Unless that show is “Hamilton.”

Since opening at Broadway’s Richard Rodgers Theatre last July, the hip-hop musical tracing the unlikely story of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton has been playing to sold-out audiences.

Related articles:

• 7 ways to save on Broadway tickets

• Head Off-Broadway for Great Shows and Cheaper Tickets

• Cheap hotels near Broadway theaters

And not just your average sold-out audiences. “Hamilton” has attracted the world’s top celebrities — from musicians Jay-Z and Beyoncé to entertainment royalty Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg and even a bipartisan caucus of current-day political figures led by former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and President Barack Obama.

Hamilton is attracting huge audience and even bigger price tags. But there are still a few ways to score cheap tickets. Photo: Chip Pate

How Hot Is “Hamilton”?

Ask Laurens! (Sorry, that’s a thing from the show.) But seriously, even in the dead of winter, when many Broadway productions are scrambling to lure anyone into the theater, “Hamilton” was selling every seat and packing more into standing room. According to published figures, they were paying an average of about $165 per seat, with the top tickets on sale at the box office — when they have any — for a staggering $475 each.

Finding tickets at all is a real challenge. Standard and premium seats available from the theater are still being snapped up the moment new dates go on sale. As of early March, the revolutionary show was sold out 10 months into the future.

If price is no object — and that doesn’t apply to any of us cheapos — tickets are available on the secondary market. The best option is TicketMaster, which allows verified ticket holders to resell their tickets. But brace yourself: The cheapest ticket for a recent weekend performance was $695 for a seat the following day, and most offered further in advance were between $1,200 to $2,500. Yes, per seat.

You may need to empty the national bank, but at least your tickets will be real. With such exorbitant prices, forgeries are everywhere. The New York Times has reported that people try to enter the theater almost daily with fake tickets.

Related: Cheapo Guide to visiting New York City

There Are Cheap Options

It is a long shot, but don’t throw it away! If you want to see the ground-breaking musical — and even do it in true cheapo fashion — consider the ticket lottery and standing room.

Crowds line up for the Hamilton lottery outside the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Photo: Chip Pate

1. Ham4Ham In-Person Lottery (most of the year).

If you manage to win this “Hamilton” powerball, you’ll enjoy the best deal on Broadway — the opportunity to purchase one or two front-row seats for $10 each. That’s a sort of poetic price, since the hero of your show is also the face on your $10 bill. Hence, the catchy title, “Ham4Ham.”

To enter the in-person lottery, complete an entry form at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 West 46th Street, beginning two and a half hours before the performance you want to attend. Entries are accepted for 30 minutes, closing two hours before the performance, when winners are drawn and immediately purchase their tickets. Usually, 21 front-row seats are available.

Hundreds show up for the in-person lottery, so your chance to win isn’t all that great. On the other hand, during the production’s first seven months, before winter set in and the lottery moved online, most lotteries included The Ham4Ham Show, a live performance outside the theater just before winners were drawn. Often featuring cast members from “Hamilton” and other Broadway musicals, the shows became so popular that many fans came just to see the performance. (You can see them on YouTube.) The Ham4Ham Show also has moved online for the winter and if it returns live this spring, it’s likely to be offered only on two-show days.

2. Ham4Ham Online Lottery (winter)

Perhaps it was the brutal weather, or maybe the army of fans spilling into 46th Street, but whatever the reason, “Hamilton” shifted to an online lottery for the winter.

To enter, visit the official online lottery site starting at 9 a.m. the day you want to attend. Applications are accepted from 9 am to 11 am for matinee performances, from noon to 4 p.m. for evening performances that follow a matinee, and from 9 am to 4 pm on days with only an evening performance. Once winners are selected, they are notified by e-mail and have 60 minutes to pay online for tickets, which cannot be transferred to anyone else. Nobody is saying how many people enter each lottery, but there were enough the first day that the entire system crashed.

Expect a bustling scene on performance days outside the Hamilton Theatre. Photo: Chip Pate

3. Standing Room Tickets

When the in-person lottery is offered, standing room tickets are part of a duel process. After the $10 lottery tickets are gone, drawings continue for the opportunity to purchase standing room tickets at $40 each. Not many are available — maybe one dozen on a good night — but it is another cheapo way to see the wildly inventive and popular musical. (Public sale of standing room tickets disappeared when the online lottery began.)

And, If You’re a New York City 11th Grader …

You’re young, scrappy, hungry and lucky! Thanks to “Hamilton” producers and The Rockefeller Foundation, more than 20,000 11th-grade students will see “Hamilton” for $10 each in an initiative designed to bring the show’s historical perspective to New York City students attending high schools serving low-income families. It doesn’t help most of us cheapos see history unfold on stage, but it’s still a pretty impressive outreach. And it’s something that would make Eliza Hamilton, Alexander’s wife and founder of the city’s first private orphanage, justifiably proud.

