And there’s something to be said for a culture where everyone’s favorite fermented grape beverage is such a part of the daily fabric of people’s lives that there is local wine available for any price point — even Cheapos!

But even in a culture where wine is for everyone, there are some easy tricks to incorporate into your repertoire to save on Spanish wines during your time in Barcelona, Madrid and beyond. Here are a few of our favorites tips to help you make the most of your wine budget while you’re in Iberia.

Related:
• Spain Budget Travel Guide: 50 Ways to save in Spain
• Madrid Cheap Eats: 8 Tips to save on dining and drinking in Madrid
• The Best Food in Spain: Here are 7 dishes to try in Spain

1. Order house wine

Unless you’re picky when it comes to wine or you’re looking for a certain vintage or varietal, chances are you’ll be pleased with the house wine served in Spanish restaurants and bars.

Most importantly for Cheapos, it will give you significant savings when dining out — think €2-3 per glass or €6-7 for a whole carafe!

2. Share a bottle

If you’re drinking in a party of two or more, try to agree on a vintage and order by the bottle or carafe instead of by the glass. With lovely bottles of Spanish reds, whites and even sparkling Cavas starting at just €8, it’s a better bargain than ordering a glass or two each.

If you want to drink wine for less like a local, order a really cheap tipple called vino turbio. It’s a very cheap wine, served cold and shaken up to make it a little bubbly. However, it’s not available just anywhere — think hole-in-the-wall style neighborhood taverns.

3. Shop for bottles at wine stores

Looking for a bottle of wine for a picnic or to take one home as a souvenir? You’re far better off buying wine at neighborhood shops. While supermarket wines in Spain are plenty cheap, there’s a wider selection for similar prices in specialized wine shops.

At shops, you’ll have access to an expert who can help you find the perfect bottle and may even invite you to taste it beforehand. For the best prices, steer clear of shops in central, touristy spots (think La Rambla in Barcelona or Plaza de Sol in Madrid).  There is an exception to this rule: the wine shops in local food markets. They’re usually competitively priced, have English-speaking staff on hand and tend to be set up for customer tastings.

4. Organize your own winery visit

You don’t always have to stick to organized tours of wineries. Instead, after you’ve had a bottle of wine that you really enjoy or on a recommendation from a local or expert at a wine shop, rent a car or hop public transit to the winery of your choice.

Just be sure to call ahead to make sure there’s someone to receive you and that the winery in question allows tours. Many wineries in Spain allow visits, and the cost is in the single digits or even free of charge for a tour and a taste of one of the vintages made on site.

Ready to hit the road to search for the best wine? Here are our best tips for renting a car in Spain.

Grapes growing in a vineyard in Ribera de Duero. Photo: David A

5. Try wines from lesser-known regions and wineries

Rioja may be Spain’s best-known wine region, and Cordoniu and Freixenet may be Catalonia’s most famous producers of Cava (Spain’s famous sparkling wine) but that also means these products are widely exported, resulting in higher price tags. And as all Cheapos know, bigger prices don’t always equal better quality.

For inexpensive, hearty reds, try a bottle from Ribera de Duero, a wine region within an easy drive of Madrid that reminds us a little of Tuscany. In Basque Country, skip the Cava and seek out the refreshing slightly sparkling regional wine, Txacoli.

Bonus Tip: Buy Spanish wines in other destinations

Now that we’ve established that buying Spanish wine in Spain is very cheap, did you know Spanish wines are among the cheapest and best available in other parts of the world?  In places we’ve visited around the U.K., Spanish wines are always among the cheapest on offer. And on a recent trip to San Francisco, we noticed that Spanish Riojas were cheaper than many of the Sonoma California wines up for sale — even with the added expense of importation and long-haul shipping. Salud!

Want to read more about buying wine around Europe? Check out these articles:

• 6 Tips for buying wine in France on a budget
• Buying wine like a local in Florence
• Visiting Slovakia’s affordable wine region

The post Spain Wine Tips: How to save on Spanish wine appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

For those who want to learn a little bit more about what’s in their glass, however, you needn’t look far, nor should you rack up a huge bill in doing so.

Skip the fancy tours and do what the French tourist do, heading directly to the source of the wine, whether it’s red, white, or bubbly.

More France tips for Cheapos:
• The best SIM Cards to use in France
• 10-day France itinerary from Paris to Marseille
• 22 phrases every visitor to France should learn

Visiting French vineyards on a budget

From the vineyards of Bordeaux to the Champagne cellars around Epernay, it’s easy to experience the local wares in a unique way on your next trip to France.

