Gray Line Wanderings Travel Blog

Check out Plaza Mayor in Madrid! Photo by Author.

Free Madrid!

And I don’t mean it in a “Save the Whales” kind of way. I actually want to tell you about free stuff to do in Madrid.

Madrid’s architecture is an eclectic blend of various centuries and influences, the art scene is both progressive and nostalgic, and the historical sights are extravagant and carefully preserved. The city of Madrid is an essential stop on any European vacation.

Madrid is the last extended stop on my year-long adventure, I’m pinching centimos as this point…  Whether you’re on a tight budget or simply looking to check out some of the city’s best, this is a guide for getting the most out of your Madrid vacation without overspending! (Please Note: This article was written on 7/28/12. Prices and hours of availability may change.)

• El Museo del Prado for Free European Art: Housing Las Meninas, a famous work of Velázquez, El Prado is regarded as one of the most important museums in the world. Tickets are always free for kids and students (with proof), but there are certain times that adults can check it out for free too! El Museo del Prado is free for adults on Monday-Saturday from 6-8pm, on Sundays, and on holidays from  5-7pm.
• Museo Reina Sofia for Free Modern Art:This super-funky modern art museum has a lot of new exhibitions from contemporary artists but also displays the works Dali and Picasso’s Guernica. If you want to visit for free, the museum is free of charge on Monday-Friday between 7-9pm, on Saturday from 2:30-9pm, and on Sunday from 10am-7pm.
• El Tigre for Free Tapas: The once local secret, El Tigre, is now packed out with people who heard the news. At El Tigre, any drink purchase earns you a plate of free tapas. I repeat, FREE TAPAS. While the tapas are occasionally just a greasy plate of patatas bravas, you can also get jamón serrano and tortilla española amongst other Spanish favorites. You might want to seek out tapas elsewhere if money is not an issue, but if you want a sangria and some snacks, you really can’t beat the price at El Tigre.
• Madrid Free for Free Current Activities: Madrid Free is a website that delivers exactly what you would expect… listings of free things to do in Madrid. The site advertises everything from art expositions to film festivals to outdoor concerts to hiking trails. Whatever you want to do, Madrid Free probably has something for you. *While the site does have an “English” option, it filters out the majority of current listings. Translate the page or try to read in Spanish for the most info.
• El Sol for Free Going Out: Madrid stays up LATE. If you’re interested in free drinks or free admission into any of the hundreds of bars and clubs near the city’s heart, head out before midnight. Promoters hang out near El Sol metro station, and with a flyer, you can get anything from free chupitos to mojitos depending on the night.
• Around Town for Free Sights: The outdoor wonderland of former royal families, Parque de El Retiro (Retiro Park) is always a free place to hang out, play, or picnic. Another must see in Madrid is the Palacio Real de Madrid (Royal Palace) although you’ll only get to check out the outside free of charge. You can always hit El Rastro on Sunday to scour through secondhand wares, or just go for a stroll and check out the scene. Furthermore, the Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, and GranVía are all outdoor marvels that won’t cost you a dime.

Have you ever visited Madrid? What recommendations do you have for other travelers about free or inexpensive things to do in the city? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook!

Author & Friends Cooking Shrimp Chile Rellenos from Scratch in Mexico. Photo by Steve Hoberg.

As a recent college grad on a big trip, I’ve become a budget travel aficionado more out of necessity than desire. Now that you know How to Save Money on Flights and How to Save Money at the Airport, its time to start saving money while you’re actually on vacation. Even if you’re not traveling on a tight budget, read on. Sometimes it can be fun to try out a local place or cook your own meals while abroad! Here are a couple of ways to cut back your spending on food while traveling abroad.

Eat Where the Locals Eat: Almost anywhere in the world, you will find that you get a serious discount by avoiding the popular tourist restaurants and eating where the locals eat. Avoid the main road and find a little pub or noodle shop on a side street. Then you’ll finally understand how much local food should cost!

