This southern Spanish archipelago is a hotspot throughout the year, so here are some tips to help steer clear of the tourist traps.

Budget travel guide to Canary Islands

Fly right and fly light

Located just 60 miles west of Morocco, the Canary Islands are easy to fly to from the European mainland. Low-cost airlines like RyanAir, easyJet, Air Berlin, Monarch and TUIfly offer round-trip fares at very decent prices. London, Germany and Spain seem to provide the most departure destinations.

An island-hopping itinerary requires either more flying (see BinterCanaries.com) or ferry rides ranging from 20 minutes to a few hours. One-way tickets will costs between $40 and $80 USD, depending on time and season.

Regardless of where in the air you are, pack light for your flight to avoid extra luggage fees. Low-cost airlines charge big for checking suitcases, so leave your Euro-gear at home and come armed with nothing but a backpack. The rest can be purchased cheap at “one euro” shops on any island.

Choose your island wisely

Lanzarote is local: “You usually don’t see mass tourism in Lanzarote. It’s a sporty island with many younger travelers,” says Roberto Merli, manager and co-owner of Kalufa Surf School in La Santa. Lanzarote offers surf, hang gliding, and a lot of bicycling–perfect for the adventurous type.

Grand Canary Island is Spain’s Cancun, full of nightclubs and shops overflowing with tacky trinkets and touristy apparel. However, the island is also probably the most diverse, with beaches and family-friendly activities. It’s also easy to navigate if your Spanish is no bueno.

Tenerife is the most-visited island and packed with big-spender activities (think golf courses) and nightlife. Its sightseeing pull is the varied landscape, which ranges from green forests to volcanic craters and the islands’ highest mountain.

Fuerteventura has the longest beaches and a drier climate than the rest–a recipe for some serious sunbathing by the sea. Family activities range from water parks to zoos, and the island is a stone’s-throw away when going to or coming from Lanzarote.

Rent a car

The cheapest place to rent a car is usually at the airport. The best price will be around €10 per day for a four-person economy rental (one-week minimum). Taxis are a good deal for locals, but beware of “tourist prices.” Buses (“guagua” in Spanish) are around, but the route system is limited and more for hopping from town to town. Besides, gas prices are jaw-droppingly cheap.

Eat Out

A good way to decide whether a restaurant has a decently-priced menu is to compare prices with how much you’d pay for the ingredients at a supermarket. Surprisingly, the price for a home-cooked seafood meal is often about the same as in a local restaurant. The natives will say it’s due to the low-tax law, but either way this comparison is a good rule of thumb to follow.

Note: The special tax system on these islands also means vices are cheap: Alcohol and cigarettes come at a very low price.

The post A Cheapo guide to the Canary Islands appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

If you’re itching to explore the shores beyond the city, you have plenty of options. Most beaches around Lisbon are accessible by the train linking Lisbon and Cascais. (Trains depart from Lisbon’s Cais do Sodré train station.) Round-trip fares are generally under €10, making these destinations perfect for a Cheapo-friendly day trip. Visit the Lisbon transportation Web site for more information.

To cool off Portuguese-style, grab your towel and sun block and head to one of the following stretches of shore:

For convenience: Tamariz Beach

Located in the resort town of Estoril, Tamariz Beach is dotted with sun-shade umbrellas for rent. Flanked by a giant casino, golf courses and a race track, Tamariz Beach is not the most obvious Cheapo destination. It does have its perks, however: It’s only a 30-minute train ride from Lisbon (take the Lisbon-Cascais line to the Estoril stop), and it boasts a stone castle owned by the royal family of Monaco as its backdrop.

There’s a beachside restaurant and a number of bars that stay open late during the summer months. Make sure to check out the lush Estoril gardens: They provide a taste of the luxe resort life for free.

Costa da Caparica. Photo: Endless Autumn

For a lively beach scene: Costa da Caparica

Situated on the south bank of the Tagus River, Costa da Caparica is a long stretch of calm, sandy shores (read: a beach bum’s paradise). Costa da Caparica is a good destination for nightlife, as the bars, restaurants and cafés stay open late as revelers drink and dance.

The beaches of Costa da Caparica are accessible by bus from Lisbon’s Praça de Espanha terminal.

For water sports and peaceful surroundings: Guincho

If you’re looking for a quick escape from metropolitan Lisbon, head to the sedate shores of Guincho Beach. There’s scenery to boot: Trees line the sand, and the Boca do Inferno cavern sits among rocky cliffs. Add a beach blanket and a good book, and you have the perfect place for a lazy afternoon.

More active Cheapos can take advantage of Guincho’s strong waves. The area is popular with both windsurfers and surfers. To get there, take the train from Lisbon to Cascais. From Cascais, Guincho is a short bus ride.

For a real day trip: Ribeira das Ilhas

For those who don’t mind heading further afield, Ribeira das Ilhas in the town of Ericeira provides a good option. This is an especially surfer-friendly destination. The beach has hosted numerous high-profile surfing championships, and the waters are sure to be dotted with people riding the waves.

Besides top-notch surfing, Ribeira das Ilhas offers plenty of bars and restaurants. From Lisbon, the train ride takes an hour and a half. Trains depart from Lisbon’s Grand Campo Grande terminal.

The post Lisbon Day Trips: Four beach escapes appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.