The post New York: 3 Ways to buy cheap tickets to “Hamilton” on Broadway appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

No matter how much you spend, though, it’s always a good idea to make the most of your night at the theater. Here are our tips to do just that.

Related articles:

• 7 ways to save on Broadway tickets

• Head Off-Broadway for Great Shows and Cheaper Tickets

Read Reviews Before You Buy

The staggering cost of bringing a new show to the stage means complete bombs aren’t nearly common as they once were. Still, you don’t want to waste time seeing a mediocre show when there are dozens of great ones happening all around. You can usually guarantee a good experience by reading reviews before you buy your seats.

Sure, reading reviews can take a little time. But for people who love theater, New York is the world’s biggest and best candy store. Part of the enjoyment is sorting through what will be on the shelves when you arrive — and deciding which ones to sample.

Two particularly helpful sites:

DidHeLikeIt.com is a one-stop roundup featuring top reviewers from the New York Times, Washington Post, Variety and other major media outlets. Click on a show to get a quick look at which reviewers give it a thumbs up, thumbs down or are on the fence. Then, go deeper by reading full reviews, learning what new shows will open before you arrive or signing up to get new reviews by e-mail on opening night.

Time Out New York is a particularly good source. The short, concise format makes them easy to read, the star rating system helps you sort through options and their reviewers cover a lot of ground — including plenty of Off-Broadway productions.

Brave the crowds by the stage door and you may get an autograph from a star like Alan Rickman. Photo: jastrow75.

Meet Stars at the Stage Door

The stage door is literally as it sounds: The place where actors and musicians enter the theater to get backstage. More importantly, it’s where they almost always leave, which gives you a chance to meet the people you just saw perform.

Of course, there are no guarantees. Once in a while, an actor needing to get away quickly slips out another exit. And on two-show days — usually Wednesday and Saturday — they may stay inside between performances. But more often than not, even the most famous take time to sign programs, pose for photographs and maybe even hang around to talk with fans.

What to expect depends on the size of the crowd. The scene was a madhouse when Daniel Radcliffe, AKA Harry Potter, was performing in “How to Succeed in Business.” On the other hand, I’ve seen the entire casts of “Next to Normal” and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” — two Tony Award-winning shows with Tony-Award winning actors — hang out for a good 30 to 40 minutes with two dozen fans.

To have an enjoyable stage door experience, bring your camera and a Sharpie marker or two (in case one disappears in the crowd). Then, before the show begins, ask an usher where the stage door is located and whether your favorite actor is likely to sign autographs and talk with fans. While some stage doors are obvious, others can be hard to find; one is actually located one block behind the theater’s main entrance.

After the final curtain, move quickly to the stage door. Depending on their obligations after the show, some stars will come out quickly; others may take a while. A member of the theater security staff will usually let you know if your favorite performer is still inside or has already left.

And one more tip: Out of respect, don’t ask actors to sign anything that’s not related to the show they’ve just performed. It’s considered rude and many simply won’t do it. After all, actors are generous with their time because people have taken the time to come see them perform that show.

The post NYC: How to Make the Most of Your Night at the Theater appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

That’s why no trip to the city is complete without attending at least one show.

Even the most casual observers are familiar with Broadway, the glitzy home of “Wicked,” “The Lion King” and “The Book of Mormon.” (And, indeed, I wrote a post last week about how to score cheap seats to Broadway shows.) But some of the best shows take place in smaller theaters — where tickets are a fraction of the cost and, sometimes, the stars are shining just as bright.

Related: Best cheap hotels near Broadway theaters

Broadway, Off and Off-Off: What’s the difference ?

Theater in New York City falls into three categories: Broadway, Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway. And while it’s true that the flashy mega-musicals like “The Lion King” and “Wicked” are all playing on Broadway, the distinction has nothing to do with show’s content or quality. It’s all about the theater.

Broadway shows are performances taking place in one of 39 venues officially designated as Broadway theaters and ranging in size from about 600 to 1,900 seats. Most, but not all of them, stand around Times Square.

But ask someone about the term “Off Broadway” and you’re likely to get a blank stare or even concern about seedy theaters in dangerous parts of town — which couldn’t be further from the truth. It simply refers to smaller theaters all around the city, each with roughly 100 to 500 seats.

Then, there’s a third designation, “Off-Off Broadway.” The nonprofit Theatre Development Fund describes them as “more adventurous” offerings in “small or unorthodox” theaters seating fewer than 100 people.

Off Broadway: High quality and cheaper seats

Mega-shows perform on Broadway because they need the larger stage to accommodate larger casts. Not to mention larger audiences paying larger prices to cover larger production costs. But it doesn’t mean they’re better shows.

