Any talk of a weekend away could take you straight to Paris, Rome or London. But… how about going for places that have always been talked about and are now more popular than ever, instead of the more touristy destinations?

 Yes, life as an Erasmus student is a major point of reference for many reasons: university life, young people, services for everyone, a great public transport network, extremely interesting leisure activities on offer… all very affordable.

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Travelling from your computer screen to the most beautiful places on the planet sounds like a good idea, doesn’t it? Yes, I know it’s much more interesting to see World Heritage sites in person, but if you can’t do so because of a lack of time and money, here is a tool that will take you straight to these paradises.

UNESCO and Google have joined forces to show the world several sites that have been named World Heritage. With Google Maps and Street View you’ll be able to enjoy panoramic views of these sites, with horizontal views of 360 degrees and vertical ones of 290 degrees.

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Rumour has it that all European bookshops are getting ready for an avalanche of orders expected this Christmas after the release of Dan Brown’s latest book, The Lost Symbol. Now that guides to Paris and Rome will never be the same, something has also changed in the US capital.

Main visitor destinations are determined by the secret places Dan Brown has mentioned in his latest novel; this has been the case for some weeks now and will continue to be so for at least the next couple of years. The Lost Symbol sold a million copies in English on the day it went on sale.

In his novel Brown mentions all the usual spots in the American capital, although you’ll see them under a new light, as the plot of the novel concentrates on trying to uncover Masonic symbolism.

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I think this would have been a fantastic solution for when Laia lost her luggage. And, in fact it already exists: rent your clothes wherever you want so you won’t need to lug suitcases around or pay the airlines taxes or huge fees.

I find this more and more surprising, but the truth is that travelling to any part of the world is working out really cheap thanks to a few simple tips: sleeping in airports, using couch-surfing, shopping at supermarkets …

Well, here you have another: the Zero Baggage website, which is Canadian, offers you a clothes rental services for your trips. All you have to do is visit their website, choose whatever it is you’ll need and hop on the plane with nothing but your ticket and camera.

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I couldn’t believe it either when I read it, but there are places in the world where this is possible. You couldn’t find them in Europe, well, at least I haven’t found them. And since it’s a good idea to have a destination in mind just in case we need a change of scenery, I have a few cheap and exotic paradises to suggest to you.

 I think the most expensive part could be the plane ticket, but if you save up for a bit you could turn your life around. Are you coming? Read more…

If you want to have a good trip, price is important. The lower the price the better it is for your wallet nowadays: given the current situation, you shouldn’t splurge, but you mustn’t forget quality, which is essential.

This is why when you’re planning a trip you fancy doing, you quite often start wondering about the dates. Depending on your availability, you’ll quite often choose a certain time of year: high, mid or low season. However, studies and other complications often make it hard to take a holiday whenever. Read more…

At times of economic crisis, it would seem logical to try and reduce costs when travelling, that is to say, opt for cheaper destinations, travel using low cost airlines or stay in hostels instead of hotels. But, for those of you who don’t want to give up on getting to know the essence of the main European capitals despite your limited resources, your best option is that of the new concept of boutique hotels.

Why? Because what seems cheap can work out more expensive in the long run. If you’re only going to visit Paris, Milan, Prague, Berlin or London once in your life there is no point in you trying to scrimp by choosing accommodation in the outskirts miles away from any point of interest, shopping area, or especially, any of the city’s attractions. In the end, you always get to know a city when you try to live like the locals.

Now the main trend for hotels is to be situated in the very heart of the cities, where you find the best bars and restaurants.

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Everybody loves travelling. A weekend, the odd day here and there, some weeks or a long holiday. And despite the fact that the price of plane tickets is falling, you can also use this simple tip to make further savings on top of these cheaper fares.

 Taking the first flight of the day, at 5 or 6 am, can sometimes force you to spend money on an extra hotel night, making costs shoot up. And you must remember airports are usually a long way from the city centre, and public transport doesn’t really work at that time of day. Plus, a taxi is not an option. Read more…

There are lots of ways of travelling: letting your travel agent deal with everything, going on a spontaneous adventure or adapting every element of your trip to your budget so you don’t come up against any financial surprises. At the moment, many of us are interested in this last option. Travelling can also be fun on a limited budget.

When you plan a get-away, a mini-break, a long weekend or a trip, bear in mind the cost of getting there, of accommodation, of public transport at your destination, the money you will spend on leisure and souvenirs and the amount you will spend on food. The latter can be a significant amount, especially if you are visiting capital cities or major tourist destinations, as it can really eat into your budget and is difficult to anticipate in advance.

There are fast-food chains in every city and they can fill the lunchtime or dinnertime gap for a moderate price. But if you fancy eating a bit better without spending much, I suggest you take a look at the supermarkets in the area.

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It may seem silly to be thinking about what to wear for travelling, but nothing could be further from the truth, especially if you have a long and arduous journey ahead of you. If you add to that unbearable heat or an endless wait in an airport or train station, it becomes even more complicated, and dressing badly can ruin the start or end of your holiday.

If you can, avoid wearing those jeans that are a size too small but that you insist fit you, shoes with huge heels (yes, we’re aware that you never know who might sit down beside you, but there is nothing more ridiculous than being all dressed up as though you were going to a wedding in order just to sit still for 8 hours), or blouses that fasten up to the neck. The most practical option is a loose, floaty dress that allows you to move easily (or if that’s not your style, then a skirt and a comfortable top).

For those of you who are allergic to showing off your legs, the ideal option is a pair of jeans that are loose enough to let you breathe normally without having to undo the top button, a pair of ballerina pumps and a simple T-shirt.

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