the above photo in a supermarket near the Bastille. Note that the packages of Vittel, Badoit and Evian have all been broken up into single bottles. If you don’t see any evidence of single sales, ask somebody working (if you can find anyone). Otherwise, just rip into a package, grab some bottles, and head to the cashier.

Your grocery advice?

Have some advice to share about Parisian supermarkets? Do you have your own rituals for shopping after check-in? Do you make your own breakfast en chambre? Share your thoughts in our comments section.

Also in our guide: If you’re heading to Paris, be sure to check out the reviews of our favorite inexpensive hotels. Our editors have scoured the city’s streets, visiting, inspecting and photographing every budget hotel we can find (water bottle in hand). Read more in our Paris guide.

The post Paris: Only buy your water at the supermarket! appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

When traveling, shopping for your food is not only a great way to get to know a place, it’s also a smart way to save some crowns. Here’s a quick guide to food shopping in Prague.

Let’s start with the big boys

The three main supermarkets in Prague are Albert, Billa and Tesco. In my personal experience, Albert caters more to the Czech Republic market, Billa has a bit more quality and Tesco offers the most options for foreign shoppers.

All of them have locations throughout the city. Once inside, shop with a basket or have a 5 or 10 crown on you to insert into the top part of a shopping cart (to unlock the chain holding it to the other carts) if you plan to pick up a lot of items.

Don’t expect aisles and aisles of packaged goods or frozen meals. Do expect lots of interesting yogurts, beer and chocolate! Try new stuff even if you don’t know what it is. It’s fun!

Just a quick pick up

The potraviny, something equivalent to a smaller market or convenience store, can be found on nearly every corner of the city. Here you’ll find more of the essentials. There great places to go if you just need to pick up a few items. They usually stock a small selection of bread, sometimes cheeses and a handful of fruits and vegetables.

If it’s a bit late in the day, look out for something called Vecerka. These are potraviny that stay open later or in some cases, non-stop.

Ovoce a Zelenina (Fruits and Vegetables)

The fruit and vegetable markets are the place to go for the best selection and highest quality of produce. Again, ovoce a zelenina are found throughout the city. Some are just tiny little shops, while others spill out into the streets, with a few even being housed in small huts on the street.

Inside, you usually just select and bag your own goods (small clear plastic baggies are found hanging or in a roll within the fruit and vegetable box). There are still a handful of places where the clerk does it for you; just point, nod and smile.

Enter the land of meat

If you’re a fan of meat, there’s lots of in the Czech Republic. You can’t miss the butcher shop because the meats are prominently displayed in the window. (People stop by and stare as if gazing into a clothing shop window.) And you can’t miss the smell–it starts before you even enter the shop.

I don’t eat much of the stuff, so I’m not a great guide for this one. Just go inside and see what’s on offer.

Farmers’ markets

Although the fall brings an end to the farmers’ market season, they’re definitely worth noting. As I mentioned in a previous post, they just started last year and continue to be packed with shoppers eager for fresh, local goods.

Go early, buy one of the beautiful weaved baskets on offer and start shopping for some delicious Czech specialties.

Of the health food and organic variety

During the past few years, a noticeable number of of bio-portraviny (“bio” is basically the same as organic) have been popping up around the city. To be sure the items are indeed organic, look out for the Czech biozebra mark or the EU organic logo.

There are also a few fair-trade offerings as well as food shops selling Czech-made goods. Founded in 1991, Country Life stores offer organic, fair-trade and a variety of health food options. Many of the products are from the shop’s own eco-farm and organic bakery. In a few locations they have a restaurant or a take-away counter.

The post Prague: A guide to grocery stores and food markets appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Before venturing into the supermarket, however, I’ll let you in on a few cultural tips to help your shopping experience go more smoothly. Here are five rules to follow:

Put on the glove! Photo: Nicole Arriag

1. Put on the protective glove

When it comes to picking out your fruits and vegetables, Italians don’t want your grimy hands touching every peach, pear and pineapple. After all, no one knows where your hands have been. That’s why you’ll notice little plastic gloves hanging right beside the produce bags.

I was totally unaware of this the first time I went fruit shopping until I got scolded by another shopper for contaminating her food with my germs. Yikes! You would have thought washing your fruit and veggies when you got home was enough. Apparently not. So, word to the wise: Wear the protective glove when picking out your veggies!

2. Weigh and label your fruit

In Italy, it’s your job (not the cashier’s) to weigh your fruit and vegetables and to adhere the label to the bag. If you haven’t weighed and labeled your bag, you’re in a for a scolding when you get to the checkout line. Don’t be surprised if they send you back to weigh it yourself (or worse, send you to the back of the line).

3. Bag your own groceries

In Rome, the bag boy is you. Baggers don’t exist in Italy and you won’t see the cashier volunteering to help you with your duty. Her job, after all, is to scan your items as fast as she can and keep the line moving. Thus, your items will pile up into a mountain with the next customer waiting anxiously for you to finish. Bag it!

4. Bags aren’t free

Speaking of bagging your groceries, those bags aren’t free. Depending on the store, they can run anywhere from 4 to 10 cents per bag. So be careful about choosing how many bags to take. Of course, you’re welcome to bring your own bags or cart.