Some of the best in New York City — actually, some of the best in the world — perform Off Broadway with smaller casts and smaller budgets in smaller theaters. One good result is smaller ticket prices as well. But another is a wider variety of shows. When you don’t need to attract so many people paying top dollar, you can afford to produce whimsical comedies, risqué dramas or philosophical pieces with more of an edge.

What does all of this mean for Cheapos?

Don’t focus only on Broadway! You can have a great evening of theater Off Broadway. And you may still catch some notable stars or even see the next big Broadway hit.

Not long ago, I sat just off the stage in an intimate, eight-row theater for the final Off-Broadway performance of “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.” For more than two hours, I laughed relentlessly through one of those whimsical comedies as stars David Hyde Pierce, Kristine Nielsen and Sigourney Weaver led a phenomenal cast through racy routines, philosophical rants and some of the finest acting you’ll ever see. Laughing just as hard, a couple of sections over, was the legendary Meryl Streep. A few months later, the show moved to Broadway, where audiences paid far more to sit in a theater over twice the size. The show eventually won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play.

For business reasons, most Off-Broadway shows will never make the trip to a larger, Broadway theater. But many are just as good artistically — if not better. Some may disagree, but for my money, Off Broadway is where the real action is.

The post Head Off Broadway for Great Shows and Cheaper Tickets appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

1. Paris Plages
July 20 – August 18

From the banks of the Seine to the banks of the Canal in the 19e arrondissement, those looking for a bit of reprieve from the heat need search no further than Paris Plages. Kids and adults can enjoy the various activities (think line dancing) and relaxed atmosphere that are both so quintessentially un-Parisian. Bring a towel, a picnic, and some SPF as you relax on the imported sand beaches and imagine yourself on the Riviera at no cost.

Skip to the loo, then take a seat for “Cinema en plein air”. Photo: Fabrice Paulmier

2. Outdoor Cinema
July 24 – August 24

The Cinéma en Plein Air at Parc de la Villette offers everyone the chance to kick back at night in front of a giant inflatable movie screen. Picnic supplies and a blanket are a must. Films for the summer of 2013 include “Milk,” “The Social Network,” “Ocean’s Eleven,” and of course some French films that you may not know, but will happily become familiar with.

Note: Plan a bathroom break before hand, as meandering through the crowd in the dark is both difficult and, frankly, annoying.

3. Picnic with the locals

It goes without saying that Paris is a giant picnic in the summer. Along the river or in any of the gorgeous parks like Buttes Chaumont or Montsouris, there is no better way to cozy up to the locals than to pack some bread, cheese, and charcuterie. Bring a bottle of wine, but “forget” your opener – it’s the perfect excuse to talk to that oftentimes-attractive group of Frenchmen/women next to you.

Get to the sales early and don’t forget to hydrate! Photo: Galinette

4. Soldes!
June 26 – July 30

Those looking to do some shopping in Paris should wait until the biannual sales, or “soldes,” that take place in the winter and the summer. But this shopping is not for the faint of heart. Hydrate well and bring an attitude as you’ll be scrambling among more seasoned Parisian clients who are used to the huge lines and scattered goods.

Check out smaller boutiques near the Canal St. Martin or in the Marais and avoid the department stores if you’re not a crowd person. (More tips on making the most of Paris’ bi-annual sales.)

5. Off-Broadway in Paris
June and July

Opera and ballet are great, but sometimes expats and tourists yearn for a good old-fashioned American musical. American Musical Theater Live! is introducing the Off-Broadway genre to Paris with “Edges” and “The Last 5 Years”, both debuting this summer. They are in English, with international casts, and tickets are affordable for musical theaters (try getting a €20 ticket in the West End easily!). The shows will play at the Auguste Théâtre in the 11^th arrondissement and are definitely worth checking out.

6. The Titanic Exhibit
June 1 – September 15

Twenty-one passengers boarded the Titanic when it docked at Cherbourg, and 16 survived the sinking. The boat’s story, however, is intriguing to all nationalities, and the traveling exhibit of artifacts is coming to Paris. On Monday, tickets are cheaper than the rest of the week. It may not scream, “Summer in Paris!” but excitement is subjective, right?

Music performances, planned and otherwise, take to the streets throughout Paris during the Fete de la Musique on June 21. Photo: Boklm

7. Music Festivals
All summer

Summertime turns up the soundtrack in Paris with multiple festivals. While not all are a free, the Fête de la Music on June 21 allows musicians to play all over the city into all hours of the night.

Also check out the Jazz Festival at the Parc Floral (June 8 – July 28) or get tickets to either Solidays (June 28-30) or Rock en Seine (June 23-25) for more contemporary artists. Read more about the city’s music festivals.

