travel tips

By Jessica Colley—

Winter is one of the best seasons for Cheapos to visit Dublin. Not only are airfares and hotel rates at their cheapest for the year, but the cold temperatures offer a great excuse to get snug in the pub and order up an Irish coffee.

From shopping to sports to comedy, there is plenty to do in Dublin when the cold drives Cheapos indoors. Stay warm in Dublin this winter with the following indoor activities:

Shopping

Music, literature, and design all provide insight into Irish culture. Spend a day shopping at the following stores and find great deals along with local character.

Browse at Celtic Note, a music store specializing in Irish music of yesterday and today. Shelves are packed to the brim at Books Upstairs, a wonderful little bookstore for discovering the best of Irish literature (don’t be surprised if books are signed by the author). Get to know Irish design by heading to the Loft in Powerscourt Townhouse, a space shared by multiple local designers, jewelry makers, and vintage sellers.

Weekend Sport

During the dark winter months, locals look forward to one tournament in sport: the 6 Nations Rugby Tournament. The Ireland team plays home matches in Dublin, and in 2012, will battle Wales, Italy, and Scotland at home.

While attending a game is the best way to get in on the action, the local pubs will have an electric atmosphere on match day. Get cozy – early – in a pub near the Aviva Stadium and watch the Irish team battle to be rugby champions. Check out the schedule for the 6 Nations tournament.

Winter Events

Throughout the winter cultural events keep locals entertained indoors. One favorite event is the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, held from February 16 through February 26, 2012. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the festival and Al Pacino is confirmed to attend.

Winter is also a great season to check out the Dublin comedy scene. Venues for comedy in Dublin include Vicar Street, the Mill Theatre, the Olympia Theatre, and the Laughter Lounge.

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Okay, chances are you know quite a bit about the fabulous range of rail passes which are available for exploring Europe. From Eurail and InterRail to BritRail and a great range of locally sold passes within individual countries, those keen to roam the rails are spoilt for choice.

But for bus fiends, devotees of road transport who feel inclined to coach the highways of Europe, most rail passes are of little help (although some locally sold passes, such as the Explore Wales pass, do usefully combine road and rail transport).

Easy connections by road

But if trains are not your thing, or you just fancy trying something different why not opt for a pass to explore the Eurolines coach network?

If you don’t know about Eurolines, check out our article earlier this month which gave a few key facts on why coach travel can be a credible alternative to taking the train on many European journeys.

From €175 for 15 days

Current pass prices start at €175 for 15 days of unlimited low-season travel between major cities in two dozen countries across the Eurolines network. That fare holds for anyone aged under 26. For older travelers, the fare for the same 15-day pass edges up to €205. 30-day passes are also available, with the current adult pass costing €310. All passes carry premium prices during high season.

Critics of the Eurolines pass have often argued that the scheme emphasizes larger cities at the expense of smaller places (although Eurolines’ dense network really does serve many out-of-the-way spots). The Eurolines consortium responded in 2011 by adding in a few secondary cities to the pass scheme. These newcomers include Rennes, Tours, Dijon, Nancy, Alicante and Kaunas.

From Ireland to the Baltic States

Once you have your pass, you can roam at will between cities included in the scheme. The geographical coverage is impressive, extending from Dublin and Edinburgh to Rome and Bucharest. Of course, you will need to change coaches on many long journeys.

Eurolines services are intended mainly for international journeys, but there are some domestic hops that can be booked by pass holders. Barcelona to Madrid is one, and Edinburgh to London another (though Catalonian and Scottish nationalists might well argue that both journeys are international in spirit).

Reserve seats in advance

Eurolines offers a hassle-free way of exploring principal cities across Europe in comfort, but a little advance planning pays off. All seats can be reserved, and on popular routes the coach can be full. So Eurolines strongly advise that travelers reserve each leg a few days in advance. Any specific sector can only be ridden twice during the validity of a pass.

You will find a wealth of further information, all very impressively ordered, at www.eurolines-pass.eu and www.eurolines.com/eurolines-pass/.

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By Bryan Pirolli in Paris—

Vahram Muratyan’s book Paris vs. New York: A Tally of Two Cities has been making quite an impression on big city dwellers. Debuting at Colette last year in Paris and launching in February in New York, the book visually chronicles the comparisons and contrasts between both iconic cities. Images illustrate the cultural showdown, like the macaron versus the cupcake, the baguette versus the bagel, or the bobo versus the hipster.

Recently images form the new book have been making waves across social media sites, particularly Muratyan’s map of Paris that replaces arrondissements with New York neighborhoods.