Champagne

Sparkling white wine made anywhere else cannot dare call itself Champagne, and on a visit to a cellar somewhere in the region, east of Paris, you’ll learn why. The big houses like Pommery and Veuve-Clicquot offer standard visits and tastings, accessible directly from the train station in Reims.

For something even more special, there are smaller houses out there that you might want to explore.

Consider supporting family-run, independent Champagne makers like AR Lenoble who offer generous tastings and pairings in their center just outside Epernay, though you’ll need a car to get there! Tastings start around €35 — a good deal considering how pricey Champagne can be, and how good AR Lenoble’s is!

Bordeaux

It’s perhaps the most well-known wine outside of France, but beyond the name, what do you actually know about it? Is a Bordeaux Supérieur better than a Médoc or a St-Emilion? So many questions!

Travel to this southwestern France city and you’ll realize that there are no vineyards to be seen within walking distance, and the idea of renting a car and driving out to visit them is doable, but not the cheapest option.

Fortunately, the tourism office offers trips to the vineyards and chateaus to learn all about it, with the most affordable starting at €42 for a bus ride and a half-day excursion to two properties, all in French and English.

It may seem like a touristy thing to do, but it’s one of the best ways to get out there and learn a bit en route. You could always attend the annual Marathon du Médoc if you really want to experience Bordeaux’s best wines while on the run, but that’s another level of dedication that you might not be ready for yet.

Related: Our favorite chap hotels in Bordeaux | Visiting Bordeaux on a budget

Loire Valley

More known for its castles than its wine, the Loire Valley, just southwest of Paris, produces some of France’s most beloved wines like Chinon and Touraine. Many small producers in the area throw their doors wide open to tourists who want to visit and learn more about their vintages.

The office of tourism has a great resource for visitors — some translation needed on the site, sorry! You can reserve tastings, including pairings with cheeses, for mere euros. Try a wine you may have never tasted, like Vouvray, which also comes in a sparkling version that rivals Champagne!

A picturesque vineyard in Burgundy. Photo: Aapo

Burgundy

Burgundy wines are known to be refined reds, but there are whites to discover as well! The Bourgogne region, southeast of Paris, boasts some of France’s most sought-after wines, and a visit to local vineyards between the towns of Dijon and Beaune are worth a stopover for any wine-lover.

Adventurous cheapos might want to hop the bus 113 that, for just €1.50, travels between towns with winemakers including Gevrey-Chambertin, Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Ladoix-Serrigny, and Aloxe-Corton. A little planning will go a long way to taste the best of Burgundy in these towns.

Otherwise, stop into Beaune and follow the office of tourism’s menu of local wine tastings where some are just a few euros.

Côtes-du-Rhône

The name might not be instantly familiar, but this region around Lyon is popular for its Beaujolais, the first wine of the season that has become something of a marketing tool. Heard of that one, right? Still, the region produces many fantastic reds, and the office of tourism provides all the options on their website.

Some visits and tastings are even free — but it’ll be hard not to leave with a bottle or two. These winemakers know what they’re doing! Don’t feel obligated, but at the same time, going home with a bottle of anything, straight from its production site, gives you a better story to tell than just picking up some anonymous bottle in a supermarket!

Your wine tasting tips

Have you visited any wineries in France? Let us know where you go to sip your favorite wines.

The post France: How go wine tasting on a budget at world-class vineyards appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But the typical beer experience in France is a bit different from the one in North America or the UK, ranging from how pints are typically ordered and served to the types of popular beers on tap. Read on for the basics on what to expect when ordering a round in the City of Light

Related:

• 6 Tips for buying wine in France
• Buying a Sim Card in France
• 50 Ways to save on your trip to France

Tips for ordering French beer

1. Small or large?

In France, you don’t just get to choose the type of beer you want, but also the size of the glass. Your bartender will ask you if you want “un demi” (a half-pint that costs about €3 to 4), or “une pinte” (a pint that costs €6-8). The demi almost always costs half what the pint costs. If you’re not a big drinker, or simply want to pace yourself, the demi can make a good option, but the pint might save you a bit if you plan on drinking more than one demi.