8. Frozen treats

When it’s hot, well, we want something cold. Sure, you can wait in line at Berthillon for some classic French ice cream, but there are plenty of other options:

• A new frozen yogurt boutique, Baci Bisous, has opened by the Canal just in time for summer. (25 rue des Vinaigriers, 75010)

Hurry up, it’s melting! Photo: cameronparkins

• Try the various flavors of Chacun ses Goûts and add toppings to your own yogurt creation as you wish. (4 rue Geoffroy l’Angevin 75004)

• In the Upper Marais, Mary’s Gelato (1 rue Dupuis 75003) is whipping up some of the best Italian sorbets you’ll taste, just down the street from equally delicious Pozetto (39 rue du Roi de Sicile 75004) and their signature chocolate-hazelnut or pistachio gelato.

Read more of about Paris’ best ice cream and gelato options.

9. Bastille Day
July 14

From the Firemen’s parties (“bal des pompiers”) to the military parade down the Champs Elysées, July 14th is a huge party in Paris, even if it celebrates the beginning of an unfortunately bloody revolution. But fireworks! Bag a non-alcoholic picnic (they check bags for spirits – let’s keep it family-friendly) and head to the Champs de Mars at the foot of the Eiffel Tower for one of the most stunning spectacles ever. Just don’t be in a rush to get out afterwards. The thousands of spectators are very carefully funneled through controlled exits, so it takes a few moments – or hours. But it’s worth it!

10. The Great Exodus: Parisians leave
August

In August, the migration begins as locals ship out and Italians, Americans, Russians, and just about any other nationality interested in Paris fill in the café seats left behind. It’s an odd feeling to see so many local places closed while major tourist addresses are inundated, but it’s also refreshing. A week or two of calm in most non-central neighborhoods does a person good. Head to the 19^th, the 17^th, or the 15^th during this time to see what a Parisian ghost town feels like! (Read more about visiting Paris in August–without Parisians.)

Your favorite reasons for visiting Paris in the summer?

Have something to add to our list? Tell us about it in the comments section below.

Also in our guide: If you are planning to head to Paris this summer and looking for an affordable place to stay, be sure to stop by our guide to recommended budget hotels. Our editors have inspected, reviewed and photographed every recommended hotel in our guide.

The post Paris: 10 reasons to visit Paris this summer appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Discounted West End tickets

If your heart is set on a big-budget West End show, don’t be disheartened by the often shockingly high ticket prices quoted on theater websites. There are still plenty of ways to bag a bargain ticket, particularly if you’re flexible with which show you see.

Leicester Square is littered with cheap ticket shops, but make your first stop TKTS, the only official discount ticket booth run by the Society of London Theatres. TKTS sells lots of half-price and discounted tickets, and the stock is replenished throughout the day (so you don’t have to be in the queue at 9 a.m. to secure your seat). The booth is open Monday to Saturday until 7 p.m.

Travelex £12 tickets
National Theatre
Website

Travelex’s partnership with the National Theatre has become one of the most popular affordable passports to theater in London. Seeing a production at the National Theatre should come high up on any theater buff’s wish list. Occupying an iconic space on the South Bank, the National is home to three different auditoriums and produces more than 20 productions a year.

With Travelex, savvy theater-goers can bag one of 95,000 £12 tickets on sale throughout the year. At some performances this equates to almost half the seats! Keep checking the National Theatre website for details about which productions are being offered at £12 and act quickly when you see one you like–they get snapped up quickly! You can book online, over the phone (020 7452 3000) or in person.

10p tickets
Royal Court Theater
Website

Yes, you did read that correctly. Chelsea’s lovely Royal Court Theatre actually sells tickets for just 10p each every day. As you may expect, they’re not the best seats in the house (they’re actually standing tickets with a restricted view), but nonetheless, they will set you back a meager 10p, so you can’t really argue with that.

Four 10p tickets go on sale every day for performances in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs an hour before the performance starts, so get there early to claim your place in the queue. Tickets are sold at one per person.

If you would rather book your seats in advance then opt for the Royal Court’s £10 Mondays, when every ticket for performances in both the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs and Downstairs cost just £10 each. Get online and book your ticket early though, as Monday nights always sell out fast.

Free theater

The More London Free Festival is a four-month extravaganza of free culture in a fantastic location at The Scoop amphitheater, right by the River Thames at London Bridge. The program runs from June to September and encompasses a mixture of theater, music and film. Details of the 2013 season are due to announced in May, so be sure to keep an eye on the website if you’re visiting London over the summer.

Also check out the program at the Southbank Centre, where free outdoor performances regularly take place over the summer months.