Stay Somewhere with a Communal Kitchen: Cooking is almost always cheaper than going out to eat for every meal. If you’re settling down in one location for more than a week, look into short term rentals with a kitchen so that you can prepare a couple of simple meals during the day rather than heading out to eat because you don’t have options. Many hostels also offer a communal kitchen for young travelers. Not only will this help you save a bit of money, but it can be a fun vacation activity to stage cooking contests and trade off cooking responsibilities during your trip.

Buy Snacks at Grocery or Convenience Stores: At theme parks, historical sites and world monuments, there are many people waiting to capitalize on your desperate thirst and hunger. The idea is that once they’ve got you cornered, you’ll probably overpay… willingly. However, if you come equipped with a couple of snacks, you’ll not only be eating what you want, but you’ll be getting it for a fair price.

Drink Less Beer: If traveling on a budget, you’ll start to realize that your alcohol tabs run up dinner bills significantly. “But I’m on vacation!!” I know. BUT If you’re looking to spend an evening out within your budget, why not have dinner first and order drinks only after you’ve finished eating. This option will provide a couple of extra hours of entertainment at no additional cost to you. If you’re trying to be really classy (I wish there was a sarcasm font), you can also buy drinks at a convenience store or grocery store and drink them in your room before heading out.

Skip Meals: I’m not advocating anything crazy, but I do know that the three-square-meals-a-day folk need some persuasion on this issue. If you sleep in or get off to a slow start, it IS ok to skip breakfast and go for an early lunch! If your day trip runs long, eat around 4pm and snack for dinner that night. Going with the flow regarding meal times and snacking in between can help you accidentally save a bit of money.

Whats the most terrible thing you ever ate because you were on a tight budget, at home or abroad? My roommate’s spaghetti with ketchup and green beans tops my list. Tell me about it on Facebook or in the comments section below! (Click here if you can’t see Facebook comments below: Budget Travel Tips: Saving Money on Food)

View from a Perfectly Comfy & Free Chair at the Beijing Airport. Photo by Author.

You’ve planned your big trip and you’ve worked out all the details… mostly! When I travel, my budget ranges between “Super Thrifty” to “I Can’t Even Afford to Fly Home,” and I usually land somewhere in the middle. It’s always those sneaky expenses that you would rather not pay for in the first place that really break the bank. Even if you’re prepared to shell out a lot of cash on a big vacation, it’s still painful to invest in an $8 airport latte. While this list of recommendations for saving money while traveling could span pages, I’m going to focus on one specific aspect of travel budgeting today: Saving Money at the Airport.

Explore Transport Options: Hauling around a load of bags is unappealing enough that most travelers are willing to splurge on a taxi or private transport when headed to the airport. However, before you give in, I would like to tell you, almost every country I have visited has a fantastic bus, metro or shared taxi system that runs convenient, frequent and pretty darn comfortable routes to the airport. Check to see if the city you’re visiting offers a public transit option, and save yourself some money!

Bring Snacks: Every time I make the mistake of thinking I’m not really that hungry before I head to the airport, I end up buying a $6 bag of trail mix and a sad toasted sandwich. Security must think I’m a mother with the quantity of snacks I carry around in my bag… nuts, fruit, chocolate, granola bars, crackers, or even string cheeses can make for great airport snacks. Be sure to eat before leaving home, even if you’re not hungry. Also pack both salty AND sweet so you aren’t tempted to buy a complementary overpriced snack at the airport!

Making the Rookie Mistake of Checking in AT the Airport. Photo of Author.

Print your Documents at Home: Not only is waiting in check-in lines one of my least favorite past times, a few carriers have started to charge passengers for NOT checking in online. This tip will save you not just money, but time and you’ll be glad you have your documents in order to avoid any seemingly pointless fees. Having to wait in line could even result in missing your flight which could cost as much as a whole new ticket at last minute rates, talk about getting off to a bad start…

Pack Light: Oversized baggage charges are the worst. These baggage fees add up and if we’re trying to save money while traveling, that’s not a good start either! Remember to put all liquids and prohibited items in your checked bag so you don’t have to pay the exorbitant shipping fee to salvage your grandfather’s pocket knife. Make sure that you know the restrictions before leaving home if you’re trying to save money later. Or avoid this issue entirely by intentionally packing underweight.