2. Beer always comes with a glass

If you order a bottled beer, the bartender or server will always give you a glass to pour your drink into, whether you asked for one or not. This small cultural difference between France and the United States shocked an older French acquaintance of mine on a trip to Louisiana when, after ordering a bottled beer in New Orleans, the bartender just plonked down the bottle and left. “You always serve it with a glass,” he said to me, sighing, “because, it’s just, that’s just what you do.”

Bars always serve beer in a glass. Always. Photo: Matt Seppings

3. Cost depends on your seat

While the cost of beer in anglophone countries only depends on the beer type you’ve ordered, in France, the cost can also depend on where you decide to sit. If you choose a seat at the bar, your drink will cost about €1 cheaper than if you decide to sit at a table. And in some establishments, such as posh restaurants on the Champs-Elysées, your drinks will cost a few euros more if you sit outside. So when going for a drink, just keep in mind that if you find a great seat, you might be paying a bit extra for the privilege of being there.

Related: What you can expect to pay in Paris — and how to pay less!

4. Keep an eye out for happy hours

A welcome relief in one of the most expensive cities in the world, happy hours offer discounts on drinks in many bars and pubs around town. Establishments offering a happy hour usually advertise that fact on a chalkboard or easel just next to their entrances, making them easy to spot.

Related: 10 tips for saving on dining in Paris

Keep an eye out for happy hours like this one in the Latin Quarter in Paris. Photo: Elaine

5. Would you like syrup with that?

In France, sugary fruit syrups are not just for lattés. The French are known for mixing a variety of syrups with their beer. Popular offerings include peach, strawberry, lemon, ginger, black currant and mint. You can also order a beer with a shot of grenadine — just ask for “un tango“. It costs about €.20 to .50 extra to get a shot of syrup.

6. “Picon” mixes in citrus

Typical of the Paris region and in much of northern France, “picon” is an aperitif made from fresh oranges and distilled alcohol. It is also commonly mixed with beer. Ask for “une picon biére” at a bar and you’ll get a sweet drink with a hint of citrus. It will only cost you about €.50 to €1.50 extra.

7. “Panaché” mixes in lemonade

Called the “panaché“, this drink is half beer, half carbonated lemonade. A variation, called the “Biére Monaco“, is the same thing but with a shot of grenadine included. If you find yourself sitting on a terrace on a hot summer day, this mixture can be a really refreshing relief from the heat.

Pelforth is a classic brew from northern France. Photo: Clayton Parker

8. So, what’s on tap?

If you check the tap at just about any bar, café, bistro or restaurant in Paris, you’ll almost always find the following:

Kronenbourg 1664: A light, crisp lager produced in Alsace.

Grimbergen: From the Flanders region of Belgium, this brand makes a wide variety of popular ales and wheat beers.

Pelforth: A brewery which makes a famously light pale ale of the same name, produced in the northern French region of Nord de Pas Calais.

Other beers that make frequent appearances include the Belgian wheat beer brand Leffe, the Belgian pilsner Stella Artois, and Dutch lagers Heineken and Grolsch.

Related: Tasting the unique beer culture of Lille for less

9. Christmas beers

Some breweries whip up a batch of warming, hoppy specialty beers for Christmas, known as “les bieres de noel”. Brasserie Schutzenberger and Meteor, two brewers from Alsace, produce popular bieres de noel that can be found in bars and in supermarkets come December.

10. Traditional French beer from the Calais region

Known as “biere de garde“, these amber or gold-colored brews generally have a malty taste and have high alcohol content. Some well-known biere de garde brewers in France include Trois Monts, Jenlain and Brasserie Castelain. While not found quite as often on tap in Paris, they can be picked up at most supermarkets or in specialty beer or wine stores.

Bonus Cheapo Tip: If you want to do a beer tasting in your hotel room, however, this would be the cheapest way, with a 75 cl bottle of most domestic beers costing less than €3 at the supermarket.

Related: A guide to Paris supermarkets

Santé!

The post Paris: A guide to ordering beer in France appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

However, costly mistakes lurk around every (picture-perfect) corner. If you hit a snag that sets you back €20, €40, or even €60, well, it still stings.

Related:

• Top budget hotels in Paris
• Best time to visit Paris
• 50 do’s & don’ts in Paris

10 Paris mistakes to avoid on your trip

Here are a few tips for avoiding everyday costly mistakes when visiting Paris, many of which could be applied to visiting other cities in Europe, as well.