Pub theaters

London’s pub theaters are a unique and quirky way to enjoy some culture in a truly relaxed environment, plus tickets are much more reasonably priced than glitzy West End shows. There are countless options and the quality of the performances will vary from production to production, but with tickets costing as little as £6 in some places, it’s worth the gamble.

Some of my favorites are:

• Upstairs at the Gatehouse located above The Gatehouse Pub in pretty Highgate Village.

• The Kings Head Theatre at the back of the Kings Head Pub on Upper Street in Angel.

• The Landor above The Landor pub in Clapham North.

Your London theater tips?

Have another favorite way to score cheap theater tickets in London? Tell us about it in our comments section. Also, stop by our London guide for more budget tips for visiting London.

The post London: How to find cheap and free theater tickets appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

1. Ride the RV1 or number 11 bus
From £1.40

For as little as £2.40 (or £1.40 with an Oyster card) for a journey, you can take in the best of London from the comfort of these public buses. Instead of paying over the odds for an expensive tourist bus, these two central London bus routes take in the main attractions and you can jump on and off as you go.

The RV1 starts in Covent Garden and will take you past Somerset House, across Waterloo Bridge and down past the London Eye, Royal Festival Hall and the Oxo Tower. It carries on past London Bridge and City Hall before crossing Tower Bridge and stopping at the Tower of London and ending its route at Tower Gateway Station.

Alternatively, the number 11 bus travels between Fulham Town Hall and Liverpool Street Station, calling at Westminster Abbey, Horse Guards Parade, Trafalgar Square and St Paul’s Cathedral along the way. More information.

Experience the sights (and smells!) of Borough Market for free. Photo: Kenjonbro

2. Visit to Borough Market
Free

This haven for foodies is the ideal place to wile away an afternoon without frittering away too much cash. With food from all over the world, most of the stalls at Borough Market offer samples so you can happily try a whole lot of different tastes before deciding what to have for lunch. Head there at the end of the day around 4:30 pm and you might also benefit from larger freebies as the traders get rid of their leftovers before packing up and going home.

3. Happy Hour at Match Bar
Beer for £3, 2-for-1 cocktails, cheap food

It’s rare to find a central London cocktail bar with a decent Happy Hour even on the weekends, but this cool locale tucked away behind Oxford Street is the perfect place for a little bit of indulgence if you’ve been window shopping and successfully managed not to blow your budget!

From 8 pm-10:30 pm Monday to Thursday and 5 pm-8 pm on Saturdays Match Bar offers 20% off small food platters, bottles of beer for £3 each or two delicious cocktails for the price of one, meaning you can even treat a friend and get change from a tenner!

4. River cruise
From £4

A leisurely cruise down the River Thames is a great way to explore London if the weather is good. KPMG Thames Clippers stop at lots of lovely landmarks, from the London Eye all the way to Greenwich Pier. A single adult ticket costs £6, but you can get 10% off with a pay as you go Oyster card, or 1/3 off with a Travelcard. Alternatively, an unlimited hop on/hop off “Roamer” ticket will cost you £9.10 with a Travelcard.

5. Bar Kick
£2 beer and cheap cocktails

Much more than just a bar, head to Bar Kick with a few £1 coins and spend a fun-filled afternoon playing table football. If you’ve got a competitive streak, you may also want to sign up as a member and play more seriously in the tournaments. Head down between 4-7pm any day of the week and you’ll also benefit from £2 bottles of beer and cocktails for £4.85 each! Located at 127 Shoreditch High Street, nearest station is Shoreditch High Street Overground.

Hang out over London on the Emirates Air Line. Photo: Martin Pettitt

6. Emirates Air Line
From £3.20

The Emirates Air Line opened just in time for the London Olympics and is an alternative way to cross the river from north to south London. This brand new cable car offers a five-minute journey over the River Thames from Greenwich in the south of London to the Royal Docks in the north (or vice versa). Fares start from £4.30 for a single and £8.60 for a return, but with your Oyster card you’ll only have to pay £3.20 or £6.40 respectively, leaving you with more than enough for a pint of beer once you’ve reached the other side!

Read our related post on more cheap ways to get great views of London.

7. More London Scoop
Free

Every summer you’ll find a huge program of exciting free events going on at the amphitheater at More London, right by London Bridge station. There is anything from films and theatre, to dance, art and music, all totally free. Overlooking the river, it’s a fab place to include on any summer itinerary – just stop by and see what’s happening, or alternatively, sign up to the More London mailing list and receive updates direct to your inbox.

National museums, including the British Museum (above), are free to enter every day! Photo: Moria

8. Museums
Free

One of the most fantastic things about London is the fact that the museums are free. You could spend weeks exploring everything from the British Museum and the National Gallery, to the Science Museum and the Tate Modern, without parting with a penny. So make the most of it, Cheapos!

