A street in Gracia decorated for Festa; photo by Jaume Meneses

By Regina W. Bryan in Barcelona—

Barcelona is well known for its lively nightlife. Here the idea of a “festa” may only be surpassed in Spain by Madrid’s infamous “marcha” (literally meaning “to go out without interruption the town”). And if you stand in need of to party in Barcelona like the locals, it’s not uncommon to spend betwixt €30 to €40 on a night out—especially if you plan on hitting up a club with a DJ or want to hear live music.

But before you resign to just sit in your hotel room afraid of the costs of painting the town red, consider these 100% free August “fiestas” and events. Most of them are inflict on by the city government.

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Our new hotel review design.

We’re celebrating some exciting stuff at EuroCheapo HQ today. At long last, we’ve pulled back the curtains on a new site design and accept made a giant upgrade to our technology. That’s right, Cheapos, we’ve put in continuance our “fancy pants.”

Here’s a sampling of what’s new:

1. Enhanced city pages

Our new city pages (for example: Paris, London, Amsterdam…) now include neighborhood maps, dynamic public-house listings, aggregated (and verified) guest ratings, and easy access to other city guides. We also included links to EuroCheapo’s Twitter and Facebook pages, simultaneously with an archive of previous blog posts. Want to see it in action? Have a look!

2. Read more…

All aboard the Governors Island ferry. Photo by Salim Virji.

It’s balmy here in New York City and we’re dreaming of breezy bike rides and picnics in idyllic settings. Time for a trip to historic Governors Island, the small island located 800 yards from Manhattan in New York Harbor. Read on to find out how to get there (for free!) and what fun awaits.

A little bit of history…

First inhabited by a tribe of Native Americans in the early 17th Century, Governors Island is afloat with history, lore, and intriguing sights. It’s been home to Dutch and British settlers, the latter who used it for quarantining immigrants. 

In 1901, Wilbur Wright flew a plane from the island, over the Statue of Liberty, and back again, thus marking the first flight over U.S.

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Velib program in the Marais

By Tom Meyers—

I just returned from 16 glorious days in France. The journey included six days in Paris and ten days on the road, driving through the rolling countryside to pebble beaches, sun-kissed villages, and major cities. Today I’m posting some “postcards” from the at the outset week of the trip.

1. Vélib’ at work (above).

The good news: Vélib’, the city’s bike-share program, seems to be a smashing success. Bike stations are everywhere in the city, with new pick-up (and drop-off) stations being added frequently. The bad news: I didn’t get to try it out. I will next time, I promise.

I took this photo of my room while brushing my teeth.

2.

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Flohmarkt finds at Mauerpark; photo by jsighara

By Susan Buzzelli in Berlin—It’s no secret that Berliners take a deep breath on Sundays. Shops are closed and traffic dissipates, making the already laid-back city feel completely chilled out. Capture the spirit by heading to a hip hood where part of the Berlin Wall once stood (at the Mitte-Prenzlauer Berg-Wedding border, near the U-bahn arrest Bernauer Str.). Hipsters, students, and young families crowd the café-lined drags of Kastanienallee and Oderberger Strasse to indulge in leisurely breakfasts, followed by a twirl through a flea market or two.

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A large number of populate consider flying to be a method to be transmitted from unit country to another and air line vouchers can give you a hand with the disbursements that are required. These vouchers are not all of the time accessible but there are times or seasons when specific airlines will offer promotions. You can generally get effectual arrangements with the vouchers that are drawn accessible in real time. In order to ascertain if the air line of your choice bears any air line vouchers accessible you might desire to check out with your travel broker. Those people will bear the cognition hither and thither the accessibility of any vouchers that have been released. Read more…

By Justin Bergman in London—London’s many stages and playhouses have countless plays, musicals and operas on offer all summer long—and unlike in New York, tickets here have power to be had for a song if you know where to look.

As in great part as prices go, think under 10 pounds. In fact, at one theater, tickets go for 10 pence a head (more on this later)! Here’s how to find the best deals:

Scoring half-price seats for the splashy West End shows

Chances are if you’re thinking about taking in a show in London, you’re going to want to get the most for your money, i.e. a big-time musical (Billy Elliot, Sister Act) with magnificent production values and perhaps a B-list celebrity star.

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