For those who know both cities, the comparisons are uncanny, so I thought it might be fun to see which ones are spot-on and which ones seem like a stretch:

1. Bastille – Bowery, East Village: Spot on.

The young, artsy, still up-and-coming Bastille neighborhood where the Revolution ceremoniously began (well, for some) reflects the same vibe you get walking through the gentrifying East Village – although Bastille is much better serviced by the subway system.

2. Marais – West Village, Chelsea: Spot on.

The quirky gay-friendly Marais has all of the vivacity of Chelsea and the West Village, with pricey boutiques to match.

3. Latin Quarter – Greenwich Village, NYU: Stretch.

50 years ago it would have been true, but besides being student neighborhoods, the Latin Quarter feels much more like a tourist trap than the Village. It’s a place where students occasionally study and party, with none of the urban campus vibe of NYU where thousands of students actually live.

4. Montmartre – Gramercy: Spot on.

Severely gentrified since its Belle Epoque bohemian days (think Moulin Rouge) Montmartre, much like Gramercy Park, is a charming place that most people just look at with so few possessing the keys (read: money) to truly access this neighborhood.

5. Passy – Upper West Side: Stretch.

Young people live in and like the Upper West Side. Some young people live in Passy, but no one likes it.

6. Champs Elysées – Times Square: Spot on.

Both are equally avoided by locals. At all cost.

7. Arc de Triomphe – Washington Square: Stretch.

We get the similarities, but the Beatniks and students at the Washington Square arch have nothing in common with the Napoleonic greatness of the military-inspired Arc de Triomphe.

8. Choissy – Chinatown: Spot on.

Porte de Choissy is Paris’s liveliest Chinatown, though New  York’s version is even more vibrant.

9. Saint-Germain – Upper East Side: Stretch.

While they share similar qualities like museums and old rich people, Saint-Germain has many redeeming ones for locals, including great restaurants, boutiques, and endless café culture. The Upper East Side has redeeming qualities as well.  Just give me a few minutes…

10. Louvre – The Met, Union Square: Stretch.

Two big museums, OK, it was necessary. But I’m not sure about the Union Square comparison aside from the skateboarders.

11. Opéra – Theatre District: Spot on.

Locals and visitors alike flock to the area around the Opéra for a night of ballet, music, or comedy in one of the many smaller venues that fuels Paris’s theater scene. Even though theaters are found all over the city, the majestic Opéra Garnier and its little brother the nearby Opéra Comique are two of the most popular.

Your comparisons? So urban dwellers, what do you think about the comparisons between these cities?

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By Regina W Bryan in Barcelona—

There is a feeling among some backpackers and DIY-type travelers that tours are for, well, tourists. Granted, I don’t want to be one of 75 people following a guide’s orange flag through the city streets of Rome or London. Not only do those sorts of tours make me feel embarrassed, it’s almost impossible to hear what the guide is saying with that many people.

This is not to say I don’t like tours. I love tours. Tours with a local in Barcelona (or any city) are excellent ways to A) meet a local (the guide), B) pick his brain about where to eat dinner, and C) learn all sorts of weird stuff about the place you’re visiting.

In Barcelona I have taken quite a few tours even though I live here. These tours have opened my eyes and helped me to see a side of the city that I never would have experienced otherwise. Here are my suggestions for local, small, savvy city tours in Barcelona:

George Orwell Tours

Before booking with Alan Warren of George Orwell Tours, read Homage to Catalunya by George Orwell. Warren’s tours focus on Barcelona during the Civil War, a fascinating time in Spanish history which has not been forgotten by the older generation and has certainly shaped current culture in Barcelona and Catalonia.

Many foreigners from the United States and the United Kingdom came to Spain during the Civil War to fight for the Republic and against fascism (a little known fact), and George Orwell was one of them. Later, Orwell went on to write Homage to Catalunya about his experiences in Barcelona and on the front.

Warren’s tour takes visitors on a stroll through 1930’s Barcelona visiting important Orwell sights, such as the hotel he stayed in, battle grounds, and the George Orwell Square. If you’re interested in anarchy, the Civil War and Spanish politics, this is the tour to go on. It’s also very affordable.

Secrets and Legends Tour

Juan J. Pardo Eimil took me on one of the best tours I’ve ever done. What’s more, the tour was of the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, an area I’ve trod extensively over the last six years. His Secrets and Legends Tour, which explores the Roman and medieval center of the metropolis, is the ideal way to get to know Barcelona. Book him on your first or second day in the city to gain your bearings.