Here’s our list of 20 free museums in London.

9. Royal Court Theatre
£10 tickets

You have to be quick off the mark, but it is possible to bag a theatre ticket for just £10 in London. There are £10 tickets to every Monday performance at the Royal Court Theatre. Located in Sloane Square, this famous theatre prides itself on showcasing the work of up and coming young writers and its productions can vary greatly in style.

10. Parks and gardens
Free

If the weather goes in your favor, you’ll find that the liveliest places to spend a sunny afternoon in London are in actual fact, absolutely free. Whether you’re exploring well-known spots such as Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, Green Park or Hampstead Heath, or lazing about in smaller green spaces like Highbury Fields and Clapham Common, there is no shortage of open, green space in London. So pack a picnic and get exploring!

Also in our guide: Looking for more ideas about ways to save in London? Head over to EuroCheapo’s London Guide to read about great affordable hotels in London, plus articles on budget tips, transportation passes, and more.

The post London: 10 cheap things to do (for under £10!) appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

1. Notre Dame’s birthday

Notre Dame is turning 850 and the party is going strong. With renovations, new bells, and a platform allowing a unique elevated view of the church, there will be plenty of activity around the world’s most iconic cathedral.

Paris is very popular on Facebook.

2. Because you “like” Paris

Paris is a social media phenomenon with more likes on its Facebook page than any other city. If that’s not reason enough to come visit, then clearly you’re behind the times. Be sure to tag us in some of your photos if you do decide to come.

3. Nothing to sneeze at

Have a food allergy? No need to hide! Along with Helmut Newcake, Paris’s first gluten-free bakery, other food establishments are offering more and more allergy-conscious dishes, making this culinary capital even more all-encompassing. Check out Noglu, a gluten-free and often dairy-free restaurant in the 9th arrondissement. Grocery stores are also increasingly displaying their gluten-free varieties, so we’re excited to see what 2013 has in store!

The Carreau du Temple will reopen in the spring or summer. Photo: Loresui

4. New life in the Marais

The Carreau du Temple, a 19th-century covered market, is opening sometime in the spring or summer, bringing even more life into the Upper Marais district. Haven’t checked out this area yet? It’s full of great shops, cafés, and the Marché des Enfants Rouges, the city’s oldest covered market. When the Carreau du Temple opens, the renovated pavilion will host a cultural center with different halls for events ranging from sports and theater to markets and art shows.

5. A new Place de la République

A new Place de la République will be unveiled, creating a more attractive journey between the Marais and the Canal St-Martin districts. Once construction is finished, the renovated plaza will boast new fountains, energy efficient lights, and an overall brighter atmosphere than of olden days.

Get closer to the Seine on your Velib’ in 2013. Photo: fgornet

6. New dedicated Right Bank bike lanes

Biking across Paris will be even easier as a path between Place de la Concorde and the Bastille will be opened, connecting the east and west of the city along the Right Bank. Currently, biking by the Louvre and the Tuileries towards either end of the city is a nightmare, but in 2013, Paris will become more of a biker’s paradise, allowing you to cruise along the river without worrying about buses and cars.

7. Last call for the food trucks?

Food will return to the table in 2013, at least it’s looking that way. The famous Camion Qui Fume and other food trucks don’t have quite the mobility that their American counterparts do, since the city doesn’t make things easy for these movable feasts. I predict that the novelty will wear off soon as Parisians and tourists alike realize that sitting down while eating wasn’t really a problem in the first place.

The Picasso Museum reopens in the summer of 2013. Photo: Heyrocker

8. Picasso comes home!

At last, at last, the Picasso Museum will reopen! Few remember when we last stepped foot inside the Marais haunt, but starting in the summer of 2013, as long as all goes well with the renovations, we’ll be able to relive the Blue Period and wrap our minds around Cubism all over again.

9. A little night music

Theatre doesn’t stop surprising us. After a hugely successful run of “West Side Story,” Sondheim’s “A Sunday in the Park with George” will be presented at the Théâtre du Chatelet April 15-25, 2013. And if Broadway isn’t your thing, the Opera Bastille and Garnier will hold stellar seasons as usual. “Hansel and Gretel” anyone?

The newest Louvre, in Lens. Photo: James Kirk

10. The Louvre through another Lens

There’s a second… Louvre? Yes, Mona Lisa’s home just wasn’t big enough to house all of the Louvre’s treasures, so the museum just opened a second address in Lens, a nearby coal-mining town. Take the train ride, just over an hour, to experience a very different and modern experience, the Louvre-Lens.