5. Line cutting is permitted

Little old ladies are notorious for cutting the line in Italy. No matter how long the line is, it’s not uncommon to see a sweet elderly woman give a cute and clever smile while working her way up the line. Hey, whatever works.

Also, if you have only one or two items to buy, it’s common to ask people to let you cut in front of them. People with carts loaded with groceries are usually willing to let you skip ahead if you only have a couple things in your basket. So don’t be afraid to ask, “Mi scusi, le dispiace se passo avanti per cortesia?”

Other supermarket rules?

Do you have any other shopping rules to add to our list? Add your own in the comments section!

The post Rome: 5 rules for shopping in a Roman grocery store appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Well, even if you haven’t run out of toothpaste, I’m pretty sure that it’s helpful to make a list of supermarkets located in all the main tourist areas of Venice to use as a reference. These major grocery stores provide not only the basics, but also a wide range of typical Italian products (like pasta, olive oil and cakes) that can make an excellent cheapo souvenir!

Related: Affordable Venice hotels with special perks

Supermarkets

Coop
website

Save when you buy water at the supermarket.

The COOP is a very large Italian grocery chain that seems to emphasize quality over profits. I find their items to be reliably good. Several locations can be found in central Venice, among them these four:

Fondamenta Santa Chiara (Near Piazzale Roma)

Sestiere Santa Croce, 1493 (telephone: 041 275 0218)

Cannaregio, 1976 (telephone: 041 720 374)

Sestiere Giudecca, 484 (telephone: 041 241 3381)

There are, of course, other supermarkets in Venice. These include:

Conad
1491, Dorsoduro
041 241 8820

Supermercato Punto Sma City
Sestiere Castello, 5065

Related: 5 simple way to save in Venice

Food shops

Along with a wide range of supermarkets, there are also several food shops in Venice that are worth checking out, even if you just like to window shop. These include classic old Venetian delicatessens and bakeries. Here you will be able to enjoy some of the best food Venice can offer.

Gastronomia Aliani
San Polo 654
Ruga Rialto/Ruga Vecchia San Giovanni
Vaporetto: Rialto Mercato or San Silvestro

This is my favorite food shop of them all in Venice. It’s a traditional delicatessen which stocks a very large selection of cold meats and cheeses from every part of Italy and a very large range of prepared dishes and roasted meats (try the baccala mantecato). It is run by Davide Aliani and his lovely mother.

Casa del Parmigiano
website
San Polo 214/215
Erberia Rialto

This cheese and meat shop has been selling a wide variety of delicious products since 1936! With a location just next to Rialto Bridge, it’s a must-visit in a central location.

I Tre Mercanti srl
website
Campo della Guerra
Castello, 5364
041 522 2901

Gourmet shop with fine Italian ingredients to take home or create a sandwich with. They also have a nice wine selection.

Panifici Majer
Three locations:
San Polo 2307, near Rialto
Santa Croce 1630
Dorsoduro 3108/D (near Campo Santa Margherita)

Panifici Majer is a small chain of Venetian bakeries. Aside from typical food items, it also sells cakes, wines and more.

I hope this reference list will be of use to you out there, in your moment of supermarket need. Happy Shopping!

The post Venice: The best grocery stores, supermarkets, delis and bakeries appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

There’s not much you can do, but there is some hope. Try these five tips to help ease the spending:

1. Your best food friend: Coop

The dominating Swiss supermarket chain is Coop (pronounced “cope”). Unlike many European grocery stores, Coop stores are quite large and offer lots of variety. It’s the perfect place to peruse an assortment of fine local chocolates (about two bucks a bar), not to mention the ideal spot to shop for meals to go.

2. Buy the ZurichCARD: Save on transportation, food, museums

I’m not usually one to recommend these touristy offers, but the ZurichCARD is your ticket to a cheap weekend in the city. Buy the 72-hour card for $40 or the 24-hour card for $20 and enjoy care-free, unlimited public transportation anywhere in and around Zurich. Not only that, but the card also gives discounts on nightlife admission, free drinks at restaurants and free entrance to all the museums in Zurich. As the Zurich tourism site says, “So much pleasure for so little money.”

3. Eating out? Shop around

I found meals purchased in department store cafes to be freshly prepared and reasonably priced. From coffees and cakes to salads and warm meals, it’s a Euro thing that’s quite enjoyable and tasty. Department store cafes usually have three to five stations offering the five food groups (complete with spice shakers and fresh herb offerings) at a lower price than nearby restaurants.

4. Continuing on to neighboring countries? Save up

Interestingly, Switzerland is surrounded by countries that offer dramatically cheaper prices for many of the things tourists are interested in. Germany, Austria and Italy carry similar mountain and seasonal souvenirs, while France offers even better food at a lower price (Paris excluded). Thus, while in Switzerland, be frugal with spending francs and wait to enjoy a satisfying splurge with a Swiss neighbor on shopping, dining and sightseeing.

5. Wander

Sure, it’s the oldest tip in the cheapo book, but strolling through this walkable city won’t cost a franc. Take in the amazing scenery. The mountains, lake, and old city quarters are best admired out in the fresh alpine air. Winters can bring crisp, clear and sunny days. Bundle up, slap on some shades and get out there! (Just watch for those patches of ice.)

The post Zurich: 5 Budget Tips for Saving Some Serious Francs appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.