1. Buying a bottle of anything at dinner

When dining out in Paris, go for a carafe of wine (cheaper) and water (always free). There’s no need to plunk down €60 for a bottle of wine for a normal dinner, trust me — a €12 carafe will be perfectly fine for the casual wine drinker. Remember, this is France — the wine is good.

And tap water, I insist, is perfectly fine to drink, so don’t splash out on costly Evian (especially when it only costs a euro at the supermarket).

Related: Why you should never buy water in Paris

2. Paying for the hotel’s lackluster breakfast

Why spend €10-€15 for some coffee and croissants? Even with those cute little jars of marmalade, it’s a still a rip. Head to a café or just pick up some pastries at the local bakery and save a significant amount of money each day. The same bakeries are delivering the baguettes and croissants to your hotel — so save by going straight to the source. You might as well get them fresh from the oven!

Most bakeries have a spot where you can stand, mingle with the locals, and enjoy your breakfast. If they don’t, either keep looking around for one that does, eat it outside on a park bench, or head into a cafe where you can order the same thing at the counter.

Plus, you get to practice your French: “Bonjour, un cafe et un croissant, s’il vous plait.”

3. Waiting until the last minute to book

Whether it’s airfare, your hotel, or a TGV train ticket, it’s best to book early. TGV trains, in particular, are much cheaper when they first go on sale three months before the date of departure. Eurostar tickets to London are also cheapest when they go on sale six months in advance.

When should you book that hotel? It’s an oft-discussed topic (and we address it in detail here), and a lot depends on where you’re going and when you’re visiting. If you’re heading to a less visited destination or traveling during a slower period, you could wait and probably score last-minute deals. However, if you’re traveling to Paris during the peak summer or early fall travel season, your best bet is to book in advance (especially if you hope to book a specific hotel). Many of Paris’ best budget-friendly hotels are small properties that are quite popular — and they fill up fast.

Related: 10 best budget hotels in Paris (book early!)

4. Spending silly amounts for a cup of coffee

If you go to the terrace of a really, really nice café like the Café de la Paix (pictured above, facing the Opera Garnier), prepare for a hefty bill. The view might be great, but it’ll cost you — €6 for a cup of coffee, for example, at the Café de la Paix. Those €6 coffees can add up fast!

Instead, consider going around the corner to a smaller, more out of the way café where they’ll charge you €2-3 to sit outside and people watch (or €1 to sip at the counter).

5. Handing over money to anyone on the street

Don’t hand over cash to anyone unless they’re your waiter, taxi driver, tour guide, or selling you something. Anyone who stops you in the street and asks for money is a panhandler or scam artist. Sure, they might sport an official-looking badge or ask you to sign a petition — but they are not working for a charity. They come in all forms — some seem legit, others clearly do not — but handing over cash is a sure-fire way to throw money down the drain.

Oh, and the guys you’ll see playing three-card monte? Or trying the ring trick? No, no — you know it’s a scam, right? Keep on walking.

6. Tipping too much

And in that same vein, don’t tip 15-20%. Please don’t. Servers are paid a respectable salary in France and do not live off of their tips. You’re cheating yourself out of money by giving someone a bonus. That’s not your responsibility. Though a few euros for good service is certainly always appreciated, you don’t need to break out the calculator.

Related: When (and when not) to tip in Paris

7. Changing money at an exchange counter

Don’t ever expect to get a good deal at currency change counters. Almost all will be profiting handsomely off of the transaction by either offering a lousy exchange rate, a hefty service charge, or both. “No service charge!” the sign screams — okay, check out the exchange rate. “Best exchange rate, guaranteed!” its competitor beckons — check out the service charge.

You are better off just hitting the ATM and paying a few dollars in fees to the banks instead of losing out big to the money changers.

8. Ordering fancy drinks without looking at the price

Going out at night can add up quickly if you don’t follow the happy hours (here are my favorite cheapo happy hours). A pint of beer or, especially, a fancy cocktail can set you back €9, €12, even €15 in some places.

If you want a good drink and are willing to spend for it, do some research first on websites like 52 Martinis to make sure you’re going to a place where they know how to make good cocktails!

9. Packing poorly

If I had a dollar for each tourist I’ve known who’s arrived with the wrong clothes or shoes, I’d be on vacation right now. Pack wisely and be prepared for the weather (and yes, it’s okay to pack an umbrella) so that you needn’t spend extra money — and time — buying clothes at Monoprix when you already have the same things back home.