11. Bon app!

Parisians love apps. Forget reading books and newspapers in the Metro (well, not really…). Now they’re scanning the news on their tablets and smartphones. Need a pastry? There’s an app for that. Need to get to the airport? Check. Want to know where to find the nearest Vélib stand? Got it covered. There’s no telling what our smartphones will be doing in 2013.

TGV-Eco fares let you get out of town for less than €25. Photo: Gerard Stolk

12. Exhibits galore!

In 2013, Paris is still the place to be with some fun and fresh shows in the city’s most iconic museums, as well as some lesser-known ones. See Chagall at the Musée du Luxembourg (February 21-July 21), experience a collection on Miss Dior at the Grand Palais (March 22-April 3), or explore Da Vinci at Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie (now on through August 18). And don’t forget the continually rotating free shows at the Hotel de Ville, including the upcoming Haute Couture exhibit (March 2-July 6).

13. €25 fares on the TGV

Trains are getting Cheapo, finally! The SCNF is introducing a new idea, the TGV-Eco, that will offer at least 1 million TGV tickets each year for under €25. The first trial will be on the Paris—Montpellier line, and include stops in Lyon and Marseille. If all goes well, this could mean good things for budget travelers looking to take a trip out of Paris for a day or two.

Your reasons to visit Paris in 2013?

What are you looking forward to in Paris this year, Cheapos? Add something to our list in the comments section!

The post Paris: 13 reasons to visit Paris in 2013 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

To avoid hearing me groan when you tell me what you paid for your sandwich, here’s a list of suggested “price ceilings” for some Parisian basics. It’s a good list to keep handy to save a few euros or, you know, if you’re ever a contestant on a French version of “The Price is Right”…

1. Glass of wine

While beer and cocktails can dent the wallet pretty quickly, wine should never be too expensive in a standard café or bar. Avoid the more specialized wine shops and wine bars and opt for a glass of red or white at a more low-key joint. Limit: €4

2. Steak frites

Most cafés and bistrots serve traditional yet affordable French fare. From the well-traveled but enjoyable Chartier to the classic Les Philosophes in the Marais, a cut of meat and frites shouldn’t be a splurge. Limit: €18

3. Walking/bike tour

With multiple free walking tour options, some tourists prefer a private tour to explore the city more intimately. With dozens of choices out there, it’s hard to pick. A walking tour with Oui Paris Tours or a bike tour with Fat Tire is a great, affordable way to get to know the city. Limit: €30

4. Electronics adapter

Many a traveler forgets that outlets and plugs are different in Europe. Souvenir and electronic stores sell adapters to make your chargers fit into the wall outlets, but the cheapest ones can be found at BHV, the all-purpose department store in the Marais. Limit: €10

5. Crepe/Sandwich

Street food can be found everywhere, so prices are competitive. At lunchtime, the choice often comes down to a sandwich or a crepe. For a gooey ham and cheese crepe or a chicken and veggie sandwich, I never worry about having enough money. Limit: €5

6. Clothing

With wintertime approaching, having appropriate socks (ones without holes) seems important. Unprepared visitors often wonder where to get the latest Parisian fashion as they shiver in their tee shirts. Do like the Parisians do and head to the closest H&M or, better yet, to Japanese department store Uniqlo by the Opera Garnier for some good shopping and great site-seeing. Limit: €40 pants, €40 sweater, €3 socks

7. Café

Instead of 7-11 and Dunkin’ Donuts, the French head to the café for a pick-me-up that won’t break the bank. A café (an espresso) may leave some tourists longing for a cup of Joe, but for mere euros you can squat a seat for as long as you’d like. (Tip: Stand at the cafe’s bar for cheaper prices.) Limit: €2

8. Theatre/Opera tickets

If you packed a top hat or a ball gown anticipating a night at the theatre, there is hope. Last minute “rush” tickets for the Opera Garnier and Bastille are extremely affordable if you are patient enough to line up 2-3 hours before the show. Théâtre du Châtelet, which often hosts musicals like Les Misérables and Sweeney Todd, offers rush tickets up until the minute before curtain. Limit: €30

9. Pastry

Unless you’re going to try the trendiest macaron or a French-style cupcake, pastries are a steal in Paris. Bakeries all over the city will serve up the best flaky croissants, lemon tarts, or apple pastries for mere coins. Limit: €3

10. Entrance to a bar/club

If you choose to go to a bar or club on the Champs-Elysées, good luck to you. Personally, I’d never enter a place that made me pay a cover. There are plenty of nightspots on rue de Lappe by the Bastille or in the winding streets of Montmartre that will keep the budget-conscious partier happy.  Limit: €0

What do you think, Cheapos?  What other price limits can you imagine in Paris? Share your own “price ceilings” in our comments section.

