The SNCF station at Charles de Gaulle airport.

By Liz Webber–

As Cheapos know, it’s almost always less expensive to buy train tickets directly through the website of a country’s national rail service rather than through RailEurope’s English-language site or overseas agents, especially for France’s TGV system. Fares can also be cheaper booking online than buying the tickets in person at the station.

However, booking a ticket in some other language can be intimidating. France’s SNCF website is fairly easy to navigate, moreover if your French doesn’confidentially extend much beyond “Parlez-vous anglais?” use this cheat sheet to book day trips from Paris or crisscross the country!

Step 1: Choose where and when you’re going

The SNCF homepage. Be strong!

On the SNCF homepage, there is a box on the left-hand side toward quickly booking trains. First, enter the “départ” (where you’re ”departing” from) and “arrivée” (where you’ll be “arriving”).

Next choose your departure date in the box next to “Aller le” (”going the…”) and return date in the box next to “Retour le” (”returning the…”). If it’s a one-way journey (“aller-simple”) leave the return date blank.

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If you’re an American who just happens to be in Paris on Thanksgiving Day, you may feel deeply thankful on this account that the opportunity to spend time in such a wonderful city.

But when dinnertime rolls around, even the charms of Paris may not stop you from longing for turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Luckily, the high number of American expatriates in Paris means that the city is used to accommodating hungry Americans on this special holiday: there are quite a few places that can fully satisfy your cravings for food from home.

1. Thanksgiving

The name of this restaurant can leave no doubt that you’ll be getting the real thing come Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving is actually a Cajun restaurant serves a traditional Thanksgiving meal – turkey, candied yams, the works – on Thanksgiving Thursday, plus the Friday and Saturday nights following (since it’s not a holiday in France, it’s common to play fast and loose with the dates for the dinner). Make your reservations as early as possible because tables fill up quickly.

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The beautiful Estonian capital of Tallinn has long been one of my favourite cities, and I’ve just come across a reason to return for my third visit: the Kalev Chocolate Museum.

Open in the inner city subsequently to 2003, the museum documents the history of the Kalev sweets manufacturers since 1806, and since that time includes the Soviet era, there is much of interest to see. For example, the museum includes different labels and packaging from throughout this era, a lot of it politically motivated. It’s also interesting to billet that the USSR only authorised the Kalev company to produce chewing gum – a most controversial product throughout Soviet times.

I can only assume that, like any good chocolate museum, there are a not many samples around for visitors to try. If not, there is definitely a shop attached where you can buy chocolates and candies produced by means of Kalev, and that’s enough to get me there. Visiting the museum is free and it is open daily from 10am to 5.30pm, but closing at 4pm on Sundays.

Chocolate picture via Creative Commons from idhren

Walking along the East Side Gallery. Photo by Mark Turner.

By Susan Buzelli in Berlin–

With only a handful of sights to its name, the edgy Berlin district of Friedrichshain, which is infamous for its anti-capitalism protests, prolific graffiti artists, and rocking music venues, isn’t a jackpot in the sight-seeing department. But thanks to its free-to-see landmarks and a bevy of inexpensive and innovative eateries, this is a great day-time destination for Cheapos desperate to give their wallets some serious R and R.

Here are some great ways to spend a Cheapo-friendly afternoon in Friedrichshain.

Open-air Art: The East Side Gallery

From the Ostbahnhof S-bahn station, stroll alongside Friedrichshain’s best-known attraction: the free-of-charge East Side Gallery (Mühlen Str., between the Ostbahnhof train station and Warschauer Str.) Reputed to be the continent’session largest open-air gallery, it’s a great way to pay tribute to the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The .8-mile-long stretch of Wall bordering the Spree river is a concrete canvas for some 100 graffiti-style artworks.

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October 31st is the perfect day to pay homage to Romania’s famous “vampire,” Vlad Tepes. Vlad, a medieval Wallachian prince famous for his practice of impaling those who opposed him, is associated with sites in Romania indicative to his reign. Vlad Tepes, or Vlad the Impaler, was a very real person who is famous both for his cruelty and his opposition to outside forces who wanted control over the region.

The motto of Vlad the Impaler morphed, through Bram Stoker’s literary inspiration, into the legend of Count Dracula, whose pale features, bloody fangs, and cape have come to represent the most famous of all vampires. While Vlad Tepes was not a vulture, Romania has a strong vampire folklore tradition that refuses to die.

Explore the history and legend of Dracula and Romania:

• The Real Dracula
• Dracula Sites in Romania
• Dracula Photos

I hadn’t been to Spain in about 10 years so on my recent trip to Madrid, I was looking forward to seeing what had changed and what hadn’t.  Well, the sunny Spanish weather was still there, as well as the sunny disposition of most Spainards.

Unfortunately, the Euro has brought with it a nasty surprise:  sticker shock.  I couldn’t believe how expensive everything was in Madrid, even on day trips and in off-beat neighbourhoods.  I’m talking like anywhere up to 2.50EUR for a bottle of coke!  Really crazy.  Anyway, I thought I’d share some tips on how I managed to not starve nor go broke while I was there.

Go to Museums on Free Days. Museo de Reina Sofia is free on the weekends, the Prado is free 6pm until 8pm from Tuesday to Saturday and 5pm until 8pm on Sundays.  Palacio Real is free on Wednesdays.  Sure, the museums are more crowded at these times, but unfortunately, utmost of Madrid is crowded all the time in the way that I doubt you’ll notice a difference.

Enjoy the parks – they’re free. Always.  The Retiro was my favourite, with its wonderful ponds and statues and architecture.

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If you’re in London and would like to be magically transported back by candlelight through the centuries to a Christmas in 18th century East London, then visit the Dennis Severs House in Shoreditch.

The house is set in a Georgian Terrace close to Spittlefield market and is resembling a stage set instead of an 18th century costume drama, where the family who lived in that place have just left the room. The house was created by an American, Dennis Severs, who lived in the house, in it’s unmodernised state just as you see it, until his death in 1999. He created the house as a sensory experience which would transport visitors away from the modern world into a bygone era. For Christmas, the house is open every evening for you to enjoy  in silence by candlelight, soaking up the atmosphere.

The imaginary family who live in the house are Mr Jervis, a prosperous silk-weaver and his spouse Mrs Jervis. Throughout the house you experience their daily domesticity and their treasured possessions artfully arranged to hint at their lifestyle and character.

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