His tour company, Juan Ciempies Turisme Cultural, offers several tour options. Those already familiar with the city may want to ask him about his El Raval neighborhood tour to see a less “touristy” part of the city, which is rich in history and incredibly trendy with young people these days.

Other tours

Here are some more options for touring around Barcelona:

Runner Bean Tours - “Free” tours of the city; tipping expected at the end.

El Moli Tours - Not in Barcelona, but just outside the city in wine country. Tours by bike and foot. Lots of wine tasting!

Barcelona By Bike - Bike tours of the city daily.

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By Audrey Sykes in Amsterdam—

Even during the off season Amsterdam is a busy place. Lines for museums are common, stuffy buses are all too familiar, and traveling in and out of the city can take some time.

Here are 10 ways to keep you from playing the waiting game and make the most out of your trip to Amsterdam:

1. Pay in cash

Forget paying with a credit card in grocery stores, they only accept cash or Dutch debit cards. And many authentic Amsterdam cafes (and coffeeshops) only take cash. Save time by always having cash on hand, and use your credit cards for the shops and ATM machines.

2. Buy day tickets on public transportation

Yes, you can buy your ticket on the trams and buses, but save time (and annoying people behind you) and buy a day ticket if you’re taking public transport. This way you can simply “punch” your ticket when going on and off the tram or bus like everyone else. (Look for the round pads on the side of the doors that say “OV”.)

3. Go to Anne Frank House, late

During high tourist season the Anne Frank House Museum is open until 9 p.m. (10 p.m. on Saturdays); and during the off season until 7 p.m. (9 p.m. on Saturday). In fact, during July and August the museum doesn’t close until 10 p.m. daily. So save time and avoid that long line by coming later, about an hour before close.

4. Make dinner reservations

Since Amsterdam’s old city center is well preserved, it also means cafes and restaurants have a small capacity for patrons. Save time searching for an open table by simply reserving a place at a café. Call ahead (or stop by) during the afternoon and you should be fine.

5. Bike around

Waiting around for trams and buses gets old fast – Amsterdam public transport isn’t as frequent as other European capitals, especially on weekends. Save time (and money) by renting a bike during your stay. It’s fun, healthy, and once you learn the rules of the bike paths, it’s a breeze!

6. Party outside the center

On weekends the city center is packed with people, mostly foreigners and Dutch people coming to the Dam for a big weekend. Save time and stay away from the bars and clubs at the big party squares – you’ll spend ages waiting for a drink or club entry. Instead, hit the surrounding hoods like De Pijp, Jordaan, Oost or Westerpark. These areas are more fun, authentic and comfortably filled with locals.

7. Book train tickets in advance and use kiosks

It might sound obvious, but I wholeheartedly encourage travelers to book train tickets in advance online. Whether you have a print-out on hand or you have to use a kiosk computer at the station – both methods are so much faster than waiting in line to buy tickets at the station. (Of course, checking in for flights in advance and using self-service check in at the airport will also save you loads of time.)

8. Get Dutch-y

Although everyone in Amsterdam speaks English and things are rather international, don’t spend time searching for your favorite chain coffee store or smoothie shop. Suppress your cravings for tacos and hot dogs – you won’t find the real deal here, and you’ll waste valuable time. Instead, get Dutch. Head for the fries stands, falafel shops and fresh orange juice. Want to taste something exotic? Try Indonesian or Surinamese cuisine – the Mexican and Chinese food of The Netherlands. (Here’s a list of our favorite late-night snacks.)

9. Don’t bother getting to the airport too early

Be early for your flight, but don’t overdo it: It takes about 20 minutes to get from Amsterdam Centraal Station to Schipol airport. If you’re flying on a low-cost carrier to another EU destination, gate assignments don’t even appear on the departure screens until 40 minutes before takeoff. If you just have a carry on, don’t overdo your prep time for short flights. Two hours is just too long for an EasyJet flight; 60 to 90 minutes is fine.

10. Don’t wait empty handed

Face it: There will be times when you’ll just have to wait around. When you find yourself stuck in a long line, waiting for transport, or twiddling thumbs on the train, pass the time with something good. Whether it’s a book or a light-weight tablet for videos, having an extra something to keep entertained while waiting is still the best way to remedy the waiting itch.

Also in our guide: We can also save you time hunting down the best budget hotels in Amsterdam. Our editors have visited, inspected and reviewed cheap hotels in Amsterdam, all centrally located, clean and affordable. Read more in our Amsterdam hotel guide.

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