Also in our guide: Planning a trip to Paris? Our editors have inspected, reviewed and photographed Paris’ best inexpensive accommodations. We’ve got picks all over town, in the Latin Quarter, near the Louvre, in the Marais and more central neighborhoods.

The post Paris Prices: The maximum we’d pay for everyday items appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Now that the worst of the winter weather seems to be finally easing off, lots of fun London activities are quite rightly taking themselves outdoors. Theater is one of London’s biggest selling points, and one of the city’s beloved spring and summer activities is to catch an Open Air Theatre production in the stunning surrounds of Regent’s Park, or take in a riverside performance in the more urban setting of The Scoop on the South Bank.

Here are the details for how to enjoy London’s outdoor theater offerings this year:

Open Air Theatre
Regent’s Park
Web site

Open Air Theatre stages four outdoor theatrical performances annually. Starting in May, the 2011 program includes productions of William Golding’s sinister classic, “Lord of the Flies,” John Day’s comic ballad opera, “The Beggar’s Opera,” Shakespeare’s “Pericles” re-vamped for audiences of six years and over, and the popular Gershwin musical, “Crazy For You.”

Tickets for Open Air Theatre at the bottom end of the scale are delightfully affordable, starting from around £14 per person, and each production offers a window of dates with reduced ticket prices.

Book online or by phone on 0844 826 4242. You can make further savings by buying tickets for two or more productions at once or buying group tickets, and under-18s and senior citizens qualify for concessions. Check out the Open Air Theatre’s Web site for more information on dates and prices.

The Scoop
Thames riverside
Web site

An outdoor venue of an altogether different nature is The Scoop, a modern sunken amphitheatre by the river in the shiny More London complex, hosting theatrical performances from April to September. This year’s line-up includes lively Shakespeare adaptations, modern re-workings from The Merry Opera Company and a version of Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales.”

The Scoop holds an audience of 800, and it’s absolutely free to catch a production here. Get there early to bag a space, and you might want to bring something to sit on, as the surfaces are quite hard. For further information on events and how to get there, see the More London Web site.

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Whether you want to watch the curtain go up at the National Theatre of Ireland (the Abbey Theatre) or one of the more experimental theaters in town, tickets rarely cross the €30 mark.

1. The Abbey Theatre – The National Theatre of Ireland
26 Lower Abbey Street
Tel: +353 (1) 878 7222
Web site

Tickets: €20 – €25. Cheapo tickets on weekdays and weekend matinees.

Founded by poet WB Yeats, the Abbey Theatre is a source of national pride. Everything from Shakespeare to the latest productions from famous Irish playwrights such as Conor McPherson takes the stage here. It is possible to purchase your tickets before your trip on the Web site of the Abbey Theatre (no pesky Ticketmaster fees apply) and you can even pick your seat by previewing the stage from different vantage points.

2. The Peacock
26 Lower Abbey Street
Tel: +353 (1) 878 7222
Web site

Tickets: €18 – €25. Cheapo tickets on weekdays, previews and weekend matinees.

Beneath the grand Abbey Theatre is a grittier stage–the Peacock Stage. What was once a practice stage for the large theater upstairs has now evolved into its own personality. The capacity is much smaller in the Peacock, promising a more intimate experience. Expect productions here to be more experimental. This fact along with an atmospheric bar for drinks at intermission attracts a younger crowd than the Abbey.

3. The Gate Theatre
Cavendish Row, Parnell Square
Tel: +353 (1) 874 4045
Web site

Tickets: €20 – €30. Cheapos should avoid Saturday nights – ticket prices are higher.

The historic Gate Theatre is the kind of civilized place where you sip tea at intermission instead of a glass of wine. Be sure to arrive early to take in the physical beauty of the theater before the production begins. What you will see on stage can be unpredictable. The Gate keeps things fresh by featuring everything from Irish classics such as plays by Samuel Beckett to the latest hot play from New York, such as Tony award-winning “God of Carnage.”

4. Gaiety Theatre
South King Street
Tel: +353 (1) 677 1717
Web site

Tickets: €15 – €35. Cheapo tickets on weekdays, previews and weekend matinees.

The Gaiety Theatre is what many travelers envision as a classic European theater. Red velvet seats and private balconies give this theater an aura of sophistication–yet tickets are still reasonably priced. Purchase your tickets at the box office to avoid pricey Ticketmaster fees. The quality on this stage can vary. Everything from ballet to Oscar Wilde classics to plays intended for children are on the annual program. Choose wisely to avoid disappointment.

Smaller Theatres

The Temple Bar district, known for pubs and street performers, is also home to a couple of small, experimental theaters. At the Project Arts Centre (39 East Essex Street) or the New Theater (43 East Essex Street) you could see a performance for as little as €10.

You can also experience Irish history in a whole new way at the Vaults Live theater with tickets from €20.

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