Eurocapitals on the Cheap
Even though summer airfares to Europe's capitals aren't bad, the weak dollar is discouraging U.S. visitors. Still, that's no reason to nix a trip, says Karen Fawcett, who lives in France and publishes the travel newsletter Bonjour Paris. There are ways to economize:
Rent a Parisian apartment. You'll typically pay much less than at a nice hotel--as low as $1,300 for a weekly rental that sleeps four. Plus you'll get a kitchen. "Right now, there's an excess of short-term apartments," Fawcett says. Rentals are listed at rentalsparis.com and Fawcett's site (bonjourparis.com) , which requires a $35 subscription for in-depth info. Beyond that, ask for a free carafe d'eau (aka tap water) in cafes instead of springing for a bottle. Mass transit can be a negligible expense, especially with a weekly ticket. A 15-euro Monday-to-Monday metro pass "is much less expensive than individual tickets," says Fawcett.
When in Rome, sleep like a nun. A room with two beds at the Casa D'Accoglienza S. Spirito convent is about $52 a night. But no late nights--curfew is 11 p.m. A list of convents with rooms to let is at santasusanna.org/comingToRome/convents.html. And when you fly in, don't hail a taxi to the center of town--it's a staggering $80. The airport train, says Lisa Byrne, manager of the travel website italyperfect.com, is $13. Another rail deal is TrenOK, a train patterned after bargain airlines. Rome to Milan is 9 euros one way (www.trenok.com) . For frugal shoppers, Kathy McCabe, editor of dreamofitaly.com, a travel newsletter, recommends one of the new outlet malls. McArthurGlen Designer Outlet (www.mcarthurglen.it) , about 45 minutes from Rome, discounts Dolce & Gabbana and Bruno Magli. And don't forget, Vatican museums are free the last Sunday of the month.
To make London more affordable, Paul Chibeba of VisitBritain suggests a bed and breakfast (www.visitbritain.com/usa) . At London's utterly no-frills easyHotel (easyhotel.com) , closet-size rooms are 5 pounds a night and up; it should be open by summer. Or try a dorm (search for "holiday accommodation" residence hall info at www.venuemasters.com ). Prices start at about $52 per person a night, degree not included.
This story appears in the April 18, 2005 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.
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