Looks Enticing, But Don't Even Think About It. Photo by Author.

Avoid Extras: Internet, lounges, book stores and massage chairs are just a few of the many temptations faced by the weary airport traveler. If you haven’t been seduced yet, perhaps you haven’t had a long enough layover… You can end up saving a little money here and there by simply avoiding the extras. This means bringing enough entertainment to easily survive downtimes without even thinking about buying that magazine in the airport gift shop because you’re too caught up in your newest book or ipad game. And don’t you dare rent a sleeping pod at the Delhi airport when you can lounge for free!

Considering buying airport or in-flight Internet to do some computer work? Just use the “work offline” feature of Outlook or Apple Mail to take care of everything with zero distractions (and for once you can actually cancel that unintentionally snarky email before it gets auto-sent the next time you have access!). Really though, resist the urge to splurge because just about any work can be typed up in your favorite word editor to be put online later! In fact, that’s exactly what I’m doing right now.

Have any great ways to save money at the airport? Tell us about them in the comments below! Click here if you can’t see the Facebook comments below: Budget Travel Tips: Saving Money at the Airport

Image Provided by Flickr User Mark Sebastian

Raise your hand if you’re a procrastinator! If you’ve read any of my other postings, you know that my hand is definitely in the air. This horrible habit can make it rather difficult to plan a vacation. Surprise, surprise, this Memorial Day weekend is no exception. Why didn’t anyone tell me that the end of May was already here?! Wasn’t it just Easter? That being said, I refuse to allow a three-day weekend to slip through my fingers, and neither should you! I have spent the majority of my morning, when I should have been working, piecing together my last minute vacation. To my delight, all is not lost! Thanks to the magic of the World Wide Web (does anyone still say that?) I never have to learn my lesson and neither do you. Check it…

To celebrate the true spirit of the holiday, here’s a list of Memorial Day events including parades, fireworks, musical performances, wreath-laying ceremonies, picnics and more.

Of course the 3 day weekend is also a great opportunity for some R&R so here’s a great article with 5 last minute vacations to do on a budget; yes I said the B word. They have some really great tips to save you money. You can go to Chicago, NYC, Las Vegas, Orlando, or Miami! I don’t know about you, but since I live in a land locked state, the beach sounds like the perfect way to spend this long weekend.

If flying is not an option this year and you’re driving to your destination, I found the best article on foxnews.com. It gives you a list of all the rest stops you should avoid around the country, mostly on the east coast. Yes, rest stops can be creepy, but the main reason you would want to avoid these are because of the crowds. Who knew?

So now that you know where you’re going and how you’re getting there, where are you going to stay? If crashing on someone’s couch, floor, or lawn is not an option, don’t worry I’ve got you covered. Besides the usual last minute websites like Priceline.com and Hotwire.com, here’s a list of hotels around the country that are offering deals for this holiday weekend! Here’s a little secret about using this Frommer’s award winning website – you get better deals if you call them. I know how archaic that sounds, who calls anyone anymore? Just ask yourself if talking to someone for a few minutes is worth saving some money. Your answer may be yes, it may be no, either way it’s a win-win.

Regardless of your political stance, please take some time to remember why we have this holiday. Thank you to the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives.

Did I miss anything? What are you doing this Memorial Day weekend? Let me know in the comments below! (If you can’t see Facebook comments, click here: Tips for a Fun Last Minute Memorial Day Weekend)

It appears that in honor of this, the day of love (or, more accurately, martyrdom), there are a ton of last-minute travel deals available. Since they stretch from here to the end of the internet, I’ve highlighted a few of the most appealing. If you’re a last-minute type of guy or gal (which I’m sure your partner loves about you), or if you’re lucky enough to be in a time zone where it’s yesterday, get ON it!

Expedia is hinting at some sweet hotel deals – take it away, imagination.

Fodor’s, always a fount of knowledge, is now a fount of love-cations.

Ask Men’s tips – but let me tell you, if you really want to know, ask a woman.

Today Travel’s last-minute ideas are timely (get it?).

Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day or are celibate on Valentine’s Day, everyone loves a good getaway, so happy trails to you and yours!