Related: 10 Packing tips for a two-week European jaunt

10. Using your smartphone data

When you turn on your cell phone from back home in Europe, prepare for charges. We have plenty of tips on how to avoid a huge phone bill. In short, get a data plan if you plan to use it abroad and stick to Wi-Fi when possible, or buy a SIM card in Europe to use in your phone including one of these SIM Card deals in France.

Fortunately, Paris has abundant free Wi-Fi networks available to anyone to use. So, turn off your data and settle down in a park or other public space, and look for the “Paris_WI-FI_” network. Now hop on Skype, Facebook or Instagram for free! (Or you could work. But who wants to work? You’re in Paris!)

Share your tips!

What mistakes have you made in Paris that you wish you could go back in time to do over? Let us know so we can help Cheapos have a better (and more affordable) Paris vacation.

The post Paris: 10 costly mistakes that tourists make appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But do you really have to? Probably not — in many European destinations boozy beverages don’t cost much. Sometimes they’re the same price or even less than soft drinks!

For example, in Prague, beer is the cheapest thing to drink after tap water, and in Spain, a glass of house wine often costs the same as a Coke. The key to drinking inexpensively in Europe? Knowing what to order depending on what country you’re in.

Related: Hungry? 10 favorite cheap snacks in Europe

10 Cheap drinks we like to sip in Europe

While a basic knowledge of what locals drink will lead you in the right direction, here are ten of our favorite cheap drinks from around Europe. Regarding cost, all of these drinks are typically available for €3-5 or less, especially if you order them away from major attractions.

Here’s how to get booze (and a buzz) while traveling on a budget in Europe.

1. Calimocho – Spain

Also spelled kalimotxo, this ’70s era student drink is equal parts cola and cheap red wine. Thought to have originated in Basque Country, the drink is widespread throughout Spain. It’s best ordered any place where university students congregate and in small neighborhood joints.

Want to order something slightly more grown up? Try a tinto de verano, a refreshing mix of red wine and lemon soda or sweetened soda water.

Related: 5 tips for saving on wine in Spain

Enjoying a beer in Prague. Photo: Jeffrey

2. Beer – Czech Republic

Drinking on a budget in Prague is easy. Just stick to local brews like Pilsner Urquell, Staropramen, and Budweiser Budvar. At $1-2 on average, a frosty pint is pretty much always cheaper than anything else you’d be tempted to drink — including coffee and wine.

Some other countries where you’re typically best off drinking beer to keep costs under control include Germany, Holland, and Belgium.

3. Vinho Verde – Portugal

While Portugal is also famous for its barrel-aged port and meaty Douro reds, its young, or “green” white wines make for a refreshing and budget-friendly option. They’re especially lovely when paired with local cod dishes and warm weather (which lasts well into fall around the country).

Related: Exploring Portugal: 10 days through Lisbon, Porto & Braga

4. Prosecco – Italy

It’s not always cheap to drink in Italy. But that said, wine and the sparkling wine known as Prosecco can be acquired for the bargain price of €5 or less per flute. Prosecco-based cocktails like a Bellini and Negroni spritz are also usually economically priced.

5. Radler – Austria

Refreshing and a little sweet, this local shandy is perfect for the warmer spring and summer months or year-round for folks who want something very lightly alcoholic to drink. Traditionally made from a mixture of local beer and the Austrian national drink, Almdudler (herb-flavored soda), it’s also sometimes prepared with lemonade, grapefruit, or lemon soda.

6. Froccs – Hungary

This summery drink mixes wine with soda water and is called different things depending on the water to wine ratio. Made with a 2-to-1 wine ratio this drink is called “nagyfröccs”, and with a 3-to-2 ratio it’s called “házmester”. If you’re visiting during Hungary’s frosty winter months, sub in “forralt bor”, a traditional mulled wine to warm you up instead.

Accommodations: The best budget hotels in Budapest

7. Kir – France

This white wine-based cocktail is thought to have come about in the 1950s when the mayor of Dijon tried to make the most of a bad batch of wine by adding black currant liquor. It’s typically served as an aperitif (before the meal) and should be the color of a rose or blush wine, not darker.

If you’re feeling particularly spendy or celebratory, splurge on a Kir Royale, the Kir’s fancy cousin made with Champagne instead of white wine.

A selection of ouzo at a bar in Athens. Photo: Mark

8. Ouzo – Greece

Considered the national drink of Greece, this distilled liquor isn’t for folks who don’t appreciate black licorice as it’s heavily flavored with anise seed. The most famous varieties are from Lesvos and Tyrnavos. It’s best served ice-cold.

To stretch your drink, and your euros further, dilute it with water to release essential oils in the liquor and make it even more aromatic.

9. Vodka – Russia, Estonia & Poland

If you’re traveling in a country that could be described as the former Eastern block or belongs to Europe’s famed vodka belt, the drink of the same name is your safest bet for bargain booze of quality. Consumed chilled before, during, and after special occasion meals (like when you go out with visiting friends or colleagues), it’s name is Slavic for water. It’s usually sipped neat.

Related: A budget travel guide to Warsaw

10. Vermouth – Spain, Italy & France

Long regarded as an old-fashioned and out of style drink, vermouth is having a comeback in big Spanish, French, and Italian cities. This fortified and herbed wine is typically served either neat, over ice, or with a slice of citrus fruit and some soda water.

Bonus Tip

And whatever you do, skip imported tipples if you want to save on your drink bill. That means no tequila, rum, or bourbon. Drink like a local and reap maximum savings.

Do you have a favorite cheap drink in Europe? Tell us about it in the comments below.

The post Cheers! 10 cheap drinks in Europe that we love to sip appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

So come on Cheapos, it’s time to pull out all the stops and show that special someone you care with a romantic (and budget-friendly) day out in London!

Call your sweetheart, book an affordable hotel in the heart of London, and follow along for a fun-filled adventure.

1. Escape the city on a romantic walk

Many visitors to London go no further than Regent’s and Hyde Park when in search of green spaces, but to really escape the madness of the city, just head north to Hampstead Heath. This wild and rambling area of parkland is the perfect place to get away from it all and whisper sweet nothings.

The view from Hampstead Heath. Photo: Martin Deutsch

Lakes, swimming ponds, rolling hills, and woodland all make for the perfect romantic backdrop. So, if the weather is good, take along a picnic and make a day of it. Don’t miss the climb to the top of Parliament Hill, one of London’s highest points, where you can take in a spectacular view of the city’s major landmarks including The London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Canary Wharf and the Gherkin, to name but a few.

Hampstead Heath
Highgate Road NW3 7JR
Tube: Hampstead

2. Snuggle up at the movies

Make a trip to the cinema even more romantic and visit the Everyman. In each of the Everyman cinemas, you can choose to reserve a plush sofa for two complete with footrests and “sofa service” so you can sit back and enjoy a more intimate cinema experience. Although a little more pricey than a normal cinema ticket, with sofas priced at £17.50 per person, it certainly adds a touch of romance and is perfect for a special occasion.

Everyman Cinemas (several locations in London)
See website for more information.

3. Splurge on a romantic view of the city

Enjoy the ultimate romantic London experience and head for a sunset drink at the lovely Oxo Tower Bar. Whilst just thinking about dining at the Oxo Tower Restaurant or Brasserie is enough to leave most Cheapo’s out of pocket, sipping on an early evening drink is easier on your wallet and certainly worth the splurge. Located on London’s South Bank, the Oxo Tower is one of the city’s most iconic restaurants and the views across the river are unbeaten.

Oxo Tower Wharf
South Bank SE1 9PH
Tube: Waterloo / Southwark
website

4. Wine and dine by candlelight

There’s no better place to cozy up together and enjoy a great meal than at Gordon’s. Opened in 1890, this atmospheric haunt claims to be London’s oldest wine bar and offers excellent wine, exquisite cheese platters, and tasty traditional English fare at reasonable prices (meals cost between £10-13).

Gordon’s Wine Bar oozes character with low lighting and candlelit tables tucked away in the nooks and crannies of this underground cavern. It is entirely unique and is the ideal setting for that special romantic meal.

Gordon’s Wine Bar
47 Villiers Street WC2N 6NE
Tube: Embankment / Charing Cross
website

The post 4 Cheapo ways to be romantic in London 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.

Tokaj or Tokaji

Say Tokay and most people will immediate think Hungary. But the Tokay region, which produces some of the world’s most celebrated and sought-after dessert wines, transgresses borders, and the northernmost portion of the designated Tokay region is actually in Slovakia.

This is a part of the world where one letter makes a big difference. On maps, the range of wooded hills that dominate the Hungarian part of the Tokay region is known at the Zemplén Mountains. Move north into Slovakia and they become the Zemplín Mountains. In Hungary, the wine is known as Tokaji. But in Slovakia, the name is rendered as Tokaj.

The wines on the Slovakian side of the border are every bit as distinguished in character as those from Hungary. They rely on the same three basic grape varieties and the production and quality control standards of Slovakian Tokaj wines conform to those laid down for Tokaji in Hungary.

The Penzión Tokaj on the Ostrozovic Estate. Photo: © hidden europe

A taste of Slovakian Tokaj

Last week, we took time to explore the Slovak side of the Tokay region. We stopped off here and there in quiet villages like Malá Trna—where Hungarian is evidently still the most commonly spoken language. It’s a nice reminder that modern frontiers in Europe do not divide ethnicities or language groups. Then we moved north to Vel’ká Trna, a predominantly Slovak-speaking community, where we met Jaro Ostrozovic.

Jaro was born just a few miles away to the south in the border town of Slovenské Nové Mesto, but is now based in Vel’ká Trna, where he and his wife Jarka manage one of the premier Tokaj wine businesses in Slovakia. The Ostrozovic Estate produces the full range of Tokaj styles from the tongue-tingling dry samorodné through various grades of sweet aszú-style wines (locally known as Tokajský výber) to the intoxicatingly sugary esencia.

They also produce regular wines from each of the three main grapes that are combined in making the region’s signature Tokaj wines. Those grapes are the furmint, the yellow muscat and the lipovina—the latter will be familiar to lovers of Hungarian Tokaji under the name hárslevelü.

Wine growers Jarka and Jaro Ostrozovic. Photo: © hidden europe

The Ostrozovic Estate

Visitors to the Ostrozovic winery in Vel’ká Trna can tour the cellars, sample the wines and stay overnight. Room rates start at €35 for a single or €25 per person in a shared double. It is a chance, too, to try some of the local Zemplín cuisine.

As to the wines, you’ll be in for a treat. The rich concentration of natural grape sugars and favorable conditions for the development of botrytis give Ostrozovic favored status for making classic Tokaj sweet wines. And they won’t break the bank. Prices start at just over €10 for a Tokajský výber. We happen to be fans of the drier samorodné style, which is often frustratingly hard to find outside the Tokay region and one or two other markets (such as Poland, where it has long found favor as an aperitif). The Ostrozovic version is delicious and just €6.80 a bottle. Just look for the word suché on the bottle to be sure that you really are buying the dry wine. It is something quite special, redolent in many ways of palomino sherry.

The Slovakian Tokaj region deserves to be far better known. It is overshadowed by its very much larger Hungarian counterpart to the south, and it is a small player within the wider Slovak wine industry. If you have a big budget, sixty euros will buy you a very fine bottle of Ostrozovic esencia. Taste it to discover why historically Tokay has been feted as “the wine of kings, and the king of wines.” But even a sample of the lesser wines from the region will be enough to convince you that Tokay is something very special—especially when it is Tokaj from Slovakia.

The post Visiting Slovakia’s affordable wine region appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Simply show up with empty bottles or boxes and fill them up with the wine of your choice. It’s typically cheaper than buying a bottle in the supermarket and, most importantly, the wines are of high quality and integrity.

Here are five places I recommend for filling up with wine on tap in Florence:

Enoteca Alla Sosta dei Papi
Via Borgo La Croce, 81r
Neighborhood: Sant’Ambrogio

Located right down the road from Sant’Ambrogio market, this enoteca is a perfect place to fill up on wine after you get your groceries from the market. They offer six or seven wines on tap, almost all from local family-owned wineries. Their most inexpensive red wine is a Montepulciano, at €2.60/liter, while their most popular is the Montalcino for €3.30/liter.

If you are looking for a basic red wine, I would recommend one of their “table” wines: the Rosso Toscano Chianti and the Nero d’Avola (Sicilian), both for €2.80/liter. My personal favorite so far is their Chardonnay for €2.70/liter.

One of the special aspects of this enoteca is that you can organize little (or big) “Apericena” events here. For about €15 a person, you can choose a wine and eat from a buffet of local Tuscan specialties, like local meats and cheeses, bruschetta and other goodies.

Fattoria San Michele a Torri
Via dell’Agnolo, 101
Neighborhood: Santa Croce

Fattoria San Michele a Torri offers a smaller selection of wine on tap, but the wines are all from grapes that are biologiche (organic). I am obsessed with their Merlot (€3.50/liter), but their red and white table wines are also amazing (€2.40/liter).

I would also recommend buying your bread here. Although it is a bit more expensive than what you will find at the supermarket, it is well worth the extra euro. Baked in a wood fired oven, the loaves taste great with local cheeses (which you can also buy here).

San Michele is where all my friends from this neighborhood go to get wine—it’s always packed with locals, a great sign.

I Vinaio
Via delle Carra, 16
Neighborhood: Piazza S. Jacopino

I Vinaio an itsy bitsy little wine and beer shop on Via delle Carre, near Piazza San Jacopino. The wines on tap cost around €2- €5 a bottle and all come from Tuscany or Sicily. I bought a red “Morello” that was amazing for only €3 here.

Unlike most wine stores in Florence, this store also carries a wide selection of artisan beer. Though there is no beer on tap, their prices for bottled specialty beer are not extraordinarily high, so it’s easy enough to come and try a couple from their selection to find one you really like. The owners are very knowledgeable, so if you are unsure of what to try, just ask them and they will help you select the perfect wine or beer to fit your tastes. If you are in the mood for something bubbly, they also have prosecco on tap, how amazing is that?!

Vigna Vittoria
Via Fabroni Giovanni, 14R
Neighborhood: Piazza S. Jacopino

The superstore!  Vigna Vittoria has a huge selection of wine on tap. What makes this place great is their extensive selection of wines from all around Italy, not just Tuscany. White wines from Venice, Liguria, red wines from Piedmont, Puglia, Sardinia etc. and prices that are very affordable. (Basic red/white table wines start at €1.20/liter.)

Plan on coming here when you have lots of time—preferably in the morning or late evenings when it is least busy—so that you will have a chance to talk with a staff member about their selection.

BVeg
Via degli Orti Oricellari, 6
Neighborhood: Santa Maria Novella Station

Not only does Bveg offer some of the best vegetarian food in Florence, but this little bistro has a great selection of beer, hence the name B(eer)Veg(etarian). They have about six beers on tap, all of which are exclusively from Italian breweries.

I recommend the Brewfist Jale, but if you are unsure of what you want, sit at the bar and—if it isn’t too busy—the bartender will let you sample a couple of beers. An average-sized beer costs around €5 and if you come after 7 p.m. they offer a small aperitivo: a selection of delicious little finger foods (some of which are made using the beer!).

This is a place to come and enjoy a glass of beer or wine with friends in a tranquil atmosphere—with great music and free Wi-Fi too!

The post Florence: Buy your wine like the locals… on tap! appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Them: “How long have you lived here?”
Me: “Almost 8 years.”

Them: “Do you like it?”
Me: “Yes.”

Them: “Why did you move to Barcelona?”

Depending on my mood, I give some long-winded story about adventure and heartbreak, blah, blah, blah, or I tell the truth; “I came for the olives and wine.”

I am a wino. I also like a good beer, but if made to choose, go for the wine over beer every time.

Wine in Spain can be exorbitant or dirt-cheap. There is a lot of excellent wine for under €5 the bottle, making Spain and Barcelona a shoestring wino’s paradise. If you, too, swoon for fermented grapes, then put these bars on your must-drink list.

Onofre

Onofre
Carrer de les Magdalenes 19, 08002, Barcelona
Website

Serving pretty much all Catalan and Spanish wines, here you’ll come across an extensive wine menu and 16 labels served by the glass. Over 200 types of wine can be ordered by the bottle! Onofre also does tasty tapas and an excellent lunch menu for less than $20.

La Vinya del Senyor
Plaça Santa María, 5, 08003, Barcelona
Website

La Vinya del Senyor carries over 400 wines in a fab setting right in front of Santa Maria del Mar Basilica. Remember the book “Cathedral of the Sea” by Ildefonso Falcones de Sierra? It’s written about this basilica. Their 20 wines by-the-glass change every 15 days. You can choose between reds, whites, cavas, Champagnes, and sweet wines like sherry.

Vila Viniteca
Agullers, 7, 08003, Barcelona
Website

Vila Viniteca is enormous, taking up an entire street. Go into the deli and down the stairs to find the tiny bar. Any deli item can be served up with one of their 13 wines by the glass, which are mostly Spanish. They also carry 350 types of cheese!

Do you have a favorite wine bar in Barcelona?

Tell us about your favorite spots for wine in the comments section!

The post Barcelona Wine Bars: 3 picks from a self-confessed